The Caucasian Shepherd, or Caucasian Ovcharka is the most brutal Russian dog breed. It is a large, even-tempered dog with powerful and muscular body, bear-look face, deeply set oval dark eyes, round-shaped cropped ears and low carried long tail. It has a thick and water resistant double coat in shades of gray, brindle, yellow, rust, red or white (click for video). The coat may be longer or shorter depending on the region the dog comes from.
The strength and dedication of this Russian dog has made it a popular working, police and guard dog throughout Europe and the former Soviet Union states. They call it Caucasian Shepherd in Europe and Caucasian Mountain Dog in America. In Russia its name is Caucasian Ovcharka that means sheep dog in Russian.
The Caucasian ovcharka is one of the oldest mastiff-type breeds, originating from the Caucasus Mountains between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. It was used for centuries to guard flocks, kill wolves, hunt bears and protect properties against trespassers and thieves. Its type differs a little from region to region. The superior Russian Caucasian dog is a hybrid of established Caucasian types and some lines of the Central Asian dog.
During the communist era this Russian dog guarded prisoners of the Soviet Gulag camps and served as a border patrol dog along the Berlin wall. It was widely used by the Russian army’s kennels to develop new Soviet dog breeds (Russian German shepherd, Moscow dog, Russian Terrier, Russian Newfoundland, etc.). Being a fearless fighting dog, the Caucasian Ovcharka is still employed in some former Soviet republics for dog fighting, alongside with the Central Asian dog. In Europe and America the Caucasian Mountain Dog is now mostly a companion and a watchdog.
Softness and timidity are considered as serious faults for this Russian dog breed. The Caucasian dog is suspicious and aggressive towards any strangers including dog show referees. If not properly trained and socialized this vicious dog may demonstrate fierce and uncontrollable reactions (click for video). On the other hand, this Russian dog can be extremely loyal to its owner and will stand by and defend him to the very end in any situation.
The Caucasian Ovcharka can live as long as 12 years with just a few health risks, though sometimes may suffer from large-dog problems like hip dysplasia and heart conditions. Its heavy shedding coat needs occasional brushing.
Owning a Russian Caucasian Shepherd is not an easy task. This independent and strong-willed dog will obey only a dominating an equally-willed owner whom it respects. Obedience training and early socialization is mandatory for this breed.
Forming a strong protective bond with its owner, the Caucasian Ovcharka would not raise other family members to the same level. It mostly suits active singles, experienced handlers as well as farmers and ranchers.
Caucasian Ovcharka Size:
Height: 25 to 29 inches (males about 28, females about 26)
Weight: 102 to 160 pounds (males and females)
Breed Names:
Caucasian Shepherd, Caucasian Mountain Dog, Caucasian dog, Russian Caucasian dog, Caucasian Ovcharka, Caucasian Mountain Shepherd, Kavkazskaya Ovcharka, Caucasian Volkodav, Caucasian sheepdog, Caucasian Ovtcharka
Frequently asked questions about Caucasian Ovcharka
How should I be prepared for a caucasian ovcharka?
What are some of your opinions of the breed?
Why Caucasian ovcharkas have their ears cropped short?
What are some good names for Caucasian shepherds?
Can caucasian sheperd dog kill a wolf?
Do Caucasian Ovcharka dogs suffer from heat just like huskies do?
What dog food does the Caucasian Mountain Dog need?
What do you think of Caucasian Ovcharka?
Caucasian Shepherd Breed Standard is here
Find a name for your Ovcharka dog in Russian!
Learn some Russian dog commands!
CAUCASIAN OVCHARKA
BLACK RUSSIAN TERRIER
BORZOI
RUSSIAN OVCHARKA
Russian Dog © 2013 ·
Do Caucasian mountain dog like to dig
This breed of dog is known under more names, but the most correct one is Caucasian Ovcharka. You all are invated to my site and I do thank RussianDog.net that they benevolently allowed us to leave such comments here.
Stacey Kubyn
Esquire Caucasians
US Breed Founders Est. 1990
http://www.esquirecaucasians.com
440-286-2374
Caucasian Ovcharka dogs have a long history of village guarding in the mountains and continue their security tradition by protecting families and properties throughout the US. Several US breeders are land owners with dogs guarding their property. The breed adapted to the many climatic conditions of the former Soviet Union and are now thriving in most of the 50 US states. Showing currently is through rare breed exhibitions and the United Kennel Club, and is not detrimental to territorial guarding ability. Prices reflect breeder commitment to temperament and health, the costs of xraying of breeding stock and testing for genetic problems such as hypothyroidism, and the costs of frequently imported breeding stock to maintain genetic diversity.
One important comment to the article. The Caucasian Ovcharka is not a mastiff, but a molosser.
Thank you for your comment. "Mastiff-type" doesn't mean the mastiff itself :) The Caucasian Ovcharka is the molosser for sure.
We imported the first Caucasian Owcharka's into Canada, in the early 1990's.
Our farm is large, and is totally suited for the breed. This is NOT a breed to be had in extremely hot weather, unless the dog is able to find it's own comfort place in the shade, with water. This is not a breed to be kept in a City environment, neither apartment or house. This is also not a breed for novice dog owners. They are strong willed dogs and their training has to be "just right".
Unfortunately the breed has now been extensively shown in Europe and we've seen them in some dogshows in N. America also. This spells the end of the breed as it was meant to be. Caucasian Owcharka's are meant to be free/loose on their property, be guard dogs, be tolerant of other beings ( human and 4-footed kinds) they know, but not tolerant of others ( both 2 and 4-footed).
We have looked at many North American kennels, and have yet to find any that are actually using the dogs for which they are meant to be. We have found a number who charge exorbitant prices for the dogs, as if that will guarantee a good owner! We have found a number who recommend them as "pets:"
All of this is now leading us to as the question: Does anyone know of breeders in the Republic of Georga and Kazakstan or the contact information for their respective kennel clubs?
Pls. reply to this message if you do? Thanks
what kind of dog shampoo can you use oncaucasian mountain dog ?
what kind of flea and trick stuff can you put on it ?
what kind of dog brush can i use on the dog ?
To everyone who is interested in one of these dogs, I as yet have not read where any of you have asked about the disposition of the different breeds in relationship with other pets, people,area, space, or training. I raise large breed dogs, and the one thing I look for when studding out is the temperament of the male or female to be to be mated. Know what you are getting into before the task is taken on. All pet are cute when they are small.
hey guys i'm just want any one tell me what is the highest temperature can Caucasian dogs live in , because i'm living in egypt and in summer tempreature can reach up-to 46 C
vicky is absolutelly right. theese dogs are big but no so big as the great dane .. but they have usually very wide chest and a big back so the look bigger than the are…
even though the are not so big the are very very strong!!
hello
i am a happy owner of a caucasian sheep dog named ''Dias''. i live in greece.he is 72 cm tall and 58 kgr weight and 2,5 years old. he is the best dog i ever had.(i had experience with belgian and german shepperds before). very good character ,very friendly with all my relatives and friends when i am arround but very territory protective when i am not. he is very friendly with kids. i think i did good work with socializing when he was a puppy, that's why…i didn't do any special training but the dog seems to know what to do and when to do everything he has to do… especially when he has to act by him self!! he has high allert! he is very independed. all i have to do is feed him , take him to the doctor and play a few times in a week when i have the time to do it.
if you need a guard dog , if you have a big yard in your house and you love dogs with strong and independed character , i recomend it with no fear.
where can i get one?
can you please tell me where you purchased yours?
We breed hunting beagles, but have had Caucasians since the early 1990's. We were the first to import them into Canada.
All the CO's in N. America are no longer the dogs they were supposed to be.
We actually sell quite a few hunting beagles to Greece & Cyprus.
Would reallly appreciate hearing from you
OMG!!!! I want one. Woohoo I've never ever seen or heard of a Caucasian Dog. It's HEEEE-UGE. My god. I doubt if 3/4s of New Zealand has ever heard of it. I pray tho that the idiots out there who buy dogs just for fighting dont get thier filthy peuny stinking hands on one of these beautiful big wild cuddly things. WOOHOOO what a buzz it is just looking at the dog. I LOVE IT. Thanks for sharing it on fb. Geoff
I would love to see this stood next to my little chihuahua! Does anyone know whether ther are any British breeders that breed these dogs?
http://canidoit.org
Hello,
Me too. If you hear anything please please let me know.
For extensive information on this rare and majestic breed, see my website: .
For in-depth information order my book, "Caucasian Ovcharka: The Complete Resource on this Ancient and Mysterious Guardian". At 452 pages, it is the most exhaustive volume ever published on the breed in any language and contains over 300 photos of Caucasians from around the world. It was published in 2000 and has been sold internationally. It is considered by the Caucasian community to be the single most comprehensive compendium available on the breed. (ISBN # 0-9705456-0-6) It is available exclusively through ThunderHawk.
Please advise your website?
what dog treats and rawhide can caucasian muntain dog have ???
hi…im egyptian livin in egypt…actually im willing to have the most furious and aggressive dog ever..and im so confused between the alabai and the caucasian ovcharka and the kangal…would u pls send me on my mail tellin me which of them will give me the most aggressivness i want..thanks alot :)
No dought the CAUCASIAN
"Furious and Aggressive" It does not seem to me that you should have a Dog !!
I agree with Ted Cole. You can't possibly have any good intentions in becoming a dog owner. Why would you want a "dog with the most aggressiveness"? Don't animals get a bad enough rap on their own? Ugh….have a change of heart, please.
I hope you never get a hold of an aggressive dog, because you are exactly why dogs get banned and bad raps. I own an aggressive dog and we work everyday to turn around the damage done to him by an owner like you.
I agree, you should never be allowed to own a dog…..that statement raises all kinds of RED flags regarding your intentions…….I do hope that is you do get one of these beautiful animals and try to do bad things with it, the dog ends up eating you.
we ve just recently got a russian mountian dog from a rescue centre, he was seperated from his sister bella we would love to find bella and meet her or even meet another russian mountian dog in the area so he could meet them, it would also be really nice to talk to someone that also owns one for some advice as we dont know much about this breed. I hope some one can help we are in the south of the uk.
Hi.
Can you tell me any authentic breeder of caucasian ovcharka. Preferrably in ukraine or russia.
Russian? if it is caucasian how can it be Russian? can this site explain ????
russian dog is Moscow watch dog wich was made by Caucasian dogs from Georgia, and dagestan.
there was no Russia when these dogs were doing its job in Georgia and dagestan.
Russia has nothing to do with these dogs and with Caucasus and Caucasus not a Russia. Dagestan never exist in the North Caucasus when these dogs appear there and origin of dogs Tibet. Caucsus dog belongs to a native, original people of the Caucasus, but Dagestand, Osetia are new comers, people from some other parts of the world, but not original Caucasian people.
Native people are too stupid to breed dogs. Shit they don't even know how to defend their own land.
Good day,
Mr innocent from Nigeria, i want to know the ears and tails of Russian Caucasian are cut off, the brief biography of the Caucasus? thanks excepting reply soon.
Please read above.
would some one please send me or sale me a caucassian mastiff the bear looking one. i own a husky but i have been looking for one for the lasat 3years.
I could help you to find one in Russia(I speak russian and know a few breeders there), but I think you can find them in USA and it would be way cheaper…
You are so stupid. It is just a dog.
We are talking about the dogs, not politics.
There was no Russians or Georgians at that time: there was god and people, no borders.
Try to understand that.
these dogs ARE NOT russian!!!
russians just took these dogs and presented as theirs, but in Caucasian area- Georgia, Armenia etc these dogs have been living for thousands of years, long before russians even existed.
russian Caucasus dogs are awsome i recently got one and i l;ove her to pieces im thinking about breading her with are wolf she is a wonderful watch dog she is wonderful to are other pets to when are cat got hit by a car she was the one who told us what happend she would clean her and try to make her pritty even though after the cat was hit it was damn ugly no matter what one thing you have to be aware of is that if you have another female dog or male dog they will fight and you will have to seperate them
Breanna, perhaps you should learn how to spell and use proper grammar before BREEDING anything.
Caucasus in Russian is Kavkaz (kuv-KUZ). Sounds alike.
I just love these dogs. When I was young I had a friend whose dad had a russian wife. Straight off the boat. And she kept telling me about a HUGE russian dog she would call a “kuf kus” or “cuf cus”. I’m not sure the correct spelling. But I was searching for this dog and I think what she may have meant was the Caucasian dog. She said she had one that could pop a regulation sized basketball in its mouth. Have you ever heard the caucasian dog called a cuf cus? Maybe thats how you say Caucasian in russian? Feel free to reply. Thank you.
Come on, people. Read the breed standard and you'll find this is not a HUGE dog. They don't get that big!! They may be agressive or protective, but a 105lb. dog is not that big! My great dane was 175 lbs. That HUGE dog in the pic is obviouslly a falsified picture.
Vicki, I have just read your post. I have a 10 month old female Caucasian and she is about 31inches at the shoulder and weighs around 130 lbs. She is not fat, I can feel her ribs. She is still growing. I have heard of male Caucasians exceeding 200 1lbs without being fat!!
She may have been referring to a Kuvasz (pretty sure that's not correct spelling); they're big white dogs known for being excellent shephards for livestock. From what I've heard they're pretty badass too, their name translates to "armed guard" or something like that. Who knows, may not be the same dog at all but you can check it out yourself