Caucasian Shepherd Dog

Respect and admiration are due to the breed known as the Caucasian Ovcharka, or Caucasian Shepherd Dog. Originating in the rough terrain of the Caucasus Mountains, this big and strong dog was initially bred to protect livestock from wolves and bears. It is a powerful protector in hostile settings because of its massive stature and thick coat.

Caucasian Shepherds are renowned for their commitment to their families and their loyalty, despite their intimidating appearance. They are great watchdogs because they are guarded and can be quite reserved around strangers. To ensure that they are well-mannered and well-rounded companions, this breed also needs to receive the right training and socialization.

We’ll explore the distinctive qualities of the Caucasian Shepherd Dog in this post, including its background, traits, and maintenance requirements. You’ll discover insightful information to help you comprehend and value the Caucasian Shepherd Dog, whether you’re thinking about bringing one into your home or you’re just interested in learning more about this remarkable breed.

Breed characteristics

* Features of the breed Caucasian Shepherd based on owner reviews and expert evaluations from Usatik.ru. Since the data is average, it might not accurately reflect an individual’s behavior. It is regrettable that it is impossible to consider every single unique feature of a specific pet.

Brief description of the breed

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When the breed appeared?

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How much does a male weigh?

How much does a female weigh?

What is the height (height at the withers) of a male?

What is the height (height at the withers) of a female?

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The massive Caucasian Shepherd dog breed is similar in size to a tiny, cuddly bear. Though their aggressiveness is often discussed, these dogs make excellent guard dogs and devoted companions. When given the proper care and education, Caucasian Shepherds exhibit remarkable adaptability and get along well with kids.

A great breed for people looking for a dependable companion and guardian, the Caucasian Shepherd Dog is renowned for its enormous size, strength, and loyalty. These dogs, who were originally bred to defend livestock in the untamed Caucasus Mountains, are well-known for their bravery and protective instincts, making them excellent watchdogs and family protectors. They can be loving and gentle with their families despite their commanding presence, but in order to make sure they are well-adjusted and controllable in a domestic environment, they need to be properly trained and socialized.

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Caucasian Shepherd

• History of the origin of Caucasian Shepherds
• Caucasian Shepherd – breed description
• Popular colors of Caucasian Shepherds
• Character and habits of Caucasian Shepherds
• Interesting facts about Caucasian Shepherds
• Pros and cons of Caucasian Shepherds
• Breeding Caucasian Shepherds
• Caucasian Shepherd Care
• Diet of Caucasian Shepherds
• Diseases and health problems
• Caucasian Shepherd – price and how to buy correctly

History of the origin of Caucasian Shepherds

The history of the Caucasian Shepherd dog breed is unclear, despite it being an ancient breed. The dog comes from the Caucasus Mountains, of course. Guard dogs that could stand guard over herds of sheep on their own while the shepherd was away were needed. Man needed a canine companion that was self-sufficient, intelligent, knowledgeable about its surroundings, and able to make decisions and process information fast.

There is a theory that the Caucasian Shepherd originated from dog-wolf hybridization. This adequately explains the dog’s independence, aggression, and love of freedom. Furthermore, wolves are purely territorial animals that are good border guards, much like Caucasian Shepherds. However, this is merely one account of the breed’s ancestry.

The second explanation holds that Tibetan dogs, who are regarded by some as the ancestors of all dog breeds worldwide, are the source of Caucasian Shepherds. Given their close resemblance to Tibetan dogs, crossing Caucasian Shepherds with them is a plausible scenario.

Fascinating fact: It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when Caucasian Shepherds started to proliferate throughout Russia. They were widely used as assistance dogs in the USSR in the 1920s.

In addition to being employed in intense dog fights, dogs were thought to make the finest guard dogs. Europe is still slowly gaining Caucasian Shepherds. Western cynological associations have only recently developed an interest in these dogs.

Caucasian Shepherd – breed description

An adult male is between 68 and 78 cm tall and weighs between 50 and 125 kg. Females are smaller, weighing between 40 and 115 kg (weight including fur), and measuring 64 to 70 cm. These are massive, enormous dogs that resemble bears from the outside.

The Caucasian Shepherd has a large, heavy, square head. The superciliary arches are well developed, and the skull has a wedge shape. The forehead seamlessly transitions from the broad muzzle to the forehead. The nose bridge is straight and even. The nose is broad and features prominent, typically black nostrils.

The Caucasian Shepherd should have broad, powerful jaws. 42 teeth in total, big, dense fangs. Additionally dense biting gives a death grip. The eyes are small, round, black or dark brown, and widely spaced. The eyelids are deeply set and distinctly defined.

Caucasian Shepherds have triangular-shaped ears that are set high. Frequently, they are cropped, giving the dogs an even more bear-like appearance. The neck has a noticeable scruff and is massive and short. The body is well-proportioned and dense. The muscles have grown. The back is straight, sloping, and broad. Additionally, the chest is broad. The withers have distinct definitions. The croup is robust and stable, with a slope that leads to the tail.

The Caucasian Shepherd can have a ring-shaped tail or a sickle-shaped tail. It is a good length and is always set high. The legs have well-developed muscles, wide, stable bones, and are medium in length, even, and straight. The paws are dense and rounded.

This breed’s dogs developed unevenly.

There are various varieties of Caucasian Shepherds, depending on the region:

1. Georgian – massive and the tallest dogs of this breed. Body more elongated;
2. Armenian – not the tallest, more refined dogs;
3. Azerbaijani – divided into mountain and steppe. They have long legs and a square body;
4. Dagestan – the largest type of dog with a square body.

Popular colors of Caucasian Shepherds

Other shepherd dog breeds cannot match the wide range of colors possessed by Caucasian Shepherds. In addition, the undercoat’s color is typically consistent, consisting of fluffy hair that is either light gray or beige in hue.

Silver-gray in color, Caucasian Shepherds were originally used to protect sheep herds in mountainous areas. This was a cruel trick on them; if the dogs were colored similarly to their enemies, the owner might unintentionally shoot his guard rather than the wolf in a fight. As a result, people started breeding different-colored Caucasian Shepherds.

White dogs are the rarest, despite being the most common up until the 1960s in the 20th century. Dogs frequently combine multiple colors. For instance, rusty-red with red and dark bloom, brown with black or red-red, and light red with a cream hue. Additionally, there is occasionally a brindle color, which varies in both the number of stripes and color intensity.

Caucasian Shepherds prefer silver-gray, with light-colored paws, a black nose, black lips, and a black mask on the muzzle. On the other hand, dogs with light eyes and faded colors are not very popular among breeders. Fawn, a light red color with hints of cream, red, or gold on the top layer of hair, is another common color. Caucasian Shepherds have long, thick, soft coats with thick undercoats.

These dogs are categorized according to their coat type as follows:

• Long-haired. The top layer of hair is very long, forms a luxurious mane around the neck and dense "pants" on the hind legs. The tail is fluffy, reminiscent of a fox;
• Short-haired dogs have a short top layer of hair, which fits tightly to the body. These dogs are more pronounced in muscles, have a massive build;
• Intermediate type of Caucasian Shepherd. The hair of such dogs does not lie close to the body, but the dogs have a thick mane and a bristly tail.

Character and habits of Caucasian Shepherds

For a very long time, the Caucasian Shepherd breed was thought to be extremely vicious and aggressive. This is partially accurate because Caucasians were bred only to protect their homeland. Only the dogs that exhibited aggression toward people and animals that did not pose a threat to them were eliminated. Caucasian Shepherds make excellent territory guards in every other way.

These dogs’ fearlessness, tenacity, extraordinary devotion to the cause, and complete independence are among their best qualities. Breeders even have a joke about how a Caucasian Shepherd will defend a stick if it is tied to one in the field. Caucasians totally dominate the territory that is entrusted to them, and they do not bark aimlessly.

They need skilled instruction and are obstinate and persistent. You can raise a friendly dog that will be responsible for protection and know who is yours and who is not with the right training. For example, if a dog is left on watch at a location, it will not attack new employees because it knows that this is additionally its territory. The Caucasian Shepherd, however, is also able to identify strangers and knows when to drive them away. Caucasians are known as very thinking dogs for this reason.

Caucasians are actually easy to train, but you will need a firm trainer and soft methods. Dogs that are adults are quiet, calm, and prefer not to make noise. They don’t attack people without cause, but they are cautious of everyone but their family. Because they understand their responsibility to them and are even prepared to take on the role of nannies, Caucasians get along well with children.

Fascinating fact: Although Caucasians are among the top 10 most aggressive breeds worldwide, ill-treated or undereducated dogs tend to become irate. Caucasians typically die or experience psychological trauma if they are moved to a new home because they grow attached to their original family.

Interesting facts about Caucasian Shepherds

Dogs of a Caucasian breed typically lack intelligence. These dogs have stable psyches and are calm, balanced creatures; it is very difficult to incite aggression in them. Despite their extreme devotion to their owners, these dogs hardly ever even display happiness in front of them.

Of all dog breeds, Caucasian Shepherds are the oldest. According to some researchers, they directly descended from domesticated wolves that were crossed with regular dogs. The appearance of wolves and Caucasian Shepherds are strikingly similar.

The independence of Caucasian Shepherds is strong. They can operate independently but also collaborate well with others. For instance, when working with law enforcement, Caucasian Shepherds are able to attack targets or initiate pursuit without a human’s command.

From an early age, Caucasian Shepherds require human care and attention. You can’t just put a puppy on a chain and feed it—you can’t let its upbringing happen on its own. In this manner, the puppy will not view a person as its owner and will grow up aggressive. To help the dog socialize, you should play with it, pet it, and take it on walks.

During the Russo-Turkish War in 1765, Caucasian Shepherds were employed as guard dogs by the Turkish military. A few years later, Caucasians were being used as guards by the Russians, who had also noticed this trend.

Caucasian Shepherd training is a personalised approach. These dogs were not well-liked in pre-revolutionary Russia because of the German training method, which involved repeatedly giving the same order. The Caucasians became agitated and aggressive because they did not understand why they needed to perform the same action repeatedly.

Pros and cons of Caucasian Shepherds

Because Caucasian Shepherds are sophisticated canines, they need excellent professional training. Getting a dog like this just to put it on a chain for protection is a big mistake because Caucasians go crazy, become very aggressive, and lose all sense of who is who. The belief that Caucasians are vicious dogs has grown as a result of such treatment.

Among the breed’s benefits are the following:

• Flexible intelligence. Dogs make decisions independently, are easy to train, know their job and are ready to cooperate with various people;
• Excellent security qualities. Caucasians are the best guard dogs of all existing breeds;
• Absolute fearlessness. When danger approaches, the dog is ready to rush at any moment. These animals are even ready to die for the sake of their owners;
• Endurance and adaptability to various living conditions. Caucasian Shepherds are unpretentious, live quietly in an aviary, and easily endure frosts. The conditions of keeping on the street are much more comfortable for them than in an apartment;
• Dogs are unquestioningly loyal to their owner and family. They are ready to play with children, guard the house, play. If the owners of a well-mannered Caucasian Shepherd leave for a short time, they can leave the dog in the care of another person, and the Caucasian Shepherd will calmly treat him until the owners return.

Among the drawbacks of owning a Caucasian Shepherd are:

• Aggressiveness. Even with proper training, dogs are wary of everyone who is not their family. Although they are difficult to provoke, when showing aggression, a Caucasian Shepherd is difficult to stop;
• Strict training is necessary. In inept hands, a Caucasian Shepherd becomes a dangerous dog;
• The dog needs regular exercise. This once again proves that putting a dog on a chain for life means ruining its psyche and turning it into an aggressive animal.

Breeding Caucasian Shepherds

Understanding the fundamentals of genetics is essential if you want to start a Caucasian Shepherd breeding business; without it, you will never produce healthy offspring. The Russian Cynological Federation established the breed standard, which the breeder should become familiar with. Dogs that are cowardly, aggressive, or mentally unstable are not allowed to apply.

You need permission before choosing a dog for breeding. Testing is used to acquire permission. If the dog has a pedigree and is at least a year old, you must apply for testing. The dog will not be available for breeding until testing is complete.

The dog will be fully developed physically and psychologically and ready for mating at the age of two to three years. Because of their balanced build and excellent health, Caucasian Shepherd bitches naturally give birth. Furthermore, the dog will find it much easier to live outside, and the warmth of the mother’s body will prevent the puppies from freezing. Therefore, there is no need to bring the dog inside.

You can plan a 15-minute walk for the dog if labor lasts longer than ten hours, as labor is stimulated by physical activity. You should contact a veterinarian if this does not help.

The bitch bites the puppies’ umbilical cords and consumes the placenta herself. They are totally blind from birth. The rich, fatty milk of their mother provides the puppies with all the nutrients they need. The puppies’ active growth will start at 1.5 months, at which point they can start training and acclimating to new foods gradually. Although Caucasian puppies are happy, energetic, and outgoing, their mother keeps a close eye on them.

Caring for Caucasian Shepherds

Even in very large apartments, having a Caucasian Shepherd in the living space is not advised. These dogs are intolerant of heat, they cherish their privacy, and they require regular exercise. A roomy enclosure with an insulated booth should serve as the puppy’s home. It’s important to occasionally open the enclosure to allow the dog to run around and play, especially for growing puppies.

Puppies must be accustomed to wearing a muzzle by the time they are six months old, and they should be walked on a leash up until that point. Initially, the puppy’s enclosure should be separated into multiple areas: a warm area for the winter, a booth, a shaded area for the heat, and an open space for you to extend your legs.

Fascinating fact: Since Caucasians are tidy dogs, the cage ought to be tidy as well. In addition to causing fungal diseases in the dog, a dirty enclosure can cause tangles in the fur.

Caucasian shepherds have extremely thick and dense fur, so frequent brushing is necessary. Although combing the Caucasian hair daily is ideal, there are situations when you can only do so three days a week. The dog needs to be combed multiple times a day during shedding. Because Caucasians have warm, fluffy fur, you can felt toys and knit items from the combed undercoat (warm socks, mittens, and belts are popular examples).

The Caucasian Shepherd is worth cutting on a regular basis. Since they don’t handle heat well, it’s a good idea to trim their body and paw hair in the summer. Claw trimming is possible once every three to four weeks, particularly if the dog does not walk on hard surfaces like floors or asphalt.

Caucasian Shepherds enjoy playing and chewing things even as adults. Consequently, it makes sense to purchase toys for the puppy that will occupy his time while you are away.

Diet of Caucasian Shepherds

Although Caucasian Shepherds are not fussy eaters, you should follow nutritional guidelines if you want to raise a robust and healthy dog. The age, level of physical activity, and food composition all affect how much food is served. Given their sluggish metabolism, you shouldn’t feed the dog too frequently. A single meal a day is all that many breeders feed their adult dogs, and this is plenty for an active and healthy lifestyle. However, it makes sense to feed the dog twice during the winter if it is kept in an aviary.

Important information: You must adhere to a natural food base when feeding. The foods that are made especially for Caucasian Shepherds should be used if you wish to feed your dog ready-made mixes. A diet high in calcium, vitamins, and protein is recommended. Products: plenty of pure drinking water and only fresh, high-quality goods.

An adult Caucasian should consume primarily meat and offal. A dog should generally consume one kilogram of meat every day. Any meat will do; the only requirement is that it not be overly fatty. Giving it raw is preferable, but slightly boiling it is also acceptable. Small bones should never be given to dogs as they can get stuck in their throats. Moreover, you ought to turn down fragile, tubular bones. But your pet might be drawn to a thick beef bone.

Dogs can be fed boiled pork and a small amount of lard during the winter. They willfully consume tripe, liver, kidneys, lungs, calf heads, and tails at any time of the year. Since offal has a low calorie content, the diet should be balanced to include the necessary quantity of calories.

You can also give low-fat boiled sea fish in addition to meat. It is preferable to remove the bones and then grind it in a meat grinder. To such porridge, you can add wheat, buckwheat, or oatmeal; rice is less frequently added. It’s advised to cook porridge in vegetable broth and to generally feed dogs some vegetables like cabbage, dill, and zucchini. Dogs also eat fruits and vegetables without complaint.

Diseases and health problems

A shepherd dog’s immune system is incredibly robust. Because they are immune to almost all viruses and infections and can sleep soundly in the snow, Caucasian Shepherd disease is uncommon. However, these dogs are more prone than others to a number of diseases.

Dogs of large breeds are susceptible to hip dysplasia. This illness causes energetic Caucasian Shepherds to become lethargic, hesitant to go for walks, and rarely playful. Clubfoot and lameness develop. An X-ray can be used to diagnose the condition.

Caucasians are prone to leptospirosis, hepatitis, and plague infections. Vaccination is the best defense against these illnesses; if a dog is vaccinated, they will most likely not contract them. Furthermore, stray dogs shouldn’t interact with any animals.

The majority of genetic diseases do not affect Caucasian Shepherds. Generally speaking, these are different metabolic disorders. An allergy, for instance, to a specific product could happen. Naturally, these illnesses are congenital, so you ought to adopt a puppy only from parents who have undergone genetic disease testing.

Since epilepsy, seizures, and neuroses can affect large dogs, it is important to provide the best care possible. A Caucasian Shepherd will gain weight if it is overfed. Subcutaneous fat can store substances due to slow metabolism. Diabetes and endocrine disorders are also possible outcomes.

The signs of a sick Caucasian Shepherd are easy to spot. These dogs exhibit drastic behavioral changes, including becoming agitated or lethargic, experiencing digestive issues, losing their appetite, and starting to drink excessively.

Aspect	Description
Breed Name	Caucasian Shepherd Dog
Origin	Caucasus region
Size	Large and powerful
Coat	Thick and dense, with a double layer
Color	White, gray, fawn, brindle, and black
Temperament	Loyal, protective, and confident
Exercise Needs	Moderate; enjoys regular walks and playtime
Training	Requires consistent training due to its independent nature
Good With Children	Yes, but should be socialized from a young age
Grooming	Regular brushing needed to manage shedding

One amazing breed that is well-known for its loyalty and protectiveness is the Caucasian Shepherd Dog. It flourishes as a companion and protector in settings where it can follow its instincts and build close relationships with its family. Its formidable stature and power render it a formidable defender, but its tender disposition toward close companions reveals a more vulnerable side.

To guarantee this breed’s wellbeing and harmony with people and other pets, training and socialization are essential. A well-mannered and versatile member of the family can be developed in the Caucasian Shepherd with regular and affirmative reinforcement. They are not fit for apartment living, so it’s critical to recognize and honor their need for space and exercise.

All things considered, the Caucasian Shepherd Dog is a strong and devoted breed that can become a loving and loyal friend with the correct upbringing. For those who can provide the space and activity it needs and are ready for its particular needs, its distinctive qualities and abilities make it an intriguing option.

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