Caucasian Shepherd Breed Overview
One of the most searched dog breeds on the internet, Caucasian Shepherd Dog Terrier belongs to the large size dog.This breed was discovered first in Russia, Turkey, Georgia, Soviet Union, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Circassia. The average lifespan of this dog breed is 10-12 years and is associated with the Working Dogs Group.
| Dog Breed Name: | Caucasian Shepherd Dog |
|---|---|
| Other Names: | NA |
| Size: | large size dog |
| Average Height: | 24 to 34 inches |
| Average Weight: | 80 to 220 pounds |
| Energy: | high energy level |
| Origin: | Russia, Turkey, Georgia, Soviet Union, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Circassia |
| Group: | Working Dogs |
| Life Span: | 10 to 12 years |
| Dog Breed Overview: | The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is one of the oldest, most ancient Molasser breeds, and the origin of these gigantic, protective dogs is a bit of a mystery. They hail from the Caucasus Mountain region and have been around for more than 2,000 years. Some believe they came from wolves that were domesticated, while others believe their ancestry includes Mastiffs and other breeds. Many experts claim that the Caucasian Shepherd Dog is descended from sheepdogs that migrated from Tibet, but some modern archaeological evidence suggests the breed dates back to Mesopotamia. Wherever they originally came from, Caucasian Shepherd Dogs made invaluable companions to the shepherds of the Caucasus region for centuries. They fiercely guarded flocks of sheep and their owners from dangerous wildlife such as wolves, jackals, and bears. They needed to be fearless, strong, and intimidating while being resilient to cold weather and harsh conditions. Shepherds bred the qualities they needed into their dogs, and because the Caucasus Mountain region is so vast, many different variants of the breed emerged, though the Caucasian Shepherd Dogs that developed in Georgia came to be the breed standard that is recognized by most kennel clubs today. Sometime in the 1900s, the communist USSR started using Caucasian Shepherds as prisoner guard dogs and used them to develop other breeds in army kennels. In the 1960s, East Germany put the breed to work as border patrol dogs along the Berlin Wall. When the wall came down in 1989, some 7,000 patrol dogs were dispersed, and many were given to families in Germany to live out the rest of their days. Today, Caucasian Shepherd Dogs are mostly family companions, watchdogs, and property guardians, though they are still used by shepherds to tend to flocks. They have retained many of their cautious, standoffish, and sometimes aggressive traits, so they need early socialization and firm training to avoid incidents. It is likely that breeders will try to weed out some of the less desirable tendencies from the breed as it becomes more popular. |
| Colours: | White, Fawn, Cream, Rust, Grey |
| Temperament: | Strong, Powerful, Alert, Dominant, Quick, Calm |
| Pros: | NA |
| Cons: | NA |
Caucasian Shepherd Breed Price
Caucasian Shepherd Dogs from regular breeders cost you from $1000 – $3000 a puppy.
Caucasian Shepherd Breed Size
The Caucasian Shepherd Dog Terrier varies in size: males are normally about 24 to 34 inches in height and around 80 to 220 pounds in weight, while females are normally around 24 to 34 inches in height and 80 to 220 pounds in weight.
Caucasian Shepherd Breed Temperament
The Caucasian Shepherd dog is a serious guardian breed and should never be taken lightly. The Caucasian is bold, fearless, self-confident and fierce when a threat is present, but he is soft, devoted, kind and endearing to his family, including other family pets.
Caucasian Shepherd Breed Lifespan
The average lifespan for an Caucasian Shepherd Dog Terrier is 10 to 12 years. That’s because these are medium-sized dogs with a good mix of genes in their blood.
Interesting Facts about Caucasian Shepherd Dog
- The Caucasus Mountain region is vast, and shepherds in the area had different needs, resulting in several variants of the breed that were created to provide whatever shepherds required. However, the Caucasian Shepherd Dogs from Georgia are generally considered to be the breed standard by most kennel clubs.
- Female Caucasian Shepherd Dogs only give birth once a year.
- Caucasian Shepherd Dogs are fierce guardians of their territory, but they are also fairly low-energy dogs. Weight gain is a strong possibility and should be addressed with proper diet and exercise.
- The communist USSR used this breed to guard prisoners and kept dogs in army kennels to create new breeds for military use.
- East Germany used Caucasian Shepherd Dogs to patrol the border created by the Berlin Wall. When the wall came down, dogs were given to German families to live out the rest of their days.
- The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is one of the most ancient Molosser breeds. Some archaeological findings trace them back to Mesopotamia.
- Caucasian Shepherd Dog coats come in three lengths and a huge variety of colors. They shed quite a bit, but their thick coats keep them warm even in extremely cold weather.
- While they are naturally standoffish to strangers and don’t take well to other animals, Caucasian Shepherd Dogs can be very gentle and loving, and some have even become therapy dogs with proper training.
FAQ’s on Caucasian Shepherd
Are Caucasian Shepherd Dog Dangerous Dogs? Are Caucasian Shepherd Dog naturally aggressive?
Are Caucasian shepherds aggressive? The highly protective nature of Caucasian shepherds can turn into aggression if they perceive a threat. Training and socialization are critical for this breed, but it still can be difficult to quell their protective instinct.
Are Caucasian Shepherd Dog smart?
Yes, Caucasian Shepherd Dog are a highly intelligent dog breed.
Are Caucasian Shepherd Dog trainable?
They are highly trainable, have the ability to learn complicated tasks, and perform excellently as search and rescue dogs.
Can Caucasian Shepherd Dog be kept with other dogs?
It is in their nature to be cautious around strangers, even to the point of aggression at times, and they do not take well to other dogs unless they have been properly socialized.
Can a Caucasian Shepherd Dog attack its owner?
No, Caucasian Shepherd Dog are a highly loyal breed. If this ever occurs it is due to poorly raising and socializing the dog and would be a very rare instance.
Another reason can be if the owner is interacting with a sexually charged up dog or a dog who does not consider the handler as a superior. Many Caucasian Shepherd Dog breeders invite Caucasian Shepherd Dog males into their kennel for mating. These males are in a new place and handled by new dog handlers. Instances of attacks on humans are possible in such a scenario. If you have brought a male Caucasian Shepherd Dog for breeding, be aware that you are not the master in the dog’s eyes.
Do Caucasian Shepherd Dog kill people?
Caucasian Shepherd are naturally standoffish to strangers and don’t take well to other animals, Caucasian Shepherd Dogs can be very gentle and loving, and some have even become therapy dogs with proper training.
Do Caucasian Shepherd Dog have locking jaws?
No, they do not have locking jaws.
Are Caucasian Shepherd Dog safe to keep with kids?
Caucasian Shepherd Dogs can be loving family pets that are very loyal, even toward children, but it is very important to begin their socialization training early
What should I feed my Caucasian Shepherd Dog?
The typical meal of a Caucasian Shepherd should be mainly meat, with a side of rice or well-cooked pasta and some vegetables, with a small addition of grated Grana cheese, or a little ricotta, to balance the contribution of football.
At what age is a Caucasian Shepherd Dog fully grown?
After three years of age the dog is considered an adult and it will have finished its growth process, reaching its mature dimensions.
When does a Caucasian Shepherd Dog mature?
As they are large breed dogs, you can expect a quick growth in their first year of life. So if you are buying a young puppy of two or three months, in a couple of months it will almost double its size. If you buy a puppy at 5 or 6 months of age you will see that they are quite developed already.
When do Caucasian Shepherd Dog lose their teeth?
At around four months of age — and it can vary from breed to breed and even from dog to dog — the 28 puppy teeth are replaced with 42 adult canine teeth, which include the molars.
How long does a Caucasian Shepherd Dog live?
An Caucasian Shepherd Dog Terrier can live anywhere from 10 to 12 years.
