As the son of a Sarplaninac breeder since 1990, I’ve grown up with these dogs.
Centuries of protecting livestock made them a protector for the flock and the family. Popular breeds often overshadow the Sarplaninac, despite the history and grit the breed carries.
I believe a film is the only way to prove what these dogs are capable of. To turn this into reality, I am looking for filmmakers, producers, and actors who want to work on an original story unlike anything else filmed before.
The goal is to move the Sarplaninac beyond its current “local status” and show it to the world.
Community and Popularity
The Sarplaninac is the most popular dog in the Balkan region, an area of 45 million people where history and these dogs are inseparable. But outside our borders, they are practically invisible.
We live in an age of artificial intelligence, robots, and computers, where information spreads rapidly through the internet.
When we look at statistical data on how often each breed is searched on Google each month, we arrive at the following figures.
As you can see, at the top of the list is the Cane Corso, with 1,220,000 monthly searches, while the Sarplaninac has only 9,900 monthly searches.
Some might say this is just the US market, but the situation is the same everywhere else.
These dogs aren’t less capable – just less known.
Dog Books
In my view, the best literature on the Sarplaninac dates back to the 1980s and 1990s. At the top of the list is definitely Professor Dr. Slobodan Pavlović (1912 – 1994), a prominent figure in Serbian and global cynology and the creator of the breed standard.
I have deep respect for authors who spent over 20 years breeding these dogs. While there are those who study various dog breeds, I follow the saying, “Jack of all trades, master of none.”
Now, look at the circulation. Is it 100, 1,000, or 10,000? If I assume that each book reaches 10 people, we get a total of 110,000. That is a significant number, but it’s not enough.
The problem is that most of this knowledge is in our native language, with very little in English. Publishing is expensive, especially outside of platforms like Amazon.
I want to hear from you in the comments: have you read any books about these dogs? Who was the author? What language?
Dog Shows
Dog shows serve one purpose: the promotion of the Sarplaninac. From local CAC events to international CACIB shows and the World Dog Show, the point is to have the breed represented.
In my experience, the average show has only about five dogs in the ring, while specialized shows can bring in 100 or more.
Every dog there is important, because the name ‘Šarplaninac’ is heard in the main ring for the Best of Breed (BOB) title.
On the other hand, I don’t care much for these events anymore. Our kennel has nothing to prove and no need to compete.
We already have the trophies and the results to show for it. As for the judging criteria – that is a separate discussion.
For instance, if my dog wins at the World Dog Show, I’ll post it in Facebook groups with 25,000 to 50,000 members.
Sure, you get the comments and the congratulations, but does that actually lead to a litter reservation?
When someone gets in touch, I have to wonder: is it because of a trophy, or is it out of respect for 35 years of work?
Did they fall in love with the dog, or are they just after the prestige?
To be the best among 14,854 dogs (like in Zagreb last year) is a huge result. But let’s be real: we are always talking to the same circle of people!
Therefore, I value the opinions of those who actually live with (our) dogs much more!
You might see someone fall in love with the Sarplaninac at a show, but let’s be honest – that’s rare.
The Video Title That Left Me Speechless!
Last year, I came across an interesting video on the YouTube channel “Girl With The Dogs,” which has nearly 3 million subscribers.
Vanesa has been grooming pets professionally for 12 years.
She posted a video titled “A MASSIVE Dog Breed I’ve Never Even Heard Of Before | Šarplaninac!”
Most people not knowing the Sarplaninac? No big deal. But a professional who sees different dogs every single day?
I don’t know every breed in the world either, but this says it all: the Sarplaninac isn’t a “trendy” or prestigious breed globally. It is simply a rarity!
Vanessa, thank you for making this video …
TV and Documentary Shows
How many times have you watched a documentary about the Sarplaninac on channels like National Geographic, Animal Planet, or Discovery?
When it comes to YouTube and channels boasting 10 million subscribers, have you come across a report on this remarkable breed?
Please feel free to share in the comments, as I would love to check it out!
Sarplaninac Club
Of all the options I’ve mentioned for promoting the breed globally, I believe that establishing Sarplaninac club(s) could have been the best approach. Why do I use the past tense? Because it feels like it’s too late now.
I am convinced that if a solid foundation had been laid in time, a film highlighting the breed would have been just the icing on the cake.
Unfortunately, both Serbia and Macedonia missed their chance. Instead of funding the idea and setting clear guidelines – like establishing a club on every continent with the home country as the base – they focused only on collecting taxes and fees.
Now, let’s turn to the breeders and members. Despite countless seminars and discussions, there is always someone questioning the breed standard.
It seems impossible for them to accept that the standard might include traits that don’t align with their personal preferences – especially when they own dogs that should be disqualified from any show ring.
People running the club should not be volunteers or simply driven by passion; they must be adequately paid for their expertise, skills, and connections.
There are specific tasks and deadlines to meet! Failure to deliver means making room for someone who can.
It’s also wrong to seek out leaders or authorities who impose requirements on breeders to pair females with certain dogs or enforcing “trends” from the West or East. Imposing such nonsensical rules can be detrimental to the breeding community.
The primary focus must be on education and the establishment of new Sarplaninac clubs abroad, which will help promote the breed internationally. Initially, there should be one club per continent, and gradually, certain countries can become priorities based on the club’s plans and strategies for long-term goals.
This approach would allow us to connect with true breed lovers from around the world, fostering meaningful relationships beyond the confines of Facebook, Telegram, WhatsApp, or Viber groups.
The Sarplaninc Club “Krajina” in Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, serves as a fantastic example, and I would also like to commend the clubs in Finland and the Czech Republic for their exemplary work.
Original Movie Concept – Scenario
Let’s return to the beginning of this article and revisit the Cane Corso, which boasts an impressive 1,220,000 monthly searches.
Do you know of any films in which they’ve appeared? Allow me to help you with that …
Cane Corso in Movies & TV Shows:
- Game of Thrones. 2011–2019;
- The Blacklist. 2013–2023;
- 2016–2022;
- The Borgias. 2011–2013;
- 2011;
- 2020;
- 2021;
- Hotel for Dogs. 2009.
German Shepherd Movies:
- K-9 (1989);
- Finding Rin Tin Tin (2007);
- I Am Legend (2007);
- Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish dog (2019);
- A Dog’s Purpose (2017);
- Ace of Hearts (2008);
- K-911 (1999);
- Max (2015);
- Megan Leavey (2017);
- My Dog Tulip (2009);
- Cats And Dogs(2001);
- K-9000 (1991);
- Scoot and Kassie’s Christmas Adventure (2016);
- The Christmas Shepherd (2014);
- We Think the World of You (1988);
- Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008);
- Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (2010);
- Chips, the War Dog (1990);
- Inspector Rex (1994) Rex;
- Max 2: White House Hero (2017);
- Pups United (2015);
- Scent of Murder (2002).
Now, I’d like to pose a simple question to you: Do you know the name of the movie or series in which the Sarplaninac played a significant role?
I hope you now have a clearer understanding of where the Sarplaninac stands on the world cynological map.
Sarplaninac Dog Movie
A film, along with the potential for a franchise, could greatly promote the breed worldwide through theaters, streaming services, and more.
An original concept is essential, as well as the fulfillment of the primary goals of this project:
- promotion of the Sarplaninac dog breed outside the Balkans (a strong distribution network is necessary, and awards and festivals are secondary);
- fun;
- education;
- tension and suspense;
- multiculturalism and multilingualism;
- promotion of other dog breeds.
The good news is that I have a script, of which I am the author, consisting of 132 pages. While I’m not a professional screenwriter and can’t claim that it adheres perfectly to industry standards.
This is an original story; nothing like it has been produced anywhere in the world. Anyone who attempts to take parts of this script and adapt them for their future projects without my permission will face serious consequences!!
Fifteen years of dedicated work and six months of writing have gone into weaving all the elements into a cohesive whole. I received invaluable guidance and personal insights from my father, who has been a long-time breeder of Sarplaninac dogs.
The bad news is that if this script falls into the hands of a producer or director who excludes me from the project and has never seen a true Sarplaninac, it could inflict significant damage on this breed.
Despite the clear guidelines provided and the importance of every scene to the film’s narrative, there are instances where “artistic freedom” must be restricted to avoid unintended negative consequences.
There’s a real risk that they could promote Caucasian Shepherd Dogs! If you’re interested in understanding the differences between these two breeds, I encourage you to read this article.
My Message to Producers and Directors
This is not a project for beginners, nor is it a film that can be made with just a few hundred thousand euros or dollars.
It presents a big challenge for any director and producer, in the true sense of the word!
We need to provide at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of top-tier entertainment for the audience, packed with action, laughter, tears, adventure, and education.
The film will certainly provoke both positive and negative reactions, but I’m sure no one will leave saying they didn’t watch a good film, or as young people might say, “junk”.
If I’ve captured your attention and you believe we can create something wonderful for these amazing dogs, please feel free to reach out to me.
The only requirement is that you must have references that clearly demonstrate that you and your team are the perfect fit for this project.
Thank you for your attention and time.
