The history of the Caucasian
Mountain Dog, whose exact name
should be "Outcharka" that means
sheepfold dog, is wrapped in the
mistery.
Somebody says that this breed comes
from the "Molosso del Tibet" and
someone else from the St.Bernard,
and the estimators of this breed from
the country of origin seem to confirm it.
They think that the Outcharka is an original
and primitive breed, coming from the
"Molosso del Tibet" that, with often
endogamic couplings (that according
to K.Lorenz too should fix the typical
characteristics of the same line of blood) and
strengthened by the hard conditions of
a wild life, has assumed the present
appearance giving in times it's blood
to make recent breed as the Leonberger
and the St.Bernard too.
There is the possibility, but this is only
a theory, that during the XVII century
it had been magnified by German breeders
by crossing it with the St.Bernard (from
this cross could derive dogs with spotted fur).It had also been made
fierce and suited for wolf and bear hunting
by adding loopin blood.
Most recently the Caucasian Mountain Dog
has been used by special sovietic police force
and selected by the breeding of the "Red Stars"
that now has been overwhelmed by the time
and the history.
Anyway the fact that it is in name only
a shepherd dog is understandable, as well as
the jobs assigned by the man (it does not
collect the flock, but it defends the property
of the shepherd) also by watching the
characteristics of the behaviour.
In fact we may notice that unlike the typical
shepherd dog it does not stretch out its head
but it holds it high and fierce; it does not quicken
its steps shaving the ground, but it gaits
slowly and when it speeds up it reduces the short trot
and begins a heavy and cadenced gallop.
The Caucasian Mountain Dog is one of the most
ancient breeds for the guard and the defence of the
cattle and of the shepherd's property in the
ex-USSR areas that we may identify in this way:
Northern Caucasus, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Astrakan, Georgia, Daghestan, and some other
neighbouring area.
In some old texts about trip you may often find
relations, that are a middle course between legend
and reality, of a dog "tall almost as an ass", with
the look and the strenght of an aggressive and wild
bear called "the bear who crushes wolves" because of
the strenght of its paws.
On the contrary sometimes you may read about
the wisdom and the balance of the breed chosen
to be the houses and children guardian.
The real origin is unknown and besides the usual
relationship with "Molosso del Tibet"
(that joins half the dogs of this world) we often
have discordant theories.