Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Dog Program and are known to be among the calmest of the guardian breeds
during the daytime but with instinctive nocturnal alertness.
Shar Planinetz (Sarplaninac)
The fi rst Shar known to be
imported into the United States
in 1975 was carried down the
mountains of Macedonia in
a basket on the back of a don-
key. This breed is reported to
have been a court guardian of
kings. Its name comes from
the Shar Planina mountain
range of Macedonia, in south-
eastern Europe, in the former
Yugoslavia. While this breed is similar to the Maremma and Pyrenees, it is
a bit smaller. Its coloring is usually tan to dark brown and is often black.
This dog has a quiet, gentle temperament, and many have been trained and
distributed by the Livestock Dog Project at Hampshire College in Amherst,
Massachusetts.
Shar Planinetz
Tibetan Mastiff
Although it is one of the oldest breeds in existence today, the Tibetan mastiff
is rare in North America. Its lack of genetic problems is evidence of centu-
ries of natural selection and survival of the
fi ttest. It is black with tan markings, has
a distinct double coat with a ruff around
the neck and shoulders, and carries its full
tail well over its back. In their native land,
these dogs travel with caravans of Tibetan
sheepherders and traders, defending the
herds and the tents of their masters from
such predators. They are loyal to master
and fl ock, with antipathy to strangers. The
bitches go into estrus approximately every
10 to 12 months (the mark of a primitive
breed) and lack dog odor.
Tibetan Mastiff
