CAUCASIAN OVCHARKA STANDARD 328 BY FCI

BRIEF HISTORICAL ESSAY Caucasian Ovcharka is one of the ancient breeds,it descends from the Mastiff-like dogs of the Tibet that is 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. GENERAL APPEARANCE Large dog of the rough built type,with massive bone and strong well-developed musculature.The format is slightly long.The sex type is clearly defined(males are larger,more massive,with heavier and larger heads,with a long mane) CHARACTER & BEHAVIOUR Bold,Balanced,quiet. Unconfident behaviour and excessive excitability are not charateristics of the breed. MAIN PROPORTIONS The low height limit for the males is 68 cm,and 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 ot cobby. HEAD 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 Slighlty shorter than the length of the skull.The lips must be thick and tight. NOSE Big,Black.The light-fawn and white dogs can have light noses TEETH A full  tooth-formula of 42 teeth.White,large,well-developed,tighly set.The incisors bases are set in a line.The scissors bite or level bite in spite of the age. EYES Not big,oval,dark,set obliquetly,deeply and well apart.the eyelids are close fitting EARS hanging on the ear cartilages,not big,set on high,short cropped. NECK Strong,slightly shorter than the hesd length,crested,set at an angle of 30-40 moirai, to a black line. The slight  dewlap is admissible.                                                                               BODY-TOP LINE The weel-marked and well-developed withers,wide,muscular,slightly higher than a back line.A wide,straight, strong muscular back LOIN Short,wide,muscular,slightly arched CROUP Wide,muscular,average long,rounded,nearly horizontal