Colorado Mountain Dogs or Colorado Super Dogs or Colorado High Altitude Hunting Dogs are large dogs with a thick coat. The purpose of its breeding was to create a dog to hunt and track cougars, bears and other wild game in the Colorado area.
Colorado Mountain Dogs are a fascinating dog breed that is perfect for guarding and herding livestock. In fact, the United States has recognized them for centuries as a worthy hunting dog. They have a wide variety of coat tones, ear sizes and other body parts. You will find them to be an excellent partner in any pursuit you take on with them.
The Colorado Mountain Dog or Colorado Dog is a healthy, rugged, and active dog that has high energy needs and is not for everyone. The goal of this website is to inform potential dog owners about the challenges and rewards of raising and training a Colorado mountain dog.
Table of Contents
What is a Colorado Mountain Dog?
Colorado Mountain Dogs are an intelligent, hardworking and athletic herding dog. They have the heart of a lion and are extremely loyal. They are easily trainable and very affectionate.
Colorado Mountain Dogs will be your best friend, but they are also protectors of their family and home. They do not have an aggressive or vicious bone in their body; however, they will stand their ground when the situation deserves it. They love to work and need an outlet to burn off all that energy.
Colorado Mountain Dogs excel at agility, fly ball and herding. They are not a breed for everyone, however if you want a working dog who will be your partner in life then this is the breed for you!
Where do Colorado Mountain Dogs Come from?
The Colorado Mountain Dog (CMD) is a livestock guardian dog and a rare breed that originated in the United States. It is a cross between the Anatolian Shepherd Dog and Great Pyrenees.
Anatolians are extremely independent thinkers, with an instinct to protect their flocks and property from any threat. They are very loyal to their families and make good watchdogs, but without proper socialisation they can be aloof or even aggressive towards strangers.
The Great Pyrenees is a dog breed from the Pyrenees mountains of southern France that protects sheep flocks from predators that would attack at night. They are large dogs with white fur and dark markings around their face, ears, and tail tip. They have small round eyes set far apart on their smooth skull, giving them a very distinctive look.
Physical Characteristics
Colorado Mountain Dogs are very large, strong and muscular dogs. They have a powerful build with rectangular proportions. Their heads are broad and flat with a slight stop, and their muzzles are about the heads. Their jaws are strong, and they have large, black lips. The teeth of Colorado Mountain Dogs should meet in a scissors bite or a level bite. Their noses may be either black or brown depending on their coat coloration.
Colorado Mountain Dogs have oval-shaped eyes that are dark brown or hazel in color. The ears of these dogs are triangular shaped, high set and medium sized in relation to the skull. They carry their ears erect and close to the head. Their necks are strong and muscular with some slight dewlap on the throat area.
Colorado Mountain Dogs have straight front legs with well-developed muscles throughout the body. Their feet should be large and round with short toes that do not splay outwards. These dogs have broad chests that extend to their elbows and sloping backs with slight arching over the loin area. The tails of these dogs should be set low, thick at the base tapering to a point at the tip. The tail should not curve upwards and lays low when the dog is resting.
The Colorado Mountain Dog’s Personality
The Colorado Mountain Dog is a playful, energetic dog that loves challenges. He is extremely loyal and protective of the family and kids he lives with. He is not a good guard dog because he will welcome all visitors happily with wagging tails and sloppy kisses.They does not back down from a fight but will try to play with other dogs first before engaging in aggression. They needs to be socialized early to avoid developing aggressive tendencies and needs firm leadership to prevent him from becoming dominant or stubborn.
This breed is affectionate, fun-loving, and intelligent, but has an independent mind of his own and can be manipulative, so he requires a confident owner who won’t let him get away with things. When bored or without leadership and sufficient exercise, they will engage in destructive chewing or digging. If you can dream it up, this dog can do it! They are not suited for an urban environment and need lots of space to run around in.
Training
They require a strong leader who understands canine body language as well as training techniques (positive reinforcement/operant conditioning) and will not respond well to harsh treatment. They are extremely smart, have very high drive and need a job of some sort whether it be herding livestock, pulling carts, agility training, flyball etc and also need daily exercise whether it be long walks or running next to the bike or skateboard in addition to stimulating their mind with obedience training and teaching them tricks.
Grooming
The Colorado Mountain Dog is generally a very easy dog to groom. They shed lightly, and need minimal brushing. Trim their nails weekly and brush their teeth on a regular basis. Their undercoat will shed regularly so you should brush it daily with a firm bristle brush. Give them standard baths when they are dirty or start to smell.
Grooming items, you need:
- A soft bristle brush or comb and shedding blade.
- Nail clippers (regular human nail clippers are fine).
- A pair of scissors to use on the dog’s hair (we recommend a small pair of scissors like those used for babies).
- Cotton balls or swabs and a Q-tip.
- Dog shampoo and conditioner.
- Ear Cleaning Solution (do not use hydrogen peroxide)
Feeding
The first few weeks of your puppy’s life are the most critical. It is essential that the dog feeds on good quality puppy food with a minimum of 20% protein and 15% fat.
We recommend that you continue to feed him high quality puppy food for at least the first 18 months of his life.
A highly digestible food is imperative in order for him to use the nutrients efficiently and get the maximum benefit from them.
Colorado Mountain Dogs are very active dogs and will require more calories than a lot of breeds to maintain a proper weight unless they are being worked as they were intended by nature.
We recommend 2 – 3 cups of dry kibble daily depending on age, size and activity level, split into 2 meals per day.
Health concerns
As with all breeds, there are certain health issues that may be of concern. Not all Colorado Mountain Dogs will get any or all of these diseases, but it’s important to be aware of them if you’re considering this breed. Healthy dogs will have a good appetite and a healthy coat, among other things.Some lines may have health concerns, due to poor breeding practises, so be sure to find a reputable breeder that routinely does health certifications on their dogs.
They can have hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, heart problems and allergies.
Major concerns: none
Minor concerns: CHD, PRA, elbow dysplasia
Occasionally seen: PPM, OCD
Suggested tests: hip, elbow, eye
Buying a Colorado Mountain Dog
The best place to get a Colorado mountain dog is from a local breeder. Since they are good in herding, they tend to do better in an environment like that – that satisfies their instincts. Moreover, these dogs are prone to a variety of health problems, which vary depending on whether they have English or French ancestry. If you buy one from a breeder, you will know if it has any genetic defects, so you can avoid getting a dog that has bad hips or other health problems.
Conclusion
This dog is great for someone looking for a companion that can also help keep intruders away. They have a ferocious bark and devote themselves to their family. They are independent, but will still need lots of love and attention. This dog is cheerful, alert and very vigilant towards strangers. It can be used for locating animals and will work short distances in the woods or mountains. It is active, reserved, intelligent and courageous with a great disposition so they make a great companion pet.
FAQs
How much do they cost?
These dogs do not come cheap. You can expect to pay anywhere from $3,500 to $4,500 for a puppy. This is because the demand is so much higher than the supply. There are only a handful of breeders who are producing these dogs to meet that demand, and they can set their prices accordingly.
What does the breed need to stay healthy and happy?
Colorado Mountain Dogs need to stay mentally stimulated throughout their life as breeders bred them to work on farms and ranches. Mental stimulation can come in many forms but should include interactive games like fetch, tug-of-war, hide-and-seek and puzzle toys. This will help keep your dog happy, healthy and out of trouble.
Are Colorado Mountain Dogs good with kids?
Yes, Colorado Mountain Dogs are great with children if you teach them how to behave around them. They are loyal and protective dogs that love their families and enjoy spending time with them.
