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The Owtchar

Or Russian Sheepdog

History

The Owtchar is the largest of all European shepherds, many specimens standing thirty inches or more at the shoulder. They are strongly built, and are capable of defending the flock against wolves and other predatory enemies. They have massive heads, occasionally cropped ears, and the general proportions of the bobtail. That is to say, their length is equal to their height. Their chief characteristic is a long, dense coat, tangled, towsled, and matted like the fleece of a neglected Highland blackface sheep. Their greater size, untidiness, and the fact that they are often seen with a tail of natural length, distinguish them from the old English sheep dog.This interesting breed of dogs was first brought into England in Baltic trading ships, and were called Russian Terriers, but there is nothing of the terrier about them either in appearance or character. On the contrary, they are sheep and cattle dogs of long descent, and resemble very markedly the familiar English Bobtail Sheepdog. 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.

General Appearance The SRO is a robust dog of greater than average size and speed, protective, with a sincere distrust of strangers, easily accommodating to different climate conditions. Well boned, well muscled, neither coarse, nor fragile.

Body The total body length from the front point of shoulder to the rearmost projection of the croup should exceed the dog's height at withers by 8% to 10%. The animal gives a definite impression of masculinity or femininity, according to sex. Dogs are generally bigger and heavier.

FAULTS doggy bitches
MAJOR FAULT: bitchy dogs

COAT*
Long 10-15 cm, coarse, slightly wavy, of the same lenght all over with a well developed undercoat.

FAULT* straight hair
MAJOR FAULTS: soft, short hair

COLOR* White is most common, white with light fawn; light fawn, grey, blue, i.e. any light, pastel color with or without white.

HEAD Long, moderately wide at the forehead, with a well notable occipital peak and well developed cheek bones. Stop is moderately defined. The nose is large and black.

FAULTS* primitive head; a pronounced stop; pronounced brow; heavy lips; grey, brown or parti-colored nose
MAJOR FAULTS: sharp, turned-up muzzle; pink nose

EARS* Are small, triangular, lying close to the head.

EYES Are very intelligent. Dark, with pigmented close-fitting rims.

FAULTS* light eyes; odd-eyed dogs; lids with no pigmentation

TEETH* Are white, large, set tight. Incisors are in line. Scissors bite preferred.

FAULTS * small teeth; excessive deterioration; broken or missing teeth; yellow teeth
MAJOR FAULTS: extremely damaged enamel

NECK Is high set, lean, moderately long.

CHEST * Is deep rather than wide; reaching elbows or below; ribs well-sprung.

BELLY * Is moderately tucked.

LOIN * Is short, wide, moderately arched.

RUMP Is wide, almost horizontal. Height about same as withers.

TAIL* Falling at rest, reaching the hock, with the end curved upward.

MAJOR FAULTS * ring shaped tail; short or cropped tail

FOREQUARTERS * Front legs are straight, parallel, relatively long. The angle formed by the shoulder bone and upper arm bone is about 100 degrees. Pasterns are strong, wide and long, with a slight slant.

HINDQUARTERS Are powerful, wide set, parallel. Well-angulated. The upper thighs are well-muscled. Stifle bones are long, inclined. Hock joint is clean-cut, angular. The hock is strong, long, slightly inclined.

MAJOR FAULTS* no angulation; short stifles

FEET* Are strong, oval shaped, large, with arched toes, well covered with hair.

GAIT
Powerful, ground-covering, trot or gallop. Free, balanced movement. Front as well as rear legs are not thrown either in nor out; legs converge under body toward a center line as speed increases. Joints are not tied up.

SUMMARY * Any deviation from the standard above should be considered a fault and should be penalized to the extent of deviation.

DISQUALIFICATIONS Pronounced overshot or undershot jaw; cryptorchid males, unilateral or bilateral; short, straight hair; colors that are not specified by the standard above.

SIZE AND PROPORTIONS Height at withers Dogs 65 cm minimum; bitches 62 cm minimum. No maximum.

FAULTS* dogs 60 cm to 65 cm; bitches 58 cm to 62 cm
MAJOR FAULTS: dogs under 60 cm; Bitches under 58 cm

The total body length from the front point of shoulder to the rearmost projection of the croup should exceed the dog's height at withers by 8% to 10%. The animal gives a definite impression of masculinity or femininity, according to sex. Dogs are generally bigger and heavier.

Faults Any departure from foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact propotion to its degree.

Note* Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.