Ovcharka breeder

[Zundap]

Hello everyone, i am looking for an Ovcharka puppy, would anyone here know of a breeder of Ovcharkas here in the UK. I would apreciate any info you could give me. Thanks in advance.

 

[eingana]

Hi Zundap and welcome to DogForum

Are you really really really sure that you want an Ovcharka? They are a pretty individual sort of dog and they need loads of space, exercise, training and socialising right from puppyhood to make a dog that's happy and secure and not a risk to those that they may meet and they are acknowledged to be a very large dog that can be very headstrong and sometimes inappropriately protective of their humans when interacting with other people.

There are very few Ovcharkas in the UK at present and I don't think they will ever be a mainstream breed- and I'm quite glad about that to be honest. Whilst I haven't had much experience myself of the breed, the rescue I do work with has had several queries about how to train 'untrainable' Ovcharkas, which must represent quite a high proportion of the dogs in this country bearing in mind how few there are around. I don't think that a very large breed that is used for guarding enormous outdoor and very cold areas in other countries is very well suited to living in the comparative crush in this country.

If you're absolutely sure that you want an Ovcharka then please be prepared to pay well over £1000 to import one from one of the countries where they are bred. That means not getting to meet your puppy before agreeing to purchase, not getting to meet either parent and not being able to see things with your own eyes that one would normally expect when considering purchasing a puppy.

It's also worth bearing in mind that in other countries there is a trend to breed Ovcharkas ever bigger to look ever more impressive (and there's no listed top size or weight for the breed, so males can easily top 60kg even at normal size) which is resulting in a much higher rate of bone and joint problems, so if you are certain that you want to go forwards please don't choose a pup from very large parent dogs. Giant breeds are very hard to insure and if you can get insurance it costs a small fortune because giant breed bone and joint problems lead to giant sized vet bills.

 

[BarrettBabies]

Hello no advice on Ovcharkas because I just had to google the breed of dog! Oh my goodness it would be like having a bear in the house, beautiful dog though.

 

[eingana]

They don't tend to live in the house when they're in their natural surroundings, and are outside as a guard dog in however cold it may be high up in the mountains and snow. That's another reason why I don't think that they are particularly well suited to life over here- it's too warm for much of the year.

If you see a photo of an Ovcharka it's also worth bearing in mind that if you can't see the ears it's because they are cut off when they are really small pups. Naturally they have ears which are something like a floppy GSD ears, but they are traditionally cropped to make them look more like bears (according to various people I've spoken to- there may be other more functional reasons too).

 

[Zundap]

Thanks for the replies everyone, i am most greaful.

Thanks for the reply eingana, I have not made my mind up yet, i really would like one, but i am trying to get as much information as i can, before i make my final decision. I was hoping to find a breeder and have a chat with them, if any knows whats what, i think it would be a breeder. I will just have to keep searching, thanks again for your afvice.

 

[lindypie]

Please be careful.My brother bought an Orvcharka pup 3 years ago from a couple in England who had both mum and dad. They seemed really nice people the pups were gorgeous and well looked after They visited pups at 5wks and then later collected after a long drive from Scotland and he did cost over £1000.Caspar was only 6 months old when he started to develop problems with his joints and after many vet visits was diagnosed with dysplasia in the joints of all 4 legs. He was constantly in pain which affected his temperament, not good in a bear sized dog,and would need pain relief for the rest of his life. The vet also advised that surgery could be tried but that the dog would always be a cripple. My brother made the heart breaking decision to have him put to sleep at 8 months old.When they contacted the breeder with this information they refused to have any contact with him. He then contacted the breed secretary who I am sure was based in England sorry don't have his name who discovered that the parents had been imported as pets and were not for breeding.If you want to find out more information and help in securing a healthy pup I think the breed club would be your best bet but make sure the parents have been tested for dysplasia. My brother has since bought an English Mastiff fabulous gentle giant and bred responsibly.

 

[eingana]

Oh lindypie, what a dreadful situation to end up in! I've had to take the decision to have a whole litter of kittens that I was fostering put to sleep (mummy died of FIP which meant that all of the kittens would be dead within months and I was just saving them from a horrible and drawn out death) but I can't imagine how bad it would be to have had a puppy for all that time and to lose it in circumstances like that.

Your brother is to be applauded for trying his best for Caspar and then being brave enough to let him go and relieve his suffering.

Unfortunately poorly bred Ovcharkas seem to have an enormous risk of joint problems, far bigger than most of the other giant breeds,

 

[banana]

I have just googled - they are massive!!!!

Very beautiful though...

Welcome to Dog Forum.......

 

[lindypie]

Here are a few pics of Caspar the Ovcharka aged 12 weeks with our whippet Buzz at 16weeks.

 

[hanneroon]

aaaw lovely photos, lovely garden too!