Central Asian Shepherd Dog

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Central Asian Shepherd dog
Other names Sredneasiatskaïa Ovtcharka
Country of origin Russia
Nicknames Central Asian Ovtcharka
CAO
Aziat
Traits

Central Asian Ovtcharka (also known as Sredneaziatskaya Ovtcharka) is recognized by FCI, the #1 European Kennel Club, as a breed of Russian origin. [1]. Most breed representatives reside in Russia, and local Kennel Club officials refer to Central Asians as one of the most popular dog breeds in country, often rating as # 1 breed [2]

Contents

[edit] History

Central Asians most likely originated in a geographical area between Ural, Caspian Sea, Turkey, and the Northwest border of China.[3] Aboriginal Central Asians as well as mixes still can be found in its countries of origin, such as Kyrgyzstan,Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and surrounding countries. [4]. Some serve their duties as livestock guardians, some protect their owners, some are used for dog fights which is a national sport in most countries of that region.

Russian biologists and scientists have studied the local dog population since the 18th century. After communist revolution, soviet government focused on working dog breeds for the Red Army, and imported best breed representatives to Russia as per military dogs and guard dogs requirements. Over the decades, this practice harmed the local population. As well, introduction of new breeds to the region led to crossbreeding in some areas. At some point, in most areas purebred dogs were only left at herders, breed enthusiasts and farms, while crosses surfeited in access. [5] However, Central Asian Shepherd Dogs population survived the communist intrusion, and still stable in general, reproducing same true quality dogs praised for working abilities, regardless of country of origin. Trading bloodlines and purchasing unrelated breeding stock between Russia and countries where CAO still at aboriginal stage, is a common practice nowadays.

This breed consists of numerous breed types. They differ in size, color, head types, hair types. That gives grounds for complications with breed standard, as well as for different names for the breed. Most important, purebred Central Asians have unique breed characteristics.[6] Breed specific dog anatomy includes exclusive features, such as very noticeable extremely flexible joints, false ribs, specific head set, very strong neck with massive dewlap they can extend at no time into different directions. Special true and beyond expressive mimic and almost human eyes, revealing the inimitable intelligence finish the portrait.

By working qualities, modern Central Asians had been bred into different directions, depends on the demand for their abilities. Traditional dog fights had always been a national tradition in places of original habitat, but they had never been cruel and destructive as pitbull-type fights. All herders from the same area annually met together, and fought their strongest sheep guardian male dogs to pick the winner. It was about the dominance rather than destroying their own kind. Most dogs evaluated each other when met at the field and the weaker or more submissive dog left, taking the loss. Dogs seldom injured each other, mostly minor scratches within short period of time. Only true leaders actually had to determine, who is the strongest dog via real fight, but this still minor compare to their everyday labor duty, facing predators and venomous snakes every day.[7]

Modern dog fights differ from traditional as much as livestock guardian dogs differ from fighting dogs. There are different rules, and different breeds involved. Most Central Asians used for modern fights come from fighting lines. Vast majority of breeders are aware of their dogs’ background, and will tell, if the dog comes from lines used for fighting, or not. And one can always expect high level of agresivness towards other dogs from CAOs with dog fighting background.

Livestock guardians still in demand, but not nearly as much, as they used to be. These dogs differ in terms of being protective against human intruders, very territorial, safe with children, love and respect elderly people, protect all small animals from predators, and very gentle with family members. [8]

Personal protection, or working dogs originated from livestock guardian dogs, being selectively bred by Russian breed experts for working abilities. As a result, they excel in obedience, territory protection and personal protection, very intelligent, and make perfect house dogs.[9] They do not need any complicated training to learn basic house rules, and treat the owner with the same great respect, their ancestors treated the herder. These dogs were introduced to sheep breeding community worldwide with a great rate of success. Dogs must be able to work as a team, protection sheep against predators, thus excessively dog aggressive CAOs, as any other dogs, cannot be members of the pack, and will not pass this simple test revealing compliance of modern generation with breed origination purpose.

To conclude temperament differences description, Central Asian Shepherd dogs can come from working lines, fighting lines and livestock guardian lines, and behave accordingly, regardless of the country they come from. Simple pedigree research and conversation with the breeder will reveal what basic instincts one can expect from the dog. Central Asians from pure show lines still very rare, because most registries require working test prior to breeding.[10].

Selected for centuries for their abilities to destroy predators, praised for their power and stamina, Central Asians sometimes are called " Volkodav", "The Wolf Crusher" in Russian. It is very important to select only stable dogs for breeding purposes, and avoid starting protection training of dogs of this breed at early age.

[edit] General appearance

Robust dog greater than average size of great strength and power. Independent, curious and alert, yet imperturbable. Dog is as long as tall at the withers, or slightly longer than tall. Short or moderately long hair with heavy undercoat. Ears are cropped very short, tail is docked moderately long (exempt dogs from countries where cosmetic surgeries for dogs are illegal). Most common colors are black/white; fawn of different shades, from almost white to deep red; brindle. Head is very solid, without pronounced stop or sculls. Neck is low set, short, dewlap. Body is broad, proportionate, muscles are rather flat. Ribcage appears very long, because of developed false ribs. Straight legs, heavy boning, moderate yet defined angulation. Leg bones must be in proportion, and shall never give impression that any bone is short. Tights, and rump are broad. Typical trait is gallop, however CAO can trot for hours without wearing herself. Shy or uncontrollable aggressive dogs are not typical and must be disqualified.

[edit] References

  1. ^ A. Vlasenko *Against fictions and nationalist trends
  2. ^ Ju. Krymskaja *And what kind of Dachshund do you have?
  3. ^ Ju Gorelov *Central Asian Shepherd, the problem of breed formation and the prospects for its existence
  4. ^ A. Latifi *Breed overview in places of aboriginal habitat
  5. ^ Molosser Dogs online encyclopedia
  6. ^ A. Vlasenko *Comments to the Central Asian Shepherd dog breed systematics
  7. ^ Martin Jastrzębski Dog Fighting in Afghanistan - Tragedy or Tradition?
  8. ^ Holy Land for Volkodav
  9. ^ E. Mychko, V Belen'kij *Prognosis of dog breeds well-being
  10. ^ T. Ivanova *About Central Asian Ovtcharka (after visiting European Chapmionship 2005) 2005


[edit] External links

Kennel Clubs and registries that recognize the breed

Breed picture galleries

Related dogs of same or similar breeds

While experts throughout the World still working on conclusion, which dogs from this widespread population belong to the same breed, there are several kennels and kennel clubs promoting same or similar dogs under different breed names.