KUĆNI LJUBIMCI Božidar Šarić

Guest Božidar ŠarićHosted by Marijana MatkovićMay 3, 2026

Božidar Šarić

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

Božidar Šarić didn't set out to build a business around dogs. His entry began with buying a French Bulldog as a pet, a decision that quickly pulled him into the competitive world of dog shows and, eventually, breeding. Now, he also distributes Huse pet food, a brand with a three-decade global presence that is still establishing itself in the Croatian market. Šarić offers a view from the trenches of an industry often misunderstood by outsiders. He explains why genuine dog breeding is less a profit-driven venture and more a costly passion, where the love for animals typically outweighs any financial return. He also clears up the confusion around official dog registrations, detailing the critical difference between a pet passport and a pedigree. This conversation will reframe how you think about the economics and ethics of the pet industry, seen through the eyes of a dedicated breeder and distributor.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Božidar Šarić describes buying his first French Bulldog, then being "persuaded" by the breeder to try shows, and suddenly finding himself "hooked." The most compelling ventures often start not with a business plan, but with a casual invitation into a world you quickly find you can't leave.

Many people initially find French Bulldogs "ugly" due to their "funny snout" and "ears that stick up," Božidar Šarić notes, but once they get to know the breed, they "change their mind" and "simply fall in love." The most powerful appeal often lies not in immediate aesthetics, but in a unique character that converts skeptics into devotees.

Božidar Šarić states that "every real breeder will tell you they are in the red," because the costs of shows, travel, and veterinary care, especially the first month of puppy care where "you don't sleep," far outweigh any income. For a dedicated practitioner, what looks like a business from the outside is often a money-losing passion, where the only true return is the love for the animals.

The Croatian Kennel Club (HKS) is the only body issuing pedigrees (rodovnica), which cost a mere 120 kuna, Božidar Šarić explains. The low price isn't the point; it's the rigorous, multi-stage inspection process by the HKS that validates a dog's lineage and health, separating legitimate breeding from unverified sales.

Many buyers are "uninformed" and "don't get information" before buying a dog, falling for ads that claim a "passport" is sufficient proof, when "every dog has a passport," Božidar Šarić says. The most common pitfall for consumers is mistaking basic veterinary records for proof of lineage, underscoring the need for specific questions about a dog's verified origin.

Božidar Šarić is a franchisee for Huse pet food, a brand that has existed for "thirty years in the world" but is "relatively unknown on the Croatian market." Bringing an internationally established product to a new region means you are effectively launching a startup, tasked with building trust and recognition from the ground up, regardless of its global standing.

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