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1) Origin
This breed was developed in the Caucasus Mountains, where it also got its name. It is believed, that different types of mountain dogs, that served as shepherds, lived in the region of Caucasus for thousands of years, but the Caucasian Shepherd we know today was bred from different Caucasus dogs by Soviet breeders in 1920s. Probably the most important ancestor is another giant sheepdog, the Georgian Shepherd dog. 2) Purpose The Caucasian Shepherd was mostly used as one of the best livestock protector in the world. That is why they were bred to be strong, courageous, brave and agressive when needed. They are able to protect flocks of sheeps from other people, wolves or even bears. Well not only that, there are evidences of Caucasian Shepherds hunting bears. Today, they are also use to guard prisoners in Russia. 3) More types It is important to say, that there are differences between Caucasian Shepherds, depending on the country and region where they were bred. They can vary in size and even in the coat type. The coat comes in three lengths and a huge variety of colors. But commonly, the Caucasian Shepherd from Georgia is considered as the breed standard by most kennel clubs in the world. 4) Other names The Caucasian Shepherd is known under some other names. You might be familiar with the name Caucasian Ovcharka. The word ovcharka is a russian word for a sheepdog. They are also known as Caucasian Mountain dogs, Bakshan or Russian Bear Dogs. 5) Exercise Believe it or not, unlike most of the other shepherds, this is quite low energetic and low activity dog. When they are not working, they might look lethargic. But even though, they do not have energy level, they do need daily walks, hikes or some other exercise, because they are prone to gaining weight, which can lead to obesity and other health problems. 6) Not for novices The Caucasian Shepherd can become calm, friendly and devoted companion, but it can also grows into agressive, ferocious and unmanagable dog. It completely depends on the training and socialization. This is the reason, why this is a dog breed for experienced owners only, because if you train and socialize them properly, you will have extraordinary dog by your side. 7) Size This is giant, muscular and powerful dog with average height between 67-90 cm which is 26-35 inches and weight between 45-100 kg, which is 100-220 pounds. But it is not uncommon for a Caucasian Shepherd male to weigh a lot over 100 kgs. As you can see, there are big size differences and the size depends on whether it is a male or female, but also where they come from or what type they are. The dogs bred in high mountains tend to be much more muscular. 8) Mane As i said in the video, this dog can have coat in three lengths. And if it is the long coated Caucasian Ovcharka version, than they tend posses a big fluffy mane around their neck that encircles the neck, as well as feathering that trails down the back of the legs and tail. Because of that mane and giant size, they are kinda remind lions. 9) Maintenance This is doublecoated dog and just like most of the doublecoated dogs, they do shed all year long. If you want to minimize the shedding and keep their coat in top condition regular brushing several times a week is needed. Just like with all dogs you should regularly check their eyes, nails and ears and clip them or clean them if needed. Checkin the ears for possible infection is especially important. 10) Health This is relatively healthy dog breed. Most giant dogs have short lifespan, but the Caucasian Shepherd lifespan is pretty good, between 10-12 years. They do suffer from some health issues, commonly from hip dysplasia, obesity and cataracts.
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1) Origin
The Boxer is a descendant of Bullenbeisser, which was extremely strong hunting dog breed. There were a lot of variation of Bullenbeisser across the Europe and it is believed that smaller type from Belgium, also known as Brabant Bullenbeisser is the direct ancestor of todays Boxer. The second important ancestor of the Boxer is the Old English Bulldog. 2) Purpose The Boxer is very versatile breed. Throughout their history, they were succesfully used as guards and hunters, they were used for controlling cattle in butchers slaughterhouses and sadly they were also used for bull baiting. On the other hand, Boxer was one of the first breeds to serve as police dog and they are also one of the few breeds that are used as service dogs for blind people. But of course, today, they are most often bred as amazing and loyal family companions. 3) Name Have you ever wondered why this breed is named Boxer? Well, we can only guess, since there are no records on the name’s origin. One popular theory suggest, that they are called boxers because when they are playing, they are often standing on their back legs and kick out its front paws like a human boxer might do. But there are other explanations as well, and the breeds name might be derived from the German word boxl, which was a nicknamed for the small Belgian Bullenbeiser and that the word Boxer is just a corruption of this word. 4) War dogs During both world wars, Boxers were one of the few dogs that were used for military purposes. They were primarily used by German and American army. During the wars, they served as messengers, pack-carriers and guards. They were also very skilled at locating wounded soldiers on the battlefield. 5) Long puppyhood Boxers have one of the longest puppyhood in the dog world. It takes them up to three years until they reach maturity. And i am not talking about their body, they will be strong and powerful very fast, but they will be acting as puppies for a long time. You will definitely have a lot of fun with them. 6) Colors You can find Boxers in only three colors which are fawn, brindle and white. Fawn and brindle Boxers can have white markings, most often on their chest. There are some myths about the white colored boxers. One says, that they are extremely rare, whis is not true, because one in four or five Boxers are born white. It is also not true, that white boxers are albinos, no, it is regular coat color and officialy these dogs are either fawn or brindle, with excessive white markings overlying the base coat color. And the last myth is, that all white Boxers are suffering from deafness. Again, this is only partially true, because it is true, that they suffer from it more than other Boxer colors, but most of them have no problem with hearing. 7) Excitement Boxers are very excited when greeting their people. They are known for jumping up and down a lot and you should train them to stay calm when greeting other people. They are also known for twisting body and turning in circles when they are excited. Sometimes, it really looks that they are dancing with you. 8) Size Boxers have powerful, athletic and muscular built. Their average height is between 53-64 cm which is 21-25 inch and weight between 55-75 pounds, which is 25-34 kg. The females are naturally little bit smaller than males. 9) Living with Boxers need two things in their life – companionship and exercise. This is very social animal who will not like to be left alone, they want to spend their lives by your side. This is extremely loyal breed. They are also very energetic and they need proper daily exercise every single day. It can be long walks, but they are also good partners for hiking and jogging. If their exercise needs are not met, they might become destructive or very vocal. 10) Health Sadly, Boxers are not the healthiest dogs and their lifespan is around 11 years. They suffer from cancer, aortic stenosis, cardiomyopathy, hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia and corneal dystrophy. 1) Origin
This is a German dog breed developed in the 19th century from the Pudelpointer. Other dogs included in the breeding process probably involved Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, Polish Water dogs, German Roughhaired Pointers and German Shorthaired Pointers. The reason why they were develop was to create versatile gundog that will be great at scenting, retrieving and pointing even in harsh climate. 2) Coat One of the feature which enables German Wirehaired Pointers work in harsh climates is their water repellent and weather resistant coat. The coat is rough and straight and it is protecting the dog from cold temparuters or waters or from thorny bushes. You can find them in various patterns of liver and white. 3) Exercise This is not a lap dog or couch potatoe, not at all. German Wirehaired Pointers require daily vigorous exercise, long walks or jogs or any other outdoor activity. They are always ready for any adventure with you. Regular training sessions, task oriented playtime or some dog sports like agility or tracking are amazing not only as physical exercise but also as mental stimulation. 4) GSP The German Shorthaired Pointer is not only coat variet of Wirehaired Pointer. Those are two separate, but closely related dog breeds. You can easily tell them apart thanks to their coat, but that is not the only differnce between them. The German Wirehaired Pointer is little bit taller and heavier. 5) Loyal companions This is extremely loyal dog breed and they make great devoted family companions. They will create very strong bond with all the family members and they want to spend a lot of time around them. This is a friendly, affectionate and lively companion. 6) Face This dog has intelligent expression, dont you think? It is because of another distinctive feature of this breed, which is the bushy beard and eyebrows. And guess what? It serves a purpose, because it is protecting the dog's face and eyes from scratches and lacerations. 7) Size The German Wirehaired Pointer height should be between 23-26 inches, which is 58-66 cm and weight between 60-70 pounds, which is 27-32 kg. Females are naturally little bit smaller than males. 8) Independent dog It is true that the German Wirehaired Pointer is a smart dog, but they also have independent streak, which is why they are not pushover to train. It is also a reason why they are not the best choice for novice or first time dog owners. But if you are patient and firm leader, than they can achieve great things in training and working. 9) Maintenance It is not hard to keep German Wirehaired Pointers coat in good condition. Brushing the coat a couple of times weekly, occasional stripping, and bathing as needed are all that is necessary to groom this dog. Just like with all dog breeds, you should regularly check their ears eyes and nails and clip them or clean them if needed. 10) Health This is relatively healthy dog breed with average lifespan between 12-14 years, but just like all dog breed they do suffer from some health issues. Most commonly from hip dysplasia, entropion, cataracts and von Willebrands disease. Appearance
This is a giant and powerful dog, with average height between 77-95 cm, which is 30-37 inch and weight typically between 50-90 kg, which is 110-200 pounds. But it is not uncommon for Kurdish Mastiffs to weigh over 100 kg. With their powerful built they are just made for protection work and indeed, this dog is mostly used as livestock protector. The Kurdish Mastiff has deep chest, curled tail, loose skin around its neck, flopped large ears and massive head. Kurdish Mastiff has a fish like body – which means their, which means that their chest is wide and waist narrow. You can find them in several colors, most commonly in white, yellow, red, black or blue. Temperament This is a very loyal and independent dog breed. As i already mentioned in the video, they were bred for work and even today, they are still actively working as livestock and property guards. Sadly, they are also still sometimes used for illegal dog fights. If you are thinking about getting a Kurdish Mastiff, prepare for a very energetic dog. This is not a typical giant mastiff type of a dog which tend to be lets say pretty lazy. No, not at all. The Kurdish Mastiff has very high stamina and endurance, actually it is believed that they have one of the largest stamina of all giant dog breeds. You should be prepared for that, because they need to vent off the energy every day, otherwise, they might become bored and they might develop some problematic behaviour. The Kurdish Mastiff is very intelligent dog, but because of their independent personality, they are not total pushovers to train. They were bred to work independently, so its no wonder they like to have their opinions. They need a firm, consistant and patient trainer to become obedient. And they also need good early socialization. This is definitely not a dog for novices, because if you fail the training and socialization with dog this powerful, you can have a big problem, because they can become extremely territorial and agressive. On the other hand, with proper socialization, you will have amazing loyal companion by your side. Interesting fact You can read online that it is the Kangal Shepherd who has the strongest bite force in the dog world, but according to some Kurdish Mastiff breeders it is not true, and it is the Kurdish Mastiff, who should be marked as the strongest dog in the world. History This is very ancient Middle easter dog breed developed in Kurdistan region. It is believed that their history traces back 5 or 6 thousands years and that their ancestors are large mollosers used by Assyrians as protectors against wild animals. They did not change much over the centuries and they are still used for similar purposes as their ancestors. And even today, you can find this breed mostly in Kurdistan region, mostly in Iran, but if you are lucky, you can find some of them in Iraq as well. Health and grooming This is generally very healthy dog breed with great lifespan between 10-13 years. This is really good lifespan for a dog of this size. If you want to have happy and healthy dog, daily proper exercise is a must. If you are using your Kurdish Mastiff for working purposes, no additional exercise is needed, but if you have him as lets say companion, than regular daily long walks or hikes are just must. This dog has extremely high stamina and they just need the exercise. Other than that, not much other maintenance is needed. Of course, just like all dogs, you should make regular checks at veterinarian and regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeths and clean them or clip them when needed. |