What Is A CMDR Colorado Mountain Dog?
“Caspian Was A Mountain Dog”
This great grandson of the founding stud, Caspian, carries the traits of a CMD. He is a peaceful, quiet dog, a diligent guardian, welcomes our farm guests, and has been in with poultry safely since he was 5 months old.
Colorado Mountain Dogs are distinctly different - tall, lean, with slender, non-drooling muzzles, easy-care medium length coats, and a beautiful athletic appearance. They are selected for abilities which make them wonderful for small farms — rigorous guarding of livestock, less barking and wandering, and greater acceptance of people they don’t know, unless an actual threat is perceived.
Contact:. Wendy Francisco, Breed Founder - coloradomountaindogs@gmail.com
Anne Larson, CMDR Registrar - cmdrregistrar1@gmail.com
What is a Colorado Mountain Dog?
The CMDR Colorado Mountain Dog is being developed as a livestock guardian for use on small farms - less barking, wandering, and less aggressive towards people it doesn’t know. The Colorado Mountain Dog Registry is the registry doing the genetic development of the CMD, directed by the breed founder.
The CMD began in 2008, with a single dog, Caspian, just as the Morgan Horse breed was developed from the careful lines crosses of a single stud. Caspian had a wonderful combination of working aptitudes which made him suitable for small acreage farming. He barked and wandered less, and was accepting of people he didn’t know, as long as they didn’t pose a threat. Caspian was huge, nearly 32 at the shoulder. He was lean built, with a non-drooling muzzle, and very athletic. He was a stunning dog, and people stopped in their tracks to ask about him. Not all lines of CMDs have Caspian genetics. We continue to strive for a huge, tall, gentle dog who wanders and barks less, and who can either be kept in fields or pens.
What is the actual breed cross of a Colorado Mountain Dog?
Though mostly Great Pyrenees x Anatolian Shepherd, the Colorado Mountain Dog is not a specific breed (designer) cross, but function bred. Although Caspian was a Pyr x Anatolian Shepherd, the dogs are being individually selected for temperament and guarding aptitudes specifically for smaller farms where barking, aggression farm visitors, and wandering can be liabilities. Currently the breed may consist of Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd, Boz, Maremma, Kuvasz, Akbash, or other livestock guardian working group breed. Dogs that pull up small percentages of other breeds in a DNA test are considered on a dog by dog basis depending on function.
Many people think that any Pyr/Anatolian cross dog can be called a CMD, but that is not true. All lines of CMDs must be screened by the CMDR for the traits we are looking for, for joint and hip soundness, DNA tested, and registered with the CMDR. Many people think a Colorado Mountain Dog is a Pyr hybrid” but that is untrue. The CMD is not a “designer breed” but a function selected dog.
Do Colorado Mountain Dogs accept all people?
Yes and no. A CMD should greet daytime visitors in a friendly manner, but they should also discern an obvious threat and begin to protect.
Does the Colorado Mountain Dog have a Physical Type?
Yes. Type takes a second seat to function at this stage of development, but the physical type is based on the founding stud. Caspian was a stunning, giant dog, more slender than some LGD breeds, but tall, with good bone and powerful legs and feet. Read the breed standard, linked on our articles page.
How Does The Colorado Mountain Dog Do At Guarding?
The trait which softens the CMD towards people has nothing to do with its guarding abilities. Some of our most tender people dogs are the fiercest with predators.
How Widespread is the Colorado Mountain Dog Breed?
The Colorado Mountain Dog Registry currently has thousands of registered dogs on small farms nationwide. Notably, our pedigree database has nearly 300 unrelated dogs at the foundation dog level, FD. Our stud books are still open and we accept dogs who would fit in our program. Candidates for a CMDR foundation dog will be DNA tested, screened for joint health, and we will interview for temperament, guarding aptitudes. Contact the breed founder, email link above.
