Tornjak

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Tornjak is also known as Bosnian-Herzegovinian Sheepdog, Hrvatski pas Planinac and Croatian Mountain Dog It is a large mountain sheepdog originating in Bosnia.

This large dog has a height between 23-27 inches and weight between 62-110 pounds. Very strong and well-built, the Tornjak has a well proportioned almost square body. The head is wedge-shaped and elongated and may appear small due to heavy coat of the breed. Muzzle is straight. Almond-shaped eyes are close to the skull while large ears are set high up. Neck is long and strong. Back is broad, short and level. Chest is very broad while belly is moderately tucked up. Tail is long and hanging downwards when the dog is at rest. The outer coat has long, hard and straight hair while the inner coat is dense and wooly. It protects the dog from poor weather conditions in the mountains. The dog can be multicolored, tri-colored or bi-colored.

This dog is NOT recognized by AKC and is recently recognized by FCI, only provisionally.

Color

The Tarnjak is found in multicolor, tri-color or bi-color patterns. Usually the dog has a dominant ground color with markings of various solid colors. Usually the dominant ground color is white. There may be dogs with a black mantle and with white markings most often found around the neck, over the head and along the legs. There may also be almost white dogs with only small markings.

Coat

The dog has a long, thick outer coat and thick under coat. The outer coat is long, hard and straight while the under coat is dense and fluffy.

Personality

The Tranjak has a very calm and peaceful disposition. It is very friendly and gentle with its human family and vey kind to children. The dog is sociable and gets along well with other dogs without any trouble. Having strong protecting instincts, the seemingly indifferent dog will become a fierce protector of its family, property and possessions should such situation arise. It is suspicious of strangers but not unnecessarily aggressive. It makes an excellent watch and guard dog. It is a very loyal and courageous, incorruptible dog that will protect its property and possessions on all costs. The dog is believed to be able to match two wolves and two dogs can counter a bear and chase it away. This beautiful and elegant dog will make a very good family pack and excellent working dog besides being a great watch and guard dog.

Care

The dog needs early socialization with different places, people and other potentially fearful stimuli. The dog needs moderate diet and should not be fed with high protein food as it may destroy its beautiful coat.

Training

The dog is intelligent and responsive but will need a firm trainer. Having an independent nature as a working dog, it may not be the best dog for weak owners rather it will need an owner who can establish himself as dog's packleader.

Activity

This high energy dog needs lots of exercise. When not working, the dog will need to be taken for long walks as well as provided with sufficient playing space and opportunities. This dog is not for apartment dwellers and would be most happy in large open spaces.