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Before WWII and During WWII

• 1923 - the Central courses of instructors on preparation of frontier guards and dogs for the boundary service, later renamed in the "Central school of service dog breeding of boundary troops" are organized.
• 1923 - Order "РВС №1089" Organize in Moscow at the High shooters-tactical school Central studding-training kennel-school of military and sports dogs for the purposes of investigation, sentry and a public health service in armies and guarding of military warehouses.
• 1924 - The "Central school of experts of service dog breeding" is established at which established the factory-kennel of service dogs "the Red Star".
• 1925 - at All-Union Hunters Association the Central Section of fans of service dogs is organized.
• 1928 - Central Section of fans of service dogs has joined in "Public Society of Supporting Army", are organized state breed kennels, departmental and public nurseries of service dogs, training platforms, a wide professional training of experts of service dog breeding has begun, work and an exchange of experience in this area were developed based on scientific-research methods.
• 1931 - is published "The Standard and features of service dogs " (the author - chairman of committee of service dog breeding "Осоавиахим" V.L.Vaysman.
• 1930th years - Breed Kennel "The Red Star" spend experiences on inter pedigree crossing under direction of professor N.A.Ilin (Н.А.Ильин)
• 1939 - in structure of People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the USSR following schools of service dog breeding function: school of service dog breeding GULAG (ГУЛАГ) of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs, 5 schools of every dog breeding of "ГУМ" of People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs
• 1943 - for preparation of leaders and training of dogs of sentry and guard services the "Central school of dog breeding of Military Fleet (НКВМФ) is created

During WWII dog breeding in the USSR has had greater losses. In all areas was in German occupation, dogs have been destroyed. In nursery Narkomzema of the USSR dogs of a selection supply were lost almost all. Have completely lost the livestock and have been compelled to begin all over again the kennel centers of Leningrad, Kiev, Minsk and other cities. Despite of difficulties of that time, all managed to be kept a part of a breeding livestock. To Sverdlovsk area has been taken out a part of breeding dogs of the "Central school of military dog breeding" and Kennel of Central "Осоавиахим" of the USSR, and the best dogs of Moscow transferred by their owners (recruited from private owners). Together with them the best representatives of domestic breeds have been evacuated also.

During WWII years at the front were about 60 thousand four-footed fighters. Dogs -- fighters of tanks have put out of action more than 300 units’ armored vehicles of the opponent. Dogs of engineering services were used in 2 separate divisions, 19 battalions and 29 "rota’s; with their participation it has been neutralized more than 4 million bombs and land mines. 36 battalions and 69 platoons of dog winter transports "sanka" have been generated within war. When under enemy fire it was impossible to deliver ammunition, the dogs served in these divisions, dragged cartridges and small-caliber shells. Almost 700 thousand wounded men of Red Army soldiers and commanders it has been taken out from a battlefield by four-footed hospital attendants.

• 1955 - on All-Union agricultural Exhibition representatives of pedigree group "Black Terrier" (Stalin's Dog, Beria's Dog) are shown
• 1956 - for April, 1st, 1956 for strengthening service on protection of prisoners and search of fugitives in in the militarized Armed Protection Guard (ВОХР) of jails of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is used 10.729 service dogs, including 1.686 search, 1.434 escorts and 7.609 guard and there are 4 schools on preparation of sergeants-conductors of search dogs, 25 kennels of service dog breeding
• 1957 - in Leningrad at Ministry of Economics it is formed Central kennel-school of special services ("ЦПШСС"), united kennels of the various enterprises applied service dogs for protection of the objects. Chief ЦПШСС appoints N.N.Chernyshev, expert all-Union category. ЦПШСС has acquired the right of breeding cultivation of dogs.

North Caucasian case - during WWII this region of USSR was place of active fights, there was colossal damage to economy of the region and also to sheep herds, farming and same towards population of the shepherd dogs. More - after the war - man breeders of Caucasian Ovcharka in the North Caucasus - Chechens and Inrushes (closest neighbors of Tushetians and Khevsurs) were totally persecuted and send to Middle Asia and Siberia. This leaded to total degradation of population of Caucasian Ovcharkas on the North Caucasus, which was actually re-populated by Caucasian Ovcharkas mainly from Georgia.

In the end 1940ies the "Central school MO has organized special expeditions to Caucasus and to Central Asia during which breeding animals have been bought. So, in kennel "The Red Star" has appeared grey-skewbald Vebkhia (Georgian: "Tiger") from the Georgian "Collective farm named by Zhdanov" which became the ancestor of new pedigree group. Later Central school MO bought St. Bernard in East Germany. At once we shall note that quality of the dogs got by school was high enough. The method of complex and simple reproductive crossing had been created accordingly breeds the black terrier and Moscow sentry. General G.Medvedev considered as hour of the present triumph of breed winter review-competition of 1974 on All Soviet Exhibition (ВДНХ). Then on exhibition circle for the first time has passed more than fifty dogs-giants. The first puppy pack of "Moscow Storozevaya" has appeared in Moscow city club DOSSAF in 1953.

One can read in many articles - that origins of Caucasian Ovcharka spreads all Great and Small Caucasus region - really and basically Soviet, Russian state kennel and exhibition breed families of Caucasian Ovcharka absolutely and fundamentally was based on dogs from Georgia. All contemporary lines of Caucasian Ovcharka in Europe and America also are based on ancestors basically from from Georgia.

Pre WWII cultural or state kennels population of "Caucasian Ovcharka" in USSR was mostly eliminated during war and starting from 1950ies breed was recreated and reestablished using several hundred of best dogs from Georgia collecting according with State Directive obligatory for all state structures and first of all for collective and state farms.  According this fact starting data of recultivation of "Caucasian Ovcharka" in the USSR (and Russia) can be easily and exactly dated. But according existing and accessible pedigree lists there is no data of usage of significant amounts of dogs from say Azerbaijan (and absolutely no from Armenia). And there are only several occasions of usage dogs from Northern Caucasus. International "Caucasian Ovcharka" society is to force Russians to publish full lists of pedigrees of theirs dogs started from 1950s and especially from biggest state kennels like "The Red Star - Krasnaja Zvezda", etc.

Reader now can understand, that Caucasian Ovcharkas become part of "Soviet Defense" and most data, photography about the breed development was turn secret. Well known specialist of Caucasian Ovcharka and author of famous book - A.Mazover was colonel of Soviet Army.

All state plans of "zagotovka" - recruiting, collecting dogs from collective farms and private users were done under control of "Organs" (police) and directives were obligatory. Several recreations during 1950-1960ies got all the best dogs from local structures, population and this was a reason of lowering level of breed in Georgia, North Caucasus, Azeri (which is mentioned also by other authors).

The system of clubs of service dog breeding ДОСААФ the USSR represented one huge collective kennel, managed by the staff of breed specialists by means of active workers of fans in local clubs, and coordinated by the Central Club of service dog breeding. Exhibitions in these conditions were the actions arranged whenever possible festively. Requirements to the presented animals were shown rigid enough: except for a genealogical dog is more senior than 1 year must to have the diploma at the general or initial rate of training, and after 2nd years - on specialized service (for the Caucasian sheep-dog both diploma were replaced with the diploma on a guard duty). The matter is that under the Soviet legislation the dog was not a private property and could be mobilized for needs of army in case of the beginning of war. The dog was estimated first of all from the point of view of its practical usage.

During this period exhibitions of Caucasian Ovcharka were organized only and were monopolized by ДОСААФ (Voluntary Society Supporting Army, Aviation and Navy).

Full pedigree lists of contemporary state kennels and exhibition Caucasian Ovcharkas (especially starting from 1950ies) were newer published and this is masterminded main secret of the breed.

The term "Caucasian Ovcharka" was part of Soviet propaganda and "Soviet Priority" and "Sovietization" propaganda. Nowadays term "Caucasian Ovcharka" is a part of Russian propaganda - mentioning priority of Russia as a breeder of  "Kavkazskaja Ovcharka"...

From the other, optimistic (and not on a side extreme nationalistic) and being objective - we are to say that, Soviet State Kennels and enthusiastic Russian cinologists started from 1950ies have done big, bright and valuable job actually saving Caucasian Ovcharka-Nagazi and collecting various genetic fund for future use. Having big amount of species, now it is possible using also local, aborigenal, natural Nagazi population building and fixing breed based on healthy basement.

Generally Wolf-Dog is very common figure of Caucasian peoples tradition and legends and is very old in this region (actually it comes from Hittites period). But legend is not to be mixed with reality - it is absolutely evident that Nagazis have not any relation with wolfs. So "Nagazi" is equivalent of big, strong, fighting dog - opposing to smaller, mixed or out-of-breed dogs.

In Georgia main breeders of Caucasian Ovcharka-Nagazi - Tush and Kakhetian shepherds newer needed special name for their dogs - dog for them always and exceptionally was Nagazi. There were only two kinds of dogs - Nagazis and "Bashkias". "Bashkia" is equivalent of non-breed, out-of-breed, mixed breed dog [Georgian: ბაშკია, უჯიშო].

It is also mistake dividing mountain dogs in Georgia into Nagazi and "Kazbegi" ("Kazbek" - or any other) sub-families - this is some kind of very modern legend and was not known some 10 years ago. Exchanging of puppies was intensive among shepherds of ALL Georgia and puppies were important subject of trading - exchanging Nagazi puppies to-from sheep and cows. 

During centuries Nagazis were serving Georgian shepherds and villagers without any special mentioning. Russian empire invaded into Caucasus from 17th century - first occupying North Caucasus and from beginning of 19th century also Georgia. But usage of Nagazi by Russian was occasional. Actually name "Caucasian Ovcharka - kavkazskaya ovcharka" appeared during post WWII times and like everything in Soviet was "ideologised" - this is shown for example in the common term "Otechestvennie Porodi - Fatherland Breeds": State Patron of Kavkazskaja Ovcharka is Russia and only Russia has right to change Standard of this breed. This is source and basement of practices and ideology. From the other side all basic population of Caucasian Ovcharka in Russia originates from Georgia - but Georgia is NOT Russia (anymore)!

So, name "Caucasian Ovcharka" is the kind of naming as Russified name of Georgia - "Gruzija", evidence of Russification.

North Caucasian case - during WWII this region of USSR was place of active fights, there was colossal damage to economy of the region and also to sheep herds and same population of the shepherd dogs. More - after the war - man breeders of Caucasian Ovcharka in the North Caucasus - Chechen and Ingushs (closest neighbors of Tushetians) were totally persecuted and send to Middle Asia and Siberia. This leaded to total degradation of population of Caucasian Ovcharkas on the North Caucasus, which was actually re-populated by Caucasian Ovcharkas mainly from Georgia.

Then, till the collapse of USSR this State Kennel Caucasian Ovcharka was developed and grown to very large population serving Soviet Army, prisoners camps, factories and other Soviet State structures (small amount of dogs, mostly best ones, also were in the hands of private users) - developed mostly inside initial genetic group of 1950-1960ies with some, small injections.

1950-1980ies development have given actually some kind of quality mixture of all valuable families of Caucasian Ovcharka, I named: State Kennel Caucasian Ovcharka.

For 1980ies State Kennel Caucasian Ovcharka already was specific, artificial sub-breed or family of Caucasian Ovcharka - and differed from all initial families, including Georgian Nagazi.

After collapse of the USSR collapsed also most (if not all) former state kennels and big amount of best State Kennel Caucasian Ovcharka appeared in the hands of private users and small private kennels. Prices started to rise for Caucasian Ovcharka. Also demand from the West and America raised.

Especially after collapse of USSR (during last decade) - based of private initiative (better, high quality food and better care; higher selling prices = economic interests; International Exhibitions) - Caucasian Ovcharka was developed into some kind of show-dog, toy-dog.

First mentioning of dog in the Georgian and Caucasian legends is legend about Amirani-Prometheus which is dated from period of steel making: After gods chained Amirani to Mountain Caucasus he was accompanied by dog named Q'ursha [ყურშა]. His faithful dog Q'ursha (Q'uri [ყური] is ear - this name mentions specific character of ears of the dog) tries to gnaw through the chains, but every time Amiran is close to freeing himself, he is thwarted by either a woman who talks too much, a wagtail perching on the pole, or the combined activity of the local blacksmiths, who reinforce the chains by banging on their anvils every Holy Thursday morning. Legend of Amirani is very old and proceeds Greek legend about Prometheus. This role of dog as a symbol of faith points to exceptional role of dogs in the Caucasus in the oldest times.

For a people, who do not know historical specific of sheep herding in the Caucasus - it is difficult to understand role of dogs in this branch of agriculture - giving life to population of Georgia and especially to mountainous tribes of Georgians - Tush, Khevsur, Mokheve, Samtckhe-Javakhety.

May 8, 2003 — the skulls of two Stone Age dogs believed to be the earliest known canines on record have been found, according to a team of Russian scientists.

The dog duo, which lived approximately 14,000 years ago, appears to represent the first step of domestication from their wild wolf ancestors.

Mikhail Sablin, a scientist at the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg, along with his colleague Gennady Khlopachev, analyzed the dog remains, which were found at the Eliseevichi I site in the Bryansk region of Russia's central plain, according to an Informnauka press agency release.

"We suggest that the dogs looked like present-day Tibetan mastiffs or Caucasian sheep dogs," Sablin told Discovery News. "The dogs had a much wider palate and shorter rostrum than Siberian huskies and Great Danes. The reconstructed withers height is about 70 cm (27.56 inches), therefore the dogs belonged to a very strange and dangerous heavy hunting/guarding breed."

Both Sablin and his colleague believe humans domesticated the dogs from local northern wolves at the site. While large and strong, the Stone Age canines exhibited relatively short snouts, which distinguished them from their wild wolf ancestors.

The dogs perished as adults. But at the time of their deaths they were probably remembered more as man's best dinner rather than man's best friend. One of the skulls had a hole where a human likely removed the brain for consumption, as was the common practice in later known periods.

Their skulls were found next to the bones of a mammoth, an Arctic fox and a reindeer. It is probable that those animals also wound up as meat for Stone Age humans.

During their lifetimes, the canines likely were hunting and guard dogs, according to the researchers.

Sablin explained that certain humans already had begun to partially control labor, trade and ritualistic social activities. The unequal distribution of resources led to a social hierarchy, with people of prestige and power getting Stone Age status symbols, like dogs.

He said, "In this context it can be assumed that the large wolf-like dogs were used to guard not only against predators, (but also) their presence (at a particular site) may have indicated the high social status of the inhabitants."

Susan Crockford, an archaeozoologist at Pacific Identifications, Inc., a firm that specializes in identification of birds and animals from archaeological remains, agreed that the Russian dogs "are certainly the oldest complete skulls from this early period," and said, "the evidence is good that these are truly domestic dogs."

The very first post-war show reports date to 1947. Nearly the all main foundation sires of Moscow COs foundation stock were presented at that show: KARABASH (owner Medvedev, later – military unit 74390), KALIF (the kennel of Moscow Society Club of Working Dogs), LORMI (the kennel of the Central Club of Working Dogs), the son of GROZNY (military unit 74390) and NORA (owner Glanovskaya), DZHAN (owner Mitrofanov), FRANT (the kennel of Moscow Society Club of Working Dogs), NORA (owner Glanovskaya), the daughter of KARABASH and GAMAZ (military unit 74390). DINA (ownerBenetskiy), DINGA (owner Shoshin) and DUMKA (owner Skachko) – the daughters of KARABASH and KALIFA (owner Moll) - were at the forefront of the junior group.

From the modern point of view the following characteristics of the general type of these dogs may be given: small height, stocky, more often – long format, long-haired, heads with a bit domed forehead and rounded eyes; for comparison – dogs that were brought to Leningrad were compact, high-legged, as a rule, not long-haired, their heads were with a flat forehead and small deep set eyes.

OSMAN-2 The pedigree number is №87, № PCWD (Podolsk Club of Working Dogs) 77222, was born on March 27, 1986 in the Red Star Kennel, perished on December 15, 1993.

OSMAN died, when he tried to get over a cage top to a bitch in heat. Being very stubborn, he was called a ”little donkey”. It was a devoted, worthy dog. Everybody who knew this dog, loved him very much.