Are you trying to find a match between two dogs full of personality?
I challenge you to spend quality time with either Caucasian Shepherd or the Rottweiler!
And if you have already interacted with these hounds, then chances are that you can’t seem to decide which to adopt and which one is the strongest.
So, if you are in a dilemma on which dog to adopt, ‘Caucasian Shepherd vs Rottweiler’, then ease your mind as I got you covered through this article.
I will be giving you all-inclusive details on the two dog breeds’ history, physical appearance, lifespan, health conditions, nutritional requirements, grooming needs, and temperaments.
I will also walk you through a comprehensive summary of the significant differences that set these two dogs apart, which I am optimistic will help you decide which one to adopt.
And if your aim is to know which dog among the two is the strongest, then I also got you covered as I will be providing you with a factual and practically proven answer.
So let’s dive in!
| Attributes | Caucasian Shepherd | Rottweiler |
| Good For First Time Owners | No | No |
| Good Guard Dog | Yes | Yes |
| Apartment Friendly | No | Yes |
| Good Family Dog | Yes | Yes |
| Shedding | Moderate To High | Moderate |
| Barking And Howling | Moderate | Low |
| Height | 23-30 inches (58-76cm) | 22-27 inches (56-69cm) |
| Average Life Expectancy | 10-12 Years | 8-10 Years |
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Caucasian Shepherd – Dog Breed Information
Also known as Caucasian Ovcharka, Caucasian Mountain Dog, Caucasian Sheepdog, Kaukasische Schaferhund, Kawkasky Owtscharka.
History And Physical Appearance
Caucasian Shepherds are a working dog breed that derive their name from where they originated from, the Caucasus region.
These dogs are natives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
They were initially bred to act as livestock guardians and hunt for bears in the Caucas countries.
Caucasian Shepherds can grow to heights of 23-30 inches long and weigh approximately 45-70 kgs as adults.
The males are usually more prominent than the females.
They have almost flat foreheads, broad-based wedged heads, broad tapering muzzles, thick and close-fitting lips, moderate oval deep-set dark eyes, medium-sized triangular ears, rounded paws, and high-set sickled or curved tails.
These hounds have dense double coats, which may be short or long (less than 5 cm) and coarse or straight.
Their waterproof coats come in appealing shades of; Black, cream, gray, silver, white and yellow.
Lifespan And Health Conditions
Caucasian Shepherds have a life expectancy of 10-12 years.
These hounds are more susceptible to hereditary (passed down from parent to offspring) medical conditions than acquired diseases.
Diseases known to lower this dog breed’s quality of life and longevity include;
Bloating, cataracts (a common cause of blindness in senior Caucasian Ovcharkas), hip and bone dysplasia, heart conditions (pulmonary stenosis), and dental diseases.
Nutritional And Exercise Requirements
Unlike most dog breeds who thrive on cooked dog food, Caucasian Shepherds are best fed raw meat (white, red, and sea) and fresh vegetables.
Make sure that you adjust your hound’s food amount according to its weight, age, and activity level.
Don’t forget to provide it with freshwater, especially during hot days.
Caucasian Shepherds are active dogs who flourish both physically and mentally when stimulated adequately.
So, make sure that you stimulate your doggy either by taking it out for a walk, swimming session or by hiding dog-safe toys and letting them find them.
Always use treats to motivate your hound.
But just make sure that the treats you feed your hound don’t exceed 10% of its overall diet.
Grooming Needs
Caucasian Shepherds have a moderate chance of stinking, so one bath in 4-6 weeks using a dog-safe shampoo and conditioner is all your doggy needs to stay clean and smell fresh.
Make sure that you clean its ears once a week to avoid wax build-up or other debris that can be a source of ear infection.
Also, ascertain that you brush its teeth and coat at least 2 times in a week.
Caucasian Shepherds have nails that grow at a speedy rate. So, I would recommend that you at least clip them 2-3 mm from its nail quick.
Having a friend (who knows how to groom a dog adequately) help you out is advised, as it will be easier and faster to groom your hound, especially if you are a newbie.
Temperament
The Caucasian Shepherds are known for their alert, calm, affectionate, gentle disposition, quick, strong, protective, and dominant temperament.
They also possess excellent visual acuity and hearing abilities, features that are well utilized by the Russian police force.
NOTE! These hounds can sometimes be overprotective and strong-willed when inadequately trained obedience commands at a young age.
So, make sure that you train them to recognize who’s the boss in the house by giving the firm commands and adapting an Alpha mentality.
Rottweiler – Dog Breed Information
Also known as Rott or Rottie.
History And Physical Appearance
It is believed that Rottweilers, which are a working dog breed, were first brought to Rottweil, Germany, by the Romans around the 2nd century during the Roman conquest in Germany.
They were bred to be drovers of domestic cattle and to pull carts filled with meat to the butcheries in Germany.
And during world war I, these hounds were actively involved as police dogs in Germany.
Rottweilers were officially recognized by a German-based dog club known as International Club for Leonbergers and Rottweillers dogs in 1901, making it official that Germany is the country of origin for these devoted hounds.
In 1931, the American Kennel Club recognized Rottweillers as a working dog breed.
As adults, Rottweilers grow to heights of 22-27 inches and weigh around 38-59 kgs. Females are typically smaller in size than males.
They have square-like heads, medium-sized and almond-shaped dark brown eyes, triangular, floppy ears, thick straight legs, high knuckled feet, and a docked tail.
Typically, all Rotties have a short double coat that may be either coarse or straight and black in color with tan markings.
The tan markings can be found on its chest, inside legs, throat, muzzle and distinctly appear as two dots above the Rotts eyes. The tan comes in shades of mahogany, rusty or red.
Lifespan And Health Conditions
Rottweilers have a life expectancy of 8-10 years. Rottweilers are relatively healthy dogs.
However, throughout their lifetime, they are predisposed to several acquired and genetic diseases which lower their life expectancy and quality.
These diseases include;
Bloating, bone cancer, epilepsy, heart diseases, parvoviral diarrheas, and crippling joint disorders (hip and elbow dysplasia).
Female Rottweilers are predisposed to some uterine conditions, including hydrometra and pyometra (the most severe and life-threatening uterine conditions in dogs).
Nutritional And Exercising Requirements
Rottweilers flourish both physically and mentally when fed with foods rich in high-quality proteins.
Consider cooking the food before serving it to your hound. Make sure that you also provide it with plenty of freshwaters.
A 1-2 hour stimulation through exercising is enough to keep your Rottweiler physically and mentally fit.
Grooming Needs
Rots should be bathed at least once every 3-4 weeks, have their coats brushed once weekly, and their teeth cleaned two times a week.
Temperament
Rotties are famous for their alert, bold, good-natured, fearless, loyal, intelligent, and protective nature.
All these qualities make these large-sized hounds excellent family, guard, and watchdogs to have around.
Caucasian Shepherd vs Rottweiler – What’s The Difference?
| Caucasian Shepherd | Rottweiler |
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| Caucasian Shepherd by Pleple2000 (CC BY-SA 3.0) |
Place Of Origin
The Caucasian Ovcharka originates from the countries found in the Caucasus region, which are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, whereas the Rotts are native to Germany.
Size
As an adult, a Caucasian Shepherd dog breed may grow to a height of 23-30 inches and weigh around 45-70 kgs.
On the other hand, Rottweilers grow to heights of 22-27 inches and weigh approximately 38-59 kgs.
This makes the Caucasian Shepherd be larger in size than the Rotties.
Lifespan
Caucasian Shepherds have a lifespan of 10-12 years, whereas the Rottweilers have a lifespan of 8-10 years.
This means that the Caucasian Sheepdogs outlive the Rotties.
NOTE! It’s possible to add a year or two to these dogs’ lifespan.
All you need to do is; Feed them healthy doggy meals, physically and mentally stimulate them, and don’t reschedule or miss any of their vet’s visits.
Health Status
The Caucasian Shepherds are more predisposed to both acquired and genetic diseases than the Rottweilers.
This makes the Rottweilers the healthiest dog breed between the two.
The telltale signs that your hound may be having an underlying medical condition and is in need of prompt medical attention include;
A change in your dog’s appetite, excessive sleeping and itchiness, hair loss, and increased levels of aggression in a previously unaggressive hound
Intelligence And Ease Of Trainability
Rottweilers are ranked number 9 in the top 10 list of the most intelligent dogs in the world by Cynologists (dog experts).
This makes them easier to train and more intelligent than the Caucasian Shepherds.
Level Of Dependence And Potential Of Escaping And Wandering Off
Unlike the Rotties, who thrive on physical and human interaction and cannot tolerate being left alone, Caucasian Shepherds are pretty independent.
They won’t mind staying home on their own for long hours as long as you provide them with enough water, food, and something to keep them busy (like dog-safe toys).
Temperature Tolerance
Caucasian Shepherds are able to adapt in areas that are low in temperature, whereas Rottweilers can only live in areas with average to above-average temperatures.
Caucasian Shepherds are more kid, pet, and stranger friendly than the Rottweilers.
Unlike Rottweilers, Caucasian Shepherds also make excellent family dogs for senior citizens.
Grooming Needs
Both of these enthralling dog breeds require minimal grooming.
However, the Caucasian Shepherds require a bit more grooming effort and time than the Rottweilers.
Shedding Potential And Allergy Eliciting Potential
Caucasian Shepherds tend to shed way more than the Rottweilers.
This also makes them have a higher percentage of eliciting an allergic reaction to a dog dander sensitive parent than the latter.
Barking And Biting Tendency
Caucasian Sheepdog bark a lot.
Despite their vocalness, Caucasian Shepherds who have a strong biting force of 400 PSI have a very low tendency of biting a person or an animal even with persistent provocation.
Rottweilers rarely bark.
These canines also have a strong biting force of 200-400 PSI and a high potential of biting someone or something when feeling threatened.
So, if you decide to adopt a Rottweiler, make sure that you get it a dog muzzle and a quality leash to prevent biting incidents from occurring when you are out with your doggie.
Litter Size
Caucasian Sheepdogs have a litter size of 5-10 puppies, whereas Rotts have a litter size of 8-12 pups.
It is medically not advisable to let your dog momma whelp many times.
So please make sure that a certified vet spay or neuter them after 3 successful breeding cycles.
NOTE! Early neutering of dogs, especially Rottweilers, predisposes them to get bone cancer.
So please make sure you consult a certified vet before having your hound sterilized.
Availability And Approximate Cost
The Caucasian Ovcharkas are quite a rare breed, and due to this fact, they are pretty expensive.
Adopting one from a reputable breeder may cost you approximately $1500-$2500.
Rottweilers are somewhat relatively common, which makes them fairly inexpensive. Adopting a Rottie from a reputable will cost you around $1200-$2000.
Caucasian Shepherd vs Rottweiler – Which One Is Stronger?
Both the Caucasian Shepherd and the Rottweiler are quite strong hounds in the ‘dogdom.’
However, between the two, the Caucasian Shepherd is the strongest and not just because of its size.
Experts measure a dog’s physical strength by looking at several factors.
Such factors include; Its bite force and its ability to pull heavyweights.
Caucasian Sheepdogs have a bite force of over 400 PSI, whereas the Rottweilers have a bite force of 200-400 PSI.
A healthy and adequately trained adult Caucasian Shepherd can pull weights double that of what a Rottie can pull.
But this doesn’t mean a Rottweiler will back down on a fight when challenged by a Caucasian Shepherd.
Caucasian Shepherd Vs Rottweiler – Which One Should You Adopt?
Despite the Caucasian Sheepdog being stronger than the Rottweiler, they both make excellent watchdogs, guard dogs, and family dogs.
Both dogs are neither a good fit for novice dog owners nor hypoallergenic.
The Caucasian Mountain Dog tends to sheds way more than the Rott, thus increasing its chances of eliciting an allergic reaction to a dog dander dog enthusiast.
Caucasians bark a lot, have a strong bite force, and a meager potential of biting someone, unlike the Rotts, who rarely bark and have a higher tendency to bite someone.
The Caucasian Shepherd can tolerate being left on its, unlike the Rottweilers.
Rottweilers are also less kid, pet, and stranger friendly when compared to the Caucasian Shepherds.
These two hounds are energetic, thus making them a good fit for dog lovers who live in a country set up with a big backyard or a field where these hounds can burn off their excess energy.
Both dogs are not an ideal fit for homeowners who have toddlers around due to their large sizes.
