Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Overview
The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is one of the oldest working breeds, developed in the mountainous and steppe regions of the Caucasus as a reliable guardian dog for protecting livestock, dwellings, and owners. Harsh climatic conditions, the need to confront predators, and independent work shaped its power, endurance, and confident temperament. The breed included numerous local types that differed in size and coat, yet shared the same primary function — guarding without fear or hesitation. In the 20th century, targeted breeding established the large size, strong bone structure, and stable nervous system. Today, the Caucasian Shepherd Dog is widely used as a guard and watch dog, retaining its independence, resilience, and natural protective instinct.
General Appearance
The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is a large, powerful, strongly built dog with pronounced sexual dimorphism and an impressive guardian type. The body is broad, massive, with a deep chest and strong bone structure. The format is slightly elongated, the body lines are straight and sturdy. The head is large, voluminous, proportional to the body, with a strong muzzle and a calm, confident expression. Limbs are strong and widely set, providing stability and reliable movement. The coat is dense and thick, medium or long, with a pronounced undercoat providing cold protection. The tail is high-set, sickle-shaped or curled. The overall type conveys strength, confidence, and independence.
Important Proportions
The Caucasian Shepherd Dog must maintain strong, powerful, and balanced proportions that emphasize its working guardian type. Males are noticeably taller at the withers than females, showing distinct sexual dimorphism. The body length slightly exceeds the height, forming an elongated format. The chest is deep, wide, well-developed, giving great lung capacity. The head is large, proportional to the massive body; the muzzle is shorter than the skull. Limbs are strong, widely set, ensuring stable and confident movement. The croup is broad, muscular, and slightly sloping. Proportions should convey strength, stability, and reliable functionality.
Behaviour and Temperament
The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is independent, courageous, and possesses a pronounced guarding instinct, making it one of the most reliable watchdog breeds. It is confident, calm, and deliberate, not prone to excessive excitability. It is deeply loyal to its owner and family, ready to protect them even in serious danger. Toward strangers it is cautious but not unjustifiably aggressive — correct temperament requires balanced reactions and the ability to assess situations. The breed must have a firm character, stable nervous system, and high independence in decision-making. Cowardice, panic, insecurity, excessive malice, or uncontrolled reactivity are unacceptable.
Head
The head of the Caucasian Shepherd Dog is large, massive, and proportional to the voluminous body, giving an impression of strength and confidence. The skull is broad, slightly convex, with a smooth, gradual stop. The forehead is wide, densely coated, the cheekbones strong but not protruding. The muzzle is shorter than the skull, deep and voluminous, without tapering. Lips are thick, moderately pendulous but not wet. Jaws are strong and wide, with complete dentition and a scissor bite. The expression is calm, thoughtful, and confident. The head must reflect the breed’s natural steadiness and independence. A narrow, light head or underdeveloped muzzle is unacceptable.
Facial Region
The facial region must emphasize strength and functionality. The muzzle is wide, deep, gradually narrowing toward the nose but remaining voluminous. The nose bridge is straight, without dips or convexity. The nose is large, preferably black; dark brown pigmentation is allowed in lighter dogs. Lips are firm, moderately pendulous, not wet, forming a clean line. Jaws are massive and powerful, with a broad grip. Cheeks are muscular but not coarse, blending smoothly into the cheekbones. The lines of the muzzle are strict and firm, reflecting the breed’s calmness and decisiveness. A weak, narrow muzzle, excessive looseness, or poor jaw development are unacceptable.
Eyes
Eyes are medium-sized, oval, set moderately deep, giving a calm, serious, confident expression. Eye color ranges from dark brown to hazel; lighter shades are undesirable as they distort the breed type. Eyelids are tight, dry, well-fitted, without sagging or wetness. The gaze is attentive, confident, calm, reflecting judgment and stability. Aggressiveness in the gaze is unacceptable, as is excessive softness. Faults include round eyes, excessive prominence, weak eyelid pigmentation, or signs of fear or nervousness.
Ears
Ears are triangular, medium-sized, high-set and wide, emphasizing the massive head. In traditional regions the ears are cropped; in countries where cropping is forbidden, the natural ear is hanging, lying close to the cheeks. Ears must not be too large, long, or thick. Tips slightly rounded. In rest the ears lie close; when alert, they rise slightly at the base, reflecting attention. Coat on the ears is short and dense. Low-set ears, excessive heaviness, coarse structure, or rose ears are unacceptable.
Neck
The neck is powerful, strong, muscular, medium in length, smoothly transitioning to the withers and body. It must be wide at the base, narrowing toward the head, remaining dry and strong without excessive mass. Skin is dense, may form a slight fold but without a pronounced dewlap. The correct neck ensures stability, a confident head carriage, and the ability for rapid protective action. Strong musculature supports effective movement and endurance. A short, weak, overly loose neck is unacceptable.
Body
The body is powerful, broad, and strong, emphasizing the breed’s reliability. The topline is straight and firm, without sagging or arching. The withers are high and prominent, blending into a broad, muscular back. The loin is short, strong, slightly arched, providing stability and pushing power. The chest is deep and wide, ribs long and well-developed, giving significant volume. The abdomen is moderately tucked, without looseness. The croup is broad, slightly sloped, muscular, providing firm support and stability. A narrow chest, soft back, weak musculature, or excessive looseness are unacceptable.
Tail
The tail is high-set, thick at the base, tapering toward the end. In a relaxed state it hangs down or is slightly curved; when alert it rises above the back line, forming a sickle or ring but not excessively tight. Tail length reaches the hock or slightly shorter. The coat on the tail is dense and thick, matching the overall coat type. The tail must emphasize the breed’s power and confidence and be proportional to the large body. Kinks, naturally short tails, low set, or weak musculature are unacceptable.
Forequarters
Forequarters are powerful, straight, widely set, providing stability and reliable movement. Shoulders are long, well-sloped, fitting closely to the chest. The upper arm is strong, muscular, approximately equal in length to the shoulder. Elbows are directed backward, close to the body, without turning in or out. Forearms are strong, straight, with substantial bone. Pasterns are short, slightly sloped, but strong. Feet are large, round, compact, with thick pads and strong nails. The forequarters must support significant body mass. Weak pasterns, narrow stance, toeing out, or insufficient bone are unacceptable.
Hindquarters
Hindquarters are powerful, widely set, and well-angulated, providing strong drive and stability. Thighs are long, wide, muscular. Stifles well-defined, with correct angles — neither straight nor overly sharp. Lower legs are strong, dense, equal in length to the thighs. Hocks are low-set, dry, strong, providing stability on uneven terrain. Metatarsals short, vertical, without inward or outward deviations. Feet large, compact, with thick pads. Cow hocks, barrel hocks, straight hind legs, or weak joints are unacceptable.
Gait and Movement
Movement must be confident, powerful, and free, reflecting strength and working ability. The gait is even, balanced, without unnecessary energy waste. Limbs must move straight — front and rear parallel, without crossing or swinging. Hindquarters provide strong propulsion, transmitting power through the back and loin. Forequarters provide a wide, confident reach. The topline remains stable. The trot is the primary gait — it must be steady, efficient, smooth. Short steps, stiffness, poor coordination, or weak ligaments are unacceptable.
Coat
The coat is dense, thick, highly protective, adapted to harsh climates. The guard hair is straight or slightly wavy, coarse, medium or long, giving volume and a massive appearance. The undercoat is extremely dense, soft, abundant, providing insulation and weather protection. A strong mane often forms around the neck and shoulders, more pronounced in males. Limbs have medium-length hair; the tail has thick feathering. Soft, fluffy, curly coat, lack of undercoat, or insufficient density are unacceptable.
Permissible Colours
The breed comes in many natural colors: agouti grey, fawn, red, brown, white, brindle, and combinations with small white markings. Preferred colors are rich and uniform, emphasizing the breed’s power. Undesirable features include uneven patches, excessive mottling, or blurred transitions. Pigmentation of nose, eyelids, and lips should be dark, strong, and complete. Lighter pigmentation is allowed in pale dogs but must not be weak. White markings are allowed on the chest, feet, and tail tip if they do not disturb the type. Albinism is unacceptable.
Size
The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is a large and massive breed, its size emphasizing its guarding nature and physical strength. Male height at the withers is typically 68–75 cm or more; females 64–70 cm. Size must be matched with strong bone, deep chest, and powerful musculature. Weight varies, but the dog must be strong, dense, and functional. Excessive height with poor body strength, or excessive mass losing mobility, are both undesirable. Balance of height, volume, and strength is the key criterion.
Faults
Faults include deviations compromising working ability, health, or type: insufficient bone, narrow chest, soft or sagging topline, weak loin, insufficient musculature or looseness. Undesirable are light, round, or overly soft eyes, weak pigmentation of eyelids and nose. Movement faults include short gait, stiffness, toeing-in or toeing-out, or close hocks. Behavioural faults include overexcitability, irritability, poor manageability. Looseness and weak ligaments are serious shortcomings.
Disqualification
Disqualifying faults include serious structural or behavioural defects. Unprovoked aggression, extreme fearfulness, unstable psyche, or inadequate reactions exclude the dog from breeding. Serious anatomical faults include incorrect bite, significant tooth loss, eye defects such as entropion or ectropion, lack of nose or eyelid pigment. Large white patches, albinism, mixed-color signs, lack of undercoat, curly coat are disqualifying. Serious movement defects, limb deformities, congenital abnormalities, or evident mixed ancestry also exclude the dog.
Important Notes
The value of the Caucasian Shepherd Dog lies in its working purpose, stable psyche, and independent decision-making ability. Breeding prioritizes stable temperament, confidence, restraint, and absence of uncontrolled aggression. Excessive decorative traits, overly long coat, weakened bone, or loss of mobility are undesirable. Evaluation must consider age, condition, shedding period, and environment. Minor structural faults are less important than mental weakness or loss of working qualities. The breed must remain a reliable, confident, functional guardian, preserving its natural type and power.
Conclusion
The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is powerful, confident, and reliable, preserving ancient guarding instincts and adaptation to harsh environments. It combines strength, independent thinking, and deep loyalty to its owner. The standard emphasizes strong bone, stable temperament, correct movement, and dense coat. The breed must retain its guardian type, not becoming decorative. With proper breeding and upbringing, the Caucasian Shepherd Dog becomes a dependable protector and adaptable companion capable of performing demanding tasks.
