Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog (Sharplanina) puppies

About the Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog (Sharplanina)

The Sharplanina takes its name from the Sar Planina mountains, and the FCI lists North Macedonia and Serbia as its country of origin. It 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. It has guarded flocks in that region for centuries.

This is a guardian rather than a sport dog. It wants a long daily walk or hike instead of fast repetitive exercise, and it settles well indoors once it has had one. The double coat needs brushing several times a week and much more when it drops. It is watchful with strangers and can be sharp with strange dogs, so socialisation has to continue into adulthood. People hoping for a biddable dog find its 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 it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its 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

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.

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.

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