Šarplaninac

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Šarplaninac
Sardog.jpg
Other names
  • Ilirski Ovčar
  • Illyrian Shepherd Dog
  • Jugoslovenski Ovčarski Pas – Šarplaninac
  • Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog – Sharplanina
  • Jugoslovenski Ovčarski Pas
  • Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog
  • Sarplaninac
  • Sharplanina
Origin
Distribution Šar Mountains
Traits
Height Males
62 cm (24 in)
Females
58 cm (23 in)
Weight Males
35–45 kg (75–100 lb)
Females
30–40 kg (65–90 lb)
Coat double; guard hair long, flat and coarse, undercoat thick and fine [2]
Colour any solid colour, without white markings; iron grey or dark grey preferred [2]
Life span 11–13 years
Kennel club standards
Kinološki Savez Republike Srbije standard
Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog ( domestic dog )

The Šarplaninac [lower-alpha 1] or Sharr dog [lower-alpha 2] [3] is a breed of dog of livestock guardian type. [4] It is named for the Šar Mountains or Šar Planina range in the Balkans, where it is principally found. It was recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale as the Illyrian Shepherd Dog or Ilirski Ovčar [lower-alpha 3] from 1939 until 1957, when the name was changed to Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog – Sharplanina or Jugoslovenski Ovčarski Pas – Šarplaninac. [lower-alpha 4]

Contents

In Ottoman times, the dogs moved with the flocks of sheep, spending the summer in the area of the Šar Mountains and the winter in Thessaly, where they were known as Greek Shepherd Dogs. [1] :124

History

Sarplaninac service dogs of the Royal Yugoslav Army Service dogs of Royal Yugoslav Army.jpg
Šarplaninac service dogs of the Royal Yugoslav Army
Training of Sarplaninac in Yugoslav People's Army Sarplaninac training in Yugoslav Army.png
Training of Šarplaninac in Yugoslav People's Army

The origins of the Šarplaninac are not known. [2] It was traditionally used to guard cattle [2] or sheep. [1] :124 In the transhumant system of management, livestock was moved twice a year, to the high mountain pastures for the summer, and to the warmer plains for the winter. In the southern Balkans, very large numbers of sheep were moved in this way, accompanied by men and dogs. [5] :35 In Ottoman times, dogs of this type moved with the flocks of sheep, spending the summer in the area of the Šar Mountains and the winter in Thessaly – where they were known as 'Greek Shepherd Dogs'. [1] :124

In 1939 it was recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale as a Yugoslav breed with the name 'Ilirski Ovčar' or 'Illyrian Shepherd Dog'; [2] In 1957, following a request from the Yugoslav Federation of Cynology (Jugoslovenski Kinološki Savez), the Fédération Cynologique Internationale agreed to change the official international names of the breed to 'Jugoslovenski Ovcarski Pas – Sarplaninac' and 'Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog – Sharplanina'. [4] [2] In 1968 the Kraški Ovčar or Karst Shepherd Dog, which had previously been considered a sub-type, was recognised as a separate breed. [6]

Breed numbers were much reduced by the conflicts associated with the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. [7] :299 Following these events, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognised North Macedonia and Serbia as the countries of origin. [2]

The Šarplaninac is found mainly in the Šar Mountains, where it is thought to have originated and from which the name 'Šarplaninac' derives. [1] :124 [8] :25 It is also distributed in the areas of the Jablanica, Korab and Pelister mountains. [9] :358

Characteristics

The Šarplaninac is a large and strongly built dog. The body is slightly longer than the height at the withers, and the front legs account for approximately 55% of the height. The head is large but proportional to the body, with dark eyes.

It is a robust, well-proportioned dog with plenty of bone, of a size that is well above the average and with a thick, long, rather coarse coat that emphasises the short-coupled appearance.[ citation needed ] Dogs weigh some 35–45 kg, bitches about 5 kg less. [2] The average height at the withers is 62 cm for dogs and 58 cm for bitches. [2]

It is always solid in colour: fawn, iron grey, white or almost black; usually sable or grey with darker "overalls" on the head and back, the undercoat being paler. The colour need not be completely uniform, and most Šarplaninac have several different shades of the same colour fading into one another.

The dogs may be expected to live for some 11–13 years. [10] :43

Guarding sheep near Lake Peak in Kosovo Murgjo Sharr Mountain Dog Nedi Limani.jpg
Guarding sheep near Lake Peak in Kosovo

Legislation

The Šarplaninac is on the list of banned dog breeds in Denmark. [11] The Danish list includes 13 breeds and it is considered controversial, having received criticism from dog owners and several political parties because eight of the 13 breeds have no reports of any incident. Among the eight is Šarplaninac. [12]

It is viewed on the one Macedonian denar coin. [13]

Notes

  1. Serbian: шарпланинац, romanized: šarplaninac; Macedonian: шарпланинец, romanized: šarplaninec; colloquially also Šarac, Serbian: шарац, romanized: šarac; Macedonian: шарец, romanized: šarec
  2. Albanian: qeni i Sharrit
  3. Serbian: илирски овчар, romanized: ilirski ovčar; Macedonian: илирски овчар, romanized: ilirski ovčar; Albanian: deltari Ilir
  4. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia broke up in 1991–1992

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 FCI-Standard N° 41: Jugoslovenski Ovcarski Pas – Sarplaninac (Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog – Sharplanina) Archived 23 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine . Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Accessed June 2023.
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