Caucasian Shepherd Dog Care

The Caucasian Shepherd Dog (CSD) is a giant-sized Molosser breed that hails from the Caucasus Mountains region of southwestern Russia. Originally developed to be fearless livestock guardians, these dogs are bold, territorial, and independent--which means they're only suited for experienced dog owners. Overall Caucasian Shepherd Dog care and maintenance can be pretty time-consuming, and will need to include plenty of training and socialization to avoid aggression.

Below you'll find plenty of details on caring for a Caucasian Shepherd Dog: puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more are all covered here. For answers to your questions about owning this giant, fearless breed, read on!

Though massive and strong, dogs of this breed are fairly low-energy, so Caucasian Shepherd Dog exercise requirements aren't too extensive. These dogs are intelligent, though, and will do well to have some activities that stimulate them mentally as well as physically. CSDs are prone to obesity, too, so consistent exercise will keep off the pounds in addition to keeping them physically fit.

The typical adult CSD, depending on its age and overall activity level, will need about 45 minutes of proper exercise per day, which you can accomplish with a couple of walks and a period of play. You can start exercising your CSD puppy at three months old by taking it on short (10-minute) leashed walks, then you can increase the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows. And these early walks are a great opportunity to begin teaching the CSD pup obedience, through leash training: make sure the puppy walks beside or behind you on the leash instead of being allowed to lead or "tug" on it. This, in the puppy's mind, establishes you as the leader, and should make obedience training easier as the dog matures.

A few other precautions to observe when exercising your Caucasian Shepherd Dog: first, puppies younger than nine months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running on hard surfaces, or navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And all CSDs, regardless of age, must be leashed at all times. These dogs are powerful, menacing, and protective, and tend to be distrustful of strange people and animals--a combination that can spell disaster if your CSD is not carefully controlled. Even when exercising your CSD in your own yard, the area will need to be securely fenced to keep the dog from escaping, which could mean more trouble! And finally: while adaptable and hardy, CSDs don't do well in extreme heat, so it's best not to exercise these dogs in sweltering temperatures; also be sure they have access to fresh water at all times.

Safeguards aside, it's important to give your CSD at least some exercise every single day. Dogs of this breed, while loving and easy-going with their owners, are bold, independent, and often stubborn--and without some regular physical activity they can become frustrated, destructive, and even aggressive towards their own people. Consistent exercise will be great for the dog's peace of mind--and for your own sanity (and safety!) as well. A few exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 20-minute leashed walks per day is a good target
• Tug-of-War: Great indoor, rainy-day activity; use a rope or old towel
• Swimming: If taught to swim in puppyhood, these dogs can love the water
• Canine Sports: CSDs can excel at obedience trials, cart-pulling, and other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity; bonus if you can find a remote area where the dog can be off-leash

If your CSD spends a lot of time indoors, it's a good idea to give the dog access to one or more balls or chew-toys that will allow it to burn excess energy; these dogs can be frequent chewers, so a toy is preferable to your favorite pair of slippers! It's also recommended that you establish a regular exercise schedule for your CSD, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs need a good bit of care. Caucasian Shepherd Dog shedding is moderate to heavy for most of the year, and profuse during the spring/summer shedding season; CSDs drool regularly as well.

Dogs of this breed have a variety of coat lengths, from short- to long-haired--and the coats are thick and double-layered and tend to shed regularly. When a CSD "blows" its coat in late spring or early summer, though, the shedding can be very heavy. Owners will need to brush their CSDs twice per week (and daily during shedding season) to keep the shedding under control; frequent hair cleanup (vacuuming the floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture) will be necessary.

A Caucasian Shepherd Dog will drool in anticipation of food, after drinking water, and when especially excited or nervous. Owners are advised to keep rags in rooms where the dog spends its time, to wipe up excess slobber--and if a CSD drools profusely, owners can tie a bandanna or old towel around the dog's neck to keep its neck and chest from getting dirty and stinky from the drool.

With its enormous size, the Caucasian Shepherd diet is equally huge--so breed owners will need to carefully consider what they feed their CSDs, and how much of it they allow the dogs to eat. Like that of all breeds, Caucasian Shepherd Dog food will need to contain animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. This means the most sensible choice for this breed is premium dry food, particularly the kind made for extra-large breeds. This high-quality food, while more expensive and difficult to obtain, contains balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients your CSD will need to maintain its health in the long term. Cheap, generic dog food is not recommended for this breed, because it contains mostly empty "filler" ingredients that are harder to digest, and don't provide much-needed nutrients.

Royal Canin, Taste of the Wild, and Blue Buffalo are three recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium dry food for giant breeds.

And as you can imagine, your CSD can eat an enormous amount of food. The typical adult CSD, depending on its size, age, and activity level, will need about five cups per day of premium dry food, divided into two meals. CSD puppies, again depending on age, will need a bit less: about 3½ cups per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months of age.

For further info on feeding a Caucasian Shepherd Dog from puppyhood through maturity, refer to the following:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a bit more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

It's especially important for CSD owners to try and stick to the above-listed portions. These dogs are pretty low-energy, and if constantly overfed (and under-exercised!) they will quickly become obese--and a fat Caucasian Shepherd will have major joint, digestive, and breathing problems, not to mention a potentially shortened lifespan. You can help control your CSD's weight by establishing consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time, thereby allowing it to eat anytime it wants. It's better to put your CSD's bowl down only at mealtimes--then pick it up a few minutes after the dog begins eating.

If you're worried your CSD is overweight, give the dog this simple test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel ribs beneath all that hair and skin, it's diet time. Reduce the dog's daily food consumption by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.

Though opinions differ, a majority of veterinarians, breeders, and owners agree that the best dog food for Caucasian Shepherd Dogs is premium dry kibble. High-quality food goes a long way in helping ensure your CSD lives a long, healthy, happy life.

These dogs do best with premium food that's formulated for giant breeds. Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, and Blue Buffalo are recommended brands that carry excellent lines of extra-large-breed premium food.

The Caucasian Shepherd can live most anywhere, from extremely cold climates to very warm ones.