South Russian Shepherd Dog - breed description and character of a dog

The South Russian Shepherd Dog can be called a real gem of our dog breeding. She undeservedly lost her popularity. They are strong, fast. These dogs are very good helpers for sheep breeders. But this ability did them a disservice. When sheep breeding became less and less popular, no one needed these sheep dogs. Today, there are quite a few South Russian Shepherd Dogs, and they are considered to be one of the most dangerous breeds.

Story

The history of this breed began when Catherine II decided to create agricultural colonies in Tavria. For this, she invited there to settlers. They brought with them a lot of livestock, for which the climate and nature of Tavria were very favorable. To guard the sheep, dogs were brought from Spain.

These were Asturian shepherds. They themselves could cope with a large herd.But they could not fight the steppe wolves, who increasingly attacked the sheep. It was necessary to breed a breed that would not only perfectly cope with the sheep, but could also resist the severe predators. For this, shepherd dogs were crossed with a Tatra shepherd. These were very strong dogs that were used for grazing in Poland. Most likely, it is thanks to him that the South Russian Shepherd Dog has a white color. They were also bred with local and Russian hounds. From them, the South Russian Shepherd Dogs took hunting qualities and stamina. Selection work was carried out in the estate of Ascania Nova. Unfortunately, when the war swept through the territory of modern Ukraine, the representatives of the breed became much less. And when sheep breeding became less and less popular, these dogs became almost unnecessary for anyone.

Breed description

1. The body of the YURO is covered with very long hair. She is thick and has an undercoat. Their coat is not only long, but also wavy. This will come dog similarity with the sheep. On the pasture it gave her certain advantages. The breed standard was defined in 1931.
2. Dogs have a large skull, cheekbones wide.
3. The forehead is wide and sloping. Brow arc and cheekbones are well developed.
4. YURO has flat cheeks. Because of this, the muzzle looks sculpted.
5. The nose is wide. It has a black color. On the nose long hair.
6. The jaw is powerful, the teeth are very well developed, the scissors bite.
7. Since the eyes are set wide, the dog has a good viewing angle. Sheepdog oval eyes can be dark or dark brown. The eyelids are black. Eyes covers bangs.
8. Ears set high, tight to the head.
9. YURO have a strong neck without bending.
10. The chest is powerful and has an average width.
11. The tail is characterized by a standard length. The tip is usually rolled into a semiring. Six on the tail is also long.
12. Limbs straight and long. They are also covered with long wavy hair.
13. The skin is quite elastic, does not hang down and does not have folds.

These dogs are tall. Males are bigger and taller. They have a height of more than 65 cm, while the bitches are 3 cm lower.It is good if the dog is even taller - 72 and 67 cm, respectively. Sometimes the growth of the South Russian sheepdogs can even reach 80-90 cm. They look very impressive and impressive, but the working qualities due to such large sizes deteriorate.

The weight of the South Russian shepherd is small. It is about 50 kg. But thanks to the very long hair the dog looks bigger. Wool length reaches 10-20 cm. If you look at the dog, you might think that it has a melancholic character, but it is not. In this case, the appearance is deceptive.

The dog can instantly turn into an aggressive and fast beast. When poachers hunted antelopes in Tavria, they got a lot from South Russian shepherds. They were chasing the horses on which the hunters rode, knocking them out of the saddle.

Colors

Many people believe that the South Russian Shepherd Dogs have only white color. But it is not. They can be light gray, fawn. Sometimes there are also dull-red. There are few possible colors, there used to be much more.

There are several other opinions about where this breed originated from. By order of the king, a factory was built in Tavria where fine-fleeced sheep were raised. Shepherds arrived from different countries. These were the Spaniards, the Portuguese and the Austrians.They also brought shepherd dogs from every country. Among them were such breeds as Mastiff, Kuvas, Briard and others.

When the grandson of the Falz-Fein became the owner, the sheep herds of sheep began to guard the flocks of Askania. When the shepherd described the breed in the 19th century, he called the gray color of dogs the most frequent and desirable. He said that there are white and yellowish dogs and almost black. The rest of his description coincided with the modern description of the breed.

Character

This breed was bred in order to use dogs as shepherds and guards for flocks of sheep. Therefore, there was no place for a phlegmatic and kind character. Several South Russian shepherds could manage and protect a large flock of sheep, which sometimes numbered about one and a half thousand. These shepherds can hunt enthusiastically, they are smart and can get used to the changes. URO able to take the initiative.

If the dog is trained to detain the criminal, he will be guided by the circumstances in order to most effectively cope with the task. Usually, service dogs are trained to catch intruders with their teeth for any part of the body. The South Russian Shepherd in this case acts differently.She makes several throws that cause confusion in their victims. Representatives of this breed very zealously guard the territory entrusted to them. This property did a disservice to the breed. Since during the revolution and the war these dogs tried their best to protect the sheep farms. Makhno ordered the destruction of all the sheep dogs that interfered with his troops.

South Russian Shepherd Dog will be faithful to one person with whom she will communicate. She reacts to strangers with aggression and distrust. These dogs attack without warning barking. They have a wayward character, they love to lead. Therefore, to get a South Russian shepherd is recommended for those who have some experience in this field.

South Russian Shepherd Dogs do not get along well with children. They do not understand that there is a child in front of him, and they may well attack if they are not satisfied with his behavior. This can happen even if the child inadvertently hurts the dog or violates its territorial boundaries. Therefore, it is not recommended to start these dogs in a family where there are small children. Experienced dog breeders claim that the South Russian shepherds are intelligent and loyal to the owner. But they must be properly educated.

Training

Representatives of the breed are smart enough, so they can be trained well. They can remember quite a lot of commands. Therefore, they can serve not only as excellent shepherds and guards, but to work on the search. A very good feature of these dogs is that they can make their own decisions depending on the situation. If the external conditions change quickly, the South Russian Shepherd Dog will quickly respond to this. But it is important to note that their character is rather stubborn. Therefore, they need to find an approach.

Already at a young age such features as the desire to protect the territory and hunt appear. Therefore, the South Russian sheepdogs should be trained from a young age. Otherwise the dog will be aggressive. She will strive to take the lead in the family.

By the nature of the representatives of this breed can be called choleric. Therefore, it is necessary to train them very well in prohibiting teams. It is better to train in the form of a game, considering the nature of the animal. The trainer must be very persistent. It is necessary to ensure that the dog unquestioningly execute commands, since at a young age the South Russian shepherd dogs are very active.

During this period, the dog shows aggression, seeks leadership, and therefore can specifically show disobedience. At this time, the owner must show strength of character and diligence so that the dog does not feel like a leader. If this moment is missed, the dog can turn into a real monster that cannot be controlled.

Care

1. Since these dogs have a very long coat, it is this one that requires special attention. Their undercoat is also thick and dense. If not to look after him, he can fall down very strongly. It is better to comb the dog with a comb, which has long teeth. By the type and condition of the coat, it is possible to determine how healthy the dog is. If she is not sick with anything, gets all the necessary substances with food, then the coat will shine. If the dog is sick or stressed, the coat will dull and look dirty and untidy.
2. For a dog to see well, it needs to trim a long fringe. Especially carefully you need to care for the wool during the molting period. Far from all will cope with this, so you should contact the specialists who will do the grooming. It is necessary to bathe a dog at least several times a year.In the summer it can be done more often.
3. These long-haired dogs on the ears also need to cut hair. They must be cleaned and checked regularly.
4. Since members of the breed are physically active, they need to move a lot. The dog will enjoy cycling, where she can run a lot in the open. On the chain to plant them is undesirable. This will cause psychological problems and affect behavior and character.

You should not start such a dog if you live in an apartment and you do not have the time or opportunity to provide her with the movement that is necessary.

Health

They, like other representatives of large breeds, can suffer from bone diseases. To avoid this, the dog must move a lot and eat well.

It is important to know and remember:

1. Due to the fact that the ears fit snugly to the head, they need to be carefully looked after in order to avoid otitis.
2. Although the South Russian Shepherd Dogs have good immunity, they need to be vaccinated.
3. It is also necessary to take care of the eyes, as dogs have a hereditary predisposition to ocular ailments.

Feeding

South Russian Shepherd Dogs grow quickly, so all the necessary substances must be present in the food. For this, a special food designed for dogs of large sizes is well suited. Also in the diet should be liquid food. The dog should drink plenty of water. To feed such a dog you need twice a day. Puppies better feed natural food.

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