Polish Tatra Sheepdog

Tatra Mountain Sheepdog

The Polish Tatra Sheepdog is imposing and magnificent, without aggressiveness. In mountainous regions where he is widely used as a sheepdog, his master usually provides him with an iron studded collar to prevent him from being bitten at the throat by predators such as wolves, lynxes or bears that always aim at the neck or throat to dominate and kill this beautiful big dog. This protection allows him to do his job by eliminating the risk of fatal injuries. This great defender of sheep and others is very sensitive and needs constant presence. Once his work is done, he returns to his family to whom he dedicates total love. Then, he turns into a big doggie and can sometimes get very cuddly.

Height 60 to 70 cm
Weight 43 to 46 kg
Life expectancy 11 to 12 years
Hair Loss Low
Excercise Need High
Home country Poland

Index

Personality Appearance Characteristics Tips Health History

Quick Overview of the Polish Tatra Sheepdog

Temperament

  • Strong and quiet
  • Calm and gentle
  • Affectionate and balanced
  • Distrustful of strangers

Appearance

  • Strong and powerful constitution
  • Impressive hound
  • Long coat with undercoat
  • Resemblance to the Newfoundland

Health

  • Rustic and very robust
  • Generally in excellent health
  • Rarely ill

Temperament of the Polish Tatra Sheepdog

Strong, quiet, calm, gentle, affectionate, balanced and composed, the Polish Tatra Sheepdog is rather suspicious of strangers and is unfailingly loyal to his master. He adores children and his instinct to protect them is huge.

Even though he is self-sufficient and very independent, his education is easy but should be firm and fair.

He is an excellent guardian and generally very social with other dogs.

Loyal and constant, this balanced and calm dog still needs a good firm education but marked with great gentleness and complicity. The master must impose himself as head of the pack to prevent him from stepping into this role.

He is easy to educate so his education does not pose a problem but hierarchy must be imposed on him very early and patience is sometimes needed so that he understands where is his place in the family.

This great guardian is protective but in no way aggressive. He is calm, exceptionally sweet and very affectionate with all members of his family.

berger des tatras personnalité

Breed Appearance

berger des tatras

This large, imposing dog greatly resembles the Newfoundland but in a white version. With a strong and powerful constitution, he is still endowed with a good mobility. This impressive dog exudes a beautiful feeling of power in a calm and gentle way.

Height

Between 65 and 70 cm (25.59 to 27.56 inches) for the male
Between 60 and 65 cm (23.62 to 25.59 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 43 and 46 kg (94.80 to 101.41 pounds) for the male
Between 43 and 46 kg (94.80 to 101.41 pounds) for the female

Color

His coat is a uniform white.

Hair

His long coat has a very dense undercoat and his neck is nicely decorated with a thick mane.

Morphology

His large head has an arched skullcap and a slight marked stop not too abrupt. His medium size dark brown almond eyes are quite apparent. His triangular ears are medium length and attached to the outer corner of the eye. Abundant hair covers them. His large nose is black. His tail reaches the hock when the dog is at rest.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 1, section 1 and is #252

Characteristics of the Polish Tatra Sheepdog

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Life in an apartment
Good first dog
Tolerates solitude
Tolerates cold weather
Tolerates hot weather
Affectionate
Friendly with children
Friendly with strangers
Friendly with other animals
Hair loss
Drooling level
Easy to care for
Robust health
Easy to train
Intelligent
Tendency to bark
Tendency to nibble
Protective
Instinct to hunt
Adventurous spirit
Energy level
Level of intensity
Need for exercise
Playful

Tips About this breed

The Polish Tatra Sheepdog is a dog with many functions. Despite his immense size, he can live and adapt to all family situations. He is compatible with everyone and will delight young and old alike. He obviously needs a space suitable for his size to allow him to exercise. He loves family walks.

This excellent guardian remains above all a shepherd dog but is also widely used for search and rescue and this, more particularly in aquatic environments.

Herding and family dog, he is very comfortable with the little ones and he will seek to protect them at all times. He is patient and sympathetic with children he simply adores.

Health of the Polish Tatra Sheepdog

Hardy and very sturdy, this superb large dog generally enjoys excellent health. He is rarely ill. For a dog of this size, his life expectancy is also very appreciable.

GROOMING

It is best to brush his gorgeous dress every week. Bathing him once or twice a year is also recommended. No other special maintenance is necessary to ensure a beautiful and healthy coat.

History of this breed

Originally from Poland, the Polish Tatra Sheepdog seems to have appeared during the 18th century. This ancestral protector of herds was used particularly in the more mountainous areas, South of the country.

This large dog protected the herds against possible attacks from bears, lynxes and wolves, cohabiting with humans in the Tatra National Park. He apparently descended from Asiatic dogs who arrived on the European continent several centuries ago, during the barbarian invasions.

At the time, he was used for guarding but also for the company of the nobles, as well as he was often used to watch over prisoners and as a bargaining chip by the Phoenicians who exchanged him for precious products such as glass, fabrics or silver.

He only got his standard in 1988 and is increasingly popular in North America with the military and police forces. His massive build, beautiful mobility as well as strength and great power make him a dog very appreciated by various security companies of the American continent.

Despite his excellent aptitudes for search & rescue, guarding and protection, he is also very popular as a companion dog. His good temperament, his calm and great gentleness match his large size and allow him to be around young children without danger.

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Last Updated: 15/10/2020

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