Carpathian Shepherd Dog: All About this Breed

Written and verified by the psychologist Sara González Juárez

Last update: 05 April, 2023

The Carpathian Shepherd Dog is one of the best shepherd dogs in the world. However, its beautiful demeanor, affable character, and loyalty have also earned it a place in homes, as it’s a very pleasant companion.

Since it isn’t a very well-known breed in Western Europe, we take this opportunity to introduce you to the Carpathian Shepherd Dog a little better. Endemic to the mountains that give it its name, its history and characteristics will surely fascinate you.

Origin of the Carpathian Shepherd Dog

The Carpathian Shepherd Dog is a very old breed originating in the Danubian Carpathians. It’s thought that it may have originated from Asian dogs, but that the original specimens were isolated in their area until the arrival of the Romans in Dacia in the 2nd century A.D.

In 1934, the Carpathian Shepherd Dog was officially registered as a breed in Romania. After several updates, in 2005, the first official standard was published by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. In other words, it’s now a recognized and established breed all over the world.

Physical characteristics

The Carpathian Shepherd Dog is a large dog that belongs to the mastiff family. It should be noted that it has a marked sexual dimorphism, with males (over 70 centimeters – 27 inches – to the withers) being larger than females, which stand at about 67 centimeters (26 inches. Its weight ranges between 35-50 kilograms (77 to 110 lbs) and its life expectancy is around 12-14 years.

Its body is robust and rectangular in shape, with a drooping tail. Despite sharing characteristics with other mastiffs, its face is slightly triangular, giving it a more wolf-like appearance. They have two coats of smooth hair, specially prepared for the cold climates of Romania.

Character and behavior

Despite its bravery and determination when guarding herds and farms, it’s an affable and incredibly loyal dog, which creates deep bonds with its human companions. It isn’t aggressive with its guardians or with the other animals it guards.

These dogs adapt well to life in a family and with other animals, but they can become overprotective and somewhat territorial, so they require strict socialization and training based on positive reinforcement. As they’re large dogs, it’s recommended not to keep them in small houses.

Carpathian Shepherd Dog Care

It’s a robust breed and usually enjoys good health, so it does not have specific congenital diseases that shorten or hinder its life. Its care is the basic care for any dog, but it never hurts to review them:

• Food: A diet based on dry feed supplemented with occasional fruits and vegetables is recommended. The feed should be of good quality and specific for large dogs.
• Exercise: It’s a very active breed, so it needs long walks, games, and could even accompany their owner in playing sports.
• Coat care: These dogs shed quite a lot of fur, so daily brushing will help keep their skin well ventilated and your home with fewer hairballs.
• Enrichment: Spending time with them and giving them daily entertainment is a must when it comes to their character and energy remaining balanced. These dogs are affectionate, intelligent and love spending time with their humans.

Bathing the Carpathian Shepherd

Bathing shouldn’t be too frequent, as it can damage the skin and coat quality. However, it’s recommended to sanitize them periodically to look for possible infestations of external parasites (which with proper deworming shouldn’t appear, but it never hurts).

The Carpathian Shepherd Dog’s coat is durable and prepared for adverse climatic changes, so it’s recommended that baths are done at warm times of the year or when the animal has become very dirty. It’s good to take advantage of these moments to brush it and remove all the dead hair it has.

Training of the breed

Training should focus on socialization, as the only real problems that this animal can cause are related to territoriality and overprotection. Although it isn’t aggressive, bad training in this aspect could bring a scare or two for the owner.

This part of socialization can focus on getting used to receiving unexpected visitors, seeing strangers in the street, and interacting with unknown people and animals.

Being an intelligent and active breed, a beneficial solution to both of these conflicting behaviors is to train the canine with sporting activities, such as agility activities. Intelligence games will keep them well occupied, but if you can combine learning and exercise it will be much better.

Health and diseases

The Carpathian Shepherd Dog is characterized by a solid and very stable health, with no associated diseases. The problems that can appear are more linked to their size than to their genetic selection. Let’s see the 2 most important ones:

• Hip dysplasia: It’s common to observe this in large dogs as they get older. To prevent it from leading to other associated alterations (such as osteoarthritis or patellar luxation) it’s good to periodically check this aspect through veterinary check-ups. Good nutrition is a preventive factor in its appearance.
• Gastric torsion: Large dogs are also prone to suffer from this pathology and it’s a real veterinary emergency, as it threatens the animal’s life immediately. To prevent it, avoid binge eating and put the feeder on a support so that it’s high up.

As you can see, this breed is quite special. The Carpathian Shepherd Dog can be a wonderful companion, as its loyalty and affection never go unnoticed. With some good care and attention, the time you share with this dog will be one of the best times of your life.