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Caucasian Shepherd Dog

Caucasian Shepherd Dog

FCI standard Nº 328
Origin
 Russia
Translation
 Anna Samsonova. Revised by Renée Sporre-Willes / Original version: (EN)
Group
 Group 2 Pinscher & Schnauzer type, Molossoid Breeds, Swiss Mountain- and Cattle Dogs
Section
 Section 2.2.Molossoid Breeds, Mountain type
Working
 Without working trial
Acceptance on a definitive basis by the FCI
 Thursday 23 August 1984
Publication of the official valid standard
 Wednesday 13 October 2010
Last update
 Wednesday 02 March 2011
En français, cette race se dit
 Berger du Caucase
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar
 Kaukasischer Schäferhund
En español, esta raza se dice
 Perro de Pastor del Cáucaso
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd
 Kaukasische Herder
In his country of origin, his name is

Kavkazskaïa Ovtcharka

Usage
Guard- and watchdog.

Brief historical summary
The Caucasian Shepherd Dog (CSD) is considered to be the breed taking its origin from ancient Caucasian dogs. The breed’s expansion covers territories from the Caucasian Range and the steppe regions of Southern Russia. The evolution of the breed was not only a result of natural selection but also influenced by nations that inhabited the Caucasian Region. Historically Caucasian Shepherd dogs were used for guarding and safe-keeping of herds, flocks and dwellings from beasts of prey and predators. The first mention of a large molossoid dogs used by the army of Armenian Tsar Tigran the II dates from the 1st 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 the Caucasian Shepherd Dogs in all kinds of climatic condition including the most severe ones.

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 / 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
Head
 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.
Jaws and 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
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
Generality
 Well muscled. Viewed from the front, straight, parallel forelegs that are set fairly wide apart.
Shoulders
 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.
Elbows
 Placed strictly back in parallel axis; turning neither in not out.
Forearm
 Straight, massive, moderately long, well muscled; rounded in cross-section.
Pastern
 Short, massive; almost straight viewed from the front and the side.
Forefeet
 Large, rounded in shape, well arched, well-knit.

Hindquarters
Generality
 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.
Upper thigh
 Broad, well muscled, moderately long.
Lower thigh
 Broad, well muscled, moderately long.
Stifle
 Sufficiently well angulated.
Metatarsus
 Not long, massive; almost straight viewed from the front and the side.
Hock
 Broad and lean, sufficiently well bent; firm, turning neither in nor out.
Hind feet
 Large, rounded in shape, well arched, well-knit.

Gait and 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 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.

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 and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

Serious 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 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.

NB :
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

Bibliography
http://www.fci.be/
Details
Also available: Français (France) Deutsch (Deutschland) Español (España) Nederlands (nl-NL)
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