Breeds / Large
Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog (Sharplanina) puppies
Calm, intelligent and independent, devoted to their own family and stock and fearless in defending them. Wary of strangers and often reactive towards unfamiliar dogs.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin North Macedonia and Serbia
- Adult weight 30 to 45 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 66 to 99 lb
- Adult height 58 to 62 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Long double
- Typical lifespan 10 to 12 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Careful introductions
About the Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog (Sharplanina)
The Sharplanina is named after the Sar Planina mountains, and the FCI lists North Macedonia and Serbia as the breed's country of origin. This is a solid coloured mountain guardian, most often iron grey, with a long, almost flat, somewhat coarse outer coat measuring 10 to 12 cm at the withers over a short dense undercoat. Males average 62 cm and 35 to 45 kg, bitches a little less. They have guarded flocks in that region for centuries.
This is a guardian rather than a sport dog. They want a long daily walk or hike instead of fast repetitive exercise, and they settle well indoors once they have had one. The double coat needs brushing several times a week and much more when it drops. They are watchful with strangers and can be sharp with strange dogs, so socialisation has to continue into adulthood. People hoping for a biddable dog find the breed's independence hard going.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog (Sharplanina) puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Dental disease, among the most common problems in adult dogs and slowed by regular tooth brushing
- Weight gain, easily hidden under a thick coat, so body condition should be checked by hand rather than by eye
Your Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog (Sharplanina) puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog (Sharplanina).
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 30 to 45 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 45 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other large breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- fci.be for adult weight and height, coat type and country of origin
- wisdompanel.com for life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings and health notes
- Health notes from Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog (Sharplanina) breed information at https://www.wisdompanel.com/en-us/dog-breeds/sarplaninac. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.