Magyar Agar vs Croatian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison

Known also as Hrvatski Ovkars, the black Croatian Sheepdog has been in Croatia since the 7th century already. He was brought to the region by Croats who wanted a strong working dog.

Over the centuries, the dog hasn’t changed much in looks, and in 1935 a breeding program for the dog was developed. A certain Dr. Romic started the program with 3 dogs, and the work he did with the dogs saw that the Croatian Sheepdog got official recognition a few decades later.

In March 1968, the Yugoslav Kennel Club adopted the breed standard, and since then, several kennels recognize the Croatian Sheepdog. The dog is still not known particularly well outside their own county, but in Croatia it is essentially known as a companion dog.

The tall, slender Magyar Agar is a sighthound dog breed hailing from Hungary and which has been used for hunting and coursing, some dogs of which are still used for this purpose today.

Those who know the dog breed well will tell you that the dog isn’t the 'Hungarian greyhound', being a distinct breed with its own characteristics and breed designation.

They certainly go back centuries, and in fact, records tell us that they arrived in northeastern Hungary more than a thousand years ago.

The Croatian Sheepdog is a medium sized, muscular dog which stands roughly 40 – 53cm at the withers and weighs 13 to 20kg. The head is wedge shaped and lean and he has brown to black colored eyes.

The triangular-shaped ears are medium sized and semi-erect or erect. The tail of the dog is often docked, but if not it is set high and is inclined to curl over the back.

The dog is nearly always black although you’ll find a few white hairs on the throat or chest or on the legs and toes. The double coat is of medium length, being wavy or even slightly curly.

Temperament:

The Croatian Sheepdog is an athletic, alert dog and he has high energy levels, loving to be put to work or to be busy with one or other activity. He fits in well as a family pet and gets on well with children and pets in the home, but he is going to need plenty of exercise and games.

This particular dog won’t do well with a family of couch potatoes as he craves lots of activities. He will certainly benefit from training and socialization, and because he is intelligent he learns easily and then he is obedient and ready to please.

He is a dominant, confident dog who thrives on attention from his human family. He isn’t a dog you can just stick in the backyard as he is social and craves activity and attention. He is wary of strangers and makes an excellent watchdog.

Described as a large dog resembling a Greyhound and being more longer in body than being tall they are more heavily boned than the fine-boned Greyhound.

The Magyar is a large dog standing at between 62 – 70cm in height and weighing between 22 and 31kg. If you want your Magyar to have puppies, these dogs can produce between 6 to 10. The dogs have a smooth dense coat and the coat can be any color, but not black and tan or tri-color.

The ears of the dog are short to medium and are semi-erect, semi-floppy and most times held back. The tail of the dog is long.

Temperament:

These are hardy dogs, and even with their short coats they are able to cope with lower temperatures. They are quiet and docile and are loving towards their human family. They also have a strong instinct to guard their owners.

They are amicable dogs, getting on well with children and pets in the home.As with most dogs, he can benefit from training and socialization. He is an adaptable dog too and will settle into life in the city or the countryside, but wherever he lives, he will need to be exercised well.

They love cozying up to their owners on the couch and thoroughly relaxing, but they also love being out and about too. A walk in the countryside or the park is a a chance to be let off the leash for some running.

The Croatian Sheepdog isn’t a demanding dog, although he will be relying on you to give him plenty of exercise. He wants to please and will fit into life in the city or life in the country, so long as he gets regular exercise.

It doesn’t take much to keep the Croatian Sheepdog happy and content, and when he thrusts his wet nose into your hand and you see his wagging tail, you’ll know its all been worth it to give this pet the best as he gives you his undivided love and loyalty.

The Magyar Agar may well have been developed for hunting, but today he makes a splendid pet.

He is intelligent and quiet, as well as being loyal. While he loves being outside playing or going on walks, he is quite happy to curl up on the couch with you – the nearness to you is what he loves.

Beautiful and loving, this dog symbolizes the best qualities that man wants in a canine friend.

The Croatian Sheepdog is a healthy dog breed. He is the kind of pet that won’t cost you a lot of money because he is low maintenance. In fact he is a dog which has developed resistance to many diseases.

With good food, exercise and love and care he won’t cost you much in terms of vet’s fees. He can live to be 12 to 15 years of age.

Even though he is a healthy kind of dog, there are some dog illnesses that you will want to be aware of such as bloat and eye problems. Also if you aren’t going to let him become a parent, then spaying or neutering your Croatian Shepherd will have numerous health benefits for him.

The Magyar Agár is looked upon as a healthy dog breed, and with good care can live to be 12 to 14 years of age. With this dog you want to be on the lookout for some of the common dog illnesses he could succumb to -

Thyroid Disease:

This is a fairly common problem in dogs. The thyroid gland produces the hormone thyroxine with other thyroid hormones. Playing a role in the dog’s metabolism, when the thyroid is out of sync it can cause problems for your dog.

Hypothyroidism happens when your dog doesn’t secrete enough of the thyroid hormones, slowing the dog’s metabolism. Some of the symptoms include obesity, lethargy, coat thinning and cold intolerance.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

This is an inherited disease of the retina, occurring in both eyes together. Thankfully it isn't painful for the dog. There are different types of inherited retinal degenerative diseases in dogs and the first signs of this are seeing your dog with night-blindness and the pupils being dilated. There is no cure, but specific antioxidant supplementation does help support the retinal health of the dog and can actually help to prevent vision loss.

Skin Allergies:

Itching outbreaks from a skin allergy can make your pet miserable with constant licking and biting. Whether these allergies are inhaled, food related or from flea bites, they can cause your pet great discomfort. The fur or coat may even have started to fall out in patches. Allergies like this can occur when the dog's immune system is weakened. Feeding your dog some raw meat, getting him to the vet and providing excellent grooming can help with your pet’s skin problems.

The Croatian Sheepdog has always been a working dog and is regarded as a hardy, low maintenance dog. He will require minimal grooming so a good brush twice a week will suffice.

Diet:

There are excellent and convenient dog foods on the market which have been specifically manufactured to ensure your dog gets all the vitamins and minerals he needs for health and energy. Stick to the feeding instructions on the label so that he maintains his lean, muscular body.

Raw meat can be expensive, but it will be to his benefit if you can include some raw meat into his kibble every now and then. If you are unsure in any way as to how to feed your dog, your vet can give you good advice on a food that caters for his age and his activity levels. Always make sure that he has a fresh bowl of water available.

Make sure you take wonderful care of your Magyar Agar. It is a social, living creature who needs to be loved and cherished.

Provide him with the best food there is. If you invest in dry kibble, try and add in cooked chicken, brown rice and raw or cooked vegetables from time to time as well as some raw meat. Keep the diet simple to avoid digestive upsets.

• Provide him with a warm, dry place to sleep.
• Never leave him outside without a shady spot to lie down in.
• He needs constant access to cool, fresh water.
• Check his eyes and inside his ears regularly for infections.
• Brush his short coat at least twice a week and check for fleas and ticks.
• Make sure to give him regular exercise like walks and ball games.