The magnificent mountains of the Caucasus Mountains form the geographical border between Europe and Asia. This rugged, untamed landscape is the home of the most ancient civilizations of the world, as well as the most deep valleys, and the strongest animals. It’s in this magnificent environment that one of the canine world’s most formidable and ancient breeds was created and named the Caucasian Shepherd Dog, also known as the Caucasian Ovcharka.
To find out the origins of the breed, dig into ancient history and trace the ancestry of a dog that predates written records and modern geographical borders. The Caucasian Shepherd’s ancestry is deep. It is part of a breed of dog that was formerly called Molossers. Canine archeologists and historians debate the exact location where the breed originated, but they all are of the opinion that it was mastiff breeds from the Middle East and Central Asia. Many experts believe the Tibetan Mastiff and Caucasian Sheep have a shared parent.
When nomadic tribes travelled through the Asian steppes and into the Caucasus hundreds of years ago, they brought their huge group of guardians along with them. An intriguing theory suggests that these dogs are ancestors of the ancient Molossians, who originated in Mesopotamia. Artifacts and carvings dating back to the area depict large bear-like breeds that were used to hunt large game and to guard palaces.
The dogs were bred by the Caucasus Mountains after trade routes expanded. The Caucasian Shepherd is a landrace that was born out of necessity. Contrary to the breeds of today, which were created in Victorian England through pedigree registrations. The Caucasian Shepherd has been referred to as an “aboriginal”, or “landrace”. This means that the breed has evolved in a natural way over time, and has been formed more by its natural surroundings than by aesthetic standards.
The Caucasus region, which includes the current day Georgia and Armenia and also North Caucasus Russian republics (such as Dagestan, Ossetia, etc.) was a difficult environment to evolve. Extreme temperatures from extreme summer heat in valleys to snowstorms that were subzero at high altitudes, required dogs equipped with a robust double coat, which was weatherproof.
The hilly, rock terrain required dogs with huge bone mass, toughness and endurance that was unshakeable. Result from the vastness of the Caucasus Mountains and their compartmentalization by deep valleys several distinct Caucasian Shepherds were developed in the course of time. The Georgian Type: Sometimes regarded as the classic and most massive variety. The breeders who were born in the mountains of Georgia, such as the Kazbegi region, were massive strong, muscular and had thick, long hair. They are generally regarded as the benchmark for modern breeds. Armenian Type: These breeds were a bit smaller but extremely flexible. They had hair of medium length and were predominantly solid colored.
caucasian shepherd dog history
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