Caucasian Ovtcharka

"Luka"

This hardy, intelligent dog has been known by many names including Caucasian Sheepdog, Caucasian Shepherd, and even, incorrectly, as the Caucasian Mountain Dog. The Soviet army once used the versatile Ovtcharka as a service dog, and these dogs were also used in East Germany to patrol the Berlin Wall. The hardy Ovtcharka's intelligence is also invaluable in his primary role as a superlative livestock guardian. The Ovtcharka is fearless in the face of any predator be it wolf, bear, coyote, cougar, or man. 

Resembling a bear in appearance, the Caucasian Ovtcharka stands up to 33 inches at the shoulder and weighs 100 lbs. or more. His thick, double coat may be any color except solid black or solid brown. Be prepared - he will "blow coat" once a year!

An even-tempered dog, the Caucasian Ovtcharka is however, naturally protective. As a guardian, he is wary of strangers and will quickly sound the alarm when required. The Ovtcharka is a loyal family dog and good with children. While he would never intentionally hurt a child in his care, he is a large dog and therefore should be supervised with smaller children. The Ovtcharka can live well with other pets but may exhibit same-sex aggression with other dogs.

A large, dominant, and sometimes aggressive dog, the Ovtcharka is not for the inexperienced dog owner. Like many of the flock guardians, he is an independent thinker, accustomed to working alone and thinking for himself. Although generally eager to please, he can be stubborn and should have early, thorough training and socialization. 

Bred to sit and guard livestock all day, the Ovtcharka has a lower activity level than you might think for a dog his size. He tends to be more active by night when predators may be on the prowl!