Origin:
(not recognized by The Canadian Kennel Club) The powerful and burly Ovcharka has protected flocks in Russia's Caucasus Mountains for more than six centuries. The Ovcharka's imposing appearance is enough to convince two-legged or four-legged predators to keep their distance. Like most flock guardians, the Ovcharka's roots may be traced back to Middle Eastern and Asian ancestors. First and foremost a working dog, the Ovcharka's standardized appearance was never a priority and different regions tended to produce different types. The breed first appeared outside the former Soviet Union in 1969 in East Germany. Today they are seen at numerous European shows and are becoming better known around the world.
Temperament:
The breed is known to be independent, iron-willed and supremely confident. They are typically distrustful of strangers, revealing a strong defence reaction, which will be employed if necessary.
Activity Level:
Very much an outdoor dog, the Ovcharka is calm in nature but requires room to roam around and regular exercise.
Height/Weight:
Most Ovcharkas will stand 24-26 in (61-66 cm) at the shoulder and carry a substantial amount of weight.
Coat:
The coat is coarse with a well-developed undercoat. It comes in three varieties. The long-haired Ovcharka has longer top hair with a mane over the rear and abundant hair on the back side of the legs. The short-haired variety has thick, short hair but lacks the mane and leg feathering. The third is a mixture of the first two - long-haired but without the mane and feathering.
Colour:
The coat may be grey, rust, yellow, white, earth-coloured, brindle or piebald.
Grooming:
Regular brushing is required to keep the coat neat but no trimming is needed.
