IIn
the middle of the 18th. century the Spanish government abolished the law
that forbid the export of Merino sheep's to other countries. From 1797
flock of sheep were sold to Russia. The sheep had to be brought to the
steppe so they were driven over land, all the way on foot; sometimes up
to 2500 or 8000 sheep. A transport like this could take two years. The
sheep were accompanied by sheepdogs. Some say it was the Gos d'Atura,
the Catalan Sheepdog. Others say it was the German Schafpudel. Most
likely they were dogs with shaggy hair. Once the sheep arrived in Russia,
most of them were brought to Askania Nova, a large area in the
Crimea. The small sheepdogs were crossed with local dogs such as the
Tartar (Caucasian) Owtcharka, the Crimean Greyhound and the Hungarian
Komondor, because there was a strong need for larger dogs who were
suitable to guard and to protect the herds against wolves and other
predators. The ability to drive sheep was not as relevant anymore. Now
and than you can see pure SROs of today who are born with the instinct
to keep their (human) flock together as well as a great sense for
maintaining order and guarding capabilities. Askania Nova has not been
the only "sheep colony" in Russia, but has been the largest
and most well known. For a long time the breeding of SROs was in the
hands of the Falz-Fein family that owned Askania Nova. Around 1850 the
SRO was already a settled and widespread breed. Records speak of about
2000 Owtcharkas, working permanently amongst the sheep; on every 1000
sheep were 4-5 dogs. Around the 1870's the SRO must have had its climax
in numbers, after which a certain decay set in, due to a reclamation of
the steppe for agriculture, growing grains etc. And with a rather fast
decline in the number of wolves, the need for dogs also declined.
Nevertheless Falz-Fein stayed personally interested in preserving the
SRO and he collected as many SROs as he could. He set up a breeding
program to preserve the SRO from degeneration. During that period of
time the SRO became a famous object of distinction whose value was equal
to that of a thoroughbred race horse. When the Russian Revolution took
place, Askania Nova was almost completely plundered and destroyed. Most
of the dogs were killed or stolen, and many were shot because they did
not accept new masters. It is thanks to the famous biologist prof. A.
Brauner that the SRO still exists. When he came to Askania Nova in 1923
he only found some young Owtcharkas. With the help of military kennels,
shepherds and other enthusiasts he collected them. He also set up
regulations that wandering Owtcharkas had to be caught alive. In 1928,
after foundation of a state breeding centre in Dzhankoi (Crimea), a
successful
resurrection of SRO took place. The number of dogs increased and they
found their way to other cities like Moscow. In 1930 there were some
official Russian entries at a German Dog Show and in 1939 there was a
special breed exhibition in Simferopol. Than WW II started. The main
kennels including the one in Dzhankoi were fully destroyed. Only some
SROs were left in state kennels, in the Crimea areas and in Moscow. In
Leningrad 5 SROs remained. Nothing else was left to do than to cross
these dogs with dogs of SRO type of unknown heritage; sometimes pure
ones, but often mongrels. In 1947 the breed was supported by using the
Komondor in order to acquire fresh blood, and in the 70's another
Komondor cross was made. Unfortunately many people started to cross SROs
with whatever they liked without regard for correct type. Now, most SROs
have somewhere amongst their forefathers one or two Caucasians. The
problem is that the dogs of pure heritage are scare and very closely
related, so sound-producing dogs of mixed blood had to be used as well. The
number of SROs has once again decreased drastically in the last decades
due to the bad economic situation and also by fashion. Lots of dogs died
because of a lack of medication and food. Lots of people can not
afford a SRO; people who can want to have a breed of non-Russian origin.
Recently some new clubs in and around Moscow are trying to popularize
the SRO in Russia. In 1994 there were 100 "Yoozhaks" in one
Moscow show. Russians
have a rich and beautiful tradition in naming their SROs. There is no
need to stick to names like Yuri, Igor of Natasha. Traditionally it was
not done in Russia to use human names for dogs and the dogs did not have
kennel names. There is a special book called "Russian names for
Russian dogs", by I. Zerebko, with beautiful dog names such as;
Shaman, Zvezda (Star), Umnitza (Clever person), Ataman (Robber,
chieftain) and Buran (Snowstorm).
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General
 The
South Russian Owtcharka (SRO) is one of the 3 Owtcharka breeds from
Russia. Originally the SRO came from the Crimea, which is in the Ukraine.
The Russian word "Owtcharka" means sheepdog. The SRO is
officially named Yoozhnorusskaya Owtcharka, but is usually called South
Russian or Yoozhak for short. It is a large dog, brisk and nimble, with
very strong muscles. The minimum height is 62 cm for bitches and 65 cm
for males. There is no maximum height. The coat distinguishes him from
the other two Owtcharka breeds. The upper coat is long (10-15 cm) with
lots of furry undercoat. The uppercoat feels like goats hair, the color
is mostly white but some SROs are grey or beige, or white with grey
marks.
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| 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.
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 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
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| 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 EARS * Are small, triangular, lying close to the head. EYES * Are very intelligent. Dark, with pigmented close-fitting rims.
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| 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 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Care
In spite of their long white coats, the care of a SRO is not difficult.
They have to be brushed once a week. A little puppy already has to learn
to get used to this and to accept it. The coat of SROs protects
them from cold and warmth and is "self cleaning". Even when
the weather is dirty and rainy, their coats will be bright white when it
is dried up (and all the dirt and sand will be on your floor!). It is
possible to spin and knit the hair of a SRO. It was done in Russia. The
knitting was used for medical treatment of rheumatism.
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Faults Note * Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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Zuidrussische Owcharka 
Hisory 
