Caucasian Shepherd

The Caucasian shepherd, also called the Caucasian sheepdog or Caucasian Ovcharka, is a giant-breed working dog originating in the Caucasus Mountains region. It was developed in the Soviet Union in the 1920s from several different varieties of strong shepherd dogs used for centuries by livestock breeders to defend sheep from wolves, jackals, and bears.

Caucasian shepherds are strongly built, have keen senses, and are quick to fight even much larger animals or people to protect their families and territory. They make excellent guard dogs, but they are independent-spirited to the point of stubbornness and take a long time to mature. This makes training them more difficult than other breeds, requiring patience and skill from an experienced owner. They are playful, energetic, and affectionate toward children. These dogs are not recommended for homes with small children, though, because of their large size and potentially aggressive tendencies. They also have issues with separation anxiety, so Caucasian shepherd parents should not leave them alone for long periods of time. This beautiful animal is not for the faint of heart, but in the right environment, a Caucasian shepherd can greatly enhance your family’s safety and security, as well as being a beloved companion.

Pros and Cons of Owning Caucasian Shepherds

The Best Dog Food For Caucasian Shepherds

Because this is such a healthy, hardy breed, there are no special dietary concerns that would require searching for just the right dog food. Any wet or dry food of high-quality, natural products without artificial additives or preservatives will work fine. Pet owners will be glad in the long run if they invest in good-quality food now, rather than dealing with unnecessary health problems in the future that might require expensive veterinary treatment and shorten the life of their animal.

That being said, giant breeds in general can suffer from orthopedic disease, obesity, and bloat at greater frequency than smaller breeds. It’s best to choose a dog food specially formulated for larger or giant dogs — and make sure to purchase specifically a puppy food blend or an adult dog blend, depending on the age of your pet.

The American Kennel Club also recommends you feed your dog multiple times a day instead of one large meal, feed from floor level rather than a raised feeder, avoid foods with high fat contents, choose a large-kibble dog food, and avoid vigorous exercise 1-2 hours after eating.

Caucasian Shepherd Size and Weight

Adult male Caucasian shepherds average 27.5 inches tall and can weigh anywhere from 110 to 154 pounds. Females, on average, are 26.5 inches tall and weigh 90 to 110 pounds at adulthood.

Caucasian Shepherd Common Health Issues

Caucasian shepherds are generally a quite healthy breed. The only major concern with them is hip dysplasia, which is an issue found in many dog breeds, especially the larger ones. Caucasian shepherds are also sometimes subject to cataracts as they get older; again, a common canine issue. Larger breeds can suffer from bloat, a rapid and sometimes fatal buildup of gas in the gastrointestinal tract that needs immediate veterinary attention.

Owners can best help prevent these issues in their dogs by being aware and alert to the signs to watch for, providing the dog with measured exercise that does not overstress their bones and joints, feeding their animal high-quality food formulated for their age and growth stage, and getting regular veterinary checkups. Specifically for the issue of bloat, feeding the dog multiple smaller meals rather than allowing them to wolf down one large meal a day is one way to head off this problem.

Temperament and Behavior

To understand the temperament of this breed, it is helpful to think about the working conditions they were bred for. Livestock ranchers in the Caucasus Mountains needed a large, powerful, fearless animal to protect them and their herds from major predators still roaming the wilderness, such as bears and wolves. The Caucasian shepherd is not primarily a herding dog so much as a guard dog.

This explains why this breed can be highly territorial and protective, while at the same time not requiring extremely large amounts of exercise. It also explains their hesitation with strangers and tendency to remain on the alert and bark at unfamiliar noises, especially at night. If you notice these behaviors, your dog is just doing what generations of its ancestors have been trained to do.

This also means that training a Caucasian shepherd to be friendly, quiet, and easily adaptable to new situations goes against its instinct and takes some skill and patience. But if it is important to you to have a formidably large dog for protection as well as companionship, the Caucasian shepherd may be the right breed for you.

How To Take Care of Caucasian Shepherds

Maintenance and Grooming

The coat of the Caucasian shepherd may come in a variety of color combinations: grey, fawn, red, black, and white. This is a double-coated breed, meaning it has an undercoat that will need special care. This breed sheds throughout the year and needs to be brushed several times a week to control the amount of hair it leaves in your house, yard, and car. Caucasian shepherds go through an especially heavy shed once a year, during which you may want to brush them daily and give frequent baths to speed up the shedding process. Some routine maintenance with these dogs, and in fact all breeds, is to check and clean their ears frequently to prevent infection, clipping their nails so they don’t scratch during play, and brushing their teeth to improve their breath and prevent oral infections.

Training

Training is essential to help bring out the strengths of a Caucasian shepherd, teach them to control their instincts, and to distinguish between friends and foes. This breed is highly intelligent but has a strong stubborn streak and will resist training from an unconfident or harsh trainer. Owners who are not experienced in training a large alpha dog should hire a professional trainer or consider getting a different breed.

Exercise

Caucasian shepherds need about an hour of exercise a day, through taking a walk or playing in a fenced yard with their owner. They do get separation anxiety when left alone for long periods of time, so this exercise should happen with their human companion. It is also important not to over-exercise a still-growing puppy as this can damage their growing bones, ligaments, and joints.

Puppies

As Caucasian shepherd puppies grow, be prepared to increase the size of their extra-sturdy kennels for crate training and sleeping as necessary. They love to chew and will need a steady supply of heavy-duty toys. Monitor these to make sure they have not begun to break off and eat parts of them. It is especially important with this breed to provide food properly formulated for puppies, as their nutritional needs are different from those of adults.

Caucasian Shepherds and Children

When well-trained by an experienced owner, these dogs can be playful, energetic, and affectionate playmates and protectors for children. They are not recommended for homes with small children, however, because a giant breed such as this can accidentally hurt a child during play or just walking past a toddler and bowling them over. Moreover, Caucasian shepherds like to be the alpha and strongly defend their people and territory. They might hurt other children during routine play if they misunderstand and consider a neighbor child a threat. Although many owners have fine experiences with their Caucasian shepherds, parents should take this decision and the training needs of the dog seriously.

Dogs similar to Caucasian Shepherds

• Tibetan mastiff: Like the Caucasian shepherd, this breed is part of the working group. Tibetan mastiffs are smaller, have a longer life expectancy, and do better with children.
• Irish Wolfhound: Irish wolfhounds are also a giant breed dog, but they are a better choice for inexperienced dog owners or families with children. They also do not need as much grooming.
• Bernese Mountain Dog: This breed barks and howls less, is more child-friendly, and is a better choice for inexperienced owners. However, it has high grooming needs like the Caucasian Shepherd.