How to Identify a Caucasian Ovtcharka Dog

The Caucasian Ovtcharka is a sheepdog which originated in the Caucasus and has since become popular in Russia and many countries which made up the former Soviet Union. The breed was developed over 600 years ago but was kept only by shepherds and farmers in Caucasia, the mountainous land mass between the Black and Caspian seas and neighboring Turkey and Iran. Their purpose was to ward off predators and thieves, which they did with great alacrity. Since the breed’s disseminations throughout Eastern Europe by the Soviet Union as a patrol dog, they have found work primarily as guard dogs, though can make a good companion provided one owns enough property for this large breed to run on. Because of the Caucasian’s rarity in Eastern Europe and North America, many of us would not recognize one.

Instructions

    • 1

      Start by guessing the dog’s general size and weight as well as taking note of any prominent features. The dog should be roughly 28 inches high at the shoulder and can weigh anywhere between 100 and 150 pounds. You should get an overall impression of a large, solid, imposing animal. The dog should have a noticeable slump in the middle of the back thanks to raised hipbones. The chest should be very deep and slope sharply back to a very highly tucked belly. The tail should be curved like a scimitar and have very shaggy hair up to 4 inches in length and is always upward turned. This should be a very thick-limbed dog with wide paws.

    • 2

      Look at the dog’s fur. It should be incredibly thick and average 2 inches long. A very large and thick ruff or mane of fur should cover the entire front of the dog’s chest and neck which is usually a few inches longer. Colors vary from gray, fawn, tan, pied, brindle and white with any combination or pattern of colors being acceptable.

    • 3

      Finish by examining the dog’s head. The skull should be incredibly heavy and thickly structured with a muzzle roughly the same length as the skull itself. The nose should be very prominent, wide, and have large nostrils. The dog’s ears should heavily furred to provide protection from the cold and droop to the sides, often blending in well with the rest of the head. The eyes should be dark and deeply set, framed by sagging eyebrows. Both the dog’s upper and lower lip should droop significantly as well.