The Caucasian Mountain Dog - History
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.