Gretch: What do you think of this breed?
I was thinking of getting a female Caucasian Ovcharka puppy. She's three months old, and her owner can no longer afford her because he lost his job.
I have several dogs already and 105 acres to run around on (five-foot high fence). We also have horses, a cow, chickens, and sheep.
Would this be a good home for a Caucasian Ovcharka puppy? Also, what is the general temperament of that breed?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Lumi
I have a 13 years old boy dog Caucasian, he is smart and beauty..but now he is having a heart problem and he is under treatment for over 2 years. I am 45 kg and 1.62 cm. but I can tell you that he was never aggressive to me .he was always just like a big nice cat to me. I have him sleeping in the same room with me now as he is old..he hates to have a bath by the way, so my opinion they are good dogs...but need love and care.
Answer by Liz
I would build a fence much higher. Caucasian Ovcharkas are known to scale 8 feet fences with no problem, and I would top of the fence too. these dogs are nothing to play with . they are weapons. make no mistake about it.
Answer by Phil
Train him/her well and you will be fine. Keep her/him around the family a lot till 1 yr.
This breed is extremely aggressive to strangers & it is a killer, meaning they knock their opponent down then go for the throat or stomach. A good percentage of the breed have this 2,000-year-old instinct in them.
Voice commands must be obeyed immediately, release time must be immediate & you must socialize the CO heavily, have people come around a lot, play with other dogs that she/he DOES NOT know. And training must be applied almost constantly until they are 4, their characters change, for example, the CO will love other animals until around 1 1/2 – 2 years of age then suddenly turn into hating them (not your family dogs just dogs they don't know). Postmen will die … your fence must be huge, can't have hikers walking through your land … but protection wise their ADD (active Defensive Drive) is unmatched. Three robbers breaking into your house with guns would have a problem with one of these dogs.
And please remember a Caucasian Ovcharka male (although standardly only 70-80klgs) can reach 110klgs. They can also stand 90 cm high at the shoulder (average is 75-80cm for a correctly fed male). They also have a stronger bite PSI, if given bones to chew on from an early age, than that of a lion.
My male could kill me if he wished, and rather easily.
They are killers to everyone outside the family unless heavily trained.
They more gorgeous and docile and loving than any breed I have owned with the family (this includes anything it considers family, including birds, fish, cats, pet rats) all are extremely safe.
- Can caucasian sheperd dog kill a wolf?
- How much would a typical Caucasian mountain dog cost?
- What dog food does the Caucasian Mountain Dog need?
- Is Ovcharka the largest dog?
They do require a "dominant" male but not always to lead them, especially the males.
Teach it heeling manners from a very early age, never let it pull even while in protect mode or anyone with less than 75klgs body weight goes for a concrete swim, they are incredibly strong.
Some videos on the internet and national geographic showing a man being pulled along ... (click for video)
...the dog was not really trying, that was warning mode and if I catch you I will kill you, but this is still a warning. When my Caucasian Ovcharka male (he is better now, heels no matter the mood) reacted to actual aggression he pulled me ten meters at 1 1/2 years old (the breed fully mature and stop growing later than most breeds around 3-4years old, although the last year is always limited in height and mostly muscle growth), I am 100 kilos & 185cm tall, who trains in the gym constantly.
Hope this helps
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Lumi says
The comment has been moved into the body of the post.
Phil says
Just a warning the five foot isn't enough. Most ovcharkas won't jump a fence unless really necessary, they guard their territory … but I would heighten the fence nonetheless. 6-7 foot is your min. You can train him not "climb" the fence when showing the passers by he is the boss here but I wouldn't trust five foot in height just incase a friend is seen to be in danger …. he will jump it.
liz says
The comment has been moved into the body of the post.
Nedra E says
Gretch,
rather than ask here at YA where you will get answers from people who don't know the breed, I recommend you google search:
Caucasian Ovcharka, breed traits.
I know pyrs and cattle dogs. Most your responders won't know the breed, even if they make recommendations.
If you have If you already have 6 dogs and they all get along, I suspect a puppy would learn from the adults to get along as a cooperative, pleasant member of the pack. Most guardian dogs do well in an established pack.
Also visit the web sites of the Caucasian Ovcharka Breed Club either for the U.S. or for your state, and you'll find good information there. Doing this plus reasearching websites that tell you the breed traits you'll get a much better overview of the dog's potential personality, and you'll have a good baseline, which you cannot get at YA. -!-
laurel l says
LOOK UP
Maddy says
i say they r super cute but very big and your pyrenees might not accept her in the family but she probally will and r u up 2 the challenge of taking care of that many dogs then yes u most certantliy should get one
Desoto says
I really would not recommend one for most people, I am jealous of your one acre pen though! They have a VERY dominant temperament and are assertive and courageous, even with socialization they are extremely defensive of what they perceive to be 'theirs'. If there are kids around they may not be the best choice they are very protective of family and can perceive children playing rough as a threat. They don't always do well with other dogs, I would especially worry about one stressing the hell out of your Borzois. They are still employed mainly as property guardians and not as pets. Not to say they can not be pets but they require more training then other breeds, can be stubbron, and are more suited to a one dog only household.