Caucasian Shepherd Dog

The "mountain" type: longest topcoat hair. Long hair on the neck forms a mane, on the posterior regions of the limbs, fringes and breeches. The thick coat, which covers the tail in all directions, makes it thick and fluffy. the "steppe" type: covered with thick, very short fur, without mane, without fringes, without breeches or plume of the tail. It is also more slender and more slender. the intermediate type: long coat, but without mane or fringes or breeches or plume. In practice, the breed standard established by the International Cynological Federation only recognizes the mountain type, mentioning long coat, with breeches and a mane. The type has little influence on this dog's character and is rather the result of environmental variables. Indeed, the "steppe" type works more in the plains where the climate is less rigorous and thus has less coat than its "mountain" type counterpart which must resist much lower temperatures. It is worth noting that it is not uncommon for these dogs to have their ears and even tails cut off, initially this was done so that the dog could feel and hear the sound of the wolves' footsteps when they come to attack the cattle, also, this keeps it more awake and sleep tends to less overcome it. Moreover, in the event of a possible attack, the ears in particular represent a vulnerable point since they are not protected by a thick layer of hair and can therefore be bitten or torn off by a predator. Formerly, this was done from the dog's birth, without sharp equipment (the ears don't hold firmly at that age) but nowadays, it is done under anesthesia. This is increasingly less practiced on the one hand because it is now forbidden in most of Europe (in France since 2004) and is recognized as a barbaric act against animals and subject to the law. On the other hand, because it has no interest outside of herd work. You can still find dogs with cut ears mainly in the countries of the former USSR where they originate. The breed standard does not invalidate otectomy contrary to caudectomy. Its innate protective character makes it a special dog not to be put in everyone's hands.