Official ICCF Breed Standard Description
Brief Historical Summary
The Moscow Watchdog is a national service breed developed in the mid-20th century on the basis of the Saint Bernard, the Caucasian Shepherd Dog and Russian working dogs. The breed was created at the “Red Star” kennel with the goal of producing a universal, strong and resilient dog capable of performing guarding and patrol duties in a wide range of climatic conditions. From the Saint Bernard, the Moscow Watchdog inherited large size, steady temperament and balance; from the Caucasian Shepherd Dog — hardiness, protective instinct and pronounced watchfulness. The breed quickly proved itself as a reliable service assistant. Over time, it gained wide popularity on farms, private properties and in security services thanks to its strength, endurance and stable psyche.
General Appearance
The Moscow Watchdog is a large, powerful dog with strong bone structure, well-developed musculature and a striking, harmonious exterior. The format is slightly elongated; the body is deep and broad, with a strong back and well-developed chest. The head is massive yet proportional, with a pronounced stop and strong jaws. The expression is confident and calm. Limbs are straight, strong and stable, providing smooth, assured movement. Feet are large, compact and thick-padded. The tail is long and sabre-shaped, rising above the back when in motion. The coat is dense, of medium length, with a well-developed undercoat. Overall, the breed gives an impression of power, stability and readiness to work without excessive coarseness.
Important Proportions
The breed requires a harmony of massiveness and functionality. Males are taller at the withers than females, but both sexes must remain proportional and balanced. Body length slightly exceeds height, reflecting the working type. The chest is deep and broad with long, moderately arched ribs. The head must be large but not coarse, its width corresponding to the dog’s overall mass. The muzzle is about half the head length, remaining broad and deep. Limbs are heavy but correctly angulated. The neck is strong and blends well into the shoulders. The tail matches the overall silhouette. Proportions must ensure strength, endurance and confident movement.
Behavior and Temperament
The Moscow Watchdog has a balanced, confident temperament with strongly expressed guarding qualities. The breed is oriented toward protection of territory and family, showing natural alertness to strangers while remaining calm and controlled. With owners and familiar people, the dog displays loyalty, tolerance and friendliness. Thanks to its stable psyche, it is reliable in stressful situations, not prone to unprovoked aggression but capable of decisive action when needed. Early socialization, consistent training and teamwork with the handler are essential for development. The breed is valued for its courage, stamina, discipline and ability to perform guarding duties effectively in various conditions.
Head
The head of the Moscow Watchdog is large and powerful, with well-developed skull volume and a distinct service-type appearance. The skull is broad and slightly convex with a moderate sagittal groove. The forehead is developed but not excessively massive. The stop is pronounced yet smooth, leading into a broad, deep muzzle. Cheeks are muscular but not protruding. Jaws are strong and square, with well-developed musculature. The bite is preferably scissor-type; level bite is acceptable. Lips are tight, moderately developed and not overly loose. The overall head shape must be proportional to the body, reflecting confidence and working character. A head that is too light, insufficiently massive or harshly shaped is undesirable.
Facial Region
The facial region is broad and deep with a straight nasal bridge and powerful jaws. The muzzle is voluminous, somewhat shortened but not square, harmonizing with skull width. Length of muzzle is about half the head length. The nose is large with dark pigmentation and wide nostrils. Lips are tight and moderately pendulous without excessive looseness. Jaws are strong; teeth are large and complete. A scissor bite is preferred. Skin is tight without excessive folds. The facial region must express strength, confidence and attentiveness. Narrow muzzles, weak jaws, lack of pigment or improper lip shape are faults.
Eyes
Eyes are medium-sized, oval and slightly oblique, emphasizing attentiveness and calm confidence. The set is moderately deep, without sunken or protruding appearance. Eye color is dark brown or hazel, even and harmonious with coat color. Eyelids are tight and well-fitting, without excessive droop. Expression is essential to the breed: serious, thoughtful, calm yet ready to react. Light eyes, round eyes or overly large eyes are faults, as they distort expression. Any signs of entropion, ectropion, excessive drooping lids or insufficient pigmentation are serious faults. The eyes must reinforce the balanced temperament of a true watchdog.
Ears
Ears are medium-sized, triangular, set high and wide, hanging along the sides of the head. Cartilage is firm; tips are slightly rounded. At rest, ears lie close to the cheeks, forming a clean silhouette; when alert, the base lifts slightly, emphasizing skull width. Ears must not be too long, heavy or short. Ears that stick out, are too low-set or have coarse folds are undesirable. Pigmentation of skin and coat on the ears must be even. Correct ears create a typical expression — confident, working, calm — in harmony with the massive head.
Neck
The neck is strong, muscular, of medium length, blending smoothly into the withers and shoulders. The base is broad, reflecting strong bone and working character. The topline is slightly arched; the underside has a moderate dewlap without excessive looseness. The neck must be long enough for free head movement and stability, yet not elongated. In movement, the neck is carried confidently under a natural angle, contributing to body balance. A neck that is too short, loose or weak disrupts proportions and is undesirable. The correct neck emphasizes strength, endurance and harmonious build.
Body
The body is powerful, deep and broad with pronounced musculature and strong bone. The chest is very spacious, broad and descending below the elbow; ribs are long and well-curved. The back is straight, wide and firm without sagging. The loin is short, muscular and slightly arched, providing strength and stability. The croup is broad, moderately sloping and well-developed. The abdomen is moderately tucked up. The topline must be level and stable. The body must convey strength without coarseness. Narrow chest, weak back, excessive looseness or poor musculature are faults.
Tail
The tail is long, thick at the base and tapering toward the end. Set moderately high, it hangs naturally with a slight curve when relaxed. In movement, it may rise above the back but must not curl or excessively bend. The coat on the tail is dense, forming a decorative but not exaggerated fringe. The tail must harmonize with the body, neither short nor heavy nor too light. Kinks, breaks, overly high or low set, excessive length or shortness are faults. The correct tail complements the silhouette and confident type.
Forequarters
Forequarters are powerful, straight and heavily boned with well-developed musculature. Shoulder blades are long, sloping and well attached, providing wide reach. Upper arms are strong with moderate angulation. Elbows are directed strictly backward, without turning in or out. Forearms are straight and heavy; pasterns are short and strong with slight permissible slant. Feet are large, round, compact and thick-padded. The forequarters must ensure stability and straight movement, supporting the massive body. Weak pasterns, narrow stance, turned elbows, weak bone or crooked limbs are faults.
Hindquarters
Hindquarters are powerful, broad and muscular, providing strong drive and body stability. Thighs are long and muscular. Stifles are strong with moderate angulation suitable for working type. Lower thighs are broad and strong. Hocks are low-set, firm and aligned without inward or outward deviation. Metatarsi are vertical and strong. Feet are large, compact and well-padded. Hind limbs must ensure confident, even movement and strong propulsion. Narrow stance, hocks close together, crossing, cow-hocked structure, weak joints or overly straight angulation are faults.
Gait and Movement
Movement of the Moscow Watchdog is confident, powerful and free, with good coordination and stability. At the walk, the dog moves calmly with a level topline and balanced posture. At the trot, movement is straight, wide and strong, with good reach and powerful rear drive. The dog must not move heavily or stiffly; mass must not hinder functionality. Movement must reflect the working type: confident, economical and able to continue long periods without fatigue. Short stride, toeing-in, toeing-out, body roll, weak rear or lack of straightness are faults.
Coat
The coat is dense, medium in length, tight and with a well-developed undercoat for protection against cold and harsh weather. The outer coat is straight or slightly wavy, never curly. Particularly dense coat on the neck, shoulders and hindquarters forms characteristic furnishings. The coat must be clean, dense and glossy, indicating health. Excessively short, sparse or soft coat, lack of undercoat or curly structure are faults. Skin is dense and elastic without excessive looseness. The correct coat provides protection and reflects the breed’s working nature.
Permissible Colors
The Moscow Watchdog is predominantly piebald with combinations of white and shades of red, fawn, brown or black. Patterns may vary widely, but the head is usually darker, often with a mask. Various shades of red and brown are acceptable, as well as black-and-white piebald. White markings on chest, legs and tail tip are typical but may vary. Solid colors without patches, uncharacteristic colors, weak pigmentation of nose, eyelids or lips are faults. Color must be expressive and contrasting without excessive mottling. Clean and rich tones are important.
Size
The Moscow Watchdog is a large breed with clear sexual dimorphism. Males typically exceed 68–72 cm at the withers; females are slightly shorter. Weight is substantial, but the dog must remain functional without excessive heaviness. Harmony of build is more important than absolute measurements: the body must be deep and broad, limbs massive, head proportional. Bone structure must be strong, expressing the working purpose of the breed. Large size is acceptable if movement remains correct and stable. Insufficient height, light bone, poor musculature or excessive mass hindering mobility are faults. Size must emphasize strength, reliability and guarding nature.
Faults
Faults include any deviations affecting type, function or harmony of exterior. Light bone, narrow body, weak chest or insufficient musculature are serious issues. Undesirable traits include looseness, excessive length, weak pasterns, weak hocks or incorrect limb placement. The head must retain proper proportions: insufficient stop, narrow muzzle, light eyes, weak pigmentation or improper ear shape reduce type. Coat that is too short, too soft or sparse is undesirable. Behavioral issues such as excessive excitability, shyness or undue aggression are considered faults.
Disqualifying Faults
Disqualifying faults include characteristics that violate breed type or threaten functionality. Unstable temperament, unwarranted aggression or marked cowardice exclude a dog from breeding. Severe bite faults, undershot or overshot jaws, multiple missing teeth or severe jaw deformities are unacceptable. Eye faults such as blue eyes, heterochromia, severe ectropion or entropion are disqualifying. Incorrect coat — lack of undercoat, curliness, excessive softness. Non-standard colors, lack of pigmentation on nose, lips or eyelids are disqualifying. Cryptorchidism, congenital limb defects, paralysis, extreme skeletal weakness and gross anatomical defects lead to disqualification.
Important Notes
The Moscow Watchdog is a working service breed; evaluation must consider functionality, endurance and stable psyche. Puppies and young dogs mature unevenly, and temporary disproportions are not faults unless they affect structure or movement. The breed must demonstrate calmness, confidence and controlled behavior even in new environments. Moderate skin folds on the neck are acceptable but excess looseness is undesirable. Assessment must emphasize bone strength, correct limb placement and stable topline. Environmental conditions and physical conditioning may influence appearance and must be taken into account.
Conclusion
The Moscow Watchdog is a powerful, balanced and reliable breed combining working qualities with devotion to people. Originally developed for guarding and protection, it retains natural confidence, endurance and the ability to assess situations independently. A correct Moscow Watchdog conveys strength, stability and nobility: a strong body, massive head, confident movement and expressive type create a unified impression. The breed requires thoughtful training, socialization and respectful handling to fully reveal its working potential. It remains a valued protector and loyal companion, combining strength, intelligence and a steady temperament.
