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BREED CHARACTERISTICS
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PUPPIES 2002

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Last updated:
December 24, 2008

Interesting Quotes:

"In the last 4-5 years, parvovirus in the US has been the biggest problem for kennels, even in vaccinated dogs."
(Foster-Smith Pet
Catalog, Vol. 03-57)

***

"She was a seven-month-old, gorgeous, taupe-colored devil in dogs clothing. But I loved her."
(Paul Loeb)

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"The diet of our companion animals is deplorable. So many dogs and cats eat out of bags full of poor ingredients, rancid fats and powerful preservatives."
(Don Hamilton, DVM
from Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs)

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Command; he thee obeys most readily.
Strike him; he whines and falls down at thy feet.
Call him; he leaves his game and comes to thee
With wagging tail,
offering his service meek.

If so thou wilt, a collar he will wear;
And when thou wish to take it off again,
Unto thy feet he crouchest down most fair,
As if thy will were all his good and gain.
(J. Molle)

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"The more confidence you have in your dog, the more he will believe in you."
(From: Smarter Than You Think, by Paul Loeb)

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"The housebound dog leads a stressed existence. It cannot express its natural behaviors: stalking, chasing, exploring, investigating."
(From: The Dog's Mind, by Bruce Fogle)

BREED CHARACTERISTICS of the CAUCASIAN OVTCHARKA

Luka:  She's got  'The Look'

CAUCASIAN OVTCHARKA   

For centuries flocks of sheep have existed in Caucasia, the mountainous land mass between the Black and Caspian Seas. Although the Caucasian Ovcharka has evolved over the years, dogs similar to this superb guardian have protected sheep from both human and animal predators for at least 600 years - some say up to 2000 years. In the present day, this robust and powerful dog is Russia's most popular breed and is commonly shown at dog shows throughout Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union.

TEMPERAMENT

The Caucasian Ovtcharka (loosely translated "Sheepdog" or "Shepherd's dog") is naturally protective, alert, aggressive (as opposed to vicious), affectionate, sensitive, wanting to please, intelligent, independent, aloof and/or distrustful of strangers. Males can be male-dog aggressive and may need to be kept separate from other males of similar dominance, although I see them constantly take unbelievable amounts of "static" from female dogs. (I have to laugh as Rudi and Soyuznik just seem to roll their eyes and sigh as our female stock dogs play tug-of-war with the manes on these big boys and, in general, take advantage of their good natures). This breed seems to be quite malleable and can, depending on how the dog is socialized, become anything from a therapy dog visiting nursing homes to a fierce guard who will answer to no one other than his owner. And, although you should never leave a small child alone with any dog (I'm sure you have heard of the tragedy where a Pomeranian killed a baby while the mother was in the kitchen warming a bottle), there are many families with children who absolutely love their Caucasians, and are loved absolutely in return.

"Luka" the babysitter

"Soyuznik," my knight in shining armor

Sometimes I say my CO's are like "people in dogs' clothing." Walking with my Soyuznik is like strolling with a friend -- who can't speak. I think Soyuznik, in another life, must have been a knight in shining armor, one who would throw down his cloak over a mud puddle for me to walk over. Does this sound crazy? How else to describe the complete devotion and adoration of this dog.

Kitties often go with us on our walks
"Soyuznik," "Luka" & "Charade"

Nobody Gets Past Svetlana

One of the mildest winters in history -- that is until the first day of spring, 2002, brought in a foot of snow and subzero temperatures to Eastern Montana!  This, of course, meant bringing minutes-old, wet-to-the-skin baby calves into the kitchen to "thaw" them out and warm them up with blankets, towels and hairdryer.  Then we would "drench" them -- a warm quart of colostrum milk (milked from our Jersey cow days before) fed into their stomachs via tube.  This first meal really helps to revive and warm them.

Last night, somewhere between 12:00 and 12:30 midnight, at 35 degrees below zero, a calf was born.  The poor nearly-frozen thing!  (Why couldn't she have been born a couple weeks ago, when it was 69 degrees?!)  Into the mud-room off the kitchen she comes.  Svetlana, the self-appointed calf guardian, sets herself up at the doorway and gently growls at any cat or dog that comes too close to "her" calf.

"Sometimes I'm the carefree debutante," Svetlana says, "but then, for some reason, instinct takes over, and something in my brain tells me to 'protect'!"

"Svetlana," the Protectress

APPEARANCE

Size: Large, solid, 100 to 150 pounds or more, 25-31 inches at the withers, and sometimes taller. Males generally taller and heavier than females. Rump is slightly higher than withers.

Color: Puppies are born dark or black, lightening into various shades of browns, tan, fawn, gray, rust, cream often with black mask and/or "trim", with or without white markings.

Coat: Thick, double-coated, well insulating from both cold and heat, and moisture, thick fur between toes, fluffed-out "pantaloons," feathering, luxurious "mane", and of course that fantastic plume of a tail!

The face of the Caucasian Ovtcharka is often said to
resemble that of a bear

Head: Massive with a powerful bite, strong teeth (longer than in most breeds lending credence to the primitiveness of this breed). Eyes are deeply set, dark, and almost "human" looking.

Ears: Cropped or not. Historically ears were cropped to avoid injury to them during encounters with predators. This gives the Caucasian his distinctive look, but uncropped ears are accepted in the show ring and are quite attractive (and very soft to pet). The ears are cut off when the puppy is 1 1/2 to 2 days old with very sharp, sterile scissors. The puppy will scream (twice), but the procedure is over quickly, and there is very little or no bleeding if done correctly.

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