South Russian Shepherd Dog
Other names: South Russian Sheepdog, Yuzhak, Ukrainian Shepherd Dog, South Russian Shepherd Dog
The South Russian Ovcharka is a sheepdog native to the Russian steppes. It is supposedly an ‘undemanding’ dog but one that is bred to defend its flock with zeal and independence. It is known as an intimidating dog but also as a loving companion. The dog is classed as ‘dangerous’ under Danish law and ownership is prohibited.
Key facts about the South Russian Shepherd Dog
Origins and history
There is little evidence of the exact origin of the Ovcharka. However, some evidence shows a development of the breed in 1790. The Russian Ovcharka is thought to have been born of various mixes of Austrian shepherding dogs and Russian sighthounds. This dog is rarely seen in the United Kingdom.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 1 - Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
Section
Section 1 : Sheepdogs
Physical characteristics of the South Russian Shepherd Dog
Adult size
Female : Between 24 and 30 in
Male : Between 26 and 30 in
Weight
Female : Between 95 and 104 lb
Male : Between 110 and 132 lb
Coat colour
A mixture of white, yellow, ivory and grey colours is seen of this dog’s coat.
Type of coat
The coat of this dog is long, thick and abundant. The fur of the face gives rise to the appearance of a ‘moustache’ and ‘eyebrows’. The outer coat is thick and coarse; the undercoat thick and soft.
Eye colour
Dark to light-brown.
Description
This long-bodied and elegant dog is strong-boned and muscular. It does not have a stocky appearance and looks to be well-proportioned. There is a significant size difference between the bitch and the dog. This is a quick and agile dog.
Good to know
This dog is not easy to train. It will learn instructions quickly but it is likely to prefer to do its own thing. Repetitive training is called for in order to reinforce commands learned in previous lessons.