Caucasian Mountain Dog: Breed Info, Pictures, Care Guide & More

Caucasian Mountain Dogs are a strong, sturdy, and big working canine breed initially developed to guard livestock from predators like wolves and bears. There’s no denying the fantastic thing about these fearless guardians, however proudly owning a Caucasian Mountain Dog will not be for the faint of coronary heart.

Breed Overview

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The Caucasian Mountain Dog was initially bred to guard livestock, in order that they’re strongly constructed and have finely honed senses. They’re fast to battle to guard what and who they love most. They could make unbelievable guard canine, however they’re very impartial and barely cussed, so coaching them to be something however protectors could be difficult. If coaching and socialization start at a younger age, these canine could be very playful and affectionate.

Caucasian Mountain Dog Characteristics

Caucasian Mountain Dog Puppies

Finding a Caucasian Mountain Dog breeder shouldn’t be an excessive amount of of a problem. There are American Kennel Club-affiliated breeders in Ohio, Missouri, and Michigan. A Google search additionally brings up quite a few breeders in different states and all through Canada.

Potential house owners should do their due diligence earlier than adopting a Caucasian Mountain Dog from a breeder. Responsible breeders focus totally on producing wholesome puppies and will have the ability to present adopters with well being certificates and proof of genetic testing.

Don’t let these small and cute balls of fluff trick you into considering these puppies will develop to be a manageable dimension. These canine might be a minimal of 100 kilos, totally grown, and very highly effective and muscular. They want loads of house and will not be apartment-friendly.

Caucasian Mountain Dog Origin & History

The Caucasian Mountain Dog is native to the Caucasus area in Eastern Europe between the Black and Caspian seas. However, canine just like this breed have been serving shepherds within the Caucasus Mountains for hundreds of years. They had been initially bred to guard livestock and the house.

Breeding of the Caucasian Shepherd Dog took off within the Soviet Union through the Nineteen Twenties. This was when the breed turned common because of their fearless temperament and bodily imposing look.

The breed didn’t attain Western Europe till the Thirties, and it didn’t change into a part of the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service till 1996.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Caucasian Mountain Dog

The Caucasian Mountain Dog’s breeding as a guardian canine has a big impression on their temperament. This is a extremely loyal breed that has traditionally been protecting of relations and suspicious of strangers. They’re very assured, courageous, fearless, and impartial. These canine aren’t afraid to defend what’s theirs.

However, they are often very smooth, devoted, variety, and affectionate towards their relations. While their excessive loyalty could be a huge “promoting level,” it’s important that potential house owners understand this isn’t all the time optimistic. These canine require a really skilled handler, one who’s unafraid to tackle the alpha function.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

The Caucasian Mountain Dog is a critical guardian canine breed that shouldn’t ever be taken frivolously. These canine could be fierce and aggressive, particularly in the event that they haven’t been socialized or skilled.

That stated, they might be a very good match for some households. However, this isn’t a breed you’ll need round the home you probably have babies. Remember, these canine will weigh, at minimal, 100 kilos, to allow them to trigger extreme accidents to youthful youngsters.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

It could be difficult to have a multi-pet family when you could have a Caucasian Mountain Dog as a result of these canine are so territorial and impartial. Additionally, they’re very assertive, strong-willed, and could be liable to aggression, all traits that don’t lend themselves properly to multi-pet properties.

Because of their huge dimension, they’re additionally not appropriate for properties with smaller pets like cats as they might inadvertently harm them simply by current.

While this breed doesn’t like unusual canine, they are able to do properly with different, similarly-sized pups they’ve been socialized with.

Things to Know When Owning a Caucasian Mountain Dog

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Because the Caucasian Mountain Dog is an extra-large breed, they want a well-balanced and extremely nutritious food regimen to assist their distinctive wants. Owners also needs to select meals acceptable for his or her life stage, as puppies, adults, and seniors all have differing dietary necessities.

As for feeding frequency, it’s finest to feed this breed three to 4 small meals every day once they’re puppies. Once they’re adults, you may reduce to twice-daily feedings.

Since this breed is liable to creating orthopedic situations like hip and elbow dysplasia, they mustn’t be allowed to realize an excessive amount of additional weight. A veterinarian might be an excellent individual to speak to about how a lot to feed as they’ll keep in mind every canine’s life stage, exercise stage, and well being standing.

Exercise 🐕

While Caucasian Mountain Dogs aren’t as energetic or energetic as different working canine, they nonetheless require every day train to maintain them joyful, wholesome, and mentally and bodily stimulated. Walks are a good way to fulfill their train necessities, although they’ll additionally get pleasure from a very good play session or two unfold all through the day.

Training 🦮

Despite their comparatively pleasant and affectionate temperament, the Caucasian Mountain Dog nonetheless requires socialization and coaching to forestall them from changing into aggressive and unruly. Remember, these canine had been initially used as guardians, so even when yours doesn’t have a flock to look at over, the intuition to protect stays. These pups could be extremely possessive and protecting of their property and household, however these points could be addressed with coaching and socialization.

Unfortunately, these canine could be fairly cussed and impartial, which might make coaching them a real problem. This is why we don’t suggest first-time canine house owners go for a Caucasian Mountain Dog. These pups require an skilled proprietor with endurance and expertise in canine coaching.

Grooming ✂️

Caucasian Mountain Dogs have a number of completely different coat sorts, and the way concerned the grooming course of is will rely on which kind the pup has. Regardless of coat size, they may have double coats. When you mix their sheer dimension with their double coat, you’re left with a canine that has lots of fur to take care of.

Long-coated pups will want every day brushing to maintain their coats tangle-free and look their finest. Those with shorter coats will solely want a a couple of times weekly brushing.

Owners ought to count on seasonal intervals of heavier shedding, most frequently within the spring and autumn, throughout which grooming periods must be elevated to account for the additional fur.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Caucasian Mountain Dogs are comparatively wholesome, however they might be liable to a number of well being situations.

Hip and elbow dysplasia are orthopedic situations widespread in giant and extra-large breeds. These situations lead to unfastened joints, which might impression mobility and trigger ache.

These pups can even develop entropion, an inherited situation leading to an inward-growing eyelid.

They’re additionally vulnerable to weight problems and the situations that may happen because of having extra weight. Any additional kilos the Caucasian Mountain Dog carries can worsen their joint issues, promote again ache, and even trigger coronary heart illness. Thankfully, that is a completely preventable well being situation.

Male vs Female

Male and feminine Caucasian Mountain Dogs differ primarily in dimension and look. Males are a lot taller and heavier. The minimal weight for a male is 110 kilos, and so they’re typically between 28 and 30 inches. The minimal weight for females is 100 kilos, and so they’re round two inches shorter.

Additionally, males have greater heads and extra muscle tissues and are sometimes shorter in physique than their feminine counterparts.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Caucasian Mountain Dog

1. The Caucasian Mountain Dog is banned in some nations.

Caucasian Mountain Dogs are banned or restricted in nations like Denmark, Italy, Russia, and Belarus. There are many potential causes nations determine to put bans or restrictions on particular breeds, together with canine chew statistics, a bent towards aggression, and a poor historical past.

2. The Caucasian Mountain Dog has a critical chew drive.

While no research-based research has been finished on the chew drive of Caucasian Mountain Dogs, we are able to speculate that this breed could have a robust chew drive because of its dimension and head form.

3. Caucasian Mountain Dogs work in Russian prisons.

There’s no denying the sheer dimension, energy, and power of the Caucasian Mountain Dog. These information haven’t gone unnoticed by Russian jail employees, both. These intimidating canine are stated to have the stopping energy of a .45 caliber gun, making it clear why they’d discover work in a few of Russia’s most brutal prisons.

Final Thoughts

There’s no denying that the Caucasian Mountain Dog is a beautiful breed, however these highly effective and powerful canine will not be for everybody. Their historical past working as guardians has made them very vigilant and territorial however extremely loyal towards their people. However, these qualities do come at a worth, as they are often aggressive and fiercely protecting.

As stunning as these canine are and as nice as their temperament could be, this breed is just for a really hardy few. If you’re looking for an enormous, fluffy canine, go for a Saint Bernard or Newfoundland. We don’t suggest the Caucasian Mountain Dog for first-time canine house owners or households with younger kids or different pets. They want a agency, attentive, affected person, and skilled proprietor who’s not afraid of entering into the alpha function.

Featured Image Credit: Aleksandra Tokarz, Shutterstock