The Romanian Carpathian Shepherd Dog has been used as a flock guardian and general guard dog for hundreds of years in the Carpathian mountains. These abilities are instinctual and do not need to be trained. The breed is therefore exceptionally courageous and will stand up to any predator (animal or human) that threatens their charge. The standard, first written in 1934, is therefore fairly new in the grand scheme of things and before this point, these dogs were bred for their ability to do their job rather than how they should look. Nowadays, they are being seen more often as pets rather than strictly just working dogs in Romania, and are known for their intense loyalty. They can even get along well with children provided that they were socialized early on to them.
Like many livestock guardian dogs (LGDs), the Carpathian tends toward dominant behavior and will try to take charge in situations where the owner isn’t “stepping up”. This isn’t to suggest that the dog is overtly aggressive towards his owners, however he does tend toward assertiveness even while keeping his generally calm demeanor. Owners should make sure to socialize the dog early, provide training and uphold household rules. When this is done, most Carpathians are balanced and even-tempered family members, albeit fairly independent. This is important in all large, strong breeds but especially vital in the serious guarding breeds.
The Romanian Carpathian is not suited to live in an apartment. Most prefer the outside to indoors and therefore need a large fenced backyard in which to roam. Many livestock guarding breeds live outside with their flocks, which makes them one of the rare exceptions to the rule “dogs prefer to be inside with their owners”. This is assuming that the dog has livestock to watch over, of course! If not, companion Carpathians will instead bond with their people (rather than livestock) and do prefer to be within eyes-distance to their owners. Having a lot of energy, they should be given at least one long walk a day to fulfill their exercise needs, preferably in addition to wandering time around the yard to survey/patrol their territory. Make sure the area is securely fenced as some can be escape artists, particularly if they feel they need to jump a fence in order to run off an “intruder”! 
The Romanian Carpathian Shepherd Dog isn’t normally keen on strangers or even strange dogs. At best, he’s aloof and suspicious. At worst (or if he senses danger), he’s threatening. This is why it’s so very important to socialize early and to understand how the mind of an LGD works before owning one. Other less-than-desirable traits include the propensity to dig (especially if bored or under-exercised), as well as destructive puppy behavior. Most puppies are destructive to a certain extent but large breeds can do a lot more damage in a shorter period of time!
The lifespan of the Carpathian Shepherd averages between 12-14 years which is higher than average for dogs of this size. In general this is a very healthy and hardy breed, particularly when given plenty of exercise and outdoor time. They don’t tend to thrive when left to lay on the couch all day. Make sure to also include grooming in the routine! Although they don’t need grooming as often as some double coated breeds, a full to-the-skin brushing twice a week is recommended. They don’t shed excessively although will drop coat seasonally. Like all dogs, they also need nail trimming, dental care and ear cleaning on a regular basis as well.
Romanian Carpathian Shepherds are intelligent but they do need an owner/trainer who understands dog behavior and is willing to enforce rules in a fair, yet firm way. As a dog who was bred for a specific purpose, a Carpathian needs a job to do in order to be fulfilled. Flock guarding is the most obvious job, but in lieu of livestock, obedience training can function as a fulfilling job instead.
