Standard: Caucasian Shepherd (Caucasian Ovcharka) 
Country of Origin: Former Soviet Union 

GENERAL APPEARANCE  
Powerful appearance with solid bone structure and strong musculature. The skin is thick but elastic. 

TEMPERAMENT 
Strong and balanced with a calm nature. Revealing a good defense reaction which will be used if necessary. Typically ferocious towards, and distrustful of strangers. 

SIZE  
Well revealed. Males are larger and more solid. Bitches are smaller and have a slighter build. Height at withers must not be under 65cm for dogs. Bitches should not be under 62cm. 

COAT AND COLOR  
The fur is natural and course with strongly developed lighter color undercoat. On the head and on the front sides of the limbs, the hair is shorter and close fitting. The coat is divided into three types: 

A) Longhaired - Longer top hair. The long hair forms a type of mane on the haunch. Well developed pants especially on the backside of the leg are feathers. Long hair covers the entire tail giving it a thick and bushy appearance. 

B) Shorthaired - Thick relatively sort hair without mane. No feathers on the haunch, underside of the leg or tail. 

C) A variety which is a cross between the above mentioned types. Long haired but without mane, feathers on the haunch, underside and without the bushy tail. 

Color - Various grays, mostly light to rust colored tones. Rust colored, straw, yellow, white, earth colored, striped, as well as spotted and piebald. 

HEAD 
Solid with a wide skull and strongly developed bones. Wide flat forehead which is bisected by a slight furrow. The progression from the forehead to the area of the muzzle is slight. 

Muzzle 
Is shorter than the forehead tapered into the lips. 

Nose 
Large wide and black. It is permissible for the nose to be brown if the dog has a light or white colored 

Teeth 
Are large should lie tightly next to one another. The base of the incisors are lined up. Scissors bite. 

Eyes 
Dark, medium large, oval set and set deep. 

Ears 
Hanging. Set high and always cropped short. 

NECK 
Very powerful and short. Not carried high, but at an angle of 30 - 40 degrees to the lien of the back. 

FOREOUARTERS 
Standing and seen from the front, straight and parallel to one another. The shoulder and upper arm angle comes to 100 degrees. Upper arms are straight, solid, and moderately long. The pastern is short, solid, standing vertical and only giving slightly. Length or the forelimbs to the elbow comes to somewhat over half the height of the withers. Long legged index 50-54. Paws should be large, oval, firm, domed and well closed. 
 

BODY 
The chest is broad and deep, somewhat domed. The bottom line reaches the height of the elbow. The abdomen has a moderate tuck-up. Withers are very wide, muscular and very clearly separated from the back. The back is very wide, straight and muscular. Croup is to be wide, muscular and almost horizontal. 

HINDOUARTERS 
Seen from the front, straight and parallel to one another, when seen from the aide. Knee joint somewhat stretched out. Short lower leg. powerful ankle joint which is wide and somewhat stretched. The metatarsus is solid. While standing, hind legs should not brace backwards. A vertical line should run from the buttocks towards the middle of the ankle Joints to the metacarpus. Feet are large, oval and firm; domed and well closed. 

TAIL  
Set high and if hanging, reaches the ankle joint. Able to curl or be hook shaped. Cropped tail is permissible. 

GAIT 
Free, usually even and calm gait. A typical gait in a short trot which breaks into a somewhat ungainly gallop with an acceleration. The limbs must move in a parallel manor in a straight line, whereby the front legs tend to move towards the middle. The joints of the front and back limbs stretch slightly. The and the small of the back spring smoothly. The withers and the croup should stay on the level while trotting. 

FAULTS 
Minor faults - Somewhat to slightly bloated physique. Lethargy in character; friendly or trusting towards strangers. A slight difference in gender type; bitched fit the model of males. Fine wavy hair without undercoat. Black, black-flecked and brown colors in various combinations. A head which is not sufficiently wide or solid; too strongly domed or too steep, flat in the forehead. Short or elongated nose. Lips which are not firmly closed and do not hang over. Low set, uncropped ears. Light colored eyes. Strongly hanging bottom lids; diaeseea. Wear and tear of the teeth which does not correspond to the age of the dog. Broken teeth which do not hinder a proper bite; lose of no more than two of the first promoters or one of the first and one of the second premolara; light yellow color. Longer or weak neck. Somewhat flattened out cheat; Bottom line does not reach the height of the elbow. Too strongly tucked up or sagging abdomen. Weakly developed withers which are not separated from the back. A back which is weak, domed shaped, or slimmer. Croup that is not muscular enough or drops off. Small differences regarding the shoulder angle (front limbs). Somewhat shortened of elongated forearm; elbows which turn slightly outward. Feet turned slightly outward while in motion to strong curved pasterns. When viewed from behind, hind limbs are not completely parallel. Standing hind limbs that are slightly knocked kneed t bowlegged or both logs wide apart or too close together in a standing position. Too flat, too high backside. Weak or outstretched paws. Deviations from normal gait; turning inward or outward; not stretching joints enough. No smooth movement of the back and small of the back while trotting. Raised croup; slight swinging of the croup; swinging of the buttocks. 

 Major faults - Too slight or bloated physique. Severe deviations from given size. Height of withers under 65cm (males), 62cm (bitches). Timid, cowardice, a great deal of apathy; not ferocious. Strong deviation in gender type; males fitting model of bitches. Cryptorchid and monorchid. Fine, wavy hair; without undercoat. Black or black flecked and brown colors in various combinations. Slight small head with pointed muzzle; snub nose; not corresponding to the physique. Different colored eyes;; hanging bottom eyelids, partially revealing the sclera. Small light underdeveloped teeth; incisors not lined up. lose of third or fourth premolar, or a molar; strongly damaged enamel. Flat narrow underdeveloped chest. Back long, sagging or humpbacked small of back. Croup slim or short, a croup that drops off strongly. Straight or pointed shoulders; crooked or too slim forearms; elbows jutting strongly outward. Throwing of the feet towards the outside while walking bowlegged; one or both front legs. Strong deviation from being parallel. Totally straight backside, bowlegged, backside too high. Spread out or flat paws. inhibited gait; clumsy while trotting; croup carried high to the withers; brusque on and off the croup while trotting; ambling. 

DISQUALIFICATION’S 
Any deviations from the solely permissible scissor bite. Cryptorchid, one side or both sides. Undeveloped prostrate glands; black or brown coloration. Lose of canine tooth or incisor. Lose of a third or fourth premolar or molar. Male dogs must show two visibly normal testicles which lie wall in the scrotum.