Tornjak

Also known as: Bosnian Tornjak, Bosnian Shepard, Bosnian mountain dog

The Tornjak guarded sheep flocks in the mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia for centuries, working largely on its own across remote pasture and fending off wolves. A male can weigh up to 50 kilograms on a massive but agile frame, and the long, thick double coat handles cold Balkan mountain winters well. The breed stayed almost unknown outside its home region for a long time, only getting formal standardization and registration toward the end of the 20th century. It works at night, when predator activity peaks, and can stand watch through the whole night without any command. The coat needs regular brushing or it mats. It tends to be gentle with its own flock and family but stays naturally distrustful of strangers. Life expectancy runs 10 to 12 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Tornjak: how old in human years?

60–70 cmHeight
30–50 kgWeight
10–12 yrsLife expectancy

Karst Shepherd

FCI group: Pinscher and Schnauzer type, Molossoid breeds, Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs
FCI section: Section 2.2: Molossoid breeds, Mountain type
FCI: 355
Country of origin: Bosnia and Herzegovina / Croatia

Energy level

3/5
Trainability

2/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

3/5

At a glance

Height

Males 65–70 cm

Females 60–65 cm

Weight

Males 35–50 kg

Females 30–40 kg

Life expectancy

10–12 yrs

Coat

long, thick double coat (long)

Temperament & Family Life

Tornjak's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 3/5
Good with other dogs 2/5
Friendly with strangers 2/5
Intelligence 3/5
Trainability 2/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Tornjak's energy and exercise needs are moderate.

Energy level 3/5
Exercise need 4/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 3/5
Hunting instinct 2/5

Guarding & Alertness

Tornjak's guarding and alertness traits are high.

Guarding instinct 5/5
Watchfulness 5/5
Barking level 3/5

Grooming & Care

Tornjak's grooming needs are moderate.

Shedding 4/5
Drooling 2/5
Grooming need 3/5

Living with the Tornjak

Night on a mountain pasture, the sheep lying down, and at the edge, where the whole flock is in view, a big piebald dog lies listening. For centuries the Tornjak guarded flocks in the mountains of Bosnia and Croatia, and that job is written deep into his character: calm, independent, watchful, and in no doubt that your yard is his responsibility. He is not a dog who rushes about. He watches.

He needs long, steady walks every day and room to live in, so he is happiest in a house with a large, securely fenced garden; a flat is not for him. Start training early, and keep it consistent and calm, because guardian breeds were made to think for themselves and don't treat every command as binding. Early socialising matters a great deal: the more people, sounds and dogs he meets young, the more calmly he will accept visitors as an adult.

With his own family the Tornjak is gentle and devoted, and children he grows up with tend to become part of his flock. He is reserved with strangers and grudging with unfamiliar dogs on his ground, so respect his watchfulness rather than trying to train it out of him. A typical day is a morning round of the property, a long walk across the fields and an evening on the doorstep, where he can see both you and the gate.

Grooming and coat

The Tornjak wears a long, thick double coat, a proper mountain overcoat he can sleep in on snow. It doesn't need daily brushing, but once or twice a week go through the whole coat down to the skin, especially behind the ears, on the neck and on the back legs, where the undercoat tangles first. During the moult there is enough hair to stuff a pillow, so brush daily in those weeks and keep the vacuum close.

He rarely needs a bath: this coat cleans itself surprisingly well, and washing it too often does more harm than good. Don't shave him short for summer, because the double coat protects him from heat and sun as well as cold. After walks check his feet and the hair between his pads, glance inside his ears once a week, and trim his nails if they don't wear down on their own.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for giant breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (50 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 460 g of dry food a day, from €25,14 a month For a neutered, normally active 38,8 kg dog. Calculate for your dog