Live Life Team
The Tornjak dog breed has gone by a host of other names in its long history. Usually these names have something to do with the country of origin of the dog. They are from Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Croatia. They have been called the Bosnian-Herzegovinian and Croatian Shepherd Dog as well as the Croatian Mountain Dog. It is easier to refer to them as the Tornjak as this is a much shorter name.
Tornjak dogs are very old. They have been around since at least the 800s, when they were mentioned by name in papers for the first time. They could even have been around before that, although it can’t be proven when the breed was actually started. The Tornjak has long worked in the mountains as a sheep dog. It was bred to be able to traverse steep mountain passes and rough terrain. They can herd sheep in and out of these areas as well. While many working dogs make bad companions, that isn’t the case for Tornjak dogs. They are very loving toward their family and rarely want to be separated from them. They are peaceful and calm for the most part, although they will act as a watch dog in order to protect their family.
The Tornjak has a long coat with straight or slightly wavy fur. They have short hair on their face as well as part of their legs. Their coat is dense and thick which keeps them warm in the cold mountain air.
