FCI Standard

Caucasian Ovcharka (Caucasian Ovcharka)
Country of Origin: Russia (Country of Origin: Russia)
Current Standard FCI No: 328 (Proposed Standard FCI No:328, please note that this standard is still waiting for FCI approval. There are some major changes we won’t withhold you)

SHORT HISTORICAL ESSAY:
The Caucasian Ovcharkas are a little larger than medium sized dogs with a strong build, their nature is fierce and they are distrustful of strangers. These characteristics, and in addition, their stamina, understanding nature and ability to adapt to the most varied weather conditions, make it possible for Caucasian Ovcharkas to live in almost all the climatic regions of Russia. Caucasian Ovcharkas are found mostly in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijani Union Republics, Karbardino-Balkan, Daghestan and the Kalmykia autonomous republics. Further in the steppes of the North Caucasus and in the area of Astrakan. In the Trans-Caucasus areas the dogs are heavier, in the steppes area, on the contrary, lighter, long legged, often short haired.
The Caucasian Ovcharka is one of the ancient breeds, it descends from the Mastiff-like dogs of the Tibet, related by their origin to the shepherd and fighting dogs of Asia. For many years these fine dogs accompanied the cattle-breeders on the vast territories stretched from the Caucasus steppes and foothills to the Plateau of Iran. Mostly this breed has been forming in the severe mountain conditions.

TYPE OF CONSTITUTION:
Powerful appearance with solid structure and strong musculature. The skin is thick but elastic.
Large dog of the rough built type with massive bone and strong, well-developed musculature. The format is slightly longer then high. The sex type is clearly defined. The males are larger, more massive, with heavier, larger heads and long mane. Skin thick, rather elastic.
FAULTS: Somewhat too slight or bloated (spongy) physique
FAULTS: Dry or loose built, poor bone, square or too long body. Too well marked under-chest.
MAJOR FAULTS: Too slight or bloated physique.

SEX TYPE:
Well accentuated. Males are larger and more solid. Bitches are smaller and have a slighter build.
FAULTS: Only a slight deviation in gender type. Doggy bitches.
MAJOR FAULTS: Strong deviation in gender type. Males of feminine type, Cryptorchid.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: A male of a feminine type.

CHARACTERISTICS OF BEHAVIOUR:
Type of great nervous activity, strong, balanced, calm nature. Revealing a good defence reaction which will be used when necessary. Typically ferocious toward and distrustful of strangers.
Their behaviour is bold, balanced, quiet. Unconfident behaviour and excessive excitability are not characteristic of the breed.
FAULTS: Lethargy. Friendly or trusting toward strangers.
MAJOR FAULTS: Timid, cowardice. A great deal of apathy. Not ferocious.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: Cowardice, choleric, uncontrolled aggressiveness.

BONE INDEX:
Males 21 to 22 cm.
Bitches 20 to 22 cm.
FAULTS: Slight deviation from the cited index.
MAJOR FAULTS: Severe deviations from the given size.

SIZE INDEX:
102 – 108
FAULTS: Slight deviation from the cited index.
MAJOR FAULTS: Severe deviations from the given size.

MAIN PROPORTIONS
The lowest height limit for males is 68 cm, for females 64 cm. If a dog is proportionally built, it should be more. The ratio of the muzzle length to the skull length is 2:3. A dog mustn't seem leggy or cobby.

HEIGHT AT THE WITHERS:
The male must not be under 65 cm.
The female not under 62 cm.
Height at the withers for males is not lower than 68 cm, for females not lower than 64 cm. The desirable height for males is 72-75 cm, for females - 66-69 cm.
FAULTS: Height in withers for males is lower than 65 cm, for females - lower than 62 cm.
MAJOR FAULTS: Height at the withers under 65 cm for males and under 62 cm for females

HEAD:
Massive, wide in the skull region with strongly developed zygomatics. Wide flat which is bisected by a slight furrow. The progression from the forehead to the area of the muzzle is slight. The muzzle is shorter than the forehead and is slightly tapered with strong but tightly closed dry lips. The nose is large, wide and black. It is permissible for the nose to be brown if the particular male or female has a white or light coloured face.
Large, massive.
SKULL: The broad and well-developed skull with the strong jaws. The broad forehead, slightly domed, with a shallow long furrow and the marked, but not prominent supraorbital ridges. STOP: Not long, well marked, but not abrupt. MUZZLE: Massive, of a great depth, blunt, well-filled under the eyes and in the set region, gradually pointed to a nose. MUZZLE LENGTH: Slightly shorter than the length of the skull. LIPS: Thick, tight. NOSE: Big, black, the light-fawn and white dogs can have light noses.
FAULTS: The head is not sufficiently wide or solid. Too strongly domed, too steep or too flat in the forehead. Short or elongated nose. Lips that are not firmly closed and do not hang over.
FAULTS: Small, light, not in proportion. The domed forehead, the sloped occiput. The long, weak, pinched, rather broken up or down muzzle, a weak lower jaw. The abrupt stop. The skin wrinkles on a head, jowls, haw eyes.
MAJOR FAULTS: Slight small head with pointed muzzle. Not corresponding to the physique. Snub nose.

TEETH:
White large well developed teeth which should lie tightly next to each other. The base of the incisors are lined up. Scissors bite.
A full tooth-formula (42 teeth). White, large, well-developed, tightly set. The incisors bases are set in a line. The scissors bite or level bite in spite of the age.
FAULTS: Worn teeth in such way disproportionate to the age. Presence of broken teeth without deformity of the bite. Absence of more than two first premolars or absence of one of the second premolars.
FAULTS: Small, widely spaced, rather broken teeth.
MAJOR FAULTS: Small light underdeveloped teeth. Incisors irregularly placed. Loss of a third or fourth premolar or of a molar. Teeth with strongly damaged enamel.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: All deviations from the standard bite, lack of any tooth

EYES:
Dark, medium large, oval shaped, set deep.
Not big, oval, dark, set obliquely, deeply and well apart. The eyelids are close fitting.
FAULTS: Light coloured eyes. Slightly hanging bottom lids. Eye disease.
FAULTS: Very big, protruding, round, very light of blue or gooseberry colour. Haw eyes, a well-developed third eyelid.
MAJOR FAULTS: Different coloured eyes. Hanging bottom eyelids which partially reveal sclera.

EARS:
Hanging, set high, always cropped short.
Hanging on the ear cartilage, not big, set on high, short-cropped.
FAULTS: Low set. Not cropped ears.

NECK:
Very powerful and short. Is not carried high but at an angle of 30º - 40º.
Strong, slightly shorter than the head length, crested, set at an angle of 30-40° to a back line. The slight dewlap is admissible.
FAULTS: Longer neck. Weak neck.
FAULTS: High-set.

CHEST:
Broad, deep somewhat domed. The bottom line reaches the height of the elbow or lower.
Lowered to an elbow line or lower, long, broad, rounded in section. The ribs are definitely arched; the false ribs are well-developed. The front part of the chest is slightly prominent in comparison with the glenohumeral joints.
FAULTS: Somewhat flattened out chest. The bottom line does not reach the height of the elbow.
FAULTS: Underdeveloped, flat, narrow, shallow, short.
MAJOR FAULTS: A flat narrow underdeveloped chest.

ABDOMEN:
Moderately tucked up.
Reasonably tucked up.
FAULTS: Too strongly tucked up or hanging abdomen.

WHITERS:
Very wide. Muscular and very clearly separated from the back.

BACK:
Very wide, straight, muscular
The well-marked and well-developed withers, wide, muscular, slightly higher than a back line. A wide, straight, strong muscular back.
FAULTS: A weak or domed shaped of slimmer back
FAULTS: A narrow, sway or roached back.
MAJOR FAULTS: Long, sagging or humpbacked small of the back

LOIN
Short, wide, muscular, slightly arched.
FAULTS: Narrow, long, arched or sagging.

CROUP:
Wide, muscular, almost horizontal
Wide, muscular, average long, rounded, nearly horizontal.
FAULTS: Not muscular enough. A croup that drops off.
FAULTS:Narrow, short, sunken.
MAJOR FAULTS: Slim, short, or a croup that drops off strongly.

TAIL:
Set high. If hanging, reaches the ankle joint. Able to curl itself or be hooked shaped. Cropped tail is permissible.
High-set, dropped when a dog is quiet, reaches the hock joints. Sickle curved, hooked or curled.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: An inborn bobbed tail.

FOREQUARTERS:
Standing and seen from the front, straight and parallel to each other. The shoulder and upper arm angle comes to 100º. Upper arms are straight, solid, moderately long. The pasterns short, solid, standing vertical and only giving slightly. The length of the forequarters tot the elbow comes somewhat over half the height of the withers. Long legged index 50-54.
At front view straight, wide and parallel set. The blades and shoulder bones are long, make an angle of the glenohumeral joint of about 100°. The length of the forelegs up to the elbows is a bit longer or just the same as the half of dog's height in withers. The leggy-index is 50 or a bit higher.
FOREARMS
Straight, massive, rounded in section, muscular, average long. The elbows are turned backwards.
PASTERNS
Short, massive, nearly upright.
FAULTS: Small differences regarding the shoulder angle. Somewhat shortened or elongated forearm. Elbows which turn slightly outwards. Feet turned slightly outwards while waking. Too strongly curved pastern.
MAJOR FAULTS: Straight or pointed shoulders. Crooked or to slim forequarters. Elbows which turn strongly outwards. Throwing out of the feet towards the outside while walking. Bowlegged, one or both front legs.

HINDQUARTERS:
Standing and seen from behind, straight and parallel to each other. Seen from the side, knee joint somewhat stretched out. Short lower leg. Powerful ankle joints which are wide and somewhat stretched. The metatarsus solid. While standing, hindquarters should not brace backwards. A vertical line should run from the buttocks towards the middle of the ankle joints and the metacarpus.
At rear view straight and parallel, at side view - slightly straight in stifle and in hock. The hindquarters are not chopped off behind.
UPPER AND LOWER THIGHS
Not long, strong and wide hock joints, little angulated.
REAR PASTERNS
Massive, upright rear pasterns.
FAULTS: When viewed from behind, not completely parallel. Standing hindquarters that are slightly knock kneed or bowlegged, or legs that are wide apart or too close together in a standing position. Too flat or too high on back side
MAJOR FAULTS: Strong deviation from being parallel. Totally straight backside, bowlegged, backside too high.
FAULTS FORE- AND HINDQUARTERS: The upright or protruding upper arms, the short, cabriole or delicate forearms, knuckling, weak pasterns, weak elbows. The sickle hocks, the croup that is rather higher than the withers, the angulation is too marked or straight, the hindquarters are chopped off behind, weak ligaments. Narrow front.  

FEET:
Large oval form, domed and well closed.
Big, circular, arched, cat-like.
FAULTS: Weak or too stretched out feet
FAULTS: Flat, splay.
MAJOR FAULTS: Spread out toes or flat feet

MOVEMENT:
Free, usually even calm gallop. A typical gait is a short trot which breaks into a somewhat ungainly gallop with acceleration. The limbs must move in a parallel manner in a straight line whereby the front legs tend to move toward the middle. The joints of the front and back limbs stretch slightly. The back and the small of the back spring smoothly. The withers and the croup should stay on one level while trotting.
Free, usually unhurried. The characteristic feature is not stretching trot that changes into slightly heavy gallop when speeding up. The legs must move straightforward, the fore quarters should move on the middle line. The joints of the fore- and hindquarters unbend freely. When trot, the withers and a croup are on the same level, a top line is level.
FAULTS: Deviation from normal gait (turning inwards or outwards). Not stretching joints enough. No smooth movement on the back and small of the back while trotting. Raised croup. Slight swinging of the croup. Swinging with the buttocks.
FAULTS: Stretching trot, too reachy action that is not characteristic of the breed. Bindy, heavy gait. Too high in croup when moving. Unbalanced movement. Uncorrected pace.
MAJOR FAULTS: Inhibited. Clumsy gait while trotting. In comparison, croup carried high to the withers.  Brusque on and off of the croup while trotting. Ambling.

COAT:
The fur is natural, coarse with strongly developed lighter undercoat. On the head and on the front sides of the limbs the hair is shorter and close-fitting. The coat is divided into 3 types:
Straight, coarse, with dense undercoat. On the head and on the front sides of the legs the hair is shorter and taut. Depending on the hair length they distinguish two coat types:

Longhaired, with long top hair. The long hairs form a mane on the haunch. With well developed pants, especially on the back sides of the leg, feathering
Longhaired, with long outer hair. Long hair makes a "mane" on a neck, feathers and "bridges" on the rear sides of the legs. Long hair covering a tail makes it thick and furry.

Shorthaired, with thick relatively short hair without mane, feathers on haunch, underside, or the leg and tail
Shorthaired, with dense, rather short hair. There are no "mane", feathers and falling hair on a tail. The hair is stand-off, about 4 cm in length on the loin.

A variety (cross between the above mentioned types), longhaired but without mane, feathers on the haunch and underside, without bushy tail.

MAJOR FAULTS: Hair soft and/or wavy. Coat without undercoat.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: Soft, wavy, very short (moleskin).

COLOUR:
Various greys, mostly light to rust coloured tones. Also rust coloured, straw, yellow, white, earth coloured, striped, but also spotted and piebald.
Various greys, from dark grey, nearly black, to light-fawn-grey, including partly grey; red, from dark red-brown to light fawn, including partly red; white; brindle, from dark brown-brindle, nearly black, to light fawn-brindle. When one-colour, there may be a black mask, white patching on a chest, belly, on the legs and on a tail tip. There are piebald and spotted colours of the mentioned tints, but solid colour is more desirable. Every colour supposes the obligatory dark lip- and eye rims. Wide spread solid piebald colour and speckling on a muzzle and legs are not desirable.
MAJOR FAULTS: Black, black flecked and brown colours in various combinations.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: All variants of black colour (except a black mask), all variants of liver colour or all variants of blue colour. Genetically weak pigment: ash combined with the grey eye rims and the light eyes; fawn or light red combined with the brown lip- and eye rims, a brown nose and the light eyes.

ELIMINATING FAULTS: Any deviations from the solely permissible scissors bite. Cryptorchid (one side or both sides). Underdeveloped prostate glands. Black or brown coloration. Loss of a canine tooth or incisor. Loss of a third or fourth premolar or a molar.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: Bi- or unilateral cryptorchism.