Caucasian shepherd dog

November 3, 2022

The Caucasian shepherd dog/sheepdog – also called the Caucasian Ovcharka, Caucasian Mountain dog or Russian bear  – originated in Caucasia, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, near southern Russia. He is a guardian dog, born and bred, with a centuries-old penchant for guarding properties as well as flocks of livestock grazing in the mountains. His size, strength and commitment to his job are not to be taken lightly – this is a serious dog for experienced owners only!

The Caucasian shepherd is confident to the point of being fearless and doesn’t take well to strangers. However, within his family, he is kind and protective. As a giant breed, he needs lots and lots of space. 

History

There are many different types of Caucasian shepherd dogs, but they all originated in Caucasian Mountain territories like Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran and Chechnya. Originally, these dogs were kept by shepherds to protect their flocks from large mountain predators, so they have the reputation of being fearsome wolf and bear killers. With the blood of ancient Molossus dogs as well as Asian mastiffs and Tibetan sheepdogs running through their veins, it’s no wonder that their killer instincts for fearlessness and guarding remain strong to this day. 

The Caucasian shepherd was bred to be enormous, powerful, courageous, self-confident and very intimidating, ruling the mountainous territories in which he guarded properties and flocks of livestock. These qualities brought him to the attention of the USSR breeding programmes in the early 1920s, when the Russian Army was breeding dogs to guard prison camps and patrol territories alongside soldiers. Caucasian sheepdogs were used to patrol the Berlin Wall in Germany from the 1960s, but when the wall fell three decades later, more than 7000 dogs needed new homes.

In the meantime, the Caucasian shepherd dog entered dog show rings in Germany in the 1930s, but was only accepted to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in 1984. He is currently in the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) Foundation Stock Service, as the breed needs more development and standardisation before being officially recognised.

Temperament

The Caucasian shepherd dog comes with quite the reputation as a fearsome breed, but his temperament is still required to be steady and self-confident – not aggressive and out of control. He is wary of strangers and sees any unfamiliar people and animals as a threat that he is willing to stand up to. His temperament needs to be well-managed and properly honed through socialisation, consistent obedience training and strong leadership by a confident owner.

The resulting dog is a powerful guard dog, yet within the home he shows unwavering devotion to his family, affection, loyalty and a soft kindness that seems almost uncharacteristic of the mountain guardian that is capable of killing dangerous predators.

Health

While the Caucasian shepherd dog is a generally healthy breed, he is susceptible to the conditions usually associated with giant dogs. These can include:

• Hip and elbow dysplasia

• Bloat
• Cataracts are another health risk
• Even though he is a low-energy dog, he should get daily exercise and have room to patrol and play, or he may end up becoming obese (which carries plenty of its own health risks)

Exercise Requirements

Despite being a working dog, the Caucasian shepherd dog does not have high exercise demands and spends his days quite sedentarily, though always on guard. To prevent obesity and to at least maintain his muscle tone, he should be walked daily and regularly taken on hikes and exposed to plenty of outdoor activity. He may not be ebullient and excitable, but he has the endurance for long walks and hikes. 

The Caucasian shepherd is highly intelligent and may therefore present as stubborn and strong-willed. If he is not socialised from as early on as possible and exposed to many different people and animals, it may even become difficult to bring people around to visit – they will be coming into his territory, which he may perceive as a threat. He is not recommended for timid or passive owners who don’t make the effort to hone that strong personality.

Grooming Requirements

The Caucasian shepherd can have a long, medium or short coat, which is thick and weather-resistant. He will need to be brushed at least twice a week and go for a proper grooming session a few times a year, as that big coat will need to be brought under control. His nails should be clipped or ground down once or twice a month, his ears checked regularly for any signs of infection, and his teeth brushed at least three times a week.

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