Question by Fred: What is Caucasian Shepherd (Ovcharka) price on average?
How much would a good Caucasian mountain dog cost?
Would the vet bills be expensive?
Are they nice dogs to have?
Answers and Views:
Answer by A
Depends on where you get them from. $500-$4000
Answer by Mark:
If you are looking for a good Caucasian Shepherd, you might have to pay big bucks. Their average price in the USA is about $1,500 - $3,000.
Established US breeders like Esquire Caucasians or Sila V Krovi normally sell their puppies for $ 2,500 – $ 3,000.
New American breeders ask for an amount between $ 1,500 and $ 2,500.
Those who breed working COs on family farms or import them from Europe, sell a bit cheaper.
Here’s a small table for Caucasian Shepherd prices in the US.
Reputable US breeders: $ 2,500 - $ 3,000
New US breeders: $ 1,500 - $ 2,500
Farm/backyard US breeders: $ 1,200 - $ 1,500
Importers from Europe: $ 1500 - $ 2,000
Rehomers: $ 500 - $ 1,000
Today, there are quite a lot of people who have bought a Caucasian Shepherd without knowing and understanding this breed and then try to rehome it for some - even small - money.
Males are usually more expensive than females.
The male Caucasian Ovcharka puppy can cost an average of $2,000 to $2,500.
The cost for a female CO pup ranges from $1,500 to $2,000.
These prices exclude shipping and handling costs as well as any additional registration fees or health screenings which may be required before purchase.
The price of these “Russian Bear Dogs” can vary greatly depending on where you live in the United States, on the quality of the dog, and how much training it has received.
Their high cost is well worth it considering that Caucasian Shepherds are valued for their stability, reliability, and strength. They are known to be one of the best breeds for guarding livestock because they have a natural inclination to protect them from all dangers - human or animal alike.
The Caucasian Ovcharka dogs has exceptional qualities such as its stamina, intelligence, loyalty and its ability to work for long periods of time without tiring. They were used by Russian police to guard and pursue criminals who escape from prisons or detention centers.
Answer by Phil:
Eastern Europe's good stock is anywhere between 600 US dollars (if you are really lucky) not including the transport fee to 3,000 US dollars.
UK around 1,200 – 6,000 sterling.
US 1,200 – 14,000 for show winner pups. although the average is 1,200-3,000 US dollars.
But be careful when buying one as they are a LOT of cross-breeding & negative trait breeding in the US and Canada. Mixes are even more dangerous than pure breeds as they lose the "love the family at all costs" traits of their personality.
Also, a warning, only a strong personality, physically strong, dedicated trainer/experienced owner should ever even consider owning this breed. After 14 years of owning Caucasian Ovcharkas, they require expertise I had to learn fast different form training any dog.
I would actually like to see the "dog whisperer" Caesar fix a 4-year-old violent, untrained Ovcharka :) As once they are grown and have not been trained they are almost impossible to rehabilitate.
They are expert & quick killers and cannot be stopped if in a real situation unless trained. It is a shame when the lovely neighbor lady see you outside your fence walking home and then hugs you (doesn't know the dog well) and your Ovcharka jumps his fence, usually he stays but sees you in danger (although not) and dispatches this lovely neighbor to be ready for the morgue in a few seconds.
Answer by Theodora
The Caucasian Ovcharka prices in the US are usually between $ 1200 and $ 3000, depending on the pedigree, and on the breeder. Puppies without papers cost 500-800. I know that in Moscow, Russia, Caucasian Ovcharka puppies with a really good pedigree cost between $ 450 and $ 850.
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Answer by Stephenson
I rescued a Caucasian Mountain dog – the vet estimated she was about 4 when I found her. I have had her for 5 years. Yes–she was impossible to train for a long time–several years! I may have overcorrected because now she is somewhat timid around me; on a walk, she will look to me for the ‘ok’ and that gets a bit tiresome as I have to keep saying–‘come on’ or else she starts to walk behind me instead of in front. One time she pushed her way through the front door and sent me flying onto my deck head first and I injured my knee, so with things like that I had to correct her impulsive behavior for my own safety.
She is not as large as they say in the breed info. I think that’s because she was in very poor condition when I found her, and her growth was stunted due to that. However, I am thankful she is not as big as the breed standard–I have enough to deal with! Her coat takes a LOT of work or it gets matted very easily. Everyone loves her, though, and thinks she is adorable. I got her spayed. She has a breed fault in that one of her eyes (on the rim) has a bit of pink where it should be pigmented all black.
She does need a good amount of exercise. She loves to run and especially roll on the ground. She attacked a stray kitten once, which was very upsetting, so I keep an eye on her for smaller animals now. She is good with cats and dogs (at least so far).
I have worked hard to train her. I could not figure out why she was so hard to train until I read up more about the breed. I think because I got her as an adult it made it all harder. They are beautiful dogs but a lot of work.
Answer by Voir Dire Piaffe
I’m happy to see such frank and honest commentary on the Russian Bear Dog (Caucasian Ovcharka) breed and hopefully, it will frighten the “trendy dog” shopper away. I’m also pleased by the high price value applied in that will also discourage the casual thrill-seeker from purchasing. Too often these obscure breeds become a novelty for selfish, unqualified handlers looking only to make an impression and gain attention. Too many breeds have been ruined and given horrible stigmas simply because of improper handling on a large scale.
I have 30 years of experience with a few breeds requiring dedicated, attentive, and firm guidance to see them reach their full potentials and I wouldn’t be comfortable bringing this breed into my home. I will leave that to the even more qualified, as any responsible handler would. Be smart, people. Not every breed is suited to every home.
Answer by Gene
Because Caucasian shepherds are a very rare breed and very few breeders out there, they're expensive, at least $ 2000.
Because they're a large breed, vet bills will be more expensive than most. That being said, they're inherently in better shape than most other large dogs like Mastiffs and Saint Bernards. But look for CHD to be an issue when it gets older.
If you're looking for an extremely aggressive guard dog, then they're fantastic (click for video). I've trained most popular breeds out there, and from what I've heard, these dogs are a different animal. They're one of the oldest and most primitive dogs in existence today. They originated in Europe and were used by the Russian military as guard dogs that were trained to knock down and maim enemies.
You'll need a very firm hand with these dogs. There are a lot of very bad rumors about them out there, and I've heard from other trainers that they're a nightmare. I personally tend to wait until I meet one myself. With proper socialization and training, any breed is manageable.
Answer by Professor Coldheart!
How 'nice' they are has a lot to do with the temperament of the parents and how they're raised. All dogs need to be well socialized. How healthy the parents are, and how careful the breeder is, will also have a lot to do with how healthy the dog is. In general, though, Caucasian Ovcharka are pretty healthy but can have problems with hips and obesity. Also, they tend to be very assertive and, in some cases, aggressive. They're not for new or casual dog owners.
That being said, puppies' price can go for more than two grand. They aren't cheap and they aren't very common.
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