ABOUT TORNJAK

Tornjak is big dog, strong with firm body, long coat and under coat, white color with spots on the head and body (white marks on black head are wanted).
The coat protects the dog from all whether conditions. They are very dignified, and a special characteristic of this dog is high positioned tail with long hair.

Tornjak is a calm dog, friendly towards the people, although very defensive considering their territory, also against foreign people and wild beasts. From this comes their use as livestock guardian dogs. It is most common for them to even sacrifice their own life in doing their jobs. They easily understand the commands from their master, and they are easy to train, and untrusting of strangers. Their needs for food and accommodation are modest (during snow flow they often stay outside, although they have shelter).

On territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina tornjak still lives in great number as autochthonous breed, as 1000 years ago, and probably mach further in the past. There is some record about them 9 centuries ago, as “Canis Montanus” – mountain dog. For ages popular name was Tornjak, which comes from the word “tor,” fence inside which sheep where held. When sheep are inside the fence, this dog could be seen near the fence, preventing anyone to come near without consent of the owner, so it is very possible that they got their name because of that.

There are very few recognized breeds that have such old and precise evidence of their origin, as for Tornjak. These “ancient” dates contain standard information as color, height and use of Tornjak. Many other breed are not so alike some time ago and now as it is case of Tornjak. This breed resisted for so many years influences of other breeds found in his living area. No one succeeded to change their elementary sings of recognition as it is colour, temper, and other qualities. Considering this I can say that Tornjak is one genetically dominant breed, more then enough to learn our attention.

As with the most of livestock guardian dogs Tornjak belongs to the Molos family. It is probably that he came together with nomad tribes from the area of toady’s Iran. Taking this in option we could imagine that the ancient ancestor of Tornjak is the Tibetan mastiff.

Some circumstances of life form some characteristics of this breed: (cruel meteorological conditions in living area of bear and wolf), further needs of their masters created a dog which could be widely used, adaptable for hard living conditions (spending their lives mostly outdoors), preferring the specimens which are strong, healthy, with modest needs considering food and living space.

Tornjak guards all property that belongs to his master including his family from other people and wild beasts. It is important to know that Tornjak is a dog that is very attached to his master or his family, and especially to children. Nations, who brought Tornjak to the parts where it exists today, were in the past under different kind of occupation from their neighbours, so their dogs could not indulge themselves to be aggressive. Only careful watchdogs survived.

By official decision from Yugoslavian cynology society (JKS) brought on 05.09.1981 a conditional pedigree for Bosnian and Herzegovina shepherds dog – Tornjak was opened. At the same time a commission was formed to register and standardise all of the dogs. These experts were in charge to review all dogs in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in near by areas.

Even earlier there was cynology club “TORNJAK” in Travnik formed 1972. This club held information about the number of dogs in the area, and their breeding. In 1990 Travnik an association “Cynology society Travnik” was formed which performed similar tasks as cynology club. These activities proceeded during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina as much as was possible. After the war these two organisations joined as cynology club “Tornjak.” This organisation is under Bosnian cynology union (BKS) and Union of cynology organisations of Bosnia and Herzegovina (UKS BiH). Cynology club takes care about breeding of this breed. At this moment there were 1800 pedigrees issued from 1982 until today. In 2001, 200 new dogs were registered, and 120 more did not get certification of origin.

There are 4 – 5 breeding control exhibitions every year, where the best specimens of the breed get permissions for further breeding. Special exhibition of Tornjak takes place every year on Vlasic.

SOURCE

http://www.tornjak-odharacica.de.vu
http://www.bhtornjak.com