Key traits:
| 📏 Size | large |
| 🐕 Temperament | sharp, calm |
| 🏃 Activity | medium |
| ✂️ Coat | long |
| 👶 With children | fairly good |
| 🛡️ Guarding | good |
| 🎓 Trainability | medium |
Description
The Tatra Shepherd Dog is an imposing, strong, independent, and vigilant breed native to Poland, where it is considered the national breed. Like its close relative, the Slovak Cuvac, it was historically used to protect herds from wolves, bears, and people.
Today, it is an excellent companion and reliable guardian of property. Hardy, fearless, yet not aggressive, it is confident in its strength and has no need to prove it. The breed also works successfully as a service dog and is notably gentle with children and tolerant of other well-mannered dogs.
Tatra Shepherds require ample exercise and benefit from having a territory to patrol, though they can adapt to apartment living if given sufficient activity. Apart from regular coat care, they have few special needs.
This website is an independent and free project. I would like to gradually replace illustrative photos with real dogs from breeders.
If you send me a photo of your dog, I can include:
- the dog’s name or your kennel name
- a link to your website
What I need:
- a good-quality photo (ideally landscape)
- confirmation that you own the photo
- permission to publish it on this site
- a link on your website pointing to www.choosedog.info (I will also include a link to your website on this breed page)
Please email me at
info@vyberpsa.cz
(the breed name will be added to the subject line)
Or contact me via Facebook Messenger: m.me/choosetherightdog
FCI standard
FCI-Standard N°252 /14.07.1997 / GB
TATRA SHEPHERD DOG (Polski Owczarek Podhalanski)
TRANSLATION : Brought up to date by Dr. Paschoud.
ORIGIN : Poland
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 08.06.1988
UTILIZATION : Herder and watchdog. Its imposing attitude and beautiful appearance make it a good companion dog.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Mountain-and Cattledogs).
Section 1 Sheepdogs.
Without working trial.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Of strong and compact build giving the impression of stamina and mobility.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : Rectangular in shape, the length of the body of males being a little shorter than that of bitches.
BEHAVIOUR /CHARACTER : Temperament calm, intelligent and alert.
HEAD : Lean, in good proportion to the body, carried at medium height both in movement and standing.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Seen in profile slightly rounded ; the frontal groove is shallow.
Stop : Distinctly marked, but without abrupt break.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Black, of medium size, with the nostrils wide open.
Muzzle : Strong, gradually tapering ; its length is slightly greater or equal to the length of the skull. The nasal bridge is broad.
Lips : Desirably taut and well fitting ; the edges of the lips should be dark.
Teeth : Strong, regularly set. Scissor bite, pincer bite accepted.
Eyes : Medium size, expressive, set slightly slanting ; the iris is dark brown ; the eyelid rims are dark.
Ears : Set on at the height of the external angle of the eyes or a little higher, medium length, rather thick, triangular, well furnished with hair ; the front edge of the ear is in slight touch with the head ; auricle mobile.
NECK : Of medium length, muscular, without any dewlap, with a profuse mane ; the upper line of the neck is higher than the topline of the body.
BODY : Long and massive.
Withers : Distinctly marked, broad.
Back : Level, broad.
Loins : Broad , well coupled.
Croup : Oblique, slightly sloping.
Chest : Deep.
Ribs : Oblique, rather flat.
Belly : Slightly tucked up.
TAIL : Set on not too high, carried below the topline ; when excited carried above the topline, but not curved ; hanging, it reaches the hock ; the tip of the tail may be slightly curved.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs muscular, with plenty of bone, but not too heavy ; seen from front straight and parallel.
Shoulder-blade : Slightly sloping, well adapted to the body.
Pastern : Slightly sloping forward.
Feet : Compact, oval in shape like a relatively big fist. With hairs between the toes. Pads strong, hard and dark ; nails strong, blunt and dark.
HINDQUARTERS : Viewed from the rear hind legs vertical ; seen from the side slightly set backwards, moderately angulated.
Hock : Seen from the side vertical.
Feet : Like the forefeet.
COAT
HAIR : On head, muzzle, frontpart of forelegs and on the hindlegs from the hock downward the hair is short and dense. The neck and the body are covered with long, thick, straight or slightly wavy hair, hard to the touch. Undercoat profuse. On the neck a rich ruff ; the thighs are covered with profuse, long hair ; on the tail hair also profuse, forming a flag.
COLOUR : Uniformly white ; little cream coloured patches are undesirable.
HEIGHT :
Height at withers For males 65-70cm,
for bitches 60-65cm.
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points 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.
• Frontal furrow distinctly marked.
• Poor pigmentation of nose, eyerims and lips.
• Light eye ( called « bear eye »).
• Entropion.
• Ears set high, directed backwards or cropped.
• Neck carried horizontal.
• Croup overbuilt.
• Tail carried constantly above the topline.
• Dewclaws.
• Lack of hair between the toes.
• Lack of ruff, lack of feathering on the legs.
ELIMINATING FAULTS :
• Aggresive or overly shy.
• Stop too shallow.
• Pointed muzzle.
• Several missing teeth.
• Over-or undershot mouth.
• Ectropion.
• Hair curly or silky.
• Lack of undercoat.
• Coat with coloured patches.
• Nervous character.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
