🐕 Medium · Croatia
An agile Croatian herding dog with a curly, usually black coat, traditionally used to drive large flocks of sheep and pigs independently.
The Croatian Sheepdog is intelligent, watchful, and deeply loyal to its family, though wary of strangers and quick to bark. It likes to work independently and shows a strong protective instinct toward its flock or family.
As a working herding dog it needs plenty of daily exercise and mental stimulation, for example through herding, tracking, or dog sports. Without enough of an outlet it tends toward excessive barking and guarding behavior.
The curly to wavy coat is relatively easy to maintain and needs only occasional brushing. The breed is weatherproof and well suited to a largely outdoor life, provided it has adequate shelter.
Its strong guarding and herding instincts, together with its reserve toward strangers, call for consistent, early socialization by experienced owners.
The breed is considered very robust and long-lived with few known hereditary conditions, partly due to its limited spread outside working lines. Hip dysplasia occurs occasionally.
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This information is for general guidance and does not replace veterinary or breeder advice. Temperament and health vary individually within every breed.
Souldog