Sarplaninac: Livestock Guardian Dog Breed
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Livestock guardian dogs are invaluable to anyone with a homestead that includes chickens, sheep, goats, or cows, and needs to protect them from predators in the areas. There are many different breeds of guardian dogs, all of whom can be successful with the proper training and care. The Sarplaninac is just one of the many wonderful livestock guardian breeds out there. If you are someone looking to purchase one of these beautiful dogs, you may wonder…
How does the Sarplaninac make a good livestock guardian? The Sarplaninac breed makes an excellent livestock guardian as they have been bred specifically to guard sheep (often goats and cattle as well) and have been employed for this purpose for centuries. Sarplaninacs bond closely with livestock, are highly alert, and can be aggressive when necessary.
Does the Sarplaninac make a good pet? Yes, the Sarplaninac breed makes an outstanding pet for families who are able to provide them with plenty of exercise or a job to keep them occupied. They are very large animals with intelligent minds of their own – keep in mind they will need more training and socialization than the average dog.
Read on to learn more about Sarplaninacs and their skills as livestock guardians.
For more on how to train livestock guardian dog breeds with positive methods, check out my article, Training Livestock Guardian Dogs: The Ultimate Guide.
Sarplaninac at a Glance
Other Names: Illyrian Shepherd Dog, Macedonian-Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog, Sharplanina, Sharplaninatz, Ovcarski Pas, Shar, or Šar
Article Contents
Sarplaninac Personality/Temperament
The personality and temperament of the Sarplaninac has most often been described as dominant, independent, calm, devoted, intelligent and reliable. This breed of livestock guardian dog is highly protective of its family and territory – whether they are a livestock guardian or a house pet. They are happiest in a country setting with room to patrol and a job to keep them occupied.
Sarplaninac Livestock Guardian Traits
Sarplaninac livestock guardian dogs are highly intelligent and were bred to be able to guard flocks and herds independent of human supervision or interaction. They are known for being 110% dedicated to their livestock and are aggressive in their defense of their charges and territory. They consider everything that’s within their terrain – living creatures or otherwise – theirs to fearlessly protect.
This breed of livestock guardian dog (LGD) is generally calm and low key until a threat presents itself. This dog will rarely bark without reason. They tend to lie in the midst of their charges during the day – though always watching for anything out of the ordinary. If a predator comes near to their land or livestock, they will leap into action and instantly become a force to be reckoned with. At night, they will patrol their territory periodically and may find a high vantage point to oversee things.
Aggression towards strangers is common – if you are planning to have many visitors to your land, you will want to socialize your Sarplaninacs early on in their lives and help them understand the difference between visitor and intruder. While they may always be aloof and wary of strangers, they will learn to tolerate visitors if trained to do so.
This breed has been said to need regular human contact and is highly affectionate with people in the family – even as a working dog. Once they “know” their caretaker, they will be overflowingly loving and obedient. This breed is gentle with children in their family, although it is suggested to proceed with caution when introducing unknown children, just as you would with any adult stranger. They are highly loyal and will treat “their” child as another being to guard with their life.
Sarplaninacs have been known to be aggressive with other dogs, particularly those who are unfamiliar to them. They are highly protective and will put themselves between their charges or family and an unknown dog. However, if properly socialized or introduced to existing family dogs or other livestock guardian dogs, they tend to adjust just fine.
For help with obedience training using positive methods, I highly recommend the online program, Brain Training for Dogs (affiliate link). For a thorough review of what the program includes, the things I love about it, and the things I dislike about it, see my review article here.
If you are thinking of getting Sarplaninacs for livestock guardian purposes, you may also be interested in:
Sarplaninac Pet Traits
The Sarplaninac can make a great family pet under the right circumstances. This is not a dog meant for city life or apartment dwelling but would be happy with a big yard or a ranch to roam around on. Make sure your yard is properly fenced as their natural livestock guardian dog instincts will make them want to break free and roam. They also love to dig – be aware of this when preparing your yard for a new pup.
This breed is strong-willed and stubborn and will therefore need firm and consistent training. Because this dog is also extremely intelligent, it is important that your responses are clear and firm. You should not tolerate any behavior deemed inappropriate as they will learn how to “work the system.”
With proper socialization, these dogs tend to be gentle with children and other small dogs. The socialization process will be especially important early on in the dog’s life in order to avoid unwanted aggression with unfamiliar people, children, or other dogs. However, Sarplaninacs have been known to be unfriendly at dog parks, regardless of their socialization, as it seems they feel overwhelmed and threatened. This may not be the best place to take your dog for other-dog socialization.
In any case, always be careful when introducing someone new as Sarplaninac’s natural instincts will instruct them to protect against anything or anyone that is unfamiliar.
Some livestock guardian dogs bark at regular intervals throughout the night to warn predators of their presence, but this is not typically the Sarplaninacs’ first choice of defense. Although they are not “yappy” dogs, Sarplaninacs will bark at anything they feel is out of place or at all hostile in nature. This is another reason why this breed is not well-suited for the city or apartment living – the sounds of the city or close-by neighbors might make the dog uneasy and increase his barking frequency.
As with most livestock guardian dog breeds – do not get a Sarplaninac as a pet if you cannot put in the time and effort to properly train and socialize him. If you want to learn how to obedience train your dog using positive training methods, check out the online program, Brain Training for Dogs (affiliate link). This program is perfect for people who want to raise a livestock guardian dog as a pet. If you want to know why, see my review article here.
If you are thinking of getting a Sarplaninac as a pet, you may also be interested in:
Sarplaninac Livestock Guardian Dog History
Place of Origin: Macedonia and former Yugoslavia in the Shar Planina Mountains
Traditional Livestock Guarded: Primarily sheep, but have also been used for goats and cattle
Traditional Predators: Bears, lynx, wolves, coyotes
Sarplaninac Livestock Guardian Lifestyle
The Sarplaninac is an ancient breed that descended from a Mastiff-breed dog called the Molosser that was bred as early as the Roman and Greek ages. They are also descendants of the livestock guarding breeds of Turkey. This breed was previously known as the Illyrian Sheepdog or the Yugoslav Shepherd Dog, but was renamed after the break-up of Yugoslavia. The breed’s name was then changed to the Sarplaninac after its homeland, the Shar Planina Mountains of Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania in the former Yugoslavia.
These dogs were born and bred to assist shepherds in the transport of sheep from the high mountains during the summer to the plains for the winter season. They are historically known for protecting against bears, lynxes, and wolves, although they have also successfully guarded against smaller predators and coyotes. In addition to protecting sheep, they are also capable of guarding goats and cattle when needed.
Because of their long history in mountains, they are considered to be a rugged breed that can withstand extremely cold temperatures. These dogs tend to enjoy sleeping outdoors and are capable of keeping themselves warm.
Sarplaninac Additional History
The Sarplaninacs were first recognized as a distinct breed in 1930 but were not recognized by the United Kennel Club until 1995.
While most Sarplaninacs have been bred for use as livestock guardian dogs, the Yugoslavian army was the first to employ them in the military in 1928. They bred and kept them as war and guard dogs throughout the years prior to World War II. After World War II, the Communist government carefully controlled their breeding and forbid their export out of the country. These dogs were primarily bred for police and military use. Some were crossbred with German Shepherds as well.
Because of the strict ban on the exportation of this breed, they did not arrive in America until 1975 when the first Sarplaninac was actually carried down the mountains by a mule and brought to the country. In 1977, exporting of this breed became more common (although they are still fairly rare in the United States). Throughout the years, they have proved themselves to be successful livestock guardian dogs, but have only recently increased in popularity.
Other Sarplaninac Jobs
Sarplaninacs have been and are being used for many other purposes than as livestock guardians and pets. The dogs have been used as:
House and property guardians
Police dogs
Military dogs
Professional guard dogs
Sarplaninac Appearance
Sarplaninac Size
Height: At least 24 inches (male), at least 22.5 inches (female)
Weight: 77-99 lbs. (male), 66-88 lbs. (female)
The Sarplaninac is the smallest livestock guardian dog breed. For more on LGD breed sizes, check out my article, Livestock Guardian Dog Sizes.
Sarplaninac Colors
Sarplaninacs come in several color schemes, but more often than not are an iron gray/wolf-gray color with some cream-colored markings. Other color possibilities include blond, beige, tan, or dark brown with agouti (alternating bands of dark/light pigment) or sable (black-tipped) patterns. They are rarely all white or solid black in color.
Often times the coloring of the dog will appear to be darker on top with a lighter shade underneath and on the dog’s extremities. Traditionally, pinto, bicolor dogs or those with white patches are not accepted as show dogs as they have potentially been crossbred with another breed. However, this type of coloring does not disqualify the dog from being a good livestock guardian.
Sarplaninac Coat
The Sarplaninac breed has a double coat that is thick, wolf-like and forms a ruff around the dog’s neck. The outer coat is typically longer in length (usually around 4 inches) and rough in texture. The undercoat is shorter and finer but very soft and dense. This part of their coat helps protect them from the weather and allows them to stay warm, even in the coldest of temperatures. This same thickness in their undercoat is also what makes them not well suited to extremely hot and/or humid climates.
The coat is long along the dog’s back, neck, on the haunches, and on the back sides of their legs. The fur on their head, ears, and the front sides of their legs is typically shorter in length.
Sarplaninac Head
Sarplaninacs have fairly large, round skulls that are proportionate to the size of their body. The muzzle tends to be wider at the base and slightly tapered at the snout. This breed has a broad black nose and black eye rims. Their eyes are typically almond shaped and dark brown or chestnut in color. They have ears that are v-shaped and close to the cheeks. This dog has very large teeth and a strong jaw.
Sarplaninac Body
Sarplaninacs are medium-sized dogs who appear larger than they are because of their heavy bone structure and dense, thick coat. Their neck also may seem shorter than it really is because of their thick coats. However, their neck is very broad and well-muscled. This breed does not have a dewlap in most cases. When measured at the withers, this dog’s length is slightly longer than its height. Their chest, shoulders and hindquarters are all broad and extremely muscular.
This dog’s feet are oval shaped and sturdy as well as equipped with well-arched, closed toes. Their nails are a dark color and incredibly strong. The pads of their feet are very tough and elastic, as would be expected for any livestock guardian dog who resides outside year round.
Sarplaninac Tail
The Sarplaninac’s tail is long and thick. It is plumed and often slightly curved when it is relaxed but when alert will be raised level-to or slightly above the back. When the dog is extremely provoked, the tail will often be far above its back.
Sarplaninac Livestock Guardian Dog Grooming
Although the Sarplaninac will not need to be trimmed or have their fur cut, they do require grooming. Because of their thick double coat, they will need frequent brushing. During the times of the year when they are not shedding, a few times per week should suffice. However, when they do shed, they will need to be brushed daily or every other day to prevent build-up under their top coat. A firm bristle brush or slicker brush (Amazon link) tends to do the job well.
As with any dog with folded ears, they should be checked frequently for dirt and wax buildup. If they are primarily an outdoor dog, their ears should be checked and cleaned more often than if they are a house dog. This is because they come into contact with a lot more dirt and foreign substances that can cause ear infections.
The Sarplaninac’s nails typically do not need to be trimmed if they are a working dog. Their outside patrols and daily work should file the nails down naturally. They should still be checked to ensure they are not breaking or cracking as this can cause incredible pain for the dog.
Sarplaninacs, like all other dogs, need their teeth brushed daily to prevent build-up and decay. They will need their teeth professionally cleaned on occasion.
For everything you could ever want to know about grooming Sarplaninacs, check out my guide, Grooming Sarplaninacs: The Ultimate Guide.
Sarplaninac Diet/Eating Habits
The caloric needs of the Sarplaninac will vary depending on the size of the dog as well as their activity level. Males will require anywhere from 1870 and 4345 calories per day, whereas females typically need fewer calories – between 1665 and 3975 calories per day. See the table below for more specific estimates:
Sarplaninacs need good quality dog food that contains all the essential vitamins and nutrients. Sarplaninacs may also eat meat and eggs as a part of their regular diet.
For advice on how to properly feed your Sarplaninac, check out these resources:
Sarplaninac Lifespan and Age to Maturity
The average life expectancy for the Sarplaninac breed is between 11-13 years which is fairly typical for a large-breed dog. If they are living in very harsh conditions, the lifespan of the dog may be shorter. If the dog is in good health, has been well-taken care of, and perhaps has been a family dog, the lifespan may be longer than 13 years.
Sarplaninacs are said to reach their adult size between the ages of 2 and 3 years old. However, with proper training and supervision, they can be typically trusted with a flock by age 2.
For more information on livestock guardian dog lifespans, what to expect from puppies, and how to care for older dogs, see my article, What is the Lifespan of a Livestock Guardian Dog.
Sarplaninac Cost
Sarplaninacs tend to cost between $800 – $1000, however, I’ve seen them go for upwards of $1500. They are not as common in the United States, especially purebreds, which can make them more expensive. As with all purebred dogs, the cost to buy a Sarplaninac will depend on many factors such as the breeders’ location, litter size, lineage, breeder reputation, breed popularity at the time of sale, training, current vet visits, etc.
If you are interested in adopting a Sarplaninac from a rescue, check out my article, Rescue Livestock Guardian Dogs – Should You Get One?
Sarplaninac Health Problems
As is the case with most large or giant dog breeds, the Sarplaninac is prone to both hip and elbow dysplasia. These dogs also can be at risk for obesity if overfed or under exercised. Minor health issues include ear infections, skin allergies, bloat and eye problems.
Livestock Guardian Dog Breeds Similar to Sarplaninacs
The Sarplaninac is similar to the Karst Shepherd, the Greek Sheepdog and the Akbash.
You May Also Be Interested in:
Brain Training for Dogs: The Best Online Obedience Training Program for Livestock Guardian Dogs
The Ultimate Obedience Training Program for Pet Sarplaninacs: Brain Training for Dogs
The Best Livestock Guardian Dog Toys: Top Recommendations from DOZENS of Great Pyrenees Owners!