Caucasian Shepherd Dog

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The Caucasian Shepherd Dog or Caucasian Ovcharka is a large livestock guardian dog native to the Caucasus region, notably Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Dagestan.[1]Template:R/superscript It was bred in the Soviet Union from about 1920 from dogs of the Caucasus Mountains and the steppe regions of Southern Russia.[2]Template:R/superscript The Caucasus Mountains in Georgia has historically been the principal region of distribution of Caucasian Shepherd dogs, both in terms of numbers and the quality of the dogs present in the area.[1]Template:R/superscript

History

For centuries dogs similar to the Caucasian mountain dogs have served shepherds in the Caucasus Mountains as livestock guardian dogs,[3]Template:R/superscript defending sheep from predators, mainly wolves and human sheep-thieves.[4]Template:R/superscript These dogs are distributed over a wide area, and there are considerable regional variations: those in Azerbaijan are fairly tall and lightly built; those in Dagestan are smaller and roughly square in outline; those of the former Checheno-Ingush ASSR, now Ingushetia and Chechnya, are heavily built and very large.[5]Template:R/superscript It is widely accepted that those of Georgia are better and more uniform than those of other regions.[5]Template:R/superscript

During the twentieth century Soviet breeders selected some of these varieties among Caucasian dogs and created the Caucasian Shepherd Dog breed. Caucasian shepherds were first scientifically described by the Russian cynologist Aleksandr Mazover,[1]Template:R/superscript noting that the center of distribution of the breed, both in terms of numbers and quality, were Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Dagestan.[1]Template:R/superscript While the dogs from different areas of the region shared the general features today present in Caucasian shepherds, Caucasian Shepherds from Georgia were considered to be the best examples of the breed due to their size, powerful musculoskeletal structure, and attractive long fur. For this reason, the Georgian SSR became the principal region for cultivating Caucasian Shepherd dogs in the Soviet Union.[1]Template:R/superscript

The breed was definitively accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1984, under the patronage of the Soviet Union.[6]Template:R/superscript

Characteristics

The Caucasian Ovcharka is a large dog, usually weighing Script error: No such module "convert"..[7]Template:R/superscript The preferred height at the withers is in the range Script error: No such module "convert". for bitches, and Script error: No such module "convert". for dogs;[2]Template:R/superscript the minimum heights and weights for registration are Script error: No such module "convert". and Script error: No such module "convert". for bitches, and Script error: No such module "convert". and Script error: No such module "convert". for dogs.[2]Template:R/superscript Life expectancy was reported in 2020 at 10–11 years;[7]Template:R/superscript a study published in 2024 found the median lifespan to be 5.4 years, the lowest in all breeds studied; however, the sample size was just 22 dogs.[8]Template:R/superscript

In appearance, it closely resembles the Kars dog.[9][10]

Use

Caucasian Shepherd Dogs used to serve as guard dogs and bear hunting dogs and today they work as prison guard dogs in Russia.[11]

Restrictions

The breed is banned in Denmark[12] and subject to restrictions in Russia.[13]


References

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  1. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c FCI-Standard N° 328: Caucasian Shepherd Dog (Kavkazskaïa Ovtcharka). Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Accessed July 2020.
  3. ↑ Bonnie Wilcox, Chris Walkowicz (1993). Atlas of Dog Breeds of the World, fourth edition. Neptune City, New Jersey: TFH Publications. Template:Isbn
  4. ↑ Desmond Morris (2002). Dogs: A Dictionary of Dog Breeds. North Pomfret, Vermont: Trafalgar Square Publishing. Template:Isbn.
  5. ↑ a b David Hancock (2014). Dogs of the Shepherds: a Review of the Pastoral Breeds. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire: The Crowood Press Ltd. Template:Isbn.
  6. ↑ FCI breeds nomenclature: Kavkazskaïa Ovtcharka (328). Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Accessed July 2020.
  7. ↑ a b Kim Dennis-Bryan (2020 [2012])). The Complete Dog Breed Book, second edition. London: Dorling Kindersley. Template:Isbn.
  8. ↑ Kirsten M. McMillan, Jon Bielby, Carys L. Williams, Melissa M. Upjohn, Rachel A. Casey, Robert M. Christley (2024). Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports. 14, article 531. Script error: No such module "CS1 identifiers"..
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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