Breed Spotlight: Caucasian Ovcharka

I'm a sucker for big, fluffy, teddy bear looking dogs. So that means the Caucasian Ovcharka, aka Caucasian Shepherd Dog , has to have some light shone on it!

Caucasian Ovcharka's are a large mountain dog breed found primarily in Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and North Caucasus. They have no recorded maximum height or weight, but males tend to weigh between 130 and 220 pounds with a stature to match.

Because of their size and musculature, these dogs were bred to protect properties, livestock, and kill wolves. There are different variations on the breed, based on where they are being utilized, as well as slightly different temperaments.

Overall, they are very trainable and protective. They need to be socialized early to not be too territorial and aggressive towards people, but generally will be aggressive towards other dogs. These dogs can be great pets, but the owner has to be able to assert dominance and should be an experienced dog owner.