Our Pets

[CiscoKid]

Oooh I like the white one!
You didn't have him in the 2023 picture.
Are they both Ovcharkas?
BF

Kuvasz. Kind of like a Great Pyrenees on steroids. This one goes 190 pounds. They are a wolf-slayer breed from Hungary. They are flock guardians and were also used as royal guard dogs.

 

[Casey Jones]

Kuvasz. Kind of like a Great Pyrenees on steroids. This one goes 190 pounds. They are a wolf-slayer breed from Hungary. They are flock guardians and were also used as royal guard dogs.

Wolf-slayer?

That seems hard to breed in...given how dogs and wolves are so close, genetically.

Do they also attack other breeds, or even other dogs not in their pack?

 

[CiscoKid]

Wolf-slayer?

That seems hard to breed in...given how dogs and wolves are so close, genetically.

Do they also attack other breeds, or even other dogs not in their pack?

They were bred to kill wolves, but they will protect their flock or pack from anything that threatens it. In Europe, they put iron collars on them with 4" spikes so the wolves have a hard time getting to their throats. In the 15th century, King Matthias of Hungary trusted his Kuvasz more than his royal guard and never went anywhere without a pair of them. Back then, only royalty could own them.

We use them for coyote control. And so far, the two of them have proven most effective.

Caucasian Ovcharkas are from the Caucus Mountains of central Russia. Bred to kill Siberian wolves, Russians call them wolf crushers. They have an average bite strength of up to 700 psi which is technically stronger than that of a lion. https://alloftheanimals.com/what-does-a-caucasian-shepherd-s-bite-force-look-like/ Compare that with 300 psi for a pit bull and you can see that these are formidable beasts.


Yes, they will consider other dogs a threat to their flock and act accordingly. The big white one is extremely protective of my wife and will not let anyone he doesn't know get near her. He doesn't growl or anything - he just stays between her and the stranger at all times. He will go as far as to sit on her feet while they talk. He will loosen up once he gets used to them and doesn't perceive them as a threat. Fortunately, it isn't easy for strangers to accidentally get into trouble as we have 45 acres, and it is fenced and gated. Our driveway is 800 feet long and our gate is always locked unless we are expecting somebody. In other words - no trick-or-treaters are getting eaten.

They sleep most of the day because they work at night. They consider our house their "den". They sleep on the wrap around porch. If something needs investigating, one will go to check it out while the other stays close to the "den". They work well together.

 

[nickndfl]

 

[CiscoKid]

Better shot of the big white one. This one really shows his size.

 

[Casey Jones]

At that size, he could earn his keep.

Harness him up; and get a small mower gang - the old traction-driven reel mowers, the sort that golf courses used to use. He could pull a three-reel gang with ease.

You could sell that riding mower to pay his butcher's bill.

 

[Bottom Feeder]

I don't know if I like the dog or the lawn mower better <heh>
Here are a couple of shots of Mocha. She's a bit smaller…

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[Someone_else]

Better shot of the big white one. This one really shows his size.

View attachment 17164

Damn, he is big! I am glad he is your best friend, and hope I get another some day.

 

[CiscoKid]

At that size, he could earn his keep.

Harness him up; and get a small mower gang - the old traction-driven reel mowers, the sort that golf courses used to use. He could pull a three-reel gang with ease.

You could sell that riding mower to pay his butcher's bill.

Anyone notice the donkey in the background? That's Sancho.