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

https://www.fci.be/

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