Karst Shepherd Dog

Guardian Dog Group

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

History

The Karst Shepherd Dog has existed for several centuries in the Slovenian region of the Karst Massif. They were originally named the Illyrian Shepherd and were grouped together under this name with the Shepherd of the Sarplaninia Massif. In 1968, the two breeds were separated by the Central Society of Yugoslavia into the Karst Shepherd Dog and the Sarplaninac, and they have been independent of one another ever since.

The Karst Shepherd Dog was recognized by the United Kennel Club July 1, 2006.

General Appearance

The Karst Shepherd Dog is a medium sized, well-balanced, long coated dog, with a robust appearance. He has pendant ears and a long tail and his coat is iron grey.

Characteristics

Courageous and valiant, but not apt to bite, the Karst Shepherd Dog is very devoted to his master and an extremely good guard dog. They are a pleasant companion, very obedient, but distrustful of strangers.

Head

The head is proportionally large in relation to the body. It is broadest between the ears, tapering slightly in width to the nose. In profile, the head is deep and rounded.

SKULL

Slightly convex in appearance when viewed from any angle, the skull is as broad between the ears as it is long. There is a moderate frontal furrow and a slight stop.

MUZZLE

Broad and deep at the base, tapering slightly to the tip. The muzzle is slightly shorter in length than the skull. The nasal bone is straight. The lips are thick and tight, with black pigmentation.

Serious Fault: Lack of black pigment.

TEETH

The Karst Shepherd Dog has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors bite.

Serious Faults: Level bite or misaligned incisors.
Disqualifications: Undershot, overshot or missing complete dentition.

NOSE

The nose is broad and black, and protrudes slightly in front of the end of the muzzle.

Serious Fault: lack of black pigment.

EYES

Set fairly well apart and relatively deep in their sockets, the eyes are almond in shape and chestnut or dark brown in color. They have a frank, calm, melancholic expression. The eyerims are fully pigmented in black.

Serious Fault: Light eyes. Lack of black pigment.

EARS

The ears are moderately high set, of medium length, V shaped, with the tips reaching to the corner of the eye. They fall flat against the cheeks.

Serious Fault: Prick ears.

Neck

The neck is broad, thick and well muscled, with thick, tight fitting skin. There is no dewlap. The neck is furnished with a profuse ruff and mane, which makes it appear shorter than it actually is.

Forequarters

The shoulder blade and upper arm are long and sloping, forming a near right angle. They are well muscled and firmly attached to the body.

FORELEGS

Long and straight, with strong bone. The elbows are close to the body. The pasterns are broad and of medium length and slightly sloping.

BODY

In proportion, the Karst Shepherd Dog is just slightly longer than tall. The withers are long and fairly high, and the back is straight and broad. The chest is very broad and deep, descending to the level of the elbows. There is well developed, rounded forechest. The ribs are moderately sprung. The loin is short, very muscular and broad. The croup is broad, muscular and slightly sloping to the set on of the tail.

Serious Faults: Sway back, high in the rear.

Hindquarters

Well proportioned and angulated to match the forequarter.

HIND LEGS

The thighs are long and broad. There is moderate angulation at the stifle and the hock. The rear pasterns are short and heavy in bone. Dewclaws should be removed.

Feet

Round to oval in shape, with tight, well arched toes, and darkly pigmented pads and nails.

Tail

Thick at the base, and long enough to reach the hock, the tail is saber shaped, often with a slight hook at the tip. It is heavily coated, but not plumed. At rest the tail is carried low; when excited, the tail is raised to the level of the back, or slightly above it.

Serious Faults: Corkscrew or curled tail.
Disqualifications: Docked, bobbed or missing tail.

Coat

Long and flat, with abundant undercoat. The head, front edges of the ears, and front of the legs are covered with short hair. The backs of the ears have longer, more supple hair. The back of the neck is covered with a bushy, stiff mane, and the underside of the neck has longer, softer coat that forms a ruff. The body is well furnished with long hair that is softer on the belly and backs of the legs. The topcoat is at least four inches long.

Serious Faults: Soft or wavy coat.

Color

Iron grey, darkest on the body, and shading to light grey or sandy on the belly and the limbs. There is dark streaking on the front of the legs, and a black mask on the muzzle that spreads to the skull. On the back of the head, the mask is bordered with grey or sandy or pale fawn hair that is overlaid with black.

Disqualification: Any color or combination of colors other than described.

Height

Acceptable height for males is from 22½ inches to 25 inches, with the ideal being 23½ inches. For females, the acceptable range is 21¼ to 23½, with the idea being 22½. Anything much over the acceptable range is to be faulted.

Gait

Elegant, elastic and well coordinated.

Serious Faults: Pounding, stilted or clumsy movement.

Eliminating Faults

(An Eliminating Fault is a Fault serious enough that it eliminates the dog from obtaining any awards in a conformation event.)

Under the acceptable height range.

Disqualifications

(A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered for placement in a conformation event, and must be reported to UKC.)
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.
Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Albinism.
Undershot, overshot, or missing complete dentition.
Docked, bobbed or missing tail.
Any color or combination of colors other than described.