{"data":{"slug":"croatian-sheepdog","name":"Croatian Sheepdog","url":"https://techtools.cz/tools/dog-atlas/croatian-sheepdog","api_url":"https://techtools.cz/dog-atlas-api/v1/breeds/croatian-sheepdog","also_known_as":["Croatian Shepherd Dog","Hrvatski Ovčar"],"kind":"breed","extinct":false,"group":{"key":"herding","label":"Herding","fci_group":1,"fci_group_name":"Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs"},"size":"Medium","origin":"Croatia","countries":["Croatia"],"height_cm":{"min":40.0,"max":50.0},"weight_kg":{"min":13.0,"max":20.0},"life_expectancy_years":{"min":12,"max":14},"temperament":["Intelligent","Lively","Devoted","Alert","Hardworking"],"exercise_level":"High","wikipedia_views_60d":2804,"summary":"A medium-sized black herding dog from Croatia with a curly or wavy coat. Quick, tireless and devoted, it works as both a sheepdog and a watchdog.","photo":{"url":"https://techtools.cz/tools/dog-atlas/photos/croatian-sheepdog-efc093e5ff-1280.webp","small_url":"https://techtools.cz/tools/dog-atlas/photos/croatian-sheepdog-efc093e5ff-640.webp","width":1280,"height":1707,"author":"Michala Mračková","license":"Public domain","license_url":null,"source_url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gera062005sed.jpg"},"updated_at":"2026-10-15T14:51:56Z","ratings":{"energy":4,"exercise":4,"grooming":3,"shedding":3,"trainability":4,"barking":4,"kids":4,"other_dogs":3},"coat":"Long, wavy to curly black double coat with short hair on the face and legs","colors":["Black"],"fun_fact":"A manuscript from 1374 reportedly mentions a Croatian sheepdog under the Latin name canis pastoralis croaticus.","sections":{"overview":"The Croatian Sheepdog, or Hrvatski Ovčar, is a medium-sized herding dog of spitz type from the plains of Slavonia. It is always black and has a distinctive wavy or curly coat.\n\nIt is a lively, clever worker that wants a job to do. It is one of the few recognised Croatian breeds and remains rare outside its homeland.","history":"The origins of the breed are uncertain, but dogs of this kind have long worked on the Baranja and Bačka plains near the Hungarian border. A document from 1374 is said to mention Croatian sheepdogs.\n\nAround 1935 the veterinarian Stjepan Romić began selective breeding of black Slavonian dogs, laying the base of the modern breed. A standard was written in 1951 and the FCI accepted the breed in 1967.","appearance":"The Croatian Sheepdog is a sturdy, slightly rectangular dog with a wedge-shaped head, erect ears and a tail carried over the back or curled. Dogs stand around 45 to 50 cm at the shoulder.\n\nThe long coat is wavy or curly over a soft undercoat, with short hair on the face, ears and lower legs. It is always black, with only small white markings tolerated.","personality":"This is a smart, energetic dog with strong herding instincts and plenty of stamina. It is devoted to its family and watchful with strangers, making it a good guardian.\n\nIt learns quickly and enjoys having work to do, but can become bored or noisy without enough activity. Early socialisation helps it stay balanced.","care":"The breed needs a good amount of daily exercise and mental stimulation, such as herding, agility or long active walks. It is happiest with an active owner and some space.\n\nBrush the coat once or twice a week to prevent tangles, and more often when it sheds.","health":"A generally healthy, hardy working breed. Responsible breeders may screen for hip problems."},"recognition":{"fci_number":277,"fci_standard_url":"https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/277.html","akc_url":"https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/croatian-sheepdog/"},"sources":{"wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatian_Sheepdog","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q38537","wikipedia_revision":1379989991},"profile":{"written_by":"AI model (Claude Sonnet) from the sources above","written_at":"2026-10-15T13:59:38Z"}}}