Big Paws Only Dog Forums
Mountain Dogs => Caucasian Mountain Dog Discussions & Pictures => : YelenaLevitina October 07, 2005, 05:20:10 PM
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Hello, just wondering if anyone would like to talk about Caucasian Ovcharkas - my all time favorite breed of friends ::).
Here are some of my babies.
(http://www.caucasianlegend.com/kartinki/naptime2.jpg)
(http://www.caucasianlegend.com/kartinki/snowyday9.jpg)
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Hey, I know you :) Welcome aboard!!!!
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Hey, I know you :) Welcome aboard!!!!
Thanks, feels nice here. I know you too. :)
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They are SO beautiful. I'm interested in learning more about them as well. I've always thought the breed was so majestic and they striked my interest! Great pics, thanks so much for sharing!
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They are absolutely gorgeous!! I love Caucasians!
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There is so much to tell! It would be easier if you ask questions. Otherwise, I can type miles and miles of messages. LOL
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They are such awesome looking dogs & look at all of them that live with you!!!...That looks like bliss to me!!
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Great pics. I still love that one of them all on their mats. Too cute.
I have only heard of Caucasians w/i the last couple of months, but fell in love w/them immediately. :D They have got to be one of the most beautiful dog breeds I have ever seen. I still don't know as much as I would like, but would love to learn more about them. :)
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Are they livestock guard dogs? What are their personalities like? Are they territorial? How do they do in the summer with all that fur? How big are they a maturity?
Obviously, I'm really curious about them as well! They really are magnificent!
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I will leave Yelena to answer those because my girl is on 18wk LOL
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Caucasian Ovcharka is an ancient breed of dogs (2000 - 4000 years old estimated) and originally was used to guard lifestock. They are very territorial, suspisious of strangers, naturally aggressive towards strange dogs (unless they grew up together), naturally bond with lifestock and family.
Here is some information about them as well as an example of their size at maturity.
http://www.volkodav.info/caucasian_shepherd.htm
Modern Caucasian is a VERY large powerful dog, size varies greatly by lines. Females 90 - 180lb, males 130 - 250 lb.
Personalities are different, but usually - loving anf affectionate with family and friends (females are more emotional than males), low level of activity (my friend characterized them as "honey, kill them fast and come back to bed"), enormos bursts of energy if called to defend - it is amasing and unbeliavable to see. Tolerant of strangers when off property, very gentle with babies (human or animal kind) - if my home gets attacked by a bunch of two year olds, they will be having a party when I return home unharmed, but boy, if adults come close to the house ...
Thick fur actually helps them tolerate hot weather - it acts as a shield. Dogs don't sweat through the skin (just through panting). If it is exceptionally hot - they dig a hole in a ground until they find moist cool soil and lay down in it to cool off. I leave them kiddie pools full of water in the summer - they love to lounge in them on a hot day.
In natural area on mountain terrain temperature changes rather dramatically - can be 90 in the day time and 20 at night (you all seen on TV people skiing in the mountains in their bathing suits ), so this thick coat is a great protection for both extremes.
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naturally aggressive towards strange dogs
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i would hope anyone thinking of getting one of this breed stamps this into their memory,
no dog parks loose offleash with intact animals.
not many people have common sense that are looking for huge impressive animals, to many, it is a perstige or attention getter.
until
someone or something is hurt and hurt bad.
i would also hope that proper guidance and training is given people and they own up to the responsibility of owning a breed such as this.
i am curious
why the huge range in sizes?
most breeds do not have such variance.
i would prefer to stay away from the extra huge size.
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While they are young they need to be socialized extensively, and introduced to every situation they can possible end up in later in life. This is to make the dog calm, tolerant of new places and controllable.
Most of mine grew up in a local dog park. The "regulars" in there can still meet and play off leash. But you are absolutely correct - it is a HUGE responsibility to live with one of these dogs, they are sertainly not toys or pets.
The range in sizes ... Caucasian Ovcharka is not just a single breed. It is a breed group. Mountain regions of Caucasus were pretty isolated from each other because of impossible terrain. So each region developed and maintained the dogs to their liking and using available breeding stock. They are very different looking - steppe versions are dryer and taller, mountain versions have more mass to fight bigger predators and keep warm at night... there is even a legend that the color of sheep in the flock dictated selection of dogs left in a litter - they had to blend in so predators two- or four-legged will not know that dogs are on duty (COs do not have their own dog smell, like german shepherds forr an example - they smell like whatever they live in). Supposedly, this is why pure white Caucasians are so rare - white sheep was very expensive and luxirious, and not too many people had them. But one thing that unite all of them is the intelligence, working ability, strong character, suspition of strangers, devotion to family and flock, ability to make their own decisions depending on situation, ability to live on a very minimal food and water amounts, high pain tolerance and so for...
Favorite Russian "version" of Caucasians, written into latest standard is the Georgian Nagazi - large, strong, impressive dogs. But there are others.
Here are pictures of some of my dogs - well socialized wit people and animals.
two year old intact male Arzach - but he is an exception to the rule.
(http://www.caucasianlegend.com/kartinki/kisses.jpg)
We start early - 8 week old Balue and Nala.
(http://www.caucasianlegend.com/kartinki/parkplay1.jpg)
(http://www.caucasianlegend.com/kartinki/parkplay2.jpg)
Arzach and young Balou
(http://www.caucasianlegend.com/kartinki/unruly1.jpg)
(http://www.caucasianlegend.com/kartinki/unruly3.jpg)
(http://www.caucasianlegend.com/kartinki/unruly5.jpg)
(http://www.caucasianlegend.com/kartinki/unruly6.jpg)
Balou since then became more protective and do not go off leash in public place any more.
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Very good!
thanx for that!
:)
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Great pictures! Those are truly magnificent animals. I have never seen one in person so I can only imagine how giant they really are. Are people often afraid when they see them? I ask because even when I walk Binky now, some people are so skittish-and she's just a little puppy! Do you allow people to buy your pups just for a pet or do they have to have experience with the breed or need a LGD? (not that I'm in the market-I wish-just curious!) :)
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Great pictures! Those are truly magnificent animals. I have never seen one in person so I can only imagine how giant they really are. Are people often afraid when they see them? I ask because even when I walk Binky now, some people are so skittish-and she's just a little puppy! Do you allow people to buy your pups just for a pet or do they have to have experience with the breed or need a LGD? (not that I'm in the market-I wish-just curious!) :)
Thanks!
People react on them differently - come think they are cuddly, some are scared by the size. Dogs are pretty intimidating. And I don't just mean size.
When I walk an adult dog and I meet someone on the street who wants to talk - dog always position him/herself between me and another person. And during the conversation they are watching the person very closely, which makes people nervous. LOL I have to be very aware of my dog's "condition" during these street conversations, because simple offer of a handshake for some of my dogs considered to be the threat to me, which will trigger a reaction. Other dogs will be OK with a handshake, but not a hug (for example).
I don't sell pets in general sense of the word. They are working dogs, and they do guard whether you want them or not. Many people who live remotely in country settings are looking for these dogs to alert and protect. I had some NY policemen calling me because they wanted to make sure that the family is safe when they are on duty at night. I have no problem with no LGD experience in a buyer, but I am looking for a certain personality - responsible and dominant type.
I would not sell to a person with "soft" character, or to a family where the wife for example is submissive to the husband. The dogs are perfectly happy to obey the leader, but will try to take the pack leader's place if there is nobody there. And that is not pretty - it may mean the wife is not allowed to come to a bedroom when the husband is at work, or sit on a sofa....
The families with children - I will ONLY sell if they had previous LGD experience, because children are not capable of establishing correct "pack order" with one of these dogs and without proper guidance and control from parents they will end up on the "bottom of the food chain".
Any dog that is coming out of my house sold with a guarantee, contract and agreement that I will take that dog back anytime, anywhere and for any reason. My buyers do keep in-touch, and I follow up on the pups development and progress, helping out to solve any problems that may come about.
They are not aliens or scary beasts. LOL Just dogs. But serious dogs that require serious, responsible owners.
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Your Caucasians are amazing, and incredibly gorgeous!! I thought they looked a bit like Leonbergers (I've got a Leo puppy myself) when I first saw those photos. Thanks for sharing all about them too, I love learning about a breed I am unfamiliar with!
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Thank you, Bogard is absolutely adorable!
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well thanks to you too! (your Caucasians really do look like big lion-bears!)
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Thanks so much for introducing us to this gorgeous and powerful breed. I thought I knew all the dog breeds so this was a fascinating education. The link you supplied shows the enormity of the breed - I feel the same way looking at them that I feel looking at tigers - awe and respect. You also sound like an extremely responsible breeder - which is a pleasant find. My husband and I are long time bullmastiff lovers and have been disappointed with a lot of bully breeders who will sell to anyone who has the money to buy, hence a lot of problems have developed with the breed. If more breeders of dominant and aggressive dogs took the same precautions that you do, there would be a lot less problems with so many good breeds.
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Thank you, Yaz.
It is my pleasure to share my favorite dogs with others.
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BEAUTIFUL dogs! We don't have any Ovcharka in England at all. I own a Tibetan Mastiff and they sound very similar in temperament, though the TM's are not supposed to be so highly aggressive (though you wouldn't take liberties with one). I know the TM breeders here are VERY choosy about puppy owners as these are not dogs for the inexperienced or faint of heart. The females only come in season once a year - do the Ovcharka females do that too?
I'm sad to say that I agree with Yaz about bullmastiffs and a lot of the mastiff breeds here in England. There are way too many Neo's, bullmastiffs and bordeauxs bred indiscriminate ly here.