Moscow Watchdog
The Moscow Watchdog is a Soviet-era giant created at the Red Star Kennel of the Soviet Army in the 1950s by crossing Saint Bernard dogs with Caucasian Shepherd Dogs, with the goal of producing a massive, cold-tolerant guard dog with the Saint Bernard's disposition and the Caucasian Shepherd's size and guardian instincts.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Origin
Russia
Lifespan
9–11 years
Weight
45–68 kg (100–150 lbs)
Height
64–78 cm (25–31 in)
Exercise
30 to 45 min/day
Diet
Omnivore — high-quality giant breed food. Giant breed puppy food essential.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
The Story
The Moscow Watchdog is a Soviet-era giant created at the Red Star Kennel of the Soviet Army in the 1950s by crossing Saint Bernard dogs with Caucasian Shepherd Dogs, with the goal of producing a massive, cold-tolerant guard dog with the Saint Bernard's disposition and the Caucasian Shepherd's size and guardian instincts. The result is one of the largest dogs in the world — combining the Saint Bernard's flowing coat, reddish-and-white colouring, and gentle family temperament with the Caucasian Shepherd's bulk and protective drive. The breed remains rare outside Russia.
Also Known As
Quick Facts
Discover which pets match your lifestyle
Physical Profile
Source: wikimedia
A massive, powerful, heavily built dog with a distinctive red-and-white coat — the Saint Bernard's colouring and flowing semi-long coat in a larger, more muscular body. The head is enormous and broad. The overall impression combines the Saint Bernard's warmth with the Caucasian Shepherd's gravitas.
Grooming
High
Shedding
High
Brushing
2-3x-Weekly
Bathing
Every-6-8-Weeks
Coat Colors
Recognized By
Source: wikimedia
Temperament & Personality
Loyal, calm, and protective — combines Saint Bernard gentleness with Caucasian Shepherd guardianship. Good with family including children. Reserved with strangers. Independent — requires confident, experienced ownership.
Personality Scores
Adaptability
2/5Attention Need
3/5Friendliness
3/5Playfulness
3/5Protectiveness
5/5Living Profile
Ideal Space
House-Large-Garden
Daily Exercise
30 to 45 min/day
Ideal Weather
-30°C to 22°C
Cognitive Benchmarks
Adaptability
20%
Attention
30%
Playfulness
30%
Communication Style
Stress Signals
guarding, aggression, territorial barking, aloofness
Care & Wellness
Professional Care Protocol
- •Experienced owners. 1–1.5 hours exercise daily. The semi-long coat requires brushing 2–3 times weekly. Giant breed puppy protocols. Prophylactic gastropexy recommended.
Nutrition Notes
Giant breed formula. Bloat risk. Soviet Army creation (Saint Bernard × Caucasian Shepherd). Joint supplements.
Vaccination Schedule
Vaccination Schedule
Senior Care
Hip dysplasia. Bloat. Heart disease. Created at Soviet Army Red Star Kennel — combination of Saint Bernard gentleness with Caucasian Shepherd guarding. Not recognised by FCI/AKC. Very rare outside Russia. 9-11 years.
Wellbeing Activities
Nutrition & Sustenance
Daily Calories (Adult)
2200 kcal
Daily Calories (Young)
1800 kcal
Recommended Foods
Foods to Avoid
Health Overview
Hip and elbow dysplasia. Bloat (GDV) — high risk in giant breeds. Eye conditions. Generally healthy for a giant breed due to the hybrid vigour of the founding cross.
Common Conditions
Price Estimates
Pricing Guide
Average estimates as of 2025
Soviet military creation. Not FCI/AKC recognised. India: not suited to climate.
Purchase Price
$1,500 to $4,000
Adoption Fee
$100 to $500
Data from 2025
Fun Facts
The Moscow Watchdog was developed under direct Soviet military direction — the Red Star Kennel that produced it was the Soviet Army's official dog-breeding facility, responsible for creating and maintaining multiple working dog breeds for military purposes.
