A bishop is said to have mentioned this dog first. The FCI standard refers to a manuscript written by Bishop Petar Bakić in Đakovo in 1719, based on an even older text from 1374. According to this account, Croats brought the black herding dog from their ancestral homeland when they migrated. The standard expressly calls this a hypothesis.
| FCI | Group 1 (Sheepdogs and Cattledogs), Section 1 Sheepdogs, Standard No. 277 Hrvatski Ovčar (Croatian Shepherd Dog), without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Croatia |
| Size (height at the withers) | males 45 to 50 cm, females 43 to 48 cm; 3 cm above or below tolerated in dogs of excellent type and construction |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | wavy to curly outer coat, 6 to 14 cm, elastic and rather soft, with dense undercoat; mane, fringes, breeches and tail plume; short on the face, ears and fronts of legs (1 to 1.7 cm) |
| Colours in the standard | black, with black undercoat; a few barely visible white hairs and a small white chest patch (no more than 5 cm) allowed, otherwise no white markings |
From the farms of eastern Slavonia
For centuries, these dogs were bred on the plains of eastern Slavonia, close to house and farm. The standard traces them to the so-called pile-dwelling dog. Professor Stjepan Romić began systematic breeding in 1935. Dr Otto Rohr wrote the first standard in 1951; German remains the original language of the FCI standard today.
A patient worker
Lively in temperament and balanced in character, affectionate and devoted to their person: that is how the standard describes them. An aptitude for working livestock comes naturally, alongside intelligence, courage, endurance, patience and composure. The standard also describes them as easy to train.
Work they want to do
According to the standard, their preferred gait is the trot, as it tires them least when working. They therefore need long walks and tasks requiring thought. Herding workshops, treibball, tracking or obedience suit a dog who enjoys working with their person.
Curls that must not mat
The outer coat is wavy to curly and 6 to 14 centimetres long depending on the part of the body, with dense undercoat beneath. Shaggy hair matting all over the body leads to disqualification. Comb through to the skin once a week, particularly the breeches, mane and armpits, and more often during shedding. If the black undercoat shows a greyish or brownish tinge, the standard does not consider this faulty.
Short tails, tipped ears and double dewclaws
Some puppies are born without a tail or with a short tail, both permitted by the standard. Ears may stand upright or tip over, but signs of corrective ear surgery lead to disqualification. Single or double hind dewclaws are equally acceptable, as is their absence. If present, trim the nails regularly.
Health without reliable studies
We found no breed-specific health study, nor a lifespan figure. McMillan and colleagues’ UK analysis includes the breed in its list but does not analyse it. Ask the breeder for the parents’ hip X-rays and eye examinations, and an honest account of what older dogs in the line died from.
Who the Hrvatski Ovčar suits
Active people and families wanting a medium-sized, robust herding dog, who enjoy the outdoors and training together. Committed first-time owners can also manage with support from a dog training school from the outset. These dogs will be less happy with people who rarely have time, dislike an alert dog announcing events at home or want only a calm sofa companion.
Similarly compact and keen to work are the Hungarian herding dogs Mudi and Pumi. The breed quiz helps you assess whether one of these herding dogs suits you; our book “Which Dog REALLY Suits You?” (book in German) explores the question in depth. For the early weeks with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Capture your black, curly companion through our dog portraits from your own photo or as a magazine cover on canvas.
Further reading
- Border Collie: when the cleverest dog has no job
- Dog pulling on the lead: 5 mistakes almost everyone makes
- Puppy biting: teaching bite inhibition without spoiling the fun
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI Standard No. 277 Hrvatski Ovčar (Kroatischer Schäferhund) (fci.be, German version dated 10.08.2016; original language German); FCI breed page No. 277 (fci.be); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024.
Links to our books are affiliate links. Buying through them supports us at no extra cost to you.
