The Furry Critter Network

Southern Russian Sheepdog Breed Description

Breed Organization

United Kennel Club (UKC)

Native Country
Russia

Other Names
Ioujnorousskaia Ovtcharka, South Russian Ovtcharka, South Russian Shepherd Dog, Ukrainian Ovcharka, Yuzhak, South Ukrainian Ovcharka, Ovtcharka de Russie Meridionale, Youzhnorusskya Ovcharka

Life Expectancy
Approximately 10-12 Years

Litter Size
Average 5-10 Puppies

Breed Group
FCI-Sheepdogs

General Description

It is a large dog: dogs stand no less that 66 cm at the withers and weigh at least 35 kg; bitches are about 4 cm smaller and weigh some 5 kg less.[2] The head is long and of wedge shape; the ears are pendent and triangular. The coat is long, coarse and thick. It may be solid white, grey or pale ivory; or white with tinges of yellow, or white with patches of grey, pale ivory or wheat colour.

Robust, lean, with massive bone structure and a strongly developed musculature.

The dog is banned in Denmark.

Breed Standard

Head: Elongated, with a moderately wide forehead. Slight stop. Large nose.
Ears: Fairly small, drop, triangular.
Eyes: Dark color, oval. Set horizontally in the skull.
Body: Very muscular. No dewlap. Fairly deep, broad chest, slightly flattened on the sides. Belly moderately tucked up. Strong, straight back. Short, broad, rounded loin.
Tail: Long.
Hair: Long (10 to 15 cm), rough, thick, bushy, slightly wavy. Heavy undercoat.
Coat: White, white and yellow, straw, gray, dark gray. White with small gray markings or flecked with gray.
Size: Dog: minimum of 65 cm.Bitch: minimum of 62 cm.
Weight: Approx. 25 kg.

History

This breed is descended from Asian Molossian types and was later crossed with Borzois to give it a more streamlined silhouette. The breed was officially recognized in the USSR in 1952 and was the first Russian breed to be recognized by the FCI. The Red Army used this sheepdog as a sentry. This breed is still rare outside of its country of origin.

Behavior

This active dog is robust, strong, and well-balanced. He is well-known for his courage and is distrustful of strangers. This dominant dog is very protective of his owner. Though he can be aggressive, he can be a good companion if he is trained properly.

This dog needs a lot of exercise. Regular brushing is required.

Function

Sheepdog, Guard and Defense Dog, Pet.

Health

The South Russian Ovtcharka is generally a healthy breed, but is subject to many of the same complaints as all large, rapidly growing dogs.

Back to Canine Breed Menu

Featured Rescues

"Don't Shop ... Please Adopt"

ASPCA

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world.

Our organization was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected under the law. Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA maintains a strong local presence, and with programs that extend our anti-cruelty mission across the country, we are recognized as a national animal welfare organization. We are a privately funded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, and are proud to boast more than 2 million supporters across the country.

The ASPCA’s mission, as stated by founder Henry Bergh in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”

Petfinder

If you can’t find the pet you’re looking for on Petfinder, don’t give up. Some shelters maintain waiting lists for specific breeds, so don’t be afraid to ask! There are also breed-specific rescues for just about every breed, and most of them post their pets on Petfinder. (Petfinder can even e-mail you when a pet that fits your criteria is posted — just click “Save this Search” at the top of your search results page.)

Rescue Me

Jeff Gold, Founder, Rescue Me! Animal Rescue Network

Jeff Gold lives in Watkinsville, Georgia on the same property as Rescue Me's Animal Rehabilitation Center, with 18 rescue animals. Shown with him in the photo to the left are Maggie, Izzie and Cortez. In 2003, after learning there was nobody doing boxer rescue work in Georgia, Gold founded Boxertown, an organization which helped find homes for over 500 boxers during its first two years. Based upon this success, Gold came up with the vision for Rescue Me! ― a network which helps all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals find good homes, anywhere in the world. RescueShelter.com is also a free service of Rescue Me! and provides the world's largest and most up-to-date directory of animal rescue organizations for all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals, including a comprehensive directory of wildlife rehabilitators in over 150 countries.

Top

Home » Contact » Service Terms » Privacy

Site Map

thanks for browsing!

Birds/Avian

Cats/Feline

Guinea Pigs/Cavy

Dogs/Canine

Dogs/Canine/Hybrid

Horses/Equine