Caucasian Shepherd – All the things you should know about the breed
The Caucasian shepherd, or Ovcharka, is a gentle and devoted dog breed. There is a wide variety of coat lengths and colors among Caucasian shepherds. This gentle giant, weighing up to 77 kilograms, is naturally wary of strangers and thus needs an owner who can commit much time and effort to care. Then, if you wish to be an owner of them, you should have a clear knowledge of them. So, this article is for you.
Main characteristics of Caucasian shepherds
Here are the main identical characteristics of the Caucasian shepherd breed.
- Male Caucasian shepherds weigh around 50 – 70 kg, while females weigh about 45 – 50 kg.
- They are approximately 75 centimeters ( 30 inches) tall.
- The Caucasian Shepherd breed has dark eyes that aren’t too big or too small.
- The ears are covered with a lot of hair to keep them warm.
- The hips are a little bit higher than the back.
- The tail has a lot of long, heavy hair that looks like feathers.
- The front legs are long and straight, and they have a lot of bones.
- The paws are big and heavy, and there is hair between the toes. This provides great protection for them.
- Their noses are black and big, and their nostrils are well-opened and big.
- The thick, dense, weatherproof coat has a lot of feathers and is especially good at keeping the cold out. Adult coats are not as refined as puppy coats.
- There are different color variations among them, like, gray, tan, fawn, brindle, pied, and white.
Behavior and temperament
The original job of the Caucasian Shepherd was to guard livestock. Most Caucasian Ovtcharkas are confident, strong-willed, and brave. The Caucasian Shepherd can be dangerous and hard to control if it isn’t socialized and trained properly.
It is bold, alert, strong, and tough. It doesn’t like people it doesn’t know and wants to protect itself very much. This dog will treat everything and everyone in the family, like children, kitties, other pups, etc. like they are part of “it’s own” family and will respect and protect them.
You shouldn’t leave this dog alone with kids because if they play too harshly, the Caucasian Ovcharka could feel the need to defend your child and will do so in a big way. It doesn’t have time for unknown people, but it’s happy to see family and friends. And also, it can be pretty bossy around dogs it doesn’t know.
Some German dog lovers use dogs as guard dogs to keep people away. Not everyone will like this dog. It requires a proprietor who can perform powerful leadership and is also willing to spend a significant amount of time engaging in social activities and acquiring new skills.
Living needs, care and health facts of Caucasian Shepherds
Now you may have a clear idea about the Caucasian Shepherd breed. So, if you decide to own one, here’s the most crucial part of the article for you. Let’s explore living needs, care, and health facts about them.
Living needs
Even though a house with a big fenced yard is best for a Caucasian shepherd, you can adapt it in a smaller space too. Larger dogs usually don’t need as much care. But it’s best to introduce some exercises before they become lazy.
A Caucasian shepherd needs to get a lot of exercise every day. This should involve long walks and play in a yard with a fence (if you have one). They have a lot of energy and will enjoy hiking with you, but you should always keep them on a leash.
Most Caucasian shepherds interact well with other pets in the house, like cats. But they need to be socialized early on. These dogs can’t be left alone for long periods of time as they are so closely connected to their loving people.
Care
The Caucasian shepherd has a long coat that you must brush daily. They can also get mats underneath their ears and around their rears, so keep an eye out for those. The nails of Caucasian shepherds need to be trimmed, and their ears need to be checked and cleaned often.
Like any dog, but especially with giant breeds, training should start early, and you should do it consistently. The Caucasian shepherd is known for being smart and independent, which can make it hard to train them to obey. However, some people found them relatively easier to train than other giant breeds. Treat Caucasian shepherds as members of your own family, and use positive encouragement to train them well.
Health
The breed can live for 10–12 years, which is a pretty long lifespan considering its size. Caucasian shepherds are thought to be a healthy breed with no health problems unique to them.
The CSCA says that hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia could happen to these dogs. They can also have cardiac problems and an entropion disease, in which the dog’s eyelashes curl in and irritate the eyes.
All owners of sized breed dogs need to learn about bloat, which is difficult to recognize and can kill the dog. This occurs when the dog’s stomach is twisted, cutting off its blood supply and causing them to go into shock. When the dog owner finally gets their pet to the vet, it might be too late to keep it alive.
There is an easy way to fix this, though. The stomach can be stitched or stapled to the animal’s body cavity so it can no longer turn. All Caucasian dog owners should talk to their veterinarians about the procedure, which is frequently carried out if a dog is being spayed.
Conclusion
The Caucasian shepherd is a giant dog breed that comes with different body colors. Males and females are identical in size and appearance. They do not need special attention in grooming, feeding, or training. But, if you wish to own a Caucasian shepherd, you should have special knowledge to treat them. They are not human-friendly for strangers but for family members, including other pets.
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