How to Care for Your Karakachan

Karakachans are a unique breed of livestock guardian dog that requires a large space to live, a high protein diet, early socialization, and other factors that are crucial to ensure that they develop into proper working dogs. In this article I will outline a brief guide on how to care for this amazing breed.

Diet

Karakachans are obviously a large breed, with males typically 26-30 inches tall and 99-135 lbs, while females are 25-28 inches tall and weigh 88-125 lbs. Never mind the fact that they are powerful working dogs, made to protect livestock. All of this means they require a high protein diet. Investing in a high quality kibble(such as Science Hill) is essential to keep them healthy. We highly recommend that you also integrate people food into their meals, such as:

Raw Eggs

Chicken

Be aware that every dog is different, and there will be some trial and error along the way to finding out what works for your Karakachan. In addition, some, but not all, dogs have allergies to the above foods. Monitor your dog after you feed her these foods for the first time to make sure she does not have a reaction. Milk is usually not recommended but some dogs respond well to raw milk. How much food they need depends on the dog. The general rule we have found to work is to give them whatever amount makes them leave a bit behind, as this means they ate as much as they needed.

Grooming

Unlike cats, dogs are not so interested in keeping themselves neat and tidy, meaning that you are going to have to help them out. Thankfully, we’ve found that dogs are more open to being combed than cats, as they like the opportunity to spend time with their shepard. Some Karakachans have straight fur that almost never needs combing. Most have a curlier texture that requires at least once a week de-tangling. Assuming your dog does not have any bad knots or mats, fully combing them out 1-2 times a week should be sufficient. Always give a treat during/after grooming sessions to create a positive association. If they do have knots or mats, you will need to comb them everyday till they are gone, or maybe bring them to a professional groomer if you feel it is too much for you to handle.

Start by trying to comb the knots out everyday, using a comb, not a brush. If they are too far gone to be removed with a comb, try to gently pull them apart with your fingers. We DO NOT recommend using scissors to remove mats, as cats and dogs have very thin skin and you could injure your Karakachan. Matting should be taken care of by experienced groomers..

If you do insist on using scissors yourself, please cut as far away from the skin as possible, perhaps even cutting the mat to pieces before trying to remove it.

If you feel that something with your Karkachans grooming health has gotten out of control, don't be afraid to seek help! We're happy to recommend an individual who has done an outstanding job grooming our animals in the past. You can contact Naomi Wilhelm at (352)-219-8745.

As for bathing, Karakachans don’t need to be bathed other than if they get very dirty and you feel it's not going to go away without your help. Bathing them regularly will strip their bodies of natural oils and will dry them out.

Living Space

Karakachans are large, working dogs, as we know. Thus, an apartment or even a home with a small yard is not going to be appropriate for these working class dogs. They need a large property, and a job. They are not house dogs. Guarding their territory, and everything and everyone on it, gives them their sense of purpose. Not giving them a large space and a job will lead to behavior issues such as barking, inappropriate guarding, aggression, aloofness, etc. So if you are looking for a dog that can be on your coach and be content, unfortunately this is definitely not the dog for you. Now, if you are a shepherd/farmer, they will most likely be a great fit; fiercely guarding you and whatever livestock you need protected.

What about fencing? Karakachans don’t tend to wander if given the proper space, however, it is still a good idea to have a good, strong fence, as they are smart enough to find their way around/under/through a fence if motivated. You may find you need to reinforce your fencing with a hotwire placed either below or on top of your fence to keep your Karakachan in your property. A fence at least 48’ high should suffice.

Training

While these dogs are intelligent, they are also very independent and not always so inclined to obey. Therefore, his training should start on day one if you want a well trained Karakachan. For puppies, early exposure to livestock and continued supervised training and general supervision is crucial until 2 years of age. As always, treats go a long way with creating positive reinforcement. Puppies of course need more direction than adult dogs. Interestingly, we have found that Karakachans will actually learn the ‘routine’ of your farm, such as when chores are done, if you periodically have new animals come into the property, etc. Your pup will learn this routine, follow it, and in some ways help reinforce it. A longer explanation on Karakachan puppy socialization and general training will be posted very soon, as it is an important subject.

~ Ava Melpignano