[3] The Karst Shepherd Dog's skull is slightly longer than its muzzle; the breed standard calls for a length of 13–14 cm (5.1–5.5 in) for the skull and a length of 11–12 cm (4.3–4.7 in) for the muzzle.

[3] The breed standard describes the dog as having a sharp temperament and strong individuality, distrustful of strangers.

The ancestral type of the modern day breed travelled with shepherds through this area, and most likely came with ancient nomadic pastoralists.

In 1689, the ethnographer Johann Weikhard von Valvasor mentioned the shepherd's dogs of the area in his work The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola and described them as strong and fearless dogs from Pivka area.

[1] The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognises the breed in Group 2, Section 2.2 Molossoid breeds-Mountain type, number 278.