Caucasian Shepherd Dog: what is its character and what do Caucasian Shepherd Dogs suffer from?

Caucasian Shepherd

Caucasian Shepherd is a representative of the old race herding dogs, included in the group molossers.

Initially, they were used as guard dogs, guarding herds and belongings, often left unattended for many months.

They guarded the herds in a characteristic way, choosing a vantage point on the highest elevation, and in case of danger, warning other dogs, staying close to the herd, with loud barking.

They lived in the Caucasus for many years in isolation, and they came to Europe only in 1969., where in Germany they were used to guard the Berlin Wall, after the fall of which they also appeared in our country.

• Caucasian Shepherd Dog character
• Caucasian Shepherd Dog breed description
• Caucasian Shepherd Dog Grooming
• Caucasian Shepherd Dog predisposition to diseases
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Dilation and torsion of the stomach
  • Cataract
• Is it worth deciding on a Caucasus?

Caucasian Shepherd Dog character

Caucasian Shepherd Dog character

Undoubtedly, the type of work they performed and for which they were intended had a significant share in shaping the character of these dogs.

Currently, there is a significant dispersion between both exterior and psychological features within this breed, which means that we can find a typical "bear" dog, as well as an aggressive dog.

Therefore, it is important to train your dog as a puppy, teach him to obey and socialize him.

Shepherds feel best to be loose on a large property that they will be able to guard.

They are distrustful of strangers, but they listen to their owner, so it is very important that the dog has constant contact with him and other household members.

They are self-confident and composed, but their characteristic feature is an active form of defense, which is simply an attack.

Caucasian Shepherd Dog breed description

Caucasian Shepherd Dog breed description

Caucasian Shepherds are large, massive dogs with strong bones and muscular build.

The height at the withers of the male is minimum 65 cm and bitches 62 cm.

An adult dog's body weight is approx 45-65 kilograms.

Caucasian Shepherd Dog appearance

• the skull is massive and wide with a slightly marked stop.
• dry lips,
• strong jaws with a set of scissor bite teeth,
• eyes small, deep-set,
• hanging ears,
• neck short and strong,
• straight back, muscular with clearly marked withers,
• Chest deep and broad, croup almost horizontal,
• tail set high, curled,
• straight limbs, parallel in action,
• smooth, free, slightly heavy movement.

Three types of coat are distinguished in Caucasian Shepherds:

• long - longer hair on the neck, limbs and tail
• short - thick hair and short all over the body
• intermediate coat - longer topcoat, but without a distinct mane and panties

The color of Caucasian Shepherds:

• grey,
• redhead,
• sand,
• spotted,
• brindle,
• White.

You can also see what the Caucasian Shepherd Dog looks like in the video below

Caucasian Shepherd Dogs, two impressive males
Watch this video on YouTube

Caucasian Shepherd Dog Grooming

As these dogs usually spend most of their time outdoors, their hair tends to be felted and form a thick layer that prevents proper ventilation of the skin.

It is worth getting your dog used to brushing from an early age.

Caucasian Shepherd Dog Grooming

We do this 2 times a week wire brush, preferably using an anti-static spray.

During the shedding period, it is better to do this every day to get rid of all dead hair.

Due to the large size of the caucasus, you do not bathe it too often, but remember to thoroughly comb the hair before and after bathing, and due to the thick undercoat, make sure that the water and shampoo reach the skin.

After the bath, the hair should be dried with towels and, if possible, with a dryer, because the undercoat dries very long.

We also periodically check the condition of the claws, the cleanliness of the ears and the condition of the teeth.

Caucasian Shepherd Dog predisposition to diseases

Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is one of the most common degenerative joint diseases in large breed dogs and consists in a defective shape and mismatch of individual elements of the hip joint or their too loose connection.

The condition is poligenetic, but environmental factors, such as diet during growth and the amount of exercise you provide, also contribute to its occurrence.

A puppy is born with normal hips and the condition develops as a result of an imbalance between the development of hard and soft tissues.

Inaccurate fit of the femoral head to the acetabulum causes looseness in the joint, which increases with increasing loads, and as a result of pressure, productive changes develop.

The load on the joint is caused, among others, by too much pressure caused by excessive body weight.

Also, foods that contain too much in their composition calcium, phosphorus and vitamins cause a delay in muscle development compared to the growth of bone tissue, which leads to stretching of the ligaments and, as a result, relaxation of the joint. In this case, it is worth choosing veterinary food or food for dogs with degeneration of the joints.

Also, too much exercise and too intense training may be harmful for a young dog, as it leads to microdamages of the articular cartilage and subluxation of the joints.

Most often, symptoms of dysplasia are noticed in aged dogs 6-12 months, but the first symptoms are already noticeable in 2-month-old puppies.

Symptoms that indicate dysplasia are:

• reluctance to move,
• difficulty getting up,
• frequent lying down during walks,
• the so-called. rabbit jumping,
• stiff gait,
• squatting frequently, most often due to subluxation of one of the joints.

In young dogs, the acute form is manifested by impaired movement up to complete inability to walk, and in older dogs, the chronic form is manifested by limited mobility of the joints and stiffness of the hind limbs.

The diagnosis is made by the veterinarian on the basis of the data obtained during the interview, clinical examination and X-ray image.

Dilation and torsion of the stomach

Acute dilation of the stomach is the accumulation of food, fluid or gases in it due to disorders of its emptying, as well as the consumption of food greedily, in large amounts or food that is easily fermentable.

The expansion and torsion of the stomach are manifested by:

• anxiety,
• enlargement of the outline of the abdominal cavity,
• vomiting,
• dying.

When a twist occurs, the dog tries to vomit unsuccessfully, is restless, pale and short of breath.

This condition is an indication for immediate medical attention, and often also for surgery.

Cataract

A cataract in a dog is a condition where the lens becomes cloudy.

Its causes include:.in. gene mutations, injuries and metabolic diseases (e.g. diabetes).

Due to the severity of the changes, we can distinguish cataracts in the following stage:

• initial,
• immature,
• mature,
• swollen.

Clouding and lack of translucency of the lens are clinically evident, and in advanced conditions the capsule may rupture, accompanied by symptoms of sore eyeball.

Treatment of an advanced cataract involves surgery phacoemulsification, which is performed in specialist clinics.

So far, there is no effective pharmacological treatment of cataracts.

Dogs with suspected congenital cataracts should be excluded from breeding.

Is it worth deciding on a Caucasus?

Is it worth it to decide on a caucasus?

Before buying a dog of this breed, we must definitely think seriously.

Caucasians are on the list of dog breeds considered aggressive, therefore maintenance requires them appropriate permit, which may not be released or withdrawn when dogs are kept in a way that endangers humans or animals.

It is not recommended to keep them in apartments, as they should be allowed to run freely, but in a well-fenced area.

In addition, let's imagine a 60-kilogram dog that, suffering from dysplasia, has to enter the 3rd floor - practically impossible.

They are primarily guard dogs and are most often bought with this purpose in mind.

Caucasians are also not recommended for people who have not dealt with dogs before and do not know the basic training principles.

The owner of a shepherd dog must also have appropriate mental predispositions, be firm, consistent and be able to establish authority, otherwise dangerous situations may arise.

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