Georgian Shepherd

Coat and looks how to spot one

thick double coat

A powerful mountain guardian with a dense double coat. There are two types: a shorter-coated 'lion' type, often white, and a long-coated 'bear' type, often dark.1

Personality what they are like

A confident, courageous guardian with strong protective instincts. It is watchful with strangers but usually gentle with its own family, including children, and judges threats carefully.1

Daily activity how busy a day looks

A working livestock guardian that needs room to patrol and regular exercise rather than intense sport.1

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

The thick double coat benefits from regular brushing, more often during seasonal shedding.1

Home where they are happiest

Suited to rural homes with large, securely fenced space; bred for mountain pastures.1

Company who they like around

Bonds closely with its family and flock; early socialisation helps with other dogs, as it can be assertive with them.1

The story where it all began

Georgian shepherds used these large dogs to guard flocks against wolves and bears in the Caucasus mountains. Interest in the breed faded and it became rare, until a unified standard in 2000 renewed attention and it began to be known outside Georgia.1

Recognised by the official bits

Cynological Federation of Georgia

National breed standard; unified standard adopted in 2000. Not FCI recognised.1