The origin of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog and its purpose, exterior standard, character, health, care, interesting facts. Price when buying a wolfhound puppy. Alabai is one of the oldest dog breeds, with a large Molossian physique, behind which a huge life experience and a difficult path of natural selection lasting several millennia. Alabai is a magnificent shepherd dog, in the pedigree of which you can find almost all breeds of shepherd and war dogs of the East and Asia, which formed not only a truly unique exterior of a huge dog, but also gave the Alabai shepherd dog a hardened, fearless and independent character, special devotion to the owner and loyalty to duty.
The history of the origin of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog
A representative of the breed, which is often called in everyday life the Turkmen wolfhound or in the Turkmen manner - Alabai in its development has gone a long way of tribal formation, estimated by modern researchers at 4 thousand years.
Where exactly the breed originated is not known for certain, there are a variety of hypotheses. Some researchers suggest Tibet as a historical homeland, others - the Manchu steppes, others - the Central Asian expanses from the Caspian Sea to the Great Wall of China, from the South Urals to Baikal. And whose hypothesis is more correct is difficult to determine. It is likely that both are right, and others, and still others. Where the ancestors of the modern Alabay have not visited for thousands of years, accompanying the warlike nomads of the steppes.
It is also difficult to understand the conglomerate of mixture of species that allowed the formation of such a unique exterior of the dog. Researchers-cynologists in various variations assume the participation of almost all known fighting and herding dogs of the Ancient East in the process of centuries-old natural selection of Alabai. The most often called by scientists: Tibetan mastiff, war dogs of Mesopotamia, as well as the Mongolian shepherd dog. It is likely that only a study of the DNA of a Central Asian dog can put the final point in the debate.
The name "Alabai", often applied to the breed, is not entirely correct, as only a dog of a certain color can be fully called alabai. The name of this species consists of two words "ala" - "variegated, multi-colored" and "bai" - "rich". However, it is also possible to call an animal a "Turkmen wolfhound" only if it is of exclusively Turkmen origin. After all, although these large shepherd dogs are declared a national treasure of Turkmenistan (which automatically imposes restrictions on their export from the country), they are also common (albeit in smaller numbers) in the territories of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
In Uzbekistan, these dogs are called "buribosar", which means "wolfhound" from Uzbek. Well, in Kazakhstan there is a national and very poetic name - "tobet", which literally translates as "a dog sitting on a mountain." Each of the Kazakhs, Turkmen or Uzbeks considers this shepherd to be his aboriginal dog, and therefore the names of the same breed differ according to nationality: Turkmen Alabai or Chopan it ("shepherd's dog"), Kazakh Tobet, Uzbek Buribosar. And they all have a historical right to exist. This means that the most correct and not offensive name of the breed is the Central Asian Shepherd Dog. Under this name, the breed was later registered in the FCI.
Despite the fact that these animals have existed in Central Asia since time immemorial, pedigree scientifically grounded breeding of these dogs began only in 1930 in the Soviet Union. Huge dogs were supposed to be used in the USSR to guard important state and military facilities. However, soon the dog handlers had to abandon this venture due to the complex nature of the Central Asian, who did not want to sit on a chain and his habit to decide for himself with whom to be friends and whom to consider as his master. Further development of the breed was carried out independently, divided along ethnic lines. All union Central Asian republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) began to breed shepherd dogs on their own, relying on local genetic material, which brought a special national flavor to the breed.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the breed of Central Asian Shepherd Dogs fell into decay for some time, and subsequently began to develop, finally dividing along ethnic lines. In breeding shepherd dogs, Turkmenistan was the most successful, having managed to develop and approve a breed standard under the Soviet Union (July 30, 1990), calling it "Turkmen Alabay", as well as to legally restrict the export of Alabai puppies from the territory of Turkmenistan (from April 15, 1990), which allowed save the livestock.
On the basis of the national sample, the Central Asian Shepherd Dog breed standard was developed, approved by the International Cynological Federation (FCI) on May 17, 1993. The right to represent the breed at international championships, as well as to make changes to world standards, rests with the Russian Federation (as the legal successor of the USSR).
The last change in the FCI standard was made in 2010.
External standard and characteristics of the Alabai breed
Alabai is a shepherd dog, distinguished by its gigantic size and one of the twenty largest dogs in the world. The size of the breed is really impressive. Growth at the withers of a sexually mature male (a fully adult dog only becomes 3 years old) reaches a maximum of 70 centimeters. This size is quite typical for ordinary working shepherd dogs that graze herds somewhere in Kazakhstan. But there are also much larger specimens up to 90 centimeters in height, which, given the general proportionality of the body, is quite acceptable according to the standard. Alabai females are somewhat smaller in size, their maximum height is 65–69 centimeters. The weight of the Central Asian wolfhound reaches 50–80 kg in males and 40–65 kg in bitches.
- Head massive, voluminous, proportional to the overall enormous size of the animal, with a square-rectangular skull. The occipital protuberance is well developed, visually poorly visible, but easily palpable. The frontal part of the skull is flat. The superciliary arches are well defined. The stop (the transition from the forehead to the muzzle) is smooth, not particularly pronounced (but in combination with clear brow ridges gives the effect of a sharp stop). The muzzle is massive, rectangular, full-bodied, rather blunt, of moderate length. The lips are thick. When the jaws are closed, the upper lip overlaps the lower jaw of the animal. The bridge of the nose is wide, as a rule, straight, but individuals with a hump-nosed profile are also found. The nose is distinct, large, and black in color. With a light color of fur: white or fawn, the standard allows the color of the lobe of a different, lighter color. The jaws are wide and extremely powerful. The lower jaw forms a massive Alabai chin. Standard set teeth (42 teeth). The incisor teeth are in one line. Canines are very large, set slightly obliquely. Even the presence of broken or knocked out teeth (including visible incisors and canines) does not affect the overall assessment of the dog's conformation.
- Eyes Alabai has a rounded shape, small size, with a wide, straight set. The color of the cornea can be of various shades of brown and hazel (brown, light hazel, dark hazel, dark brown and others). The eyelids are thick, not sagging, dry. The eyes have an expressive confident look, stern and full of self-dignity.
- Ears set low (the base of the auricle is approximately at or below eye level), medium in size, hanging along the cheekbones. Often, the ears are cropped short, which makes the dog look like a bearless bear. Cropped or uncropped ears of a dog - this does not affect the rating.
- Neck strong, massive, of medium length and rounded in cross section, with a suspension.
- Torso Molossian type, well balanced format, very strong and powerful, not prone to overweight. The chest is very wide, well developed, elongated, with a characteristic dewlap. The withers are high, muscular, well defined. The back is muscular, wide, flat, long enough, straight. The line of the back has a gradual rise from the withers to the rump. The rump is strong, of medium length, almost equal in height to the height of the withers. The belly is pretty tucked up.
- Tail set on high, thick at the base, sickle-shaped. There are Alabai with a ring-shaped tail. The caudal process, as a rule, is arrested in the first days of life to the point of being scanty. There are puppies with congenital bobtail. The presence or absence of docking does not affect the assessment.
- Limbs straight, moderately long, well muscled, with a wide strong bone. Paws are massive, oval, tightly packed "into a lump". Paw pads are dense, elastic, thick with hard skin. The nails are dark in color (in light-colored dogs, lighter).
- Leather elastic and thick, with a suspension on the neck and a dewlap, movable relative to the muscles (which allows you to perfectly turn out of the opponent's jaws in battle).
- Wool very dense, straight, up to 10 centimeters in length (there is a variety of alabai with shorter fur - up to 3-5 centimeters), with a dense warm undercoat. On the front of the legs and on the head of the dog, the hair is short and close to the skin. Feathers are available - behind the ears, on the backs of the limbs, on the tail. It is also possible to have a mane on the shepherd's neck.
- Color dogs are allowed the most varied. Only a color scheme that combines brown with blue-gray (in any variations) is considered unacceptable.
Alabai character
Starting a conversation about the character of these legendary wolfhounds, I would like to recall the saying of the nomads themselves about this amazing dog: “Alabai does not rise - he is erected in the path of the enemy; he does not run - he rushes; he does not bite - he strikes. These words of praise say a lot about the working talents of the dog, the most appreciated by shepherds. And if a dog is simply unique as a shepherd's assistant, then for keeping as a pet it is problematic and not suitable for everyone. This dog has a cool aggressive disposition, and a great tendency to dominate, which, without timely socialization and proper training by a good dog handler, does not allow everyone to have such an animal.
However, a trained Central Asian Shepherd Dog is a completely different matter. This is a wonderful dog, strong and courageous, brave, but not getting into a fight, calm, but capable of instantly reacting to a threat. She is unpretentious and reliable, self-confident and distrustful of strangers (and therefore an attentive and sensitive guard). The dog is a wonderful friend of its owner and can be a very good companion, although it has a rather wayward and independent character.
Central Asian Alabai health
In general, it is believed that the Alabai dog, which has passed through centuries of natural selection, is an example of a dog devoid of any breed problems. This is indeed the case. The wolfhound actually has excellent health, excellent adaptation to the vagaries of the weather and strong immunity to all kinds of infections.
But there is one "but" that seriously worries the owners of this beautiful giant dog. And this "but" is connected with the sheer size of the shepherd dog. This breed, like most large dog varieties, suffers from hip and elbow dysplasia. Dislocations and subluxations, injuries to the bones of the extremities of varying severity also often occur.
The life expectancy of the main wolfhound of Central Asia reaches 12-15 years with proper care and attention of the owner to his problems. And this is a very respectable age for an animal of its size. It is characteristic that in the homeland of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog, local shepherds are not too concerned about the health of this unique dog. Keeping a large number of dogs for the shepherd has always been an overhead and troublesome affair. Therefore, only the most capable, strong and courageous animals were left for work, and the rest of the dogs (weak, "empty-headed", lazy and cowards) were ruthlessly exterminated. Which, of course, made it possible to improve the quality of further offspring, but did not contribute to an increase in the population.
Turkmen shepherds treat any wounds received in battle very simply - they sprinkle ashes from a fire. A sick dog is cauterized with a red-hot iron in a certain area between the eyes (to mobilize forces to fight the disease). From the worms, the dog receives a piece of lamb skin with wool in the diet, and so that the teeth do not loosen, they are rubbed with fat tail fat. The dog finds the rest of the medicines himself in the form of roots and herbs. It is not surprising that such a Spartan veterinary medicine has raised such a disease-resistant shepherd.
Alabai care tips
"Central Asia" is unusually undemanding in care and maintenance, unpretentious in nutrition. Especially if he is doing his usual business - guarding the home and livestock.
It's another matter if he is a show dog. Then the owner will have to work hard. The dog is of considerable size and has a very thick coat and undercoat. However, stable combing two or three times a week is quite enough here. Bathing is rare and mostly takes place on the eve of the championships.
The diet of such a large pet should be abundant enough and include all the necessary minerals and vitamins. The optimal diet is selected on the basis of high-class industrial feed with the addition of multivitamin preparations and mineral complexes.
Interesting facts about Alabai
The gray-haired aksakals of Central Asia, as well as their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, still pass from mouth to mouth the legend about the true origin of the present Central Asian wolfhounds. And according to legend, it turns out (no matter what scientists say there) that the ancestor of the modern Alabaevs was a strange beast that had been inhabiting the Turkmen steppes from time immemorial.
In appearance, he resembled a huge half-dog, half-hyena of the most terribly frightening appearance. The locals called it “Syrtlon”. The beast received this name because of the huge dewclaws on its hind legs, leaving a characteristic mark on the ground. It was this “visiting card” that the Turkmen hunters and herders learned about the deeds of the terrible beast.
Syrtlon was smart, cunning and cunning. For many decades he terrified local shepherds, taking a bloody tribute from their flocks. And on the full moon night, the syrtleon fearlessly approached the dwellings of the shepherds and took away the best shepherd dogs with him.
Aksakals are sure that it was from such "marriages" that large dogs with a powerful physique and fearless independent character appeared in the steppe, which are now called Alabay. Well, the syrtlon subsequently “left” (this is how the old Turkmen say with respect) from these places, leaving their offspring as a reward to the shepherds.
Price when buying a puppy Alabai
In Russia, the Central Asian wolfhound has long and firmly taken its rightful place. He has a lot of fans and admirers. And that's why there are a lot of breeders around the country. There is absolutely no problem with acquiring a purebred puppy.
The cost of Alabai puppies in the country varies greatly, but on average, an excellent representative of the breed will cost you 30,000-45,000 rubles. Of course, the most thoroughbred puppies with their long pedigree history, as well as good prospects at championships, are much more expensive.
For more information about Alabai, see this video:
