The Central Asian Shepherd Dog Breed

The origins of the Central Asian Shepherd dog breed are very ancient. Its direct ancestor is almost certainly the Tibetan mastiff, from which all four major Russian breeds originated. In fact, its origins can be traced to Russia, thanks in part to the crossing of 3 breeds: the tobet, alabai and torkuz, which occurred more than 4,000 years ago.

It was formed as a breed by natural selection in a vast territory stretching from the Caspian Sea to China and from the Ural Mountains to Afghanistan; it has not undergone morphological evolution and the breed has remained almost pure. This is because it has always lived in isolated, cold areas with little contact with other breeds.

It is accustomed to harsh weather conditions and has developed to become increasingly capable of staying in the cold and guarding herds as well as land and villages. In fact, it is thought to have been bred to accompany the caravans of nomadic peoples and their flocks. The harsh living conditions and constant struggle against predators influenced their physical structure and character making them fearless and strong. They belong morphologically to the molossoid type.

Being spread over a wide territory one can find structural differences; in fact, we note that dogs in Turkmenistan that have to walk on sand are generally lighter than those living in the rugged mountains of Tajikistan. Also larger in size are the dogs living in regions where there are larger wolves to deal with. The Soviet police use it as an imposing guard dog for use in border patrols and patrol operations.

Even today it is not well known outside its native regions-Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Character of the Central Asian Shepherd dog breed

The Central Asian Shepherd dog over the millennia has developed a strong and independent character; however, it is very reliable and is never aggressive unless there is a reason to be. As a puppy he likes to play, but as he grows up he is dedicated to his job as guardian.

In fact, this breed has been used for thousands of years for guarding and therefore does not require training; it is in his genes this instinct. As an adult, in fact, during the day he tends to sleep, although he always has everything under control to begin his work at sunset and throughout the night. He barks only when he has a valid reason to do so and intervenes only when appropriate.

With his family he is very affectionate and reliable, especially with children and the elderly whom he sees as fragile subjects to be protected, and he coexists happily with cats and dogs especially small ones. Contact with same-sex and large dogs requires early socialization for him to accept them.

Not a dog for everyone, it is not an apartment dog as it prefers to be outdoors and needs a lot of space. He can very often be seen in a specific spot on the property from where he can keep an eye on the entire territory he has to protect. It still requires a great deal of attention so that it always feels a strong and firm relationship with its owner. They are family dogs who want and seek family interaction on a daily basis.

He is not a dog for timid or inexperienced owners as the goal of training must be to make him a kind of pack leader for the herd. He must also be an owner who still makes the dog understand that he must obey directives.

Appearance of the Central Asian Shepherd dog breed

The Central Asian Shepherd is a large dog. The height at the withers of a male on average is about 70 centimeters for a weight between 50 and 65 kilograms, but there are specimens that easily reach 90 centimeters in height for a weight of 100 kilograms. Females are usually about 10 kilograms lighter.

It has a vigorous, bulky build with clearly visible muscles. Its structure is well proportioned between head, limbs and trunk. Its legs are sturdy and have a strong bone structure, and its tail is long and sickle-shaped. Its gait is fast and loose.

The skull is very broad, the muzzle is short and strong with small, protruding eyes, the truffle is very wide and black, the ears are triangular and carried drooping; the dog generally has a gentle expression. Unfortunately, in some of the countries of origin, where this practice is still allowed, the ears and tail are cut off.

The coat is thick, hard and smooth with a woolly undercoat that is also very dense. The colors are many and can be either uniform or two-tone, ranging from cream to golden, sand, red, fawn, white, black and even harlequin.

Care and health of the Central Asian Shepherd dog breed

The Central Asian shepherd dog is a very hardy dog, very strong and sturdy. It is used to being outdoors and even sleeping outdoors, as it has been bred in the harshest climates for centuries.

It has no hereditary diseases, there are only several cases of elbow and hip dysplasia, a common problem among large dogs. Its average life expectancy is about 11 years. He can tolerate cold weather very well; during periods of severe heat he must have shelter in the shade and plenty of fresh water.

As for coat care, although it is very dense, it does not require brushing more than once a week. It loses a lot of hair during the shedding period, the periods coinciding with the end of winter and the end of summer, and at that time it is good to brush it more frequently to remove dead hair.

It does not have a problem with nutrition or obesity; it needs hearty and high-protein meals. Nutrition should be monitored especially as the puppy grows.