South Russian Shepherd Dog - breed description and dog character

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 served them poorly. When sheep breeding became less and less popular, nobody needed these shepherd dogs. To date, there are quite a lot of South Russian shepherds, and they are considered one of the most dangerous breeds.

History

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

These were Asturian Shepherd dogs. They themselves could handle a large herd. But they could not fight the steppe wolves, which increasingly attacked the sheep. It was necessary to bring out a breed that would not only perfectly cope with the sheep, but also could withstand harsh predators. For this, shepherd dogs were crossed with a Tatra shepherd dog. These were very strong dogs, which were used for grazing in Poland. Most likely, it is thanks to them that the South Russian Shepherd has a white color. They were also crossed with local and Russian greyhounds. From them, South Russian Shepherds took hunting qualities and endurance. Breeding work was carried out on the estate of Askania Nova. Unfortunately, when wars swept through the territory of modern Ukraine, there were much fewer breed representatives. And when sheep breeding became less and less popular, these dogs became practically useless to anyone.

Breed description

1. The body of the Yuro is covered with very long hair. It is thick and has an undercoat. Their coat is not only long, but also wavy. This will come to the dog resembling sheep. In the pasture, this gave her certain advantages. The breed standard was determined in 1931.
2. Dogs have a large skull, cheekbones wide.
3. The forehead is wide and sloping. The superciliary arches and cheekbones are well developed.
4. Yuro has flat cheeks. Because of this, the face looks sculptural.
5. The nose is wide. It has a black color. There is a long coat on the nose.
6. The jaw is powerful, the teeth are very well developed, the scissor bite.
7. Since the eyes are set wide, the dog has a good viewing angle. The oval eyes of the shepherd can be dark or dark brown. The eyelids are black. Eyes covers bangs.
8. The ears are set high, fit snugly 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 folded into a half ring. Six on the tail is also long.
12. The limbs are straight and long. They are also covered with long wavy hair.
13. The skin is quite elastic, does not sag and does not have folds.

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

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

A 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 catching the horses that the hunters rode, knocking them out of the saddle.

Colors

Many believe that the South Russian Shepherd dogs have only a white color. But this is not so. They can be light gray, fawn. Sometimes there are dull redheads. There are few possible colors, before there were much more.

There are several other opinions about where this breed came from. By order of the king in Tavria, a factory was built where fine-fleeced sheep were bred. Shepherds arrived from different countries. These were the Spaniards, the Portuguese and the Austrians. Shepherd dogs were brought from each country by them. Among them were such breeds as mastiff, kuvas, briar and others.

When the grandson of Falz-Fein became the owner, the flocks of Askania's sheep began to be protected by Russian shepherds. When a shepherd described the breed in the 19th century, he called the most common and desired gray color of dogs. 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 herds of sheep. Therefore, there was no place for a phlegmatic and kind character. Several South Russian shepherds themselves could manage and guard a large herd of sheep, which sometimes numbered about one and a half thousand. These shepherds can hunt enthusiastically, they are smart and can get used to change. YURO able to take the initiative.

If the dog is trained to detain the offender, she will be guided by the circumstances in order to most effectively cope with the task. Usually, service dogs are trained to grab attackers with teeth on any part of the body. The South Russian Shepherd in this case acts differently. She makes several shots that cause confusion for their victim. Representatives of this breed very zealously guard the territory entrusted to them. This property has served the breed badly. Since during the revolution and war, these dogs tried their best to protect sheep farms. Makhno ordered the destruction of all the shepherd dogs that interfered with his troops.

The South Russian Shepherd Dog will be faithful to one person with whom she will establish a connection. She reacts to strangers with aggression and distrust. These dogs attack without warning barking. They have a wayward character, like to lead. Therefore, it is recommended to start the South Russian Shepherd Dog for those who have certain experience in this field.

South Russian Shepherds do not get along well with children. They do not understand that the child is in front of him, and may well attack if they are not comfortable with his behavior. This can happen even if a child inadvertently hurts a dog or violates its territorial boundaries. Therefore, it is not recommended to have these dogs in a family with small children. Experienced dog breeders argue that the South Russian Shepherd dogs are smart 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 few commands. Therefore, they can serve not only as excellent shepherds and security guards, but also work in search. A very good feature of these dogs is that they can make their own decisions, depending on the situation. If external conditions change rapidly, 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 are manifested.Therefore, South Russian Shepherd dogs should be trained from a young age. Otherwise, the dog will be aggressive. She will strive to take a leading place in the family.

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

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

Care

1. Since these dogs have a very long coat, it is precisely this coat that requires special attention. The undercoat is also dense and thick. If you do not care for him, he can fall down very hard. It is better to comb out the dog more often with a comb that has long teeth. By the type and condition of the coat, you can determine how healthy the dog is. If she does not get sick, gets all the necessary substances with food, then the coat will shine. If the dog is sick or stressed, the coat grows dull and looks dirty and untidy.
2. For the dog to see well, it needs to cut a long bang. Particular care must be taken to care for wool during molting. Not everyone can cope with this, therefore you should contact the specialists who will do grooming. You need to bathe the dog at least several times a year. In summer, this can be done more often.
3. These long-haired dogs on the ears also need to cut their hair. They must be cleaned and checked regularly.
4. Since the representatives of the breed are distinguished by physical activity, they need to move a lot. The dog will enjoy cycling, where she will be able to freely run around in the open. It is undesirable to put them on a chain. This will cause psychological problems and affect behavior and character.

It is not worth it to get such a dog if you live in an apartment, and you do not have the time or the ability to provide it 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 must be carefully taken care of so that there is no otitis media.
2. Although the South Russian Shepherd dogs have good immunity, they need to be vaccinated.
3. The eyes also need to be well looked after, as dogs have a hereditary predisposition to eye ailments.

Feeding

South Russian shepherds grow quickly, so all the necessary substances must be present in the food. A special food designed for large dogs is well suited for this. Also, liquid food should be present in the diet. The dog should drink plenty of water. You need to feed such a dog twice a day. Puppies are best fed natural food.

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