Caucasian Mountain Dog: Breed Info, Pictures, Care Guide & More

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Caucasian Mountain Dogs are a powerful, strong, and giant working dog breed initially developed to protect livestock from predators like wolves and bears. There’s no denying the beauty of these fearless guardians, but owning a Caucasian Mountain Dog is not for the faint of heart.

Breed Overview

The Caucasian Mountain Dog was originally bred to protect livestock, so they’re strongly built and have finely honed senses. They’re quick to fight to protect what and who they love most. They can make fantastic guard dogs, but they’re very independent and slightly stubborn, so training them to be anything but protectors can be challenging. If training and socialization begin at a young age, these dogs can be very playful and affectionate.

Caucasian Mountain Dog Puppies

Finding a Caucasian Mountain Dog breeder shouldn’t be too much of a challenge. There are American Kennel Club-affiliated breeders in Ohio, Missouri, and Michigan. A Google search also brings up numerous breeders in other states and throughout Canada.

Potential owners must do their due diligence before adopting a Caucasian Mountain Dog from a breeder. Responsible breeders focus primarily on producing healthy puppies and should be able to provide adopters with health certificates and proof of genetic testing.

Don’t let these small and adorable balls of fluff trick you into thinking these puppies will grow to be a manageable size. These dogs will be a minimum of 100 pounds, fully grown, and extremely powerful and muscular. They need a lot of space and are not apartment-friendly.

Caucasian Mountain Dog Origin & History

The Caucasian Mountain Dog is native to the Caucasus region in Eastern Europe between the Black and Caspian seas. However, dogs similar to this breed have been serving shepherds in the Caucasus Mountains for centuries. They were initially bred to protect livestock and the home.

Breeding of the Caucasian Shepherd Dog took off in the Soviet Union during the 1920s. This was when the breed became popular due to their fearless temperament and physically imposing appearance.

The breed didn’t reach Western Europe until the 1930s, and it didn’t become part of the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service until 1996.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Caucasian Mountain Dog

The Caucasian Mountain Dog’s breeding as a guardian dog has a significant impact on their temperament. This is a highly loyal breed that has historically been protective of family members and suspicious of strangers. They’re very confident, brave, fearless, and independent. These dogs aren’t afraid to defend what’s theirs.

However, they can be very soft, devoted, kind, and affectionate toward their family members. While their extreme loyalty can be a big “selling point,” it is essential that potential owners realize this isn’t always positive. These dogs require a very experienced handler, one who is unafraid to take on the alpha role.

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