Caucasian Shepherd
The is a strong and large that is assertive, proud, and loyal. These dogs aren't scared of much and have fought bears and wolves. The fought off wild, dangerous animals in the Caucasus Mountains. They were great at their job, and their large size and territorial nature made them the perfect for their job.
As these dogs grew more popular worldwide, many began to see the unique qualities that make so special. These dogs are intelligent, fearless, and can be quite a challenge. But an experienced trainer will find that as long as they are consistent and reliable during training sessions, the can become an excellent lifelong friend and companion to have.
require a confident owner who knows how to take care of them. This is not good with small children or in apartments because of their large size. They also can be very territorial and may not get along well with other dogs unless they're properly socialized. These dogs do great in homes with patient and caring owners who understand their needs.
Characteristics
An Average can grow to be 24 to 34 inches in height at their shoulders, and they usually weigh anywhere from 80 to 220 pounds. These dogs are working dogs, and they were bred to fight off crazy predators like bears and wolves.
The is a great born to protect its family. These natural guard dogs have also been called a few other names throughout their lives. Some people call these dogs the Caucasian Mountain Dogs, Russian Bear Dogs, Baskhan (Karachay) Pariy, and dogs.
These dogs are headstrong and independent. They need someone who respects that but can also create rigid boundaries and rules. do best in homes where the owner welcomes these dogs as a part of the family. are incredibly sensitive and may get upset if you yell at them. These dogs might show the eyes and follow their owners everywhere.
Caucasian Shepherd puppies will need a solid hour of exercise every day to stay in their best shape. Physical health and mental health are linked, and dogs that don't get their minimum amount of activity can become depressed and lethargic.
Caucasian Shepherd Health Overview
Every dog breed has its own risk of developing certain health conditions. The Caucasian Shepherd breed is at risk of developing common conditions such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, entropion, and some heart issues. Joint dysplasia is common in many dog breeds and is mild, as is entropion, an eye condition that causes dogs' eyelashes to curl and sometimes irritates their eye.
While this breed has many physical health issues, they also have mental health concerns they may experience. Many dogs experience stress in their lives, and every dog will experience anxiety in their life. Dogs get anxiety commonly around loud noises or when their owners leave. There are many other causes of stress and anxiety, but there are also many ways for owners to help relieve their dog's symptoms.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a widespread health condition that all dogs will experience in their lives. If you've ever seen an overly aggressive dog, that dog was having an extreme anxiety attack! However, most animals do not respond to regular anxiety so aggressively. Some owners don't know that dogs can get anxiety from many situations. Many dogs commonly experience anxiety when their owners leave the house, and this happens so often it is separation anxiety.
occurs when a gets when its owner leaves. It often happens because owners have to spend a lot of time at work, and dogs haven't appropriately adjusted to understand that their owners will return home later.
Your Caucasian Shepherd puppy might develop anxiety because they fear loud noises. Loud sirens or fireworks can cause your dog to tense up and panic. If you've ever had a dog that was scared of thunderstorms, they had anxiety during the storm. Some dogs are so anxious because of their history.
Some dogs never receive proper socialization training, so they become frightened by new environments. So traveling to a new place, meeting new people, or being around new animals might cause these dogs to experience anxiety. Poorly socialized dogs can become incredibly nervous when taken out of their regular home routine.
Dogs that have lived in shelters, been neglected, or been homeless are more likely to experience anxiety than dogs raised in one home since puppyhood. They will often have traumatic reminders that cause them anxiety. For example, many dogs picked up by an animal control van develop a fear of large vans because they associate this with a bad feeling. These traumatic reminders can cause extreme symptoms of stress and anxiety to arise.
Another situation that can surprisingly cause extreme stress and anxiety is boredom. In physical or mental stimulation, dogs that aren't getting enough stimulation will react by releasing their anxious energy in destructive behaviors. Bored dogs are trouble makers, and often these dogs are also depressed.
Symptoms
When dogs face , it can come out in many different ways. A 's is just as important as its physical health. Dogs don't communicate the same way humans do, and they prefer to communicate with their bodies first. Dogs will change their posture in some way before they vocally whine or whimper. Many owners know when their dog walks over with a limp, their dog is injured, but if they hear their dogs cry alone, there could be several issues wrong with them. There will be many signs a Caucasian Shepherd puppy shows before they begin whining.
Many have heard stories of other dogs destroying their owner's homes while they are out. It can be easy to think this is just because the is wrong, but they have . A dog's behavior can change dramatically based on feeling and its surroundings. If they don't have their family or owner with them to help them feel more familiar and calm them down, then a dog's stress will rise, making them act out more. Dongs commonly can't rest when they're anxious, and destroying their surroundings can be both an outlet for their built-up nervous energy and a way for them to communicate their feelings to their owners.
Caucasian Shepherd dogs might also communicate their anxiety by putting their tail between their legs and holding their ears back. Dogs may pace around the house or hide behind their owners. Extra timid dogs might nudge their owner towards whatever is causing them anxiety. Some dogs get so anxious they try to escape their homes.
Some dogs might pant when they have anxiety. Some dogs drool, and some whine, whimper, or bark. What a dog does when they are anxious depends on them and the severity of their anxiety. Owners should know their dog's anxiety symptoms so they are better prepared to comfort their dogs. By spending time with your pets through exercising, training, or just playing together, owners will naturally come to know their dog's emotional tendencies and what they are like when they're excited or nervous.
or Whimpering Meaning
The isn't known to be very noisy, but they will quickly bark when they are alerted to a . Many of these dogs are guarding, so they are always on the lookout. But, most lookout dogs don't or whimper when they see a .
might when they get nervous. are pretty low-energy animals even though they are massive. Still, if these dogs don't get enough activity for their low energy, it can leave them feeling nervous and anxious. If you scold your dog and they whine or whimper, you should be a bit gentler with your pup. Many dogs love pleasing their owners and feel horrible when their family is upset with them. Even though Caucasian Shepherds seem like big dogs, they can get very nervous.
Sometimes dogs get anxious when they are left alone for too long, when you scold them, or if they are in small spaces. For example, are massive and nervous when living in apartment buildings. These dogs are typically OK if they're left alone for a few hours daily, but they will start whining if they are left too long. When these dogs whine, it is most likely anxiety. However, owners have many options on treating their Caucasian Shepherd's anxiety.
Treatment Options
Owners have many options to help their anxious Caucasian dog and can decide specific treatments based on which would be the most helpful. Every owner should deduce what the cause of their dog's anxiety is before treating them. They should also be sure never to give their dog anything their vet hasn't approved first.
Some dogs get anxious around groups of people or new people. Dogs like this might find comfort in having a space dedicated to them getting away from people. Many pet owners have been creating safe spaces for their anxious dogs. These spaces have dog beds and other excellent additions to help their pet relax in times of anxiety. These areas are always away from noisy parts of the house and away from the primary foot traffic. By providing a comfy dog bed, their owner encourages them to relax and lay down, something anxious dogs will have trouble doing. Depending on the dog, adding a crate to their safe space can help make them feel more secure if your Caucasian Shepherd loves their crate.
Some owners help their dog's minor anxiety symptoms by providing calming treats. Many dog treats calm anxious animals with specific ingredients. Some supplements aim to calm nervous dogs, and some dog CBD products aim to help dogs with stress. Many owners have found these products to work on their dogs, but many owners have found these products did not affect their dogs. It always depends on the individual pup and what is best for them.
Because some dogs get anxiety from a lack of exercise, the best way to relieve their stress is through, you guessed it, exercise! Exercising with your dog doesn't have to feel like work, and it doesn't always require much movement from owners. If owners teach their dogs to play fetch or entertain themselves with dog puzzle toys, owners can give their dogs something to do without breaking a sweat themselves. However, it is still important to give your dog physical enrichment. All owners need to get creative about how they'd like to provide daily activity for their dogs. Once the action begins, the anxiety symptoms are sure to go.
You cannot heal all anxiety symptoms with calming dog treats. Many calming methods are for dogs with mild anxiety symptoms and not extreme anxiety. However, many dogs, especially rescued pets, will have more severe anxiety symptoms. These dogs might urinate, defecate, or become aggressive. The bottom line is their anxiety isn't pretty, and owners don't have the tools necessary to help these dogs. More severe cases of anxiety will need a professional dog trainer to condition your dog out of their anxiety. Thankfully, counterconditioning methods are supposed to be permanent.
Some owners find the best way to help their Caucasian Shepherd with their anxiety is to provide anti-anxiety medication. If owners feel their dogs would be better off on medication, they can always talk to their vet about their options.
Prognosis
There are many ways to treat anxiety that does not affect a dog's overall lifespan. The larger the is, the shorter the lifespan typically. However, the can live 10 to 12 years old.
Pet owners should never provide their dogs with anything until their vets approve it first. Supplements may be a great way to help your dog with anxiety, but physical health and mental health are related. If your dog is not getting the minimum amount of activity they need, owners need to start providing regular activity before going straight to supplements.
Anxious dogs are still capable of living full, healthy, and happy lives. These dogs have times of stress that can be relieved. Many treatment options provide temporary relief to stressed-out dogs. Caucasian Shepherd dogs may benefit from more than one method as well. Often, owners see the most effective response to anti-anxiety remedies when they use more than one method. You can give your dogs enrichment, a safe space, and calming treats. You might end up with one of the mellowest dogs out there.
Overall Outcome
Many dogs will feel better after their owners have tested a few methods to ease their anxiety symptoms. Some owners will find that dog CBD doesn't aid their pet's anxiety, but other calming treats significantly help their pup settle down. Every dog is different and may respond to methods better or worse, which is why it's worth trying more than one method with an anxious dog.
While counterconditioning does offer more of a permanent fix to anxiety symptoms, you should save this process for the most severe cases of anxiety. Owners can best support their anxious dogs by not coddling during their times of stress. Sometimes anxious dogs want to be away from people because of their increased vulnerability. Hugging your dog during these times may worsen their symptoms. Owners can still sit in the same room as their pets when trying to help them de-stress, but they should try to give them space. Unless they are helping their dogs de-stress with interactive exercises.
Pet owners need to help their anxious dogs feel better. Owners will feel much better knowing they helped alleviate some of their dog's stress. It can also help strengthen a bond between an owner and their Caucasian Shepherd.
The best owner for a Caucasian Shepherd is sure to provide enough training, food, and activity. These dogs are independent but will listen to a confident owner who is calm during training sessions. These dogs will respond the best to short and repetitive training sessions that are kept positive. The best owner for the Caucasian Shepherd is anyone who is genuinely willing to provide everything they need. These dogs shouldn't have to beg their owners to give them their required exercise. Their owners should be excited to spend an hour walking and playing with their dog.