As far as dog breeding is concerned, the word pedigree is a recurrent decimal. Even though the word is regularly misunderstood but the true meaning and implication cannot be swept off easily if we must improve the breed.
Although some understand the word pedigree to only mean record of ancestry or lineage but in dog and or other similar animal breeding, it refers to either records of lineage to show the animal is a pure breed or that the animal is a descendant of animals with outstanding features.
That being said, dog features are in estimates and relative. There are no dogs with 100% of the features sought after. We only look for outstanding male dogs to improve and balance up the features and or lapses of the female. By doing this, we reduce the percentage error in the looks of the offspring despite the complicated unpredictable gene selection process in sexual reproduction.
Improving the breed of a dog goes beyond mating them because the female is on heat or the male is looking good. It is looking for a pedigree male that will complement and improve the features of the female. Pedigree because the ancestors of the male must be put into consideration and the common features among them must be noted. In case any of the ancestors fall short, such male will not be considered for mating if we must get a top notch puppy.
Dog features are breed dependent and whether or whether not the dog breed being considered is a working line or show line. The term working line and show line are commonly used for German shepherd dog breeds but from the meaning of the word, it may not be limited to the German shepherd breed alone.
As the name imply, the working line is for work, especially herding of livestock and other related things. So their looks may not be important but must be strong and active to meet the demand of the owner. Show line dogs are meant for show and competition and not for serious work so the features must be outstanding and beautiful.
Even though this dichotomy may not be completely applicable to the breed of our interest in this article which is the Caucasian Mountain Dog, but there are certain feature that we look for in the Caucasian shepherd that makes them top-notch and that is the focus of this article.
We cannot have it all in one dog but we aspire to get the best in our dogs each time we breed. To discuss the features of the Caucasian shepherd mountain dog, we need to know that originally, the Caucasian shepherds were raised to fight off wolves and bears from farms and or environments of their owner.
To achieve this, the following are not negotiable in the breed. This is because there are several dogs that look like but are not Caucasian shepherd mountain dogs.

I will keep updating this gradually. Stay tuned