Caucasian Shepherd

Also known as Caucasian Ovcharka, this dog is native and popular in Russia. Caucasian shepherd dogs are strongly-boned, muscular, and even-tempered. Plain dogs have a shorter coat and appear taller as they are more lightly built. Mountain dog-types have a heavier coat and are more muscularly built. Caucasian shepherds are large dogs; however, there is no recorded maximum height or weight. The ears of the Caucasian shepherd are traditionally cropped, although some modern dogs are unaltered as many people believe this practice to be cruel, and as it is no longer considered a necessary attribute for the dog's traditional working conditions. The preferred show-types are the long-coated grey dogs with some white markings. The Caucasian is rather well lived averaging 10–12 years.