Dog So Big He Could Be 'Part Bear, Part Lion' Is Blowing People's Minds

Millions of people have been left gobsmacked by a giant dog named Yogi after his antics began trending on TikTok.

The viral video, which has been viewed by more than 16.6 million TikTok users since it was first shared on the social media platform on November 17, introduced users to Yogi the Caucasian Ovcharka.

"Everyone always stops to take pictures of Yogi, some have also stopped their cars to nervously ask if we're walking a bear or lion," Yogi's owner, 33-year-old Laura Murphy, told Newsweek.

Murphy and her husband, Brayden, got Yogi when he was 10 weeks old. The pup was flown from Romania in Eastern Europe to Boston, Massachusetts, on two different planes.

The Murphys wanted a guard dog for their property and small farm and have always been keen to help rehome Caucasian Ovcharkas from "people who have unfortunately underestimated the breed and the responsibilities that come with them."

"Yogi was adorable as a pup and came from a long line of beautiful champion dogs so we knew he would grow [to be big]," Murphy told Newsweek. "He was huge even as a puppy! He was 31 pounds at 10 weeks old, and at 3.5 months old, he was 50.5 pounds. At 10 months old he was already nearly 140 pounds, and he outgrew some of the fully grown dogs in the area he knew such as a Great Dane and Bernese Mountain Dog."

"He loved to play with all dogs of all sizes. As he got older other dogs would be intimidated by him and quickly start a fight by lunging at us. Luckily because of his training things didn't get worse," she added.

Caucasian Ovcharkas originate from Georgia, a nation in the Caucasus mountain range.

The Caucasian Ovcharka can grow upward to 30 inches and weigh up to 170 pounds, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). The dogs' life expectancy is between 10 and 12 years. In comparison, male Labradors, which are commonly referred to as being "large" dogs, grow to between 22.5 and 24.5 inches.

Although Yogi belongs to a breed of larger-than-life dogs, the canine appears to be particularly massive when up against other dogs of the same breed.

"They are very rare, especially in the U.S. Most people have never even heard of the breed while vets, groomers and trainers refuse to work with the breed or try and get injured," Murphy said.

The mom of four told Newsweek that the breed, which possesses a gentle side and a love of socializing, can also get rough when their instincts kick in after 2 years old.

"It's best to try and find professionals that have worked with the breed. If you work with them very consistently and even pay visits in between appointments then that will help a lot with bonding, but sometimes the dog will still reject them," Murphy said.

"They have a massive bite force that is three times that of a pit bull's. They can stand well over 6 feet tall and are bigger than most wolves. In fact, wolves' natural instincts tell them to not fight Caucasians so they can survive."

Fortunately, Yogi has forged a close bond with his parents and their four sons, all who are under 10 years old.

There is great variety in Caucasian Ovcharka breed dogs depending on where they're from.

"The Caucasian is a serious guardian breed and should never be taken lightly. The Caucasian is bold, fearless, self-confident and fierce when a threat is present, but he is soft, devoted, kind and endearing to his family, including other family pets," the AKC says.

"There is a great variety of types among the Caucasian dogs depending on their home region. For almost a century, there has been two breed types and standards: The Mountain type, which is long-coated and has a heavier body mass than the Steppe type, a shorter-coated dog with a lighter body mass."

The breed goes by four different names—the Caucasian Ovcharka, Caucasian Sheepdog, Kawkasky Owtscharka, and the Kaukasische Schaferhund.

Despite the differing breed names, the large dog's pull has remained the same. Yogi's unique look has captured the intrigue of thousands of people. The TikTok account dedicated to tracking the dogs' daily antics, @YogiBearsMom, has amassed over 100,000 followers to date.

"You do notice there is a bear in your house, don't you?" a TikTok user commented on one of her videos.

"Makes a Saint Bernard look like a chihuahua," another commenter said.

"Oh so you domesticated an actual bear?" one person joked.

Murphy said that away from his TikTok fame, Yogi's favorite thing to do is "patrol and guard" his family's property and spend time with the household's four boys.

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