Rare giant Caucasian Shepherd dog Yogi, standing at 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds, has been causing a stir online by proudly considering himself a lap dog. When 33-year-old homemaker Laura Murphy and her family from Boston, Massachusetts, take Yogi for a walk, people cannot help but turn their heads to look at him.
“People think we are walking a lion or bear. They will stop their cars or pause their activities to ask, ‘What kind of animal is that? Can I take a picture of it?'” Mrs. Murphy told The Epoch Times.
Yogi’s breed, also known as Caucasian Shepherds, has surprised many, but the Murphy family, after a long process of bringing Yogi to the United States, are clear about what they are doing. Mrs. Murphy revealed that Yogi, turning 5 years old this July, came from Romania to the U.S.
This gentle giant was welcomed into the Murphy family when he was just 10 weeks old, after traveling on two flights, making a stopover in France before flying to Boston.
Apart from the long journey, the Murphys had to prove to the breeders that they were ready to care for such a unique large dog. They had to show that their home and yard had enough space for a dog as big as Yogi and demonstrate that they had facilities to train him. Mrs. Murphy said that if they did not meet these standards, the breeders would look for more serious adopters for this breed.
However, the Murphy family successfully completed the challenging adoption process of bringing Yogi across borders. Having raised multiple other breeds of dogs before, they had long been interested in this particular breed. Caucasian Shepherds are known for being good family dogs, capable workers on farms, and having a strong guard instinct, all of which are qualities highly valued by this family.
After extensive research, they found a breeder from Romania. Yogi has been with this family for nearly 5 years, building deep bonds with everyone, but sharing a particularly special bond with Mr. Murphy, 32-year-old plumber Brayden Murphy, and their third son, Donovan, who grew up with Yogi.
Yogi’s favorite activity includes wrestling with Mr. Murphy when he returns home from work. Mrs. Murphy shared, “To others, Yogi’s barking may sound scary. But he is just playing; I love seeing them jumping around and wrestling with each other.”
Yogi’s endearing demeanor has endeared him to the family and garnered worldwide attention through social media. Mrs. Murphy, sharing a viral video of him standing up from the couch, lying on their oldest son, reflected, “It’s a video of Yogi standing up from the couch, lying on my oldest son, who is lying on a beautiful blanket, and I had to pull my son out from under him. He has no idea what he is doing or that he is laying on my son.”
Despite Yogi weighing 200 pounds, he still loves snuggling up with his family, and the Murphy family adores him.
Mrs. Murphy said, “Yogi still thinks he is small and doesn’t crush us with his weight. I just hug him because I find him entertaining, and I love that he wants to be with us because they are so independent.”
Mrs. Murphy treasures every memory with Yogi and enjoys documenting his antics, saying, “Every day with Yogi is a happy memory. I hope we can spend more happy times together.”
While Yogi’s videos have garnered up to 20 million views, the Murphys’ love for their “big teddy bear” has deeper and more meaningful reasons.
According to Mrs. Murphy, Yogi takes his job as a guard dog seriously. He is eager to protect their family and home, keeping potential intruders like squirrels, coyotes, and rabbits at bay to ensure the family’s safety.
“I know as long as he is at home, we feel very secure. I think with him around, the whole neighborhood is safe,” said Mrs. Murphy.
In most cases, Yogi is friendly and happy when greeting Murphy family members. However, when he sees delivery people, he jumps out of windows to intimidate them with his size. Some delivery people have been startled, even falling down, as they did not expect to see such a large animal jumping out of the window.
Yogi plays an important role in the cherished family moments of the Murphys. When Mrs. Murphy was pregnant with their fourth son, Lehan, Yogi stayed close to her, seemingly aware of her pregnancy.
When bringing home newborn Lehan, Yogi immediately formed a bond with him. Mrs. Murphy shared, “When I brought Lehan, just a few days old, home, Yogi immediately took a liking to him. Whenever my son made a little noise, Yogi would softly bark at me because he wanted me to check on Lehan right away. After my son’s sudden passing, Yogi still occasionally goes to check on his crib and softly barks. Because he is tall, he can easily see inside the crib, noticing that Lehan is no longer there, and he mourns with us.”
For those considering adopting a large dog like Yogi, Mrs. Murphy advises understanding the breed’s grooming and training needs, as the rarity of Caucasian Shepherds makes it difficult for many trainers to service them.
Mrs. Murphy revealed, “We had a trainer who worked with Yogi. Luckily, she gave him a chance when he was just a puppy.”
As a homemaker, Mrs. Murphy can spend a lot of time with Yogi. She stated, “Caucasian Shepherds are territorial guard dogs, suitable for family life if handled properly and given the right environment to thrive. Unlike regular guard dogs, Caucasian Shepherds take their guard duties very seriously.”
“Caucasian Shepherds are amazing large dogs, trainable, loving, and a big goofball. They are truly beautiful and unique breeds, deserving love and respect from people all over the world. I am honored to have Yogi in our lives and love sharing him with the world, helping people understand him and the Caucasian Shepherd breed from all perspectives.”