Caucasian Shepherd Dog are
fearless, bold, kind and they are in the
FOUNDATION STOCK SERVICE.
HEIGHT:
23-30 inches
WEIGHT:
99-170 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY:
10-12 years.
GENERAL APPEARANCE:
The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is a harmonious built, large, strong dog with plenty of bone and powerful muscular system; of a slight rectangular format.
Sexual dimorphism is well pronounced. Males are masculine, with well developed withers and a bigger head in comparison with females. They are also more massive, bigger and often shorter in body than females.
In dogs with longer coat-variety males have a distinctly pronounced mane.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
The body length exceeds the height at withers by 3-8 %. The length of the forelegs averages 50-52% of the height at the withers. The length of the skull correlates with the length of the muzzle as 3:2.
BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT: Behaviour is steady, active, self-confident, fearless and independent. The Caucasian Shepherd Dog shows a devoted attachment to its master; it is an excellent guard dog.
HEAD
CRANIAL REGION: The head is large, massive, and broad in cheekbones; when viewed from above the head looks like a wedge with broad base.
Skull: Massive and broad; forehead is almost flat, with a marked but not deep furrow. Superciliary ridges are developed, but not protruding. Occipital bone inconspicuous.
Stop: Noticeable but not clearly marked.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Black, large, with correct open nostrils, not proceeding the muzzle outline. A black nose in solid, spotted or piebald colours is desirable but not obligatory (but genetic blue or liverbrown nose is not allowed).
Muzzle: Broad and deep, gradually tapering towards the nose; with strong jaws and chin; great depth and is well filled under the eyes. The bridge of the nose is broad. The upper lines of the muzzle and skull run parallel.
Lips: Thick, close-fitting, well pigmented.
Jaw / Teeth: Teeth should be healthy, white, strong; incisors are close to each other and in one line. Complete scissor or pincer bite: (i.e.42 teeth).
Injured, broken or knocked out incisors or canines which do not affect the use of the bite is of no consequence, neither is absence of PM1s.
Cheeks: Well developed and emphasized by well pronounced chewing muscles.
EYES: Moderate size, oval in shape, not too deep set, wide and obliquely placed. The colour is different shades of brown from dark to hazelnut. Eyelids are black, dry and close-fitting. Expression is serious, attentive and inquisitive.
EARS: Moderate size, thick, triangular shape naturally pendant, high and wide set. Inner part of ear is close lying to the cheeks. Ears are traditionally cropped in country of origin. Natural ears are of equal value.
NECK: Of medium length, powerful, low set; rounded in the cross- section. Crest is pronounced especially in males.
BODY:
Very well developed in all dimensions; broad, well-muscled and well balanced.
Withers: Well pronounced, moderately long. The height at the withers slightly exceeds the height over the rump.
Back: Straight, broad, firm.
Loin: Short, broad, slightly arched.
Croup: Moderately long, broad, rounded, slightly sloping to root of the tail.
Chest: Long, broad, well ribbed up, deep in general as well as in its frontal part; in cross-section has broad-oval shape. Ribs well sprung, false ribs are long. The forechest is marked.
Underline and belly: Belly moderately tucked up towards rear.
TAIL: Set on high, sickle curve or curled. In repose hanging down reaching the hocks; when the dog is alert, tail can be carried above the backline.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:
General appearance: Well muscled. Viewed from the front, straight, parallel forelegs that are set fairly wide apart.
Shoulder: Strongly muscled. Moderately long, broad, slanting to form an angle of approximately 100 degrees with the upper arm. The shoulder-blade lies close against the chest.
Upper arm: Strong and muscular, close fitting.
Elbow: Placed strictly back in parallel axis; turning neither in not out.
Forearm: Straight, massive, moderately long, well muscled; rounded in cross-section.
Metacarpus (Pastern): Short, massive; almost straight viewed from the front and the side.
Forefeet: Large, rounded in shape, well arched, well-knit.
HINDQUARTERS:
General appearance: Viewed from the rear straight, standing parallel and moderately wide. The stifles and hocks sufficiently well angulated when viewed from the side. The hindquarters should not be set too far back.
Thigh: Broad, well muscled, moderately long.
Stifle (Knee): Sufficiently well angulated.
Lower thigh: Broad, well muscled, moderately long.
Hock joint: Broad and lean, sufficiently well bent; firm, turning neither in nor out.
Metatarsus (Rear pastern): Not long, massive; almost straight viewed from the front and the side.
Hind feet: Large, rounded in shape, well arched, well-knit.
GAIT / MOVEMENT: Free, elastic, unhurried movement with good driving power in the hindquarters. Good stability in all joints and with good co-ordination. The trot tends to be the typical movement. The withers are on the same level as the rump, and the backline is relatively stable during movement.
SKIN: Thick, sufficiently elastic, without any folds and wrinkles.
COAT:
Hair: Straight, coarse, stand-off coat with well developed undercoat. The length of guard coat as well as the undercoat should not be less than 5 cm. The coat on the head and forelegs is shorter and thicker. The tail is completely covered with dense coat and looks thick and furry. The longer outer coat forms "brushes" on the ears, a "mane" around the neck and "trousers" on the back sides of the thighs.
Colour: Any solid colour, piebald or spotted colour. Except for solid black; diluted black or black in any combination or genetic blue or liver brown colour.
SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height at the withers: Males: Desirable height 72-75 cms;
Minimum 68 cms;
Females: Desirable height 67-70 cms; Minimum 64 cms.
Larger stature is accepted, as long as conformation is harmonic.
Weight: Males: Minimum: 50 kgs; Females: Minimum: 45 kgs.
About the Breed:
The Caucasian Shepherd dog is a serious guardian breed and should never be taken lightly. The Caucasian is bold, fearless, self-confident and fierce when a threat is present, but he is soft, devoted, kind and endearing to his family, including other family pets. Caucasian Shepherd dogs were used for centuries to protect properties from trespassers, guard livestock from large and small predators such as wolves and coyotes, and for many other duties. In modern days, especially in the West, they're most commonly companions and watchdogs. There is a great variety of types among the Caucasian dogs depending on their home region. For almost a century, there has been two breed types and standards: The Mountain type, which is long-coated and has a heavier body mass than the Steppe type, a shorter-coated dog with a lighter body mass. Other names for the breed include Caucasian Ovcharka, Caucasian Sheepdog, Kawkasky Owtscharka, and Kaukasische Schaferhund.
History:
The Kavkaz (Caucasus) mountain range of Eastern Europe ' so many nations with different cultures calling it their home through the centuries. The territories of Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Daghestan, Osettia, Turkey, Chechnia, Ingushetia and Iran, the Caucasus mountains are also home to the Caucasian Ovcharka or Caucasian Shepherd Dog. Although its first official Western Show-Ring appearance was in the 1930s in Germany, the Caucasian Shepherd has existed since ancient times and was introduced to the bloodlines of many of today's world breeds throughout history. Many researches show the Caucasian dog as being a close relative of the sheepdogs of the Balkans and mastiffs of Asia.
Historically, Caucasian Shepherd Dogs were used for the guarding and safe-keeping of herds, flocks and dwellings from predators. The first mention of a large molossoid dog used by the army of Armenian Tsar Tigran the II dates from the first century BC. Selection work with the breed started in the USSR in the 1920s. Obligatory qualities such as physical power, self-confidence, fearlessness, sharply developed hearing, good sight, and a dense and waterproof coat have been cultivated in the process of selection. All these qualities, as well as endurance, allows people to use Caucasian Shepherd Dogs in all kinds of climatic conditions, including the most severe ones.
FAULTS:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
SEVERE FAULTS:
• Too light or too coarse in built.
• Lack of self-confidence.
• Deviations in the sexual dimorphism.
• Head small in proportions to the body; light; narrow; long;
coarse; blocky or apple head.
• Abrupt stop.
• Muzzle: downfaced; dishfaced or snipy.
• Teeth too small; widely spaced; incisors not set in one line; any
deviation from the dental formula (except for absence of the
PM1s).
• Insufficiently marked cheekbones.
• Eyes large; bulging; very light; showing haw; slack eye lids.
• Ears large; thin or set too low.
• Top line roach or sway back; long, sagging or arched loin; rump
higher than the withers.
• Body square; too cobby; too long; narrow in both front and rear;
too leggy; chest very short, flat or shallow; croup short or steep.
• Stumped tail.
• Weak bone; muscles and ligaments in joints.
• Lacking correct angulations.
• Bowed forearms.
• Unbalanced movement.
• Lack of driving power in the hindquarters.
• Coat that is very soft; curly; has very short guard coat or no
undercoat.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
• Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities. • Any deviation from the required bite.
• Incompleted dental formula (absence of any tooth except the
third molars (M3) or the first premolars (PM1s).
• Entropion.
• Wall eyes; deep blue; green shaded or eyes of different colour.
• Docked tail.
• Constant pacing or impossibility to assess the gate.
• Black colour in any variation; solid; diluted; piebald, spotted or
as saddle (except for mask).
• Genetic blue colour in any variation or nuance.
• Bluish-grey pigmented nose, lips and eye rims.
• Genetic brown colour in any variation or nuance.
• Genetic brown nose, lips and eye rims.
• Tan-marking in black, blue or brown dogs.
• Height below minimum.
• Severe deviations in the sexual dimorphism in males.
Training:
Extremely independent and intelligent, the Caucasian Shepherd Dog can prove difficult to train for obedience but not impossible. Although active while outdoors, they are usually fairly quiet in the house. Prospective owners should take note: the breed is highly protective of their family and property, so it may be difficult to bring people into your home.
Exercise:
Caucasian Shepherds do best with a large yard and are suitable for families that like daily walks. For safety, because they are an intelligent and independent breed, they should be kept contained when exercised, such as in a fenced yard and on-leash when being walked. Even though it is a low energy dog, he should have good endurance for walking and hiking. Some breeders encourage endurance tests.
Grooming:
The Caucasian Shepherd has a variety of coat types, from very long to short. Longer-coated dogs need to be groomed daily. Grooming can be a wonderful bonding experience for you and your pet. Their strong fast-growing nails should be trimmed regularly with a nail clipper or grinder to avoid overgrowth, splitting and cracking. Their ears should be checked regularly to avoid a buildup of wax and debris which can result in an infection. Teeth should be brushed regularly.
Health:
Like all breeds there may be some health issues. Some dogs may be faced with these issues in their lives, but the majority of Caucasian Ovcharkas are healthy dogs. Working with a responsible breeder, those wishing to own a Caucasian Ovcharka can gain the education they need to know about specific health concerns within the breed. Good breeders utilize genetic testing of their breeding stock to reduce the likelihood of disease in their puppies.