Do Caucasian Mountain Dogs Make Good Pets?

shaun: Caucasian mountain shepherd "ovcharka" dogs? 
I want to get a Caucasian mountain dog mainly because of their size and look. But do they make a good pet or will I be getting in trouble?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Anne
I can't imagine anyone wanting a dog of this breed unless it would be to guard prisons or enormous flocks of livestock. Even then, this type of animal should never be among people and only a marine type of man as its handler. I would very much like to see this breed let loose on ISIS.

Answer by Emma
I own two Caucasian Mountain Shepherds (Ovcharka) and they are great dogs. Yes, they are great guard dogs. But just like any other dogs, they have to be socialized and trained. They are what the owner makes them become. They can be great family dogs.

Answer by Damon’s Mom
Please do your research before getting one of these dogs!

Caucasian Ovcharka dogs are wonderful dogs if brought up by the right owner. These dogs need a FIRM leader and tend to not be good with children. So if you have children in your home or in your neighborhood then this is not the breed of dog for you. They have a very strong protective nature that can cause them to become overly aggressive at times. And even go into a full outrage. If not properly socialized they will snap at humans they do not see as Alphas in an attempt to herd them and show dominance. They do not do well with strangers at all. They have also been known to attack their owners if they view their owners as not “Top dog” or Alpha of the pack.

They do not make good apartment dogs. They also do not make good dogs for small or medium-sized yards. They need acreage to really thrive. These dogs do well in the cold because of its thick coat and tend to overheat in hot weather. If these dogs do not have proper exercise and a job they tend to become aggressive, nervous and will get themselves into a lot of trouble. They have been known to kill chickens, cows, and sheep so if you have neighbors with these animals you will have to make sure your dog is properly trained and introduced to them as a puppy. He/ she will also need to know that is it absolutely out of the question to very go for these or any other animal with the intent to hurt, herd, etc.

If you or your neighbors have cats or small-medium sized dogs then you should not get this dog. They have a very high prey drive and will and have been known to kill smaller animals even with proper training and having grown up with them.

I hope I could shine some light on this breed. Please keep in mind while not all of the dogs in this breed will be like this you will have to be a strong-willed person to train them and keep them under control. Good luck and please try to find another breed of dog.

Answer by Barbara
First, call your home owner's agent to find out how much your insurance will be with this dog or if you can even be insured. Then find a breeder who's dogs are titled in obedience. Then go and meet the parents while the litter is still being planned so you can get an idea of what your puppy will be like. A good breeder will know these puppies' personalities and choose a puppy for you, based on your needs and it's personality, not what the puppy looks like. That is if the puppy you need was even born into that litter.

There will be puppies who grow up friendly and some will be vicious from the same litter. You can't train the viciousness out of them; however, you can turn a relatively gentle caucasian into a monster if you don't stay on top of it. While it may not be the end of the world for you if you screw up your dog, it will be the end for the dog. You really have to be in tune with a CO and be able to spot the signs of impending rage and stop it before it happens.

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Since you will be choosing your dog from a breeder/trainer you will get your advice from this person and not people who have never had a CO. Plan on lots of interaction time with your CO for bonding, training, grooming, etc.

So if you NEED the level of security these dogs provide and you can provide the proper containment and care, and can stop rage before it happens, go for it. If not try a Leonberger

Answer by linze2go
You need to do very careful research before you think you are ready to get this dog, this is a dog that needs a job, like guarding a flock or something similar. You can buy one and they will cost you around $ 2,000 to $ 4,000. They need extra amounts of socialization and very strict training from an expert in this breed.

The reason I know this is I know of someone who got one and did not train the dog and it bit a child and had to be put down. It used to 'guard' the waste bins in an office as it had nothing else to guard and bite, or lunged at everyone there, was not good at all with the other dogs in the office and was aggressive with all who came into contact with her.

Careful, careful, careful on Caucasian Shepherd dog breed. Not for anyone who doesn't know what they are doing with large, stubborn, strong and protective dogs.

Answer by dan
Caucasian Mountain Dogs are related to the cms... these dogs are extremely large, powerful and dangerous!
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