Caucasian Mountain Dog: Breed Info, Pictures & Care Guide

The Caucasian Mountain Dog, also known as the Caucasian Shepherd Dog, is a huge canine that can reach upward of 220 pounds. While they do usually average out at 100 or so pounds, that’s still a great deal of dog to train and raise. These gorgeous pups are as fierce a canine as you can get, but they are also loyal to a fault.

Breed Overview

Originally bred to guard livestock and protect people’s lives in the dangerous mountain regions from which they got their name, they are always willing to work hard and are extremely intelligent. They are fiercely protective of their owners, as they were bred to fight off wolves, jackals, bears, and human trespassers on their owners’ land. It’s best for this breed to be adopted by someone who is experienced with dogs or a trainer who has the patience and space available for this massive animal to roam.

If you’re considering adopting one of these pups, read on for everything that you need to know about them, so you can make the right decision. Remember, a big dog is a big responsibility, so think carefully before taking one of these gorgeous pets home.

Caucasian Mountain Dog Characteristics

Caucasian Mountain Dog Puppies

Before you buy a Caucasian Mountain Dog puppy, it’s important to note that they grow up to be absolutely massive in most cases. These dogs are muscular and protective as adults. However, before they grow into a giant animal, the Caucasian Mountain Dog is a fluff-ball of cuteness.

Due to their size, these adorable puppies need a firm hand when it comes to training. Since they are stubborn and strong-willed, they can resist training, so they need an owner with a firm yet patient hand to teach them.

While your puppy will be fine in a small space for a few weeks, it’s not going to last. So, if you don’t have room where they can get out to run and get exercise, this isn’t the right choice of pet for you.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Caucasian Mountain Dog

While this breed can be calm, loyal, and gentle with family, they have a varied range of personalities. The fact that this breed is protective of their territory and can be aggressive when it comes to defending their family makes training them challenging, especially when they decide to be stubborn.

This breed is intelligent and can be trained, but it’s best for them to go to an experienced trainer who can handle them. Once they are trained, however, they make excellent guard dogs, work dogs, and therapy dogs, as they can be gentle and loving.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

This breed has a fierce need to protect and will make a good guard dog. They love their families, but they aren’t the right choice for families with children. Since they’re so large, often weighing nearly 200 pounds, it’s too easy for them to seriously hurt a younger child just by running over them accidentally.

This isn’t to say that you can’t have a Caucasian Mountain Dog as a family pet. However, it takes an exceptional amount of training by an exceptional, experienced trainer to do so. If you’re not an experienced trainer or don’t have one in the family, it’s best to keep this breed in a family that doesn’t have small children.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

Since this breed is so territorial, they do have a difficult time living with other animals, especially small pets. These tend to bring out the prey instinct in this dog. However, if they’re trained early and socialized as puppies, there’s no reason that this breed can’t reside in a household that has other pets. You just need to be careful with them.

Things to Know When Owning a Caucasian Mountain Dog

Now that you know quite a bit about the Caucasian Mountain Dog, it’s time to move on to a few other things that you need to know before deciding to purchase one as your own. In this section, we go over food and diet requirements, exercise, training, grooming, and the major and minor health conditions that you might have to deal with after you’ve brought one of these gorgeous animals home.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

As you might expect, it takes quite a bit of food to feed a 200-pound dog. Also, they have high nutritional requirements, so you can’t feed them food that’s cheaply made and inexpensive.

It’s important to note, however, that this breed gains weight easily. You want to be careful how much you’re feeding your dog in a day. It’s best to dole out their food in small portions to prevent them from gobbling it up and becoming obese. If you feel that your dog is gaining too much weight, make an appointment with their vet to determine the best food type for them.

Exercise 🐕

Surprisingly, this breed doesn’t require much exercise, even though they’re big. As with any other dog, though, they’re going to need daily walks, and it’s a good idea to get out and play with them whenever you can.

Since they are so massive, it takes energy for this breed to get moving, so walking 30 minutes a day and throwing in extra playtime should suffice in the exercise department.

Training 🎾

This breed can be stubborn and truly difficult to train. Highly intelligent and strongly independent, this dog isn’t going to learn from a novice trainer. It’s important for extensive training to begin when your dog is a puppy, and it needs to be done by an experienced trainer.

The last thing you want to do is not properly train a Caucasian Mountain Dog. An unruly 200-pound dog is not something you want to deal with.

Grooming ✂️

With a thick, heavy coat, the Caucasian Mountain Dog is full of fur. Your pet needs to be brushed at least twice a week, possibly three times a week. Failing to groom your pet correctly can end with their fur becoming matted and messy.

Be prepared because while this breed sheds daily, they shed massively yearly. Make sure you have the brush, the vacuum, and the broom ready to deal with the hair that will be all over your home.

Health and Conditions 🏥

As with any pet, there are a few severe and minor conditions you should watch out for. This breed of dog is no exception, so we discuss the conditions to watch for here.

Minor Conditions

One sign of cataracts is a milkiness to your pet’s eyes. While not always looked at as a major problem, cataracts that go undetected can cause your pet to lose their sight completely. If you suspect that your dog is developing cataracts, it’s essential to take them to your local vet for a checkup.

Serious Conditions

The dog is a solid breed that has few serious health problems to watch out for. The biggest issue is hip dysplasia. While this can happen to all pets, it happens most often in large breeds. The condition causes rubbing and pain. Eventually, it will cause your pet to be unable to move. There’s nothing that can be done to treat this issue, but you can help your dog live a comfortable life by properly managing it. If you’re unsure whether your Caucasian Mountain Dog is showing signs of this condition, make an appointment with your vet. They’ll give you tips on how to manage the condition after diagnosing it.

Male vs. Female

The male and female versions of this breed are pretty even in temperament. However, there are a few differences you’ll want to note when deciding which sex to purchase. Females usually reach a maximum of 180 pounds and grow to be around 28 inches. The males, however, can top out at 220 pounds and reach 27 to 30 inches in height.

Either would make an excellent pet for the right person, so choose wisely and bring home the right pup for your needs.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Caucasian Mountain Dog

1. The Caucasian Mountain Dog Has Many Different Names

The Caucasian Mountain Dog is also known as the Caucasian Shepherd Dog, Caucasian Sheepdog, Baskhan Pariy, Russian Bear Dog, and quite a few other monikers.

If you’re looking to adopt a Caucasian Mountain Dog, don’t be confused by the many different names; they’re all the same breed.

2. Caucasian Mountain Dogs Make Great Guard Dogs

This breed of dog is territorial, so if you’re looking for a guard dog, this is the one you need. Known for fighting wolves and bears to protect their family, they are courageous, loyal, and extremely protective.

3. They Make Great Therapy Dogs

It’s hard to believe that a dog that can grow to be so massive could be compassionate and friendly, but the Caucasian Mountain Dog fits the bill. They make good therapy dogs and can be gentle. However, it takes quite a bit of extensive training to make them the gentle dogs they can be.

Conclusion

The Caucasian Mountain Dogs are fiercely protective, and while they make superior guard dogs, it’s probably not the best idea to keep them as family pets unless they’ve been trained by a highly experienced trainer.

Once trained, however, the Caucasian Mountain Dog is lovable and intelligent and makes a great work dog or even a therapy dog for the right person. With proper care, training, and socialization, this will be an excellent pet for someone who has patience, a firm but gentle hand, and plenty of space for this massive animal to roam.

Featured Image Credit: Jagodka, Shutterstock