The Šarplaninac[a] or Sharr dog[b][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[c] from 1939 until 1957, when the name was changed to Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog – Sharplanina or Jugoslovenski Ovčarski Pas – Šarplaninac.[d]

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

Šarplaninac service dogs of the Royal Yugoslav Army

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