The charming Carpathian Sheepdog (also known as the Carpathian Shepherd Dog) is a breed that's native to Romania where they are bred as working dogs and where they are highly prized for both their loyalty and intelligence. These attractive dogs have a lot going for them and over recent times the breed has become a popular choice with families and people who are looking to share their homes and lives with an affectionate and clever canine companion in other parts of the world.

A Little Background History

Native to Romania, these very attractive large dogs were bred to guard and watch over flocks of livestock which they have done for centuries. The breed is thought to have first appeared on the scene in the Carpathian Mountains and along areas of the Danube. The dogs we see today are very much the same as those that helped shepherds guard their flocks centuries ago and a breed standard was only set in the thirties.

In truth very little is known about the Carpathian Sheepdog other than they have been around for a very long time, serving man by guarding flocks, their owners and their property which these dogs are renowned for doing extremely well. Today, these very versatile and smart sheepdogs are still used as working dogs in their native Romania, but they have also found their way into the hearts and homes of people in other parts of the world, including here in the UK where they have proved themselves to be loyal and affectionate companion dogs and family pets.

Large, Affectionate and Very Versatile

The Carpathian Sheepdog is a gentle giant really with males being larger and heavier than their female counterparts. Male dogs typically stand at anything between 25 and 29 inches at the shoulder and when well cared for and fed a good nutritious diet to suit the different stages of their lives, they can live from 12 to 14+ years which in short means they generally boast a longer life span than many other larger breed dogs.

Wonderfully Kind Natured Characters

Although the Carpathian Sheepdog was bred to guard flocks, property and people, they make wonderful family pets as long as they know who is boss that is. The one thing about these dogs is they have to be well socialised and trained from a young age, but they also need to know their place in the pack. It's also important for these dogs to receive consistent training to be truly happy, well-rounded dogs or they may start to show some dominant traits which is something that could prove hard to correct later on if the problem is not nipped in the bud.

Lovely, Dense Coats

These attractive dogs have dense double coats that are typically quite rough to the touch. Their undercoat provides them with extremely good protection against the elements. When it comes to coat colours, these lovely looking dogs are very similar to German Shepherds only with white markings on various parts of their bodies which gives them their unique and wolfish look especially as the hair around their necks tends to be longer and shaggier.

Early Socialisation and Training are a Must

As previously mentioned, early socialisation and training are a must with Carpathian Sheepdogs otherwise they can quickly get the upper hand of their owners and become dominant characters. With this said, dogs need to be introduced to all sorts of different situations, people and other animals so they get used to them when young. They need to know their place in a pack to be truly well rounded dogs. Once a Carpathian Sheepdog knows who is alpha dog, they are easy to train and obedient dogs.

Robust and Healthy Dogs

Carpathian Sheepdogs are known to be a robust and healthy breed having had to survive the harshest of conditions while guarding herds in their native Romania where only the strongest and healthiest dogs could survive. However, more research would need to be carried out into any health issues that might affect the breed to really know whether they are predisposed to inheriting any health issues.

With this said, reputable breeders would always have their dogs tested for eye and skeletal disorders to ensure that only healthy, robust dogs are used in a breeding programme which goes a long way in making sure their puppies are born healthy too. When well cared for the Carpathian boasts a long life span which can be anything from 12 to 14+ years, especially if they are fed a nourishing diet to meet their nutritional needs.

Conclusion

The Carpathian Sheepdog is a very attractive looking dog and one that resembles both a wolf and a German Shepherd. They were originally bred in Romania to guard flocks of livestock and are highly prized for their loyalty and courage in their native homeland. More breeders are now producing lovely examples of these dogs in other parts of the world, including here in the UK although the breed is still relatively unknown. If you are thinking about sharing your home with a Carpathian Sheepdog, it's essential that you contact reputable breeders who routinely check their dogs for any health issues before breeding from them and to make sure you follow the Pets4homes guidelines when buying a puppy or older dog.