First a little anecdote, that is said to be true:
The Russian dog expert and judge Mr. Mazower has written this.
In the Caucasus mountains there was a year of early cold with lots and lots of snow. The shepherds of a big sheep herd had to leave their sheep, were only barely able to get themselves in the valley on time, and they were not able to return to their animals before the spring had come. The shepherds thought that their loss of animals due to the cold, wolves and bears would be gigantic. To their big surprise the herd multiplied by a third, the 2 Caucasian Ovcharkas were alive and healthy and 5 little woolly puppies were dancing around their feet....

The beginning of the breeding in Germany

Already in the beginning of 1900 the breed Caucasian Ovcharka was described by R. Strebel.
There might have been some specimen in Europe. We find registered COs in the pedigree books of the Club für Ungarische Hirtenhunde (Club for Hungarian Shepherd dogs), 1971/1972. This breed book was published by VKSK Spezialzuchtgemeinschaft Ungarische Hirtenhunde. The first COs were imported in 1969 from the former DDR and they were represented by the breed club for Hungarian Shepherd dogs. This breed club was very open for all kinds of “new” breeds. The Hungarian Shepherd dog club was later formed into the SZG Hirten- und Hütehunde. The local department Berlin took over the representation in the first years.
It didn’t take long before COs were loved and owned by a large group of people and by means of new imports and German bred COs, the breeders started a purposeful breeding. In 1975 they started an independent breed club for COs, apart from the SZG Hirten-und Hütehunde Verein. This new breed club was called the SZG Kaukasischer Schäferhunde Verein. Until the reunion of east and west Germany there were approximately 400 members in this club. It was not exceptionally that over 100 COs were registered for the Berlin Biesdorfer exhibition.

Dogs like the bitches ARAGWA and UNSCHA, her brother URSUL and the males KARABASCH, KEDR and RAMSES were imported. The guide for breeding was the national standard for the CO, published by the DOSAAF from the USSR and translated by the breed committee of the club.

(Note: >>>When in 1995 the RKF (Russian Kynological Federation) and FCI decided to work together as registered partners, this was the start of a new era in the history of Russian dog breeds. It was finally possible to register imported dogs from Russia in the official breed books of the FCI countries, as long as they had a certified RKF pedigree. The RKF takes full responsibility for the export pedigrees. <<<)

The CO found its way to the rest of western Europe. Dogs bred in the former DDR were exported; the first export of the kennel vom KUBAN went to the Netherlands. Apart from that there were exports to Poland and the Czech Republic and later also exports to the Bundes Republik Germany.

In 1977 the first CO breed pair was found in Köln. The German KOC (Caucasian Ovcharka Club) was founded in 1981. In the first few years the biggest concern of the club was to establish a good breeding basis, so the club could be a full member of the VDH (Verein Deutsche Hundewesen, the German Kennel Club). The following kennels have been important for the breeding of COs in Germany.

“ Von Arons Kaukasenranch”. Mrs Aron came from the former DDR and brought 2 COs with her, FARUK V. TONBERG and EIDERA V. JUGLANS. With this breeding pair she had her first litter in October 1978 in the Bundes Republic Germany.

“Von der Stadt Hemsbach”. This kennel hat its first litter in August 3, 1981. The breeding pair was ARGRAS CHATA TATROWA and AZTALPA V. DILORING, owner D. Böhler.

“Von Elbrus”. This kennels first litter was born in June 10, 1982, out of BOSKO V. ARONS KAUKASENRANCH and ANGARA Z. LECHISTANU. In May 1987 the last litter, the J-litter, was born in this kennel.

These 3 kennels were the start of the breeding of COs. A few more of the older kennels were “Von der Zigeunereiche”, owner K.H. Staude, “Samarkand’s”, owner H. Rasch, “Vom Yakhof”, owner Bendorf, “Von der grauen Riesen”, owner W. Reimann and “Non Tiblissi”, owner R. & K. Quartz.

Following are some data form the breed book of COs between 1982-1990

 Registration of puppies    Re-registration from import dogs
1982   19 Puppies                                   5
1983   34                                                6
1984   74                                                12
1985   85                                                10
1986   79                                                3
1987   79                                                5
1988   74                                                4
1989   128                                              12
1990   37                                                9

Maybe the figures for 1990 aren’t complete, because the litters that were born in the former DDR aren’t calculated.

The start and construction of the breed was very difficult in the beginning. There was no regulation that dogs used for breeding had to be x-rayed for hipdysplasia, nor was there a tattoo registration for litters, no litter control, no minimum age for breeding females, etc.
The first breed selection forms for COs were copies from the Polski Ovczarek Nizziny and Podhalanski! Apart from that, the breed selection didn’t have any significant meaning, as this did not influence the breeding regulations at all.
Throughout the years the breeding laws were improved and extended, for the benefit of the breeding stock, such as a minimum and maximum age for male and female, and the time interference between 2 litters.

Karen Klimmek, Germany, Februari 2002