alt=""/>
Kurdish Sighthound
The Kangal is also called Anatolian Mastiff, being especially visible with the yellow specimens with black mask. In fact, there exist some strains which not only distinguish in their external look from the usual herding dog, but also have an extreme hunting drive. They not only would protect and guard the herd and the home, but will try to make sight of the enemy (wolf, bear) from distance. Mostly they wouldn’t only confine to defend the herd when attacked, but would go to chase actively the predator. That’s often to the regret of the shepherds, as many are lost. It’s obvious that beside the mastiff-like shepherd dog, a sighthound might have played a significant role. In fact, always again the Kurdish Sighthound is mentioned. He is described as a courageous dog, which shall have influenced the Borzoi too. Unfortunately, there can’t be found any useful photos, except the one shown below. He is said to have a yellow or dirty white color, and to have been an excellent wolf hunter. Looking at this picture of the Kurdish Sighthound, a certain similarity of the shown Kangals of the Panterline could be noticed. This could be also an explanation for the Kangal’s kind of sight hunting and his fierce chase of the wolf.
In contrast to other herding dogs of his category, in spite of his enormous weight the Kangal looks higher and more extended, with a somewhat narrower chest, in all more sinewy and dryer. Real strong teeth and extreme muscles on the neck round the whole.
ARMENIAN SHEPHERD (GAMPR/GAMPYR)
| T |
he Armenian Shepherd is said to be the eldest of all Molossers and probably of the mountain dog breeds too. Armenia has been one of the early cradles of civilization and the Gampr shall have existed in the Armenian highlands from the beginning. Already 3000 years ago two main strains developed – the long haired and the short haired strain. Most Armenians regard these dogs as the true Caucasian and Middle Asian Shepherds and as direct ancestors of the most Asian and Turkish breeds. This theory isn’t popular, however makes sense, regarding the historical facts. When the Turks have invaded Armenia in the 9th century and have met the Gampr dogs, they have been impressed in such a way that they have taken many of them to the Turkey. There exist even some reports, in which is stated that some of their Gampr dogs have been exported in a “monastery in the Suisse Alps” around 1665. There they shall have contributed to the development of the St. Bernard. The Soviets claimed for themselves the Gampr as a Russian breed, at which the Georgian strain has been preferred by Stalin, still today the consequences divide the fanciers of the Caucasian Ovcharka. The Turkish Cars Dog is of a special interest too, because Cars has been the capital of Armenia until the 10th century. Still today he is used and high esteemed by the shepherds in the northeast of the Turkey. Some also regard the Gampr as the ancestor of the legendary Alaunt.
There exists no standard, as these dogs are bred for work and not for their appearance until today. There is made no difference between the short haired and the long haired in Armenia. The Gampr has been bred on natural/accidental kind for centuries; all strains have been crossed so that the appearance, even in one litter, often differs. Ears and tail are traditionally cropped with the short haired strain; however that differs from place to place.
Therefore, the Gampr can be short and long haired, there are all varieties of colors and different sizes which ranges from 24 to 32 inches.
Armenian Gampr
CENTRAL ASIAN OVCHARKA
| T |
he Central Asian Ovcharka (CAO) is supposed to be the ancestor of all breeds. You can dispute about it, but it seems almost probably that the Tibetan Mastiff would be a descendant of the CAO and not his ancestor, as often believed. However, the possibility is high these dogs are being the direct descendants of the legendary Armenian Gampr and the Sage Kooche Dog from Afghanistan, with which they are related without any doubt. There is some general misunderstanding that the CAO is said to be older than 4000 years, but he is a relatively new Russian creation. The breeds building his basis are indeed older and really ancient; however the modern Central Asian Ovcharka has been formed only in the 20th century. Before 1935, this breed was known by the name Turkish Shepherd and that because some Russians and western authors made no difference between Turkmenistan and the Turkey. As these dogs not only existed in one country, but could be found all over Eastern Europe and Asia, they officially were registered as Central Asian Ovcharka and from 1938 were shown on shows. Besides the Kavkaz Dog and the Youzhak the Central Asian Ovcharka is part of the famous troika, being recognized as Russian Shepherds.
Therefore the term “Central Asian Ovcharka” has been used for different shepherd breeds. However, the expression “Alabai” only applies to that breed being found in Turkmenistan and distinguishes from its other Asiatic relatives. Most of these breeds come from non-Russian regions of the former USSR. They are found in different types, varying sizes, coat, colors and character, always depending on their principal use in their native region. The Turkmen Alabai is the only one which already has an own standard and could be recognized as a breed in the future. Other countries, like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kirghizia, Afghanistan or Pakistan don’t show any interest for that, as for thousands of years their dogs have been bred for work and not for the show. Since the 1950’s breeders have tried to breed a homogenous type of the CAO, however it’s rather difficult as there are great differences in the various strains. The bloodlines from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are highest estimated, but even in these countries there only exists a rather small number of real pure bred dogs. Even if a dog has Turkmen or Uzbek ancestors in his pedigree, it doesn’t mean necessary that it really is an Alabai (Turkmenistan) or Sarkangik (Uzbekistan).
Alabai, owner Tasice, Ukraine (Photo Almaz Kennels, USA)
All CAO strains have a common appearance and quality of work. The Central Asian Volkodav (= wolf dog) is used for the fight and for guarding the cattle. Only those dogs acquiring a Champion title for fighting are used for breeding. The working dogs are tested in this way to secure that only those give the genes to the next generation, which have the necessary drive, stamina and power to face and kill a wolf. Depending on the bloodline and regional preferences there are only little differences in the appearance, but temperament and the potential of aggression can vary significantly. So called “native” dogs would differ totally from the show type, in the same way as the Russian military lines, being more aggressive than those CAO, being bred as companions for the family.
There exist minor differences of the head or in the size. This is the result from a selective breeding over centuries for special tasks in the respective region. And that’s the CAO – a working dog, be it they herd and guard the cattle, be it they hunt, coarse, fight or protect the property. These dogs are the ancestors of all working dogs, either directly, as for example with the Alaunt, or by their Greek and Roman descendants, which had been taken to the west by traders and had been used for creating many modern European breeds.
The Central Asian dogs are excellent watch dogs and good companions for people, living on farms. However, they are definitely not suited as a dog for an apartment. The Central Asian Ovcharka is not as protective and unfriendly
