The best information Tatra Sheepdog
The Tatra sheepdog is somewhat reminiscent, in look, of Collies and particularly so as a smaller version of the Ruff coated collie. Standing 13-17 inches in height and weighing 14 to 28 pounds. they are classed as a medium-sized dog. Their head is in proportion to their size, and with a slight tapering of the muzzle towards the nose, giving it a blunt wedge shape when seen in profile. They have dark coloured eyes, which are an almond shape. They have been known to have blue eyes, in the blue Merrill coloured dogs. They are small ears, folding down, and an arched muscular neck. Their tail is long and feathered, normally straight down although it can have a slightly curve upwards. Their double coat is quite long over their entire body, although somewhat shorter on the legs and head. The outer coat is straight and feels harsh when stroked.
History: The owczarka podhalańskiego were originally bred by crossing the Icelandic Yakkin with Border collie’s. The Icelandic Yakkin has since become extinct. As their name would suggest they were originally bred in the Tatra Islands, as Shepherd dogs. They are habitually willing workers and tend to have a gentle approach when herding, which is handy as a lot of the animal breeds are smaller than normal. Amongst their talents are, agility, watchdog, performing tricks, herding, tracking, and obedience, all of which attest to this being a very clever dog.
Health issues. The owczarka podhalańskiego has a predisposition to eye diseases, with some lines having a reasonable chance of developing hypothyroidism. They do suffer from gaining weight fairly easily and should not be overfed. A normal life expectancy is some 12 to 15 years.
Grooming. Grooming of the Tatra Sheepdog coat is easier than you may think, although very important. If you give their coat a light misting of water and tease the matting out before it gets too bad with sparing use of the comb, the final brushing is then very simple.
Living conditions. The owczarka podhalańskiego do require a lot of exercise and as long as this is given to them, they are quite happy to live without a yard, or even in an apartment. They are very active indoors and do require some space, so a bed-sit type apartment would not be suitable.
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