Content
- Origin of the Caucasus Shepherd
- Physical characteristics of the Caucasus Shepherd
- Caucasus Shepherd Puppy
- Personality of the Caucasus Shepherd
- Care of the Caucasus Shepherd
- Education of the Caucasus Shepherd
- Health of the Caucasus Shepherd
Brave and strong, these dogs have protected the herds of roller coasters for centuries, and this is a very old canine breed. For this reason, the Caucasus Shepherds were much appreciated by the Russian peasants with whom they lived. Also, did you know that he is one of the dogs with the strongest and most powerful bite ever? They were favorites to protect the herds from possible predators.
The Caucasus Shepherd belongs to the group of Molossos dogs, characterized by having a robust appearance, more or less large and a jaw with great strength. Do you want to know more? In this PeritoAnimal article, we'll talk about dog breed caucasus shepherd and we will explain everything you need to know, its origin, physical characteristics and main care.
Source
- Europe
- Russia
- Group II
- Rustic
- muscular
- provided
- long ears
- toy
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- Giant
- 15-35
- 35-45
- 45-55
- 55-70
- 70-80
- more than 80
- 1-3
- 3-10
- 10-25
- 25-45
- 45-100
- 8-10
- 10-12
- 12-14
- 15-20
- Low
- Average
- High
- Strong
- very faithful
- Active
- Tender
- Dominant
- Houses
- hiking
- Shepherd
- Surveillance
- Sport
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Medium
- Long
- Smooth
Origin of the Caucasus Shepherd
Traditionally, the Pator-do-Caucasus dog, whose original name is kavkazkaia ovtcharka, was used to guard flocks in the mountains and the homes of peasants and shepherds. This Molosso type dog appears in documents dating from the 1st century BC., therefore, existing since before that time. The breed we know today is the result of the selection made by Russian peasants for many years, who wanted the strongest and bravest specimens to protect their herds from predators.
There are several breeds from the Caucasus area, for this reason the Caucasus Shepherds need to be distinguished from the South Russian Shepherd, the Central Asian Shepherd and the Caucasus Steppe Shepherd , although the latter has not yet been recognized by the FCI.
Physical characteristics of the Caucasus Shepherd
The Caucasus Shepherds are big dogs, with males weighing at least 50 kg and females a little less, around 45 kg minimum. Its height at the withers also varies according to sex, in females it is at least 64 cm, being the usual between 67-70 cm, and in males the minimum is 68 cm, with the most frequent parameters being between 72 and 75 cm. In other words, the Caucasus Shepherd can be considered a giant dog.
Continuing with the characteristics of the Caucasus Shepherd, we see that his body is harmonious and of balanced proportions, with a broad chest and muscular legs, straight and very balanced. The tail is set high and scythe-shaped, and rises when the dog is alert. The head is as big as the body in general, maintaining the proportions, with well-marked cheeks and muzzle a broad muzzle with black nose. The eyes are medium in shape and oval, with brown colors and an attentive expression. The ears are medium, thick and triangular in shape, hanging to the sides. Although in the past the custom was to amputate the ears, today this cruel practice is prohibited.
The coat of the Caucasus Shepherd is about 5 cm long, presenting a woolly undercoat, which should not exceed this length. This layer provides good insulation against the bad weather of the Caucasus Mountains. All colors are accepted in the Caucasus Shepherd, with solid, mottled or painted patterns.
Caucasus Shepherd Puppy
Identifying a Caucasus Shepherd puppy is generally not complicated, as they are very big since young. In addition, they are rounded in shape and have a leafy coat that gives them the appearance of a bear cub.
Personality of the Caucasus Shepherd
Famous for his courage, the Shepherd of the Caucasus not afraid of anything, facing those who dare to enter their land or harm their family. This can make him appear territorial and dominant, but you must provide him with the proper training to avoid this as he is a very suspicious dog with strangers.
On the other hand, the Shepherd of the Caucasus is very thoughtful and loving, a faithful companion who will not hesitate to show his devotion and adoration to his humans. Likewise, they tend to have great respect for their fellow men and tend to get along very well with children and other animals.
Care of the Caucasus Shepherd
The Caucasus Shepherd is a dog very active and energetic, so you need to give him the hours of exercise he needs. Thus, within the care of the Caucasus Shepherd, there is a need to offer him physical activities that involve physical exercises such as running or jumping, and also mental stimuli, such as sniffing and tracking. If you can't give him that level of activity, the Caucasus Shepherd is probably not your ideal companion.
On the other hand, as the Caucasus Shepherd, he tends to distrust strangers, and it is necessary to socialize him so that he learns to correctly relate to other people and animals. Otherwise, the walks will not be as pleasant as they should be, as he may bark at strangers if he feels threatened. For this reason, the Caucasus Shepherd puppy socialization it's imperative, even if you've adopted an adult individual.
Continuing with basic care, it is important not to forget about brushing, since we are facing a breed with a leafy and moderately long coat. Thus, the Shepherd of the Caucasus needs to receive at least a weekly brushing to maintain a clean and shiny coat. To favor your coat, it is advisable to introduce omega 3 supplements or foods rich in these fatty acids in your diet.
Finally, if your apartment is too small and you find that your pet will not be able to move around easily, it is not recommended to consider adopting a puppy or adult Caucasus Shepherd.
Education of the Caucasus Shepherd
Due to its temperamental nature, for inexperienced people or beginners, the Caucasus Shepherd is not as easy to train as other breeds. For this reason, we recommend look for a professional canine educator, which establishes a work plan based on positive and motivating techniques for the animal.
However, if you think you can handle this task without any problems, it is important to know that the Caucasus Shepherd has very strong instincts, which means that his education needs to include many games and activities that allow him to keep himself properly stimulated and motivated. Likewise, it is very important be constant and patient, as well as use positive reinforcement and completely forget about punishment, screaming and physical violence. All races react negatively to punishment, but the Caucasus Shepherd is one of the most susceptible, as he will not hesitate to defend himself if he feels attacked or threatened. Furthermore, these types of techniques promote stress, anxiety, frustration and fear in the animal.
The education of the Caucasus Shepherd puppy or adult begins with his socialization and teaching him where to relieve himself. If you haven't already been vaccinated, you will have to show the place in the house where it is allowed. Gradually introduce basic training orders and as it grows add advanced education tricks. On the other hand, being such an active dog, we highly recommend introduce you to canine sports as agility.
Health of the Caucasus Shepherd
like dogs of this breed are very long-lived, may develop age-related illnesses such as heart failure, diabetes or deafness. Famous for his courage, the Shepherd of the Caucasus is not afraid of anything, and he faces anyone who dares to enter his lands or harm his family. This can make him look territorial and dominant, but to avoid this it is necessary to train him properly as he is a very suspicious dog with strangers.
If you adopt a Caucasus Shepherd, it will be necessary deworm it and manage the mandatory vaccines to protect you against the most common dog diseases. If you provide all the care he needs and visit the specialist regularly, the Caucasus Shepherd's life expectancy is about 12 years.