DS: The Caucasian Ovtcharka. Watch this video?

Would i ever own one?

I wouldn't have a dog like that, don't appeal to me really.

The guy is a moron, hopefully he gets a tough lesson from the dog.

Making protection decisions themselves?

Well LGD are meant to know when to protect, there is not always a human there to dictate to them what is a threat or what isn't. Same with someone who breaks into your home, sometimes a dog has to protect with no guidance from a human at all, for what they were bred and created for... the ability to make that decision themselves is mandatory.

Who would own them?

A person who has a use for them, not to just be a pet or a fancy looking dog. Someone who has property or livestock to work and protect. As with any breed, if you get it and expect to mould it into something it is not, you are going to be disappointed and it makes you a moron.

If you take an independent dog that you said, makes its own decisions into a suburban or busy or pet home and don't have the experience to control it - what that man has is what you end up with...

Keep the dog true and get it for the right reasons, i think it would make a perfectly good dog.

There is someone who breeds them on here... haven't seen her about in a while though. - [add] they breed Central Asian Shepherds, not Caucasians.

[ADD]

If i were that breeder i wouldn't allow my face or name to appear in that video... to admit having sold a dog to THAT man who clearly hasn't a clue what the f-ck he is doing...

[ADD]

The dogs are really that aggressive and are used to protect/guard areas of land.

I don't know much about the breed but i'd say the breeders description was pretty accurate, she sells to people who want the protection that the dog affords whether that be a home or livestock.

The man who bought it, i don't know what he has to protect but he got himself WAY in over his head with that one.

The dogs natural instincts MUST be taken into consideration regardless and to water down this breed and make it more 'friendly' or PC is nothing short of a disgrace.

I am sure many, many people are involved with this breed because of it's aggression and it's ability to do it's job well and how it is being portrayed on there is what happens when people who shouldn't own the dog, do.

The dogs are really that aggressive, and that is why they should only be bred and owned by people who are aware what they are getting into. To be able to control and direct that aggression in an appropriate manner is what is required, that man has no control.

Some dogs just aren't meant to be friendly and social and that's OK as long as there is a capable owner.

To water down a breed to stop irresponsible people getting them for the wrong purposes? I never agree with that, sometimes people have to take responsibility for themselves and it is not up to the rest of the world to pander to them!

[ADD] - i really must stop adding, but there is nothing going on here tonight...

Just thought it would be a good addition to post the FCI standard for behaviour and temperament.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT: ''Type of great alert activity, strong - balanced - calm. The reactions of defense which manifest themselves in an active form, are well developed.

An aggressive disposition and distrust towards strangers are characteristic.''

FAULT: ''lack of distrust towards strangers.''

SERIOUS FAULT: ''Timid dog, strongly marked indifference; lack of aggressiveness.''

Can't say i've seen them around here either!

I think that video just shows how many idiots there are in the world, that take on a dog they clearly cannot handle. Would i want to own this dog? No. They don't appeal to me, i'll stick to BCs.

Clearly this is a dog that needs to fit into a certain place, with a specific lifestyle, with a certain owner. Not just anyone can own them, by what the video shows.

Who would want to own one? I think someone that knows dogs well and doesn't want to own one just to show it off. Someone who has something that may need protecting, someone who wants this dog for a purpose.Someone who doesn't live on the city, or somewhere that is congested with people and other dogs, someone who has trained and worked with dogs for many years of their life and know what they're doing, i'd say could and may want to own this breed.

I don't know much about the breed, really just what was shown on the video but i do find it very interesting and definitely a breed i'd consider researching more about...just to feed my curiosity.

Thanks for posting!

The appearance of this breed does not suit me. Big, huge fluffy dogs...IDK just not my style haha.

I don't think the older gentlemen is ok with the dog chasing down the car...I think it was a situation in which he could show (for the camera) the dogs aggressive behavior/reactiveness and strength. I also think for someone who brags about owning all strong dogs in the past, he should know a little bit about holding a leash properly lol.

I think the breeder made the most sense and best comment regarding the protectiveness and the importance of socialization. Dogs like this MUST be properly socialized so they do not view everything as a threat. I think if socialized properly you can make those decisions of when enough is enough. A dog like this is gonna take a lot of PROPER socialization and you must be a very dog saavy person with strong leadership skills.

As far as what kind of person would want to own a dog like this...hmmm, personal preference I guess. As far as the type of person this breed would fit, I would have to say someone who has lots of land, lots of livestock and who lives by themselves.

Add> Altho I would never own a CO (main reason is coat) I would consider Fila if I did not have children. NOT because I don't think a dog like this can be trusted around kids, but because kids means friends visiting etc etc etc. I don't think a person can make an honest, accurate, judgment of a breed like this until you own one.

I think they're beautiful, but not for me.

I don't need to watch to know that it's not okay to own such a large dog (or any dog) without being able to control it. It sounds like the man doesn't have a "protective" dog-he has a territorial, aggressive dog. A lot of people confuse the two for some reason.

They were bred to protect livestock, like the great pyrenees, so I think the kind of person who'd want one would be someone with livestock that needs protecting. From what I've read about them, they are strong-willed and are a breed who NEEDS a good trainer and a lot of socialization. It's obvious that they also would need a lot of room as well.

This all got way too convoluted, but let me quote one part you stated in your opening question and address only that part. = = = = = = = "Do you think that Caucasian Ovtcharkas and Filas possess a trait no other dog does ie the inborn ability to be true protection dogs with NO training, or do you think it's hype and fear aggression? And, which dogs look stable and confident to you? Which would YOU want around your guests and children?" = = = = = = = There is a difference between guard dogs providing protection and guardian dogs providing protection. Guard dogs are more agressive and more likely to attack. I have 5 dogs. Only ONE is likely to bite quickly... the Aussie mix... half shepherd and half blue heeler. A true guardian dog is the one I would prefer to protect my parents and my grandchildren. The best guardian I have personal experience is the Great Pyrenees and I now have 4 of them. They stand between me and any threat first and attack last and only if necessary. They are true guardians and it comes to them naturally. They "guard" by intimidation of the intruder or predator by barking, standing between the threat and me and they save the fighting for last. Intruders usually leave first. They truly have the "inborn ability to be true protection dogs with NO training" but they do their job at a younger age if they are trained by a senior dog, so training helps reinforce and strengthen the inborn ability. If Filas and Ovtcharkas have the inborn ability to be true protection dogs, i can guarantee that they are NOT the only dogs to have this inborn ability. Several working dog breeds have this ability. I've seen comments on APBT's in this thread, and my thought is that their ability to be a good guardian is dependent on their having a good owner who knows how to socialize them properly and train them and be a good pack leader. My personal opinion is this is a question that leaves out a lot of excellent breeds that are wonderful natural guardians. It's also open to argument and encourages argument and I think that is a waste of time. So I'll stop here. It's not constructive enough for me to discuss it further -!-

That was a very controversial report and Caucasian rescues sued for the one sided reporting.

As for what kind of owners own them, that would be ME. I have a 3 year old very big lug, he was rescued from a back yard, tied to a tree with no water, food or shelter in the middle of winter. Gandolf arrived and made himself right at home with the Rotts, cats, and parrots.

He is 185lbs, I am 130lbs and I have no trouble walking him. Like most of these large powerful breeds he took consistent training and socializing but Gandolf has made a great addition to my critter family.

ADD: MY dear Curtis I have to call BS on your analogy of Caucasians, you clearly are not an authority on the breed. Stick to German Shepherds.

Curtis keep thinking you know all about all breeds some people need this to make them look like authorities. I did not take the dog in for a protection dog I don't need that. I can take care of myself. I know what I have and I know you are dead wrong. Gandolf is a well trained, well socialized, confident dog, and is not timid or a fear biter(give me a break) I would not tolerate a fear biter.

Maybe you are just incapable of handling anything but a German Shepherds. They are your breed of choice which is fine.They can be great dogs but there are other breeds in this world that are just as good or much better working dogs.

ADD: If all dogs are dogs and you like dogs and all dogs have the same drive then don't condemn a "dog"breed that you are totally clueless about, "fear aggressive" you are really clueless

That being said, it is no longer worth my time and mood to continue this thread. Go pet your GSs and I will go pet my Rotts, Caucasian and beagle. Please refrain from your opinion of my other dog breeds.

Bullies, I hope I did not offend you or the other posters of your great question.

Have I been around these dogs...yes, somewhat. They are very popular is central Asia / Eastern Europe.

They keep them as herding dogs in the Caucasian Mountains and the Russian military has taken them as guard dogs for prisons...etc.

I'm fascinated by them...actually we had a pup here in the local shelter that was claimed to be a "Caucasian Mountain Dog"...which he probably wasnt, at least not purebred.

They are not aggressive, per se...just very independent, not much of people pleasers and very territorial.

My dad used to work with them a long time ago...its his favorite breed. As for owning one...I just had a talk with him a couple of days ago. They are ok if you have a very large area...preferrably with something for the dog to do. A fence or a secluded lot.....and a person that REALLY understands that dog.

I'd like to own one, but the liability is just too great.

I think that 99% of the world population wouldn't be OK owning one of those. That oximoron is one of those. If that dog jumps on him and teaches him the lesson of a lifetime, I won't be necessarily sad.

I mean, what is that old guy doing with the dog? Looks like an impulse buyer... Something like "look at me. I've got a naturally agressive dog with me. I'm SO cool".

I seriously do hope those dogs don't become the "next big thing" in the next few years. I can already see people fixing themselves with those to have a "guard dog".

I honestly find them very attractive, but I would never own one of those.

I personally don't think they would make good *pets*. They are extremly good lifestock guard dogs but with a house in a scenario I'm pretty sure things would get rough.

I wouldn't own one as a pet, anyways. The person owning this breed should be having the dog guarding lifestock. It is an unaltered breed and best doing what it does well.

ADD: What I'm saying is that most of us couldn't own these dogs as pets. They do NOT seem to make good pets. However, I'm pretty sure that people with experience in other *hard* breeds could handle them as pets alright. Not the dog I would choose to own as a pet though. Better off as a lifestock guardian. ;-)

It really is too bad there are idiots who want to make the breed something that it isn't.

The breed is great at what it is supposed to be - which is a livestock guardian - and whose purpose is to keep animals *&* HUMANS out of it's area. Trying to make the breed be anything else is STUPID. I see this breed and think "wow! SUPERB junkyard dog!" *I* don't have anything of enough value to warrant owning one. Although, if I were a long haul truck driver - I'd definitely think about it.

As for the useless twit with the over-fed dog pulling him all over creation --- as a breeder, this man is a "FAIL!"

Edit: No. The dogs ARE like that. Anyone attempting to say these are ok as family pets for the average family who doesn't need a dog who WILL naturally guard either doesn't know what they are talking about OR is in support of dumbing down dogs (like the Dobes have been) into couch potatoes. Either way, they are WRONG as that was NEVER what the breed was intended to be!

That is another dog that will be put on the ban list with Rotts, Pitts, Dobies and so forth. I sure hope the wrong people don't get hold of these dogs and start breeding them at will.

Beautiful dogs tho.

Wow that's huge!

Well, I'm not able to have a dog like that, because its an even bigger responsibility, literally. I'm more of a miniature dog person.

Only a person who has enough space, time, patience, and love to these dogs can have one.