Tornjak 

  History 

  It is supposed that today's Tornjak its ultimate origins draws from variations of Tibetan Mastiff with occasional spontneous inclusions of some types of spitz, possibly also, in certain circumstances, the wolf. The Croatian word Tornjak is derived from the word "tor" = enclosed space for sheep, a pen - becau these dogs were always, night and day, with the stock - and implies a livestock guardian dog and an invaluable help to the shepherd. The oldest written document describing a mountain dog (that is, Tornjak) in Croatia is from year 1062 from bishop's archives in Djakovo, and the same description is to be repeated in 1374 (Djakovo's bishop Peter), and 1752 (Djakovo's Canonicus Petar Lukić). They all describe dogs that inhibit mostly hill country under the ordnance of bishop of Djakovo. At that time all those lands were parts of the Kingdom of Croatia and Dalmatia. In recent times the descendants of these dogs were described by prof. dr. Stjepan Romić (best known for his work on Croatian Shepherd), dr Ivan Lovrenčić, mr. Ratimir Orban, Šandor Hotvath and fra Stjepan Krasić. The fact is that the greatest population of Tornjaks survived in mountain regions of central Bosnia and west Hercegovina (mostly among the Croatian population), but also existed on Grobnik fieldplain, in Lika, around Knin and Sinj, wherever extensive sheep farming was practiced, and transhumancy, as in winter months the sheep used to be driven to lowlands of Posavina, Slavonia and central Dalmatia. Recently in books by Šandor Horvath, and another by prof. Mario Bauer, Tornjaks are quoted among the Croatian indigenous and autochtonous breeds. The Tornjaks belong to one of about fifty existing but distinctly separate breeds of hearding dogs (separate by nature of its shape). Originally, dogs of this breed were found over the mountain regions of Asia and Europe as well as in the lowlands inhibited by pastoral nomads. The primary function of all these breeds was to guard flocks, mostly of sheep. In time, this purpose also become its sole lucrative function. According to FCI's current classification, the Tornjak is a typical representative of the Group I. The Tornjak's early population was a textbook's example of an autochthonous breed, represented by series of local types over a widely spread area. This population developed naturally out of genetic base brought to Dinarides (Dinara mountain ranges) by migrations, trade and wars, interbred with already present breeds. Through the centuries, the Tornjak adapted its function to the natural environment as well as to human needs, customs and aesthetic criteria. If the sources reffered to by cynologists are to be believed, a similar breed of dog was present in Dinarides in Roman times. Later, this breed was accepted by peoples coming to the region to guard flocks or to guard and fight in wars. Such ancient times are not important to us today. Later hictorical changes were remarkably tempestuous and ful of impact.

General Apperance   Robust dog; its coat is long and shaggy; head long and moderately broad, eyebrows pronounced and bushy. The expression serious, severe but playful. The basic colour is reddish-yellow or earthy grey with white markings on the lower parts.

Character/Temperament* Lively temperament, courageous and persistant dog.

Important Proportion* The length of the body must exceed the height at the withers by 10%.

Brief Historical Summary * This breed was registered with the F.C.I. on the 19th June 1965, under Standard No 155 a and under the name of Illyrian Hound. In the present standard, apart from a few complements and corrections, the name of the breed is changed to "Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hound * Barak".

Head   Generally **  Seen in profile the occipital protuberance well pronounced, the forehead slightly convex, moderate stop, nasal bridge straight. Muzzle in rectangle shape, covered with a bushy moustache and beard. Seen from above the head is of medium width narrowing towards the nose. The muzzle is a little longer than the skull. The total length of the head is about 20 to 25 cm

Granial Region* Skull* Superciliary arches very pronounced. Frontal furrow reveals itself to the touch as moderately developed.
Stop* In gentle slope.

Facial Region

Neck ** Profile* The insertion with the head shows a pronounced demarcation. The neck is oblique from top to bottom.
Shape* Medium width, increases in depth towards the chest. Muscular.
Skin * Tight fitting, supple and covered with dense hair.

Body  

Tail* Well set on, thicker at its base, finer towards the tip and reaching the hock or slightly beyond. Carried slightly curved upwards scimitar like. Very hairy.

Hindquarters   Generally* Hindlegs vertical and parallel seen in profile and from behind.
Thigh* Of medium length, broad and muscular.
Leg* Strong, long, oblique and muscular.
Hockjoint* Strong and well positioned.
Hock* Perpendicular to the ground, short and strong.
Feet* As the front feet but a little longer.

Movement/Gait   Long and energetic strides.

Skin* Of medium thickness, elastic, tight fitting, well pigmented and covered with a dense coat.

Coat ** Hair* Long, hard, shaggy, tousled, with a dense undercoat.

Color* Basic colour can be wheaten yellow, reddish yellow, earthy grey or blackish. White markings are often found on the head (star, blaze on head), under the throat, below the neck, on and under the chest, the lower parts of the legs and on the tip of the tail. The colour can be combined in bicolour or tricolour.

Height and Weight   Height at the withers, For males from 46 to 56 cm, the ideal being 52 cm; the females are little smaller. Weight for males is from 16 to 24 kg, the ideal weight is about 20 kg.
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault is regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Important Faults* Head longer and heavier; insufficient pigmentation of eyes and the visible mucous membranes; pincer bite; ears folded or raised. Dewlap only slightly pronounced. Irregularity of the legs and articular angulations; chest too wide or too narrow; slight saddle back or arched; light bone structure; weak musculature. Harefeet, toes not tight enough; dewclaws. Insufficient proportions of the different parts.

Eliminatory Faults  Head too broad (excessively coarse); eyes very light or even wall eye; depigmentation of the nose and of the visible mucuous membranes; height at the withers insufficient or excessive. Marked disproportion among the different parts of the body and especially between the height at the withers and the length of the body; incorrect legs (cow-hocked or bowed); tail deviated or curled up; sign of degeneration of dentition (teeth missing), of jaws and genitals; hair too long, woolly, wavy or curly. All other colours than those mentioned, but especially chocolate or black.

Shepherds use to say that a Tornjak who guards the flock is a fair match to two wolves, and a couple will encouner and chase away a bear without any undue respect. In relation to family members there is no difference in behaviour between individual and whole pack, except a cute competition in claiming attention can be noticed.
 

Faults    Weak pointed muzzle. Any color other than a black nose. Overshot bite or a very undershot bite or a wry mouth. Long narrow head. Lack of fall over the eyes and foreface.

Note ** Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.