History is not just a list of dates and places. It is the story of how a species adapts to its task. For the Caucasian Shepherd Dog, its background is inextricably tied to the traditional pastoral life that is typical of the Caucasus Mountains.
In order to truly understand the essence of the Caucasian Ovcharka one needs to examine the dangerous, grueling work that it has been bred for the last two millennia.
In the Caucasus, the agricultural rhythm is defined by the transhumance – the seasonal movement of animals from the mountain pastures in summer to winter valleys. This arduous journey was fraught with danger. To protect themselves, shepherds were completely reliant on their dogs.
A small number of Caucasian Shepherds could be found in a typical flock. The dogs were outside all the time and were completely exposed to the elements. The dogs’ handlers fed them a tiny diet of scraps of food and Whey. They also took whatever they could.
The stifling lifestyle of their lives affirmed their extraordinary metabolic efficiency and their stoicism. The Caucasian Mountains were and still are the home of fierce predators.
The Eurasian Wolf was the primary enemy of the shepherd and the dogs that accompany him. The Caucasian shepherd developed the ability to not only chase away wolves but also to engage them and eliminate the wolves to safeguard his sheep.
The Brown Bear, massive and powerful, posed a danger to the sheep. To stand up to the slash of a bear and to withstand the pounding of a bear, the Caucasian Shepherd needed to be big and strong in its bone structure.
Caucasian Leopards, although rare, tested the dogs’ vigilance at night and their nocturnal instincts. To ensure their dogs’ safety in the event of a deadly encounter, the shepherds would traditionally cut their dogs’ ears close to the skull after birth.
This was a method to prevent wolves or bears from tearing the eardrums during fights that could cause severe bleeding. Furthermore, dogs were typically fitted with heavy iron collars with spikes (known as wolf collars) to guard their fragile blood vessels in the jugular during battle.
Every physical and psychological characteristic of the Caucasian Shepherd is a historical document of its past working. The Double Coat, this thick double coat acts as a thermal and biological armor. The long mane around the neck offers an additional layer of protection from predator bites.
Caucasian Shepherds have a low energy level when they are at the rest of their lives. This is a result of evolutionary adaptation. In the mountains, using excessive energy would have resulted in starvation. They’re calm and save energy until they feel threatened, at which point they explode with speed and aggression.
caucasian shepherd dog history
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