Croatian Sheepdog
A nimble, black, wavy-coated herder from Slavonia that is watchful, quick and happiest with a job to do.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- 40–50 cm
- Weight
- 13–20 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Wavy, Curly, medium
- Colours
- Black
- Bred for
- Herding, Guarding
- Country of origin
- Croatia
- FCI
- Group 1, no. 277 · Sheepdogs & cattle dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 2/5 – Low |
| Energy | 5/5 – Very high |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 5/5 – Very high |
| Easy to train | 4/5 – High |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 4/5 – High |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want an active, medium-sized working dog
- enjoy agility or herding
- prefer a coat that is easy to maintain
Think twice if you …
- need a quiet dog
- are often away for long hours
- want a dog that greets everyone happily
Care
Temperament
Energetic, alert and loyal to its own family. It is often reserved with strangers and quick to sound the alarm. It is sensitive and responds best to calm handling.
Exercise
Needs a good one to two hours of activity a day. Herding, agility, obedience and long walks give it the movement and focus it needs.
Grooming
The wavy to curly coat needs only weekly brushing and the occasional check for tangles; no trimming is required.
Training
Learns quickly and likes to work with its handler. Keep sessions positive and varied, and socialise early to temper its wariness of strangers.
Health
The breed is considered healthy overall, with occasional hip and elbow dysplasia and eye problems. Ask the breeder for the parents' hip, elbow and eye results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Croatian Sheepdog has worked with livestock in the Slavonia region of eastern Croatia for centuries; a church document from 1374 is often cited as an early description of such dogs. It is still used on farms there, moving cattle, sheep and pigs and warning of strangers.
In a home it is lively, alert and close to its people. It suits owners who like training and outdoor activity, and it can be reserved or noisy around strangers if not well socialised. With enough exercise and mental work it is an easy, compact companion that fits a rural or suburban life.
Did you know?
Its native name is Hrvatski ovčar, and the breed is almost always black, with only small white markings allowed.