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 - wendyjfrancisco@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 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 also a stunning dog, and people stopped in their tracks to ask about him. Our breed is based on this stud, using the principles of Dr. Jay Lush to avoid inbreeding. We have nearly 300 hundred dogs just in the Foundation Dog level of our genetic database. 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. The breed is 15 years old and is nationwide.
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, joint, hip, and DNA tested, and registered with the CMDR. Many people think a Colorado Mountain Dog is a Pyr hybrid” 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 Widespread is the Colorado Mountain Dog?
We are coast to coast and now up into Canada and Alaska.
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. Our founding stud Caspian would tuck his tail and scoot out of the way for a mother hen leading her chicks. But he tore after bear, coyote packs, cougar and lynx like a shot, with such aggression they would be gone without asking any questions. CMDs are vigorous guardians.
