The stunning mountains of the Caucasus Mountains form the border between Europe and Asia. The harsh, rugged terrain is home to the oldest civilizations, as well as the deepest valleys and the toughest wildlife. This stunning landscape is where one of the oldest and most powerful breeds called the Caucasian Shepherd Dog (also known as the Caucasian Ovcharka), was created.
To know the history behind this breed, study the history in depth. This includes locating the dogs of the past that existed before the writing of records or even the present boundaries of geographic space. The Caucasian Shepherd has deep roots in the breed of dog that was formerly popularly known as Molossers.
Canine historians and archeologists debate about the history of this breed, but there is an agreement that it originated in the Middle East or Central Asia. A majority of experts believe that Tibetan mastiff and Caucasian Shepherd have a shared ancestral lineage. When nomadic tribes traveled across the Asian steppes in the direction of the Caucasus several thousand years ago, they carried their entire gang of guardians with them.
Mesopotamian origins – A compelling theory links the dogs with the early Molossians which originated in Mesopotamia. The artifacts and carvings from the region show huge bear-like animals that guarded the palaces as well as hunt big animals. When trade routes were expanded, the dogs were brought into the Caucasus Mountains.
The Caucasian Shepherd was a breed born of necessity. The Caucasian Shepherd is a “landrace” or “aboriginal”, as opposed to the Victorian England breeds that were created by pedigrees. This means it developed naturally through the course of time, and was affected more by the environment rather than its aesthetics.
The Caucasus region, which encompasses the current-day Georgia and Azerbaijan and the North Caucasus Republics of Russia including Dagestan, Ossetia, and Armenia which offered a tough environment for the development of. Dogs with a weatherproof double coat had to endure extreme temperatures. They could endure scorching summers in valleys to temperatures that were subzero at higher elevations.
Geography: The rugged, steep terrain required a dog who was robust and had a high level of muscular strength and was strong enough to keep its strength. Different types developed because of the hugeness of Caucasus Mountains, and the deep valleys. Georgian type Georgians are believed to be the most extensive and the most enduring breed. Breeders who came from the mountains of Georgia like the Kazbegi region, were strong, muscular and had long hair, thick. They are often regarded as the benchmark breeds for today’s breeds. The Armenian breed was smaller, but extremely fast. They had hair of medium length, and were mostly solid in color.
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