Serbian Tricolour Hound vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

The Serbian Tricolour Hound was once known as the Yugoslavian Tricolour Hound. It’s a rare dog breed that you won’t find much outside of the Balkans.

These dogs were bred for hunting in packs but in these more modern times they are more of a companion dog.

It is thought that the Serbian Tricolour Hound was a variant of the Serbian Hound until 1946 when a separate breed standard was established. It was recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 1961.

Up in the mountains of central Turkey, in the region called Anatolia, a large, strong and rugged dog breed was born and is honored today on a postal stamp. This was the Anatolian Shepard – keeper of the flocks with strength, agility and speed. The Anatolian Shepard is able to pursue and catch any predator that threatens his livestock and they are his livestock. His keen sense of hearing and his excellent sight only add to his prowess as a protector.

The Anatolian is a giant dog, classified as a shepherd by the UKC – Kennel Club of the United Kingdom, while he is classified as a mountain dog or molossus by the Federation Cynologique International. When the breed was created, they were a gift to the farmers in the mountains to guard the livestock from cheetahs. This helped the cheetahs to stop attacking the livestock and prevented the farmers from wiping out the cheetah population by shooting them.

The Anatolian Shepard does have some controversy in his lineage as in some areas he is considered to be either the most closely related or the same breed as the Turkish Kangal Dog. The Anatolian is considered to have a blood line that goes back at least 6000 years.

They are direct descendants of mastiffs and mountain dogs. Yet they have the long legs, agility and aloofness of the sight hounds that are also in their bloodline. Originally called the “Coban Kopegi” or shepherd dog by their Turkish farmers, they were eventually separated into the breed called the Anatolian Shepard. When the breed was first brought into the United Kingdom the line of the Kangal dog was first. Then they were crossed with dogs called Anatolian Shepherds. Many breeders believe that the Anatolian Shepherd is a category that includes the Kangal, Coban Kopegi, Aksaray Malaklisi and the Akbash dog.

So as of January 2012, the Australian National Kennel Club no longer considers the Anatolian Shepard and the Kangal as separate breeds. The UK Kennel Club now recognizes the Kangal and the Anatolian as the same breed. For others they are still clearly separate and distinct breeds with the ASD being their own breed. In fact, the government of Turkey recognizes them as separate breeds and the Kangal Dog as the National Dog of Turkey.

The Anatolian Shepard was already in the United States in when the Anatolian Shepard Club of America came into being because of a young naval officer who had met the dogs in Turkey. They were allowed into the Miscellaneous Class of the American Kennel Club in 1996 after this naval officer had been breeding them in California for years. By 1998 they had moved to the Working Group where they reside today.

The Serbian Tricolour Hound is a medium sized dog standing at between 44 to 55cm in height and weighing in the region of 20 to 25kg.

He is a strong, muscular, solidly built dog with a rounded skull and longish muzzle. The ears of this dog are long and floppy and the long, curved tail hangs down but is held high when the dog is excited.The dog has a short, glossy coat which is essentially a rusty color. There is quite a lot of black with some white on the coat too.

Temperament:

Loving and loyal, this dog was once used for hunting and he has learned to listen carefully to- and respond well to his owner.

He loves his human family and makes a great family pet. He gets on well with the kids, loving to take part in their games. He is intelligent and with training and socialization he is obedient, well balanced and well mannered.

Friendly and social, all he wants is to be with his human family, but even so he is better suited to life with a family who lives on a large property in the suburbs or countryside as opposed to living in the city.

Coming from the mountains and guarding their flock against cheetahs has led the Anatolian Shepherd to be a muscular dog with broad heads and thick necks and sturdy, strong bodies. Their ears drop and are triangular in shape, while their muzzles are rectangular with tight lips. Their double coat is thick and warm fitting for life in the mountain regions. They do blow their coats with excessive shedding twice a year. The fur on their throat is extra thick for their protection.

Muscular, thin, their rib cage is large while their stomach is small. Their tails can be intact or docked. The Anatolian Shepherd is much like the Kuvasz or the Great Pyrenees in their size, shape and responsibilities. He is more agile and slenderer than those two dogs. Their bite is scissors or level, while their eyes are almonds, set apart in their heads.

The Serbian Tricolour Hound is a loving, loyal, active, devoted breed that loves his human family, wanting to be involved in all the activities they’re involved in.

He is somewhat reserved with strangers but training and socialization helps to make him well behaved around them and it means you can take him with you wherever you go as he is well behaved.

These Serbian dogs make splendid pets, and if you take good care of yours, he will provide you with unconditional love.

This breed is independent, stubborn and strong. They are great protectors of their flocks and people, but they are incredibly challenging to own. They are intelligent, loyal dogs who learn quickly when they want to. They key being “when they want to”. The Anatolian Shepard was bred to be nomadic, following the herd and hunting for the herd’s predators. Microchip your ASD because they will roam if they get the chance.

If you want your Anatolian to get along with other dogs, cats or other animals, socialize them together when the ASD is a puppy. If the animal or child is part of his flock the ASD will protect them with his life. Though he is loving, quiet and calm, the Anatolian is just as demanding and dominating. Never let your Anatolian Shepherd believe that he is above the humans in the pack or you will have a major problem controlling him. He will be especially leery of strangers and will not accept your word that the stranger is part of the family. However, if she understands that humans are above her and you are the leader, she will accept any person you accept.

Even if they accept strangers, they will not allow anyone other than the family into the home when the owner is not there. This is a proud, proud dog that can be stubborn, demanding and bossy. Being such a large dog, you need to be in control. This is not a dog for everyone. Be firm, confident, be loving and consistent when training an Anatolian Shepherd. Do not offer your ASD any additional training in protection. He doesn’t need it and it could be detrimental. They will protect children, but they do not respect them. Therefore, supervise their interactions with children.

The Serbian Tricolour Hound is such a healthy dog breed and with the right nutrition and exercise can reach 12 to 15 years of age. He is a rare dog breed so there isn’t a whole lot of information available about his health.

There are always going to be those common dog illnesses that many dogs succumb to. Some of them are hip dysplasia, cancer, skin problems and parasites.

Ear Infections:

With his floppy ears, check out the insides of his ears to ensure there are no signs of redness and ear discharge.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a condition where parts of the hip joints don’t fit properly together. This creates a situation where there is abnormal wear and tear on the joints. It can lead to arthritis even and pain for your dog.

Parasites – Tapeworm, Fleas ad Ticks:

The tapeworm is a parasite spread to dogs but also to people and it is through the ingestion of infected fleas. You can often detect this when you discover parts of the worm crawling in your dog’s bowel movements.

Check your dog over for ticks and fleas too when you brush him as these can lead to other illnesses such as tick bite fever.

This is a healthy breed without a lot of the issues that plaque other giant breeds. In one recent survey the leading cause of death among the ASD is cancer and old age. Skin issues are more prevalent than dysplasia though it does occur. They have a sensitivity to anesthesia and their immune system does take longer to mature so all young ASD should be discussed with vets before any vaccinations are given. Bloat is not as common among this breed either. They should be screened for eyelid inversion or entropion. They are susceptible to Demodectic Mange or demodicosis which is caused by a mite.

The short, shiny coat of the Serbian Tricolor Hound will require nothing more than a good brush twice a week to keep the coat nice and smooth. You can even take a damp cloth and wipe the coat over with it to remove dust.

Exercise:

Provide your dog with a regular amount of exercise every day. Dogs become sad and unhealthy when they’re just stuck in the back yard and left on their own. Take him for walks each day and throw a ball for him to fetch. Simple little games like this will keep him happy as he loves to spend time with you.

Vaccines:

Keep your dogs vaccines up to date to avoid deadly diseases.

Diet:

Only the very best food is good enough for a dog. Dry kibble is excellent and convenient but try and feed your dog some home-made food too. Avoid spicy, exotic foods as this can upset your dog’s digestive system. Speak to your vet if you’re unsure how to feed your dog to ensure his good health and longevity.

Feeding

Feed your Anatolian Shepherd a measured amount twice a day and keep him from becoming overweight. It is recommended that you feed her from 4-6 cups of dry, high quality food for the entire day. The more active your dog is, the more she will need to eat. Using treats in training is appropriate but don’t give her too many as these will add to the waist line.

Health issues

As mentioned previously this is a very healthy breed especially when compared with other giant and/or mountain dog breeds. However, they are susceptible but not prone to:

Hip Dysplasia

Should be tested for this condition in which the bones don’t fit well into the joint. Elbow Dysplasia – the same as above except it is the arm bone does not fit well into the joint. Both these conditions can cause arthritis or lameness.

Demodectic Mange

Caused by mites and a weakened immune system it can result in patches of scaly, red skin and hair loss. A generalized version can cover the entire body and can be fatal.

Hypothyroidism

This can result if obesity, hair loss, epilepsy, lethargy and other skin condition. It is easily treatable.

Entropion

Mentioned previously it causes the eyelid to roll inward and requires surgery.

Exercise and games

Your Anatolian Shepherd does not need a lot of exercise despite his size. A large yard with a good fence will do for him as long as he gets a walk daily. If they can run free in a large yard they will be happy. If not, you will need to take them to a dog park, preferable when other dogs are NOT present. You can’t assume he will be ok with other dogs. Never walk them off leash as they love to wander. They need a job to do.