Caucasian Shepherd Dog Breed Description

This breed description was written because of the Caucasian Shepherd Dog, naturally only in the hope of improvement!

General appearance: Powerful, or roughly powerful appearance, strong, massive bone structure and musculature. The skin is elastic.
Undesirable: Slightly lighter or spongy body build.
Fault: Too light or slack body.

Bone index: The height at the withers divided by the circumference of the hock, 21-22 ratio in males, 20-22 in females.

Form index: The ratio of body length to height at the withers: 102-108.
Undesirable: Slight deviations from the specified data.
Fault: Strong deviations from the specified data.

Height at the withers: Not less than 65 cm for males, not less than 62 cm for females, and definitely with proportional body structure.
Fault: Size below the specified data.

Behavior: Strong, balanced, calm behavior with a good protective reaction. Its toughness and distrust of strangers is typical.
Undesirable: Laziness and trust towards strangers.
Fault: Shy, cowardly behavior or strong phlegmatism, weakness.

Sexual dimorphism: Males are stronger, more massive than females. Females have a lighter and smaller body build.
Undesirable: Male-type female, or female-type male.
Fault: Cryptorchidism or hidden testicles.

Coat: Simple, coarse, strong lighter undercoat. On the head and the front part of the limbs, the hair is closely fitting and shorter. According to the coat, 3 types are distinguished:

a.) Long-haired, with longer guard hair. The long coat forms a mane on the neck, longer on the hind limbs (breeches and flags). The long hair covers the tail well on all sides, creating a dense impression.

b.) Short hair – dense, fairly short coat, without mane, breeches, and flag.

c.) A transitional variation – longer hair without mane, breeches and bushy tail.
Fault: Soft, wavy guard hair, without undercoat.
Color: Various grays, mostly light to rust color, even rust, straw yellow, white, earth-colored, brindle, but can be spotted, dotted.
Fault: Black, black-spotted, and various brown variations.

Head: Massive, with wide skull and emphasized cheekbones. Wide, flat forehead, which is bisected by a slight furrow. The transition from the crown to the muzzle is slightly convex. The muzzle is smaller than the skull, slightly narrowing, with strong closed, dry lips. The nose leather is strong, wide and black. Brown nose leather is also allowed in white and light individuals.
Undesirable: Head not sufficiently massive and wide. Too convex, too steep or flat stop line. Short or too long muzzle, loose, hanging lips.
Fault: Light, narrow head, pointed muzzle, or disproportionate body structure, snub nose.

Ears: Hanging, set high or cut short.
Undesirable: Deep-set or uncropped ears.

Eyes: Almond-shaped, medium-large, deeply set, dark eyes.
Undesirable: Light, slightly loose eyelids or cataract.
Fault: Two-colored eyes, or drooping eyelid exposing the conjunctiva.

Bite: Well-developed, strong, white teeth, scissor bite.
Undesirable: Wear not corresponding to age, broken teeth that hinder bite. Lack of 2P1 or 1P1 and P2. Slightly yellowish teeth.
Fault: Small, poorly developed teeth. Incisors not in one line. Missing incisors or canines. Missing P3, P4 or M teeth, enamel defects.

Neck: Short, very strong. Not carried high, about 30-40 degrees to the back line.
Undesirable: Too long, weak neck.

Chest: Wide, deep, slightly arched. The lower line is at elbow height or deeper.
Undesirable: Flat, not deep enough chest.
Fault: Narrow, flat, poorly developed chest.

Belly: Slightly tucked up.
Undesirable: Excessively tucked up or straw belly.

Withers: Wide, well-muscled, well delineated from the topline.
Undesirable: Weakly developed, not well delineated from the topline.

Back: Straight, wide, well-muscled.

Loin: Short, wide, slightly arched.
Undesirable: Slightly long, straight or strongly arched loin.
Fault: Long, sagging or hunchbacked loin.

Rump: Wide, well-muscled, almost straight.
Undesirable: Not well muscled, sloping rump.
Fault: Narrow, short or very strongly sloping rump.

Tail: Set high, in a relaxed state reaching the hock, ringed or hook-shaped, cropped tail is allowed.

Forelimbs: Parallel and straight when viewed from the front. The shoulder and upper arm form an angle of about 100 degrees. Upper arms are straight, strong, and medium-length. Forearms are straight, strong, and moderately long. The pasterns are short and strong, perpendicular to the ground. The length of the forelimbs is somewhat more than half the height at the withers, height index: 50-54.
Undesirable: Slight deviations in shoulder angulation, slightly shorter or longer upper arms, slightly protruding elbows, paws turning slightly outwards when walking, overdeveloped pasterns.
Fault: Straight or steep shoulders, curved or narrow upper arms, strongly outward turning elbows, very weak pasterns, paws turning strongly outwards when walking, crooked legs.

Hindlimbs: Parallel and straight when viewed from behind, the stifle joint is slightly extended when viewed from the side, short lower leg, strong hocks, broad and slightly elongated. The metatarsus is strong, perpendicular to the ground. In standing position, the hindlimbs are not placed behind the vertical. A perpendicular line runs from the ischial tuberosity through the hock to the metatarsus.
Undesirable: Limbs not completely parallel. Slightly X- or O-shaped legs. Narrow or wide stance on the ground. Too flat or too high rear.
Fault: Deviation from parallelism. Straight rear, cow-hocked stance. Too high rear.
Paws: Closed, oval, arched paws.
Undesirable: Soft, overly stretched paws and dewclaws.
Fault: Open toes, flat paws.

Movement: Free, generally balanced and calm gait. Typical is the short trot, which can change into a heavy gallop. When moving, the limbs are parallel, with the forelimbs tending towards the midline. Both forelimb and hindlimb joints are easily extended. The back and loin are flexible. At the trot, the withers and croup should remain in one line.
Undesirable: Stepping outwards or inwards. Insufficiently extended joints. Insufficiently supple elasticity of the back and loin. Raised croup at the trot. Light loin wobbling.
Fault: Impeded, heavy gait. Raised croup above the withers at trot. Uneven up and down movement of the loin at trot.
Disqualifications: Any bite other than scissors. Cryptorchidism or hidden testicles. Lack of incisor or canine teeth. Absence of P3 or P4 teeth or any molar tooth.
Note: Males must have well-developed testicles in the scrotum.

Origin

The ancient homeland of the Caucasian Shepherd Dog is Central Asia, Caucasus, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Dagestan, Chechnya, North Ossetia, and the surrounding smaller republics. It is very common in the European and Asian parts of Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic states, and even Karelia.

The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is one of the oldest breeds. It descends from mastiff-type Tibetan dogs. Perhaps the Tibetan mastiff is the ancestor of all mastiff types. Its development spans several thousand years.

The first reliable description of the Tibetan mastiff, as the ancestor of the Caucasian Shepherd, dates back to 1125 BC.

The Tibetan mastiff is broad, massive, large, regularly built, with strong bone structure. It had a broad muzzle and skull. Its color was black, gray, red, and combinations thereof. Its coat was long and coarse, although shorter-haired individuals also occur.
In the first century BC, Tigran, Armenian king, first used the ancestor of the Caucasian Shepherd in war against the Roman regions.

During the Russian-Turkish war, the Turkish army not only used the breed for guarding castles and camps, but the Caucasian also fulfilled the role of the Turkish warrior: before a clash, they sent it forward to cause confusion and uncertainty and with their fierce attacking spirit to thin out the enemy ranks. In North Ossetia, one can still encounter naturally living, wild Caucasian Shepherd Dogs in their natural environment.

Recently, interest in the Caucasian Shepherd Dog has surged dramatically, not only in Europe but also among American cynologists and dog breeders. It is especially popular due to its reliability, great endurance for work, and maximum adaptability to weather conditions.

There are several types of the Caucasian Shepherd, differing between geographic conditions and areas with various climates. Folk traditions have also greatly contributed to the formation, development, and selection of the types. The most important factor was what kind of work the breed was needed for, and under what weather and living conditions it was used. Since it was bred over a large area, significantly different types developed. The breed went through very strict selection and only the most suitable, the most viable, and the most resistant to diseases could survive. It had to perfectly protect the shepherd, the flock, and of course itself under local conditions. If it could not perfectly accomplish any of its tasks, it either perished or was eliminated by its owner. Only the most appropriate specimens and their offspring could survive to the present day. Its physical strength and impressive appearance also indicate this. It accepts only its owner and the owner's family, and for them and the protection of the entrusted area, it is willing to sacrifice its life. It is extremely independent, and does not need to be trained for guarding and protection tasks. It has excellent nerves and is balanced. To children living in the family, it even allows things that it does not allow for its owner. Completely independent! It makes and executes the most appropriate decision at every moment!

The Caucasian Shepherd is brave, proud, confident, and strong-willed, extremely loyal. It knows no fear. Mention must be made of its innate distrust of strangers and its great attacking instinct. Very intelligent, it understands everything immediately, somewhat stubborn.

Types:

Steppe: Due to the dry and warm climate, this type must be large-sized, strong, but at the same time lightly built. Its coat is short, colored red and light gray or combinations of these, but in any case, in light shades. It moves extremely fast, jumps and climbs very well.

Another type evolved in the mountains: strong build, massive, thick boned, large wide head, long coat with good undercoat, good coat quality. The limbs are shorter, the front very wide, the chest circumference large, and the body length longer.

Georgian: Strong, massive constitution, regular head type, solid color, long coat. The most typical Caucasians can be naturally found in the Republic of Georgia. This type is beautiful and elegant.

Azerbaijani: It has two types: one resembles the Georgian type, the other the steppe. Its color is red with a black mask, but piebald can also occur.

Armenian: Resembles the Georgian but is smaller in size and has thinner bones. Its color is gray, brindle, pied, with good quality long coat.

Dagestani: Very strong build, regular, typical head, good body proportions, strict appearance and behavior. Its color is heterogeneous, coat short or medium length.

Garban: Massive build, atypical head, very short muzzle. Its color is red, without a mask, short coat. Extremely aggressive, only experts can handle it. It came to the Caucasus from Turkey.

Kazbek: Strong, harmonious build, teeth large and white. Its color is brindle or spotted, good coat quality.

Gerget: Large build, somewhat long muzzle, teeth large and white. Its color is gray, red spotted with a white collar. Easily manageable, not aggressive.

Ahalic: (mixed type): From Gerget, Garbán, Kazbek types, large build, long hair, color white or straw-colored, with light eyes. The population significantly decreased during World War II. The exiled people took their dogs with them, and upon resettlement, they also brought back individuals crossed with Central Asian breeds.

There is an expression: aburigen, which means that humans do not participate in breeding, but they mate naturally, specifically the best individuals. Extraordinary resilience, low maintenance, very good adaptation to life and climate conditions. Aburigen dogs do not bond with humans, training them is difficult.

Transitional breed: It is positioned between the aburigen and consciously bred types. In its appearance and development, conscious selection and improvement of living conditions (housing conditions, food) already played a significant role. They are characterized by a heterogeneous state. One is the result of conscious selection, the other remains aburigen.

The Caucasian Shepherd is balanced, calm-nerved, with appropriate firm protective reactions. The determined, confident, proud, brave dog always carries its tail high; those that do not carry it this way are the shame of the breed.

Training

The most important thing in raising a puppy is socialization.

Also: play, petting, kindness, great love, firm consistency. No violence in teaching or training, only consistent execution!

The Caucasian Shepherd dog loves children and family! It should be treated as a family member, not as a dog. If allowed by its owner, it likes to do things its own way, which is not fortunate. If the owner is weak, the Caucasian wants to be the pack leader, so people with weak, unstable, indecisive character should not get a Caucasian Shepherd!

Only knowledgeable, committed people to the breed should get an adult Caucasian. Those who flaunt their strength and voice against the dog should not choose this breed. Its individuality must never be crushed, and it should not be disciplined out of place!

It is not advisable to keep two male dogs in one yard!

I must also mention the anomalies found in the breed nowadays. Unfortunately, quite a few people mix Leonberger, Moscow Watchdog, Pyrenean Mountain Dog, and Tibetan Mastiff breeds into the Caucasian breed. These individuals are not filtered out at shows and breeding inspections.

Before choosing a puppy, definitely watch the work of the parents. The offspring will behave the same as their parents. Everything we expect from them as adults must be taught at a young age; this way, the proud, stubborn, and obstinate dog will become a warm-hearted family member, easily manageable by all family members!

Additional anomalies:

The Caucasian head must be typical and not just a "big head"!

The large hair on the head and neck can be misleading, suggesting the dog may have a large skull bone! This is not always the case.

The most important measurement for the head is from the tip of the nose, over the forehead, to the back of the neck, to the beginning of the first cervical vertebra.

If we consider this as three thirds, one-third of it should be the muzzle (fang) part!

If the nose is larger than one-third, it is not as big a problem as when it is smaller than one-third!

The short-nosed dog has weaker olfaction; in hot weather, you can see it barely breathes! In this case, it is not interested in any guarding work, only in hiding from the great heat! Last but not least, in the homeland where it has to fight during its work, it cannot bite well with its short nose, and this is a certain death for it!

In the middle of the head, from the nose back to the neck, there must be a groove in the skull bone!

The forehead must be flat (acute angled)! A steep forehead suggests a "foreign breed"! Usually, with a steep forehead, the frequently occurring characteristics are very droopy lower lips and very long hanging upper lips!

The dog with a correct head should have tight lower and upper lips!

The drooping loose lip corner suggests Bernese Mountain Dog and Mastiff influence!

For eye defects, the inward turning eyelid is a very serious fault in this case, as the sharp hairs on the eyelid continuously poke the eyeball, causing great pain to the animal! A smaller problem is the drooping eyelid, where dust and dirt get into the eyeball! In both cases, the result is pain, inflammation, purulence, and tearing! These conditions can only be corrected by surgery, but they are always hereditary, affecting at least 80% of the offspring!

The "bite fault" and missing teeth almost always indicate signs of inbreeding! To avoid this defect, breeding should only be attempted with completely unrelated bloodlines.

The skull should appear almost straight from the front; a convex skull does not suggest Caucasian!

The ears should be set high; if not, they resemble the Sarplaninac.

If the ears are positioned at the same height as the eyes, then we definitely are not talking about a Caucasian head!

The front legs: the lower leg and the paw should form a 90° angle; if not, and there is a 45° transition, it can be traced back to loose joints and ligaments. This is common in heavier and clumsier Caucasians larger than desired!

Hind legs: Steep and "stake-like" posture is a serious fault! Such a dog cannot place its hind paw in the paw print of the front leg (it can only take a short step with its hind leg, i.e., tiptoes); this dog tires quickly when trotting or running, is not persistent in work, since it is a (Shepherd dog)! The hind leg should form a 30° angle from the knee (hock), and the paw should be located under the rear ventral part! Front and hind angulation can only be considered good if the legs meet these conditions! The Caucasian's back must be straight; longer-bodied dogs have a curved "sway back," which prevents the hind leg from stepping into the front's prints, causing early fatigue and lack of endurance! The dog's tail must reach the knee (hock), but a decisive Caucasian always keeps its tail raised! A raised tail shows the nervous system, behavior, confidence, and determination! Such a Caucasian knows its capability and especially in the presence of other dogs, it shows even more decisiveness!

The biggest problem is with fearful and unstable nervous system dogs! They are constantly mistrustful, even if their owner approaches, they growl at everything or even attack! A hereditary genetic defect!

The training of the Caucasian requires decisiveness and persistence, otherwise the expected result will not be achieved! During training, no violence can be used, because the Caucasian is so stubborn and obstinate that we will not achieve the desired goal!

In guard protection work, the dog must show great determination and confidence! The well-practiced guard protection work may go very well for the dog, but it may not be able to cope with a life situation unfamiliar to it! Therefore, the guard protection work must always be adapted to the genetically inherited ability of the dog! If there is no such inherited ability, the dog is not necessarily going to perform the guard protection work flawlessly! It may happen that a "made dog" will always bite or growl at the two people it has practiced with for weeks, but will treat everyone else indifferently! A good Caucasian will still protect the entrusted area 100% even if its owner is not nearby! It will make the best decisions alone in guard protection work and will never back down! It is very important that if the owner commands it, it stops the guard protection work and goes to its place on command!

If a stranger can approach a Caucasian and it does not at least start to growl or is indifferent to the person, it is a genetic problem! Most likely, a large portion of the offspring will be like this!

The coat of the Caucasian must be straight and coarse to the touch! If the coat is not like this, especially soft and fluffy, this indicates a foreign breed!

It is important that even short-haired individuals have a very dense and good quality undercoat! Curly or wavy hair also does not resemble a Caucasian breed!