Dog breeds – Caucasian Shepherd
There are several similarities between him and the bear. Both creatures are huge, fluffy and begging to be hugged. However, no one serious would try to cuddle up to a bear and, contrary to appearances, we do not recommend this in the case of the Caucasian Shepherd to people who are trying to be friends with him. Although beautiful and smart, for most people, he is not suitable for a family member, but every dog lover will see in him great potential, intelligence, but also an unbridled personality.
FCI-classification
- Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer type – Molossian and Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs
- Section 2.2 Molossian / Mountain type
- Without working trial
- Origin: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Dagestan
- Other names: Caucasian Mountain Dog, Caucasian Ovcharka, Caucasian Sheepdog, Gampr, Qafqaz Çoban iti, Nagazi, Kavkazskaya Ovcharka
The origin of the breed
The name is related to the origin of the dog, because it is believed that his ancestors lived in the Caucasus. Most often found from the Caucasian mountains to the South Russian steppes, it did not distinguish itself only as a result of natural breeding, but also selective breeding. The Caucasian peoples needed sheepdogs that could guard houses and livestock herds, and protect them from predators.
Although the Caucasian Shepherd is an old breed, modern breeding has its origins in the 1920s in the territory of the former Soviet Union. The result of selective breeding was to be strong, courageous, self-confident dogs with a sharpened sense of hearing and sight, and a coat that protects against the most adverse weather conditions. Thanks to the combination of all these features, the Caucasian Shepherd Dog can survive in a harsh, hostile climate.
Characteristic
Appearance
It owes its bearish appearance to its muscular, strong figure and very thick and dense hair. The head is massive, wide and large. The muzzle is deep and also wide, tapering towards the nose, jaws are strong. Black nose, sometimes spotted, blue or chocolate (the last two shades are not accepted by the FCI).
Eyes rather medium-sized, set wide apart, slightly oblique. The iris takes shades of brown from light walnut to darker chocolate, while the look is full of alertness and seriousness. Triangular ears, medium size, soft, set high on the head, away from each other. The torso ends with a high saber-like or curved tail. When resting, it hangs up to the ankle joint, while the dog is active, it is carried over the back.
The coat is thick, dense and straight; it consists of a top coat and an undercoat. Shorter and denser on the head and forelimbs than on the rest of the body. The tail also has a lot of hair. The hair is long on the ears, there is a ruff around the neck, and characteristic pants on the thighs.
Temperament
Let us face it – the Caucasian Shepherd Dog is a demanding, sometimes difficult and aggressive breed. The reason for this is the innate tenacity and sharp character.
The original occupation of the sheepdog was to guard and protect herds against large predators, which required him to be independent in the long absence of shepherds, and because it came to Europe relatively recently, its wild nature did not milden, therefore it still works as a guard dog.
In general, however, the breed is considered dangerous and aggressive (in the past, these traits, combined with a strong territorial instinct, were highly desirable). Although as a puppy it is cute, even a teddy bear, it must not be forgotten that inside it is an instinctive animal, having many of the original features of its ancestors.
What is the character of the Caucasian Shepherd Dog?
Certainly, one cannot deny him stubbornness, steadfastness, a rather small need to be with people and aggressive behavior related to guarding his own territory. In order to minimize the wild inclination of the Caucasian Shepherd as much as possible, it is important to subject it to consistent training and socialization as soon as possible.
The owner or trainer of this breed cannot be a gentle person who uses rewarding methods that are unlikely to work within the breed. The best way to raise your dog well is to have a firm tone of voice, firm gestures and “control” the leash. In order for a dog to respect us, it must have good contact with us, i.e. be with us often from an early age.
The character of the dog is unlikely to be changed and should not be attempted as it will either fail or break the dog’s personality.
The ideal owner of a Caucasian Shepherd is a strong and dominant person, and the property, which the dog is to guard, should be carefully fenced and secured – in any stranger the animal can see an intruder and then attack it. It is also worth remembering that each dog is different, so sometimes there are mild, as well as extremely aggressive and impulsive Caucasian Shepherds.
A dog of this breed should not be played in such a way that it could show its strength, thanks to which it will “win” with the owner. Once he sees that he has the upper hand, he will no longer respect family members. To show superiority over the dog, one must not show fear or incite the animal.
Detailed data and dimensions (size)
Caucasian Shepherd Dog
- Height at the withers:
- dogs: 72 – 90 cm (28 – 35 in)
- females: 67 – 78 cm (26 – 31 in)
- Mass:
- dogs: 50 – 100 kg (110 – 220 lb)
- females: 45 – 80 kg (99 – 176 lb)
- Lifespan: 10 – 12 years
Caucasian Shepherd Dog – interesting facts
- The Caucasian Shepherd has been placed on the list of aggressive dog breeds, which means that the potential owner must obtain a permit from the Municipal Office to keep and breed these dogs.
- It is believed that dogs of this breed are well trained when they have their eyes covered.
- In their country of origin, Caucasian Shepherds are traditionally trimmed with ears.
- The Caucasian Shepherd Dog has a good memory – it can remember bad treatment during the puppy period for the rest of its life.
- Dogs of this breed participating in shows (and thus intended for breeding) must pass special psychological tests.
- In the past, Caucasian Shepherds were used for bear hunting.
- Since the artificially bred breed is quite young, no mutations leading to diseases have occurred in the genes. Nevertheless, within the breed, hip dysplasia often occurs.
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