When I posted the video of Rex and Tyson, I didn’t expect 1.3 million people to watch it.
But while the camera captured their meeting, it missed the most important part: how Rex actually came to our kennel and the split-second mistake that changed everything.
Here is the story behind the viral video that the YouTube clip didn’t tell you.
Bringing Rex Back to Our Kennel
Rex was originally a puppy from our breeding kennel, sold to a family living just a few kilometers away.
While the owners worked abroad, they spent their summers on a large estate in Trešnjevica.
Rex had a clear role: protecting the property and the family. He was especially bonded with the children, who spent hours playing with him.
However, a single misunderstanding changed everything. One day, a neighbor entered the yard while Rex was roaming freely with the children.
Despite being warned not to enter, she made a critical mistake. She advanced toward the children while holding a broom, intending to use it as defense.
Rex, driven by his natural instinct to protect the kids and his territory, perceived the broom as a direct threat.
Update: After speaking with Rex’s previous owner, I’ve clarified the details of what happened next.
Unlike the initial reports, we now know that Rex did bite the woman after she moved the broom to defend herself. She fell to the ground and stayed motionless until the owner arrived.
This incident caused significant distress and eventually led to a legal dispute.
Arrival of Authorities – Inspection
When the authorities stepped in, things went from bad to worse.
They found out Rex hadn’t been vaccinated in years, and even though he had a passport, he wasn’t microchipped.
The reason? It was simple: local vets were literally afraid to get close to him, seeing that his owner couldn’t control him.
Between the bite and the missing health records, the law was clear – Rex was ordered to be euthanized.
The Rescue: My Father’s Risky Decision
My father wouldn’t hear of it – there was no way he’d let one of our dogs be put down, no matter the risk.
Bringing Rex back and getting his vaccinations and microchip up to date was our top priority, but honestly, it felt like an impossible mission.
Rex was a massive, agile dog who had never spent a day off his property.
He had teeth like a wolf, and since a muzzle was out of the question, we knew we were in for a fight.
At my father’s insistence, the owner took the lead, and they set off on a walk together. Those 20 minutes were probably the longest of their lives, but they made it happen.
Rex was finally with us!
But the real battle started at the kennel. For eight straight days, Rex wouldn’t let a soul near him.
We tried everything – even withholding food to show him who was in charge – but he didn’t care. He simply wouldn’t back down.
The Turning Point
Then, my father decided to try a trick of his own. I can’t go into the details of what he did, but it completely caught Rex off guard.
For the first time, Rex realized he wasn’t the boss anymore – he had to accept my father as the ultimate authority.
That’s when I saw a side of Rex I didn’t expect. He wasn’t just a guard dog; he was incredibly smart. You could see him thinking, calculating every move before he made it.
When he was with my father, he’d transform – showing this pure, honest joy every time he got a pat on the head or went for a walk.
But don’t get me wrong, the “beast” was still there. If a stranger or another animal got too close, he would flip a switch.
It was clear he hadn’t been socialized at all on that estate. Because he’d spent his whole life in one place, we knew we had to be extremely careful moving forward.
When the vet finally came for the microchipping, it was a mess.
Rex was tense, literally “digging his claws into the ground.” It wasn’t the smooth, easy process we hoped for, but we finally got him legal and protected.
How Did The Encounter With The American Bully Happen?
I am an economist by profession and have a passion for conducting various market research.
Based on my experience, I can confidently assert that the Sarplaninac dog breed cannot be labeled as a “prestigious dog.”
When it comes to the “World Dog Show” with 20,000 participants, the chance of seeing a Sarplaninac on the winner’s podium is close to zero.
Why is this the case?
This is a complex issue, but I will attempt to provide my perspective and a clear answer:
- Insufficient marketing efforts.
- A lack of interest among owners in reading a document like “FCI Standard No. 41/03.10.1980/GB” to gain essential knowledge about the breed and what their future pet should look like. Instead, they seek the opinion of a canine judge who is an “expert” in XYZ dog breeds or the opinion of a renowned breeder with numerous champions (detailed explanation in a subsequent article). There are few dogs rightfully carrying the titles CAC and BOB, but a far greater number are champions of their country without deserving even a grade of 4.
- Incorrect presentation on social media (with a few exceptions): a high number of aggressive and fearful dogs instead of balanced individuals that could serve as examples.
- A significant similarity to the Caucasian Shepherd Dog – a solution is here.
- The stereotype is that Sarplaninacs belong in the mountains with sheep and a small hut, while urban areas deserve much better and prestigious options. My message to them is to continue promoting their pets in superlatives but not at the expense of others.
- EU regulations and restrictions such as the ban on “dangerous dog imports.” An ideal example is Denmark and its blacklist, which is a clear indicator that some countries lack the institutions and expert staff (trainers and breeders) to bring things under control.
- The imposition of “right” values, suggesting that it is perfectly normal for a stranger who sees a well-behaved and stable Sarplaninac for the first time to approach and play with it, pat it on the head, and so on. Otherwise, the dog is labeled as “aggressive,” and it becomes necessary to send it to obedience school to learn proper behavior. My message is simple: stop doing this!
- Facebook groups are a valuable source of information, especially those with 20,000+ members? Unfortunately, only 30% of the dogs are excellent representatives of their breed, while the remaining 70% are pets. In any case, Facebook groups are ideal for exchanging information that can lead to constructive discussions that will positively influence the breed’s perception.
- Lastly, a simple question for you – Name five movies where the Sarplaninac dog is the main character? If you can’t answer, try “German Shepherd Dog” in a Google search… I’m sure you’ll have more success.
American Bully Dog – Tyson
I hope this gives you a more realistic picture of the Sarplaninac—a rare, powerful breed that deserves to be understood on a global scale.
That’s exactly why I told my father we needed to change our approach.
I wanted to create content that gives other breeds a chance to shine, showing our dogs in a way that people outside the Balkans can truly appreciate.
Making these videos isn’t easy. It takes an incredible amount of time to get the right shots, edit the visuals, and sometimes even put ourselves in risky situations just to show the true nature of these dogs.
I’m genuinely proud of every view we get, but I’ve also had to face a tough reality.
I know my audience. I see the comments from people who have a low opinion of how we handle our dogs.
Some hate seeing a dog on a chain; they talk about “democracy and freedom” for animals.
I get it – they love dogs and think that what works for a Chihuahua will work for a 50kg Sarplaninac.
But here’s the thing: when I post the “good” content, the engagement disappears. Where are the likes, shares, and discussions then?
I realized I wasn’t giving my subscribers what they actually wanted (something that sparks a real reaction).
And that brings us to the star of our most viral video: the American Bully, Tyson.
I told my father to find me dogs that play in the ‘Champions League,’ and the friendly match must take place on the visiting team’s turf – featuring Kangal, Kavkaz Shepherd, and Pitbull.
By chance, at that time, we sold a little Sarplaninac puppy, and the new owner asked my father to come to his home for a discussion about feeding, socialization, and other related matters.
Naturally, any responsible breeder would offer helpful advice when approached by a nearby owner.
However, it was during this visit that the spotlight shifted to American Bully Tyson, a dog whose training abroad cost a whopping 2,500 EUR.
On command, he would readily confront an assailant holding a gun.
His only drawback was his excess weight and less-than-ideal physical condition.
My father came home and said to me, ‘I’ve found a dog for your next video!’
I asked, ‘What breed?’ He replied, ‘Something like a Pitbull.’
To be honest, I wasn’t particularly thrilled because it wasn’t a Pitbull, and the temperature outside was hovering around 35 degrees Celsius.
But it was worth a shot.
Three of our dogs made it to the shortlist – Bux, Tyson, and Rex.
What Factors Led To Bux And Tyson Not Being The Top Choice?
Bux, a Sarplaninac we’ve been eagerly anticipating for a full 30 years, is an incredibly robust and imposing dog.
I can confidently say that he epitomizes the ideal connection between our breeding kennel and the FCI Standard No. 41/03.10.1980/GB.
However, at the time of filming, he was still quite young, and any risky scenes would have been too big a gamble on our part.
Tyson, on the other hand, is an entirely different beast. He’s the most self-assured Sarplaninac I’ve ever come across!
Even Astor, who was a year older than Tyson, quivered in his presence.
I recall a situation at a dog show where my father walked Tyson just before entering the exhibition ring.
They passed by two large cages housing massive, vociferous dogs.
Tyson casually approached the cages, raised his hind leg to relieve himself, and continued on without a care. Thank God the owners were not present …
In the show ring, if another dog came too close, a mere gaze from Tyson would effortlessly resolve any potential issue.
After careful consideration, we concluded that Tyson wasn’t the ideal choice for filming, as he would casually roam the yard, paying no heed to any nearby dogs.
Which Part of the Video Drew the Most Attention?
It’s the scene that was never planned in the first place, but unfortunately, many misinterpreted it as ‘Sarplaninac vs. American Bully,’ which is far from the truth.
My original plan was to film American Bully Tyson showcasing his remarkable skills in the presence of his owner.
He truly is an outstanding dog!
After that, I intended to capture Rex and him standing apart at a safe distance – that was it.
Time to go home!
However, we received numerous heartwarming comments like, ‘The old dog can’t even walk properly anymore; his time is past; who is he going to protect?’
Such comments are not easy for me to ignore.
We reached an agreement to film some risky scenes, and if things didn’t go as planned, there was no turning back!
In the end, we successfully shot the scenes without a hair harmed on anyone’s head.
Yet, after that, an eerie silence settled in …
A Grass Trimmer Test
Rex is a Sarplaninac who knows no fear, and I wanted to prove that on camera.
I didn’t want to use firearms for a sound test – that’s too extreme and requires a shooting range. Instead, my father had a better idea: the grass trimmer.
It’s loud, it’s vibrating, and most dogs hate it.
We filmed the whole thing. The moment the trimmer started, Rex didn’t flinch.
He did the opposite – he started barking incessantly and charging at it, ready to tear it apart. But as soon as my father turned it off, Rex went back to being completely calm.
Of course, some people on social media jumped to conclusions and called it “animal cruelty.” But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Once I explained we were just testing his nerves and temperament, they started to see the point.
Trust me, not every dog reacts this way; most would be running in the opposite direction.
We have reached the very end of the story …
Sarplaninac Rex left an indelible mark in our breeding kennel!
Incredibly intelligent, profoundly devoted to those he embraced, and an absolute beast towards strangers and other animals.
Standing at his modest height of 68 cm, he struck fear and awe in all our dogs, except Tyson.
If he were a bit younger (around 5 years old), he would put up a serious fight against a wolf, and no dog in the world stood a chance against a bear.
I’m not claiming he would win in a one-on-one situation with a wolf, but he would certainly deter a wolf from attacking the property, ensuring the wolf would head in the opposite direction.
It’s important to note that Rex and I couldn’t play together on our own; my father’s assistance was necessary.
But even though I couldn’t pet him or take him for a walk whenever I wanted, I loved him immensely!
Thank you for your attention and time.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments below …
Hello. In your video rex vs tyson iam the guy im the white shirt. I buyd the son of your dog and named him Thor. I rrally want to have contact to your family for the knowlegde you have of the breed.
Woth good Greetings
Gordian
Hello Gordian,
Yes, that’s right! We heard each other on whatsapp and we are glad that Thor is well. We are looking forward to new pictures …
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment below our article.
Greetings,
Alen Stefanovic