The Central Asian Ovcharka (pronounced “uhf-‘chAr-ka”) Dog is a 4,000 year-old breed that originates from Russia and is often considered to be the #1 most popular breed of the country. Central Asian Ovcharkas are known to be calm yet fearless, often standing their ground and not backing down. They were originally bred by shepherds to protect livestock against large predators. Their stamina and ability to take down wolves earned them the nickname “Volkodav,” which is Russian for “The Wolf Crusher.”