The dog breed Central Asian Shepherd is one of the oldest serving people. What you need to know when buying alabai, how to feed puppies and adults, how to care for dogs, what is their nature - all of this you will learn from this article. So, what is a Central Asian shepherd?
Description
Alabai is an ancient breed that has come down to us in its original form. The Central Asian Shepherd Dog has served people for many centuries, but today it is one of the most popular breeds. Alabai is famous as an excellent companion, incorruptible and devoted watchman, a loving family member.
How exactly this breed was formed is not easy to say. Maned dogs, whose images are similar in type to modern Central Asian Shepherd dogs, fought even in the arenas of amphitheaters. Alexander of Macedon himself used these dogs in battles, causing serious damage to the enemy with their help. At the same time, massive dogs were known in Tibet, the descendants of the black Tibetan wolf, extremely strong, with a large head and short muzzle, moist lips and coarse thick hair. The Central Asian Shepherd became the descendant of these dogs. Photos show that she did not lose the strength of her ancestors.
Breed history
Let's talk about the formation of the modern Central Asian shepherd as a breed. At the All-Union dog service dog shows Central Asian Shepherd Dogs were described back in 1939 by A.P. Mazover. The same dogs were mentioned as Turkmen shepherds. Obviously, this is due to the fact that the animals were brought from Turkmenistan. Since 1938, all representatives of the breed received the official name - Central Asian Shepherd Dogs.
But such a solution poses some difficulties. Firstly, it is not recognized by local residents. Secondly, when entering the international arena, such a name is not entirely successful, since the concept of "Central Asia" does not exist abroad. And the word "shepherd" does not apply to these dogs. This concept comes from the words "shepherd", "sheep" and means dogs that graze sheep. However, these dogs do not belong to the group of shepherds, since their function is to protect the herd. The Turkmen themselves call them Alabai.
And in 1927, Professor S. N. Bogolyubsky, when he described the dogs of Turkmenistan, located on the territory from the Caspian Sea to the Amu Darya River, called them wolfhounds.
In 1990, the standard of the Turkmen Alabai, a descendant of the ancient mastiffs, was approved in the Turkmen SSR. The appearance of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog shows a lot in common with the Tibetan Great Dane.
Alabai is not in vain called one of the oldest breeds. During the excavation of the village of Altyn-Depe in Southern Turkmenistan (2300-1900 BC), bones of large dogs with a powerful jaw and a shortened muzzle and a terracotta figurine depicting a dog very similar to alabai were found. It is interesting that already in these ancient times the tails and ears of dogs were cropped.
N. M. Ermolova, a paleontologist, fauna specialist Altyn-Depe and a breeder of the Central Asian Shepherd, believes that even in those days the Alabai guarded the herds belonging to local residents from predators.
Appearance
Alabai is a powerful beautiful dog that attracts attention. The growth of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog should be from 65 to 78 cm for the male and from 60 to 69 cm for the female. Representatives of the breed should be not only tall, but also powerful. The weight of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog is in the following range: male - from 55 to 79 kg, female - from 40 to 65 kg.
Alabai can be white, black, black and tan, gray, brown, red, fawn, tiger, piebald, speckled, tricolor. But chocolate, blue and liver are unacceptable. The coat is hard and coarse. The undercoat is thick.
Powerful body, short neck. Wide and deep chest. The head is large, massive, but proportional to the overall constitution. The forehead is flat, slightly rounded. The muzzle is shortened and dull. The nose is black. Light is allowed with white and fawn. The paws are large, the tail is thick and set high. Usually tails are stopped, but uncropped are also allowed. The ears are small, hanging, low-ranking. Most often they are stopped.
Intelligence
How smart is the Central Asian Shepherd? The level of intellectual development of these dogs is comparable to the level of a two to three year old child. But in their character there is a feature that can create the wrong impression of mental abilities - the Alabai are slow and think for quite some time.
Despite the first impression, the Central Asian Shepherd is not stupid at all. Alabai are superior to many of their closest relatives, in particular the Caucasian Shepherd Dogs, intellectually. They are led, rather, by reason rather than instincts. But this same feature can cause some problems with obedience and submission - the dog is not only prone to independent decisions, it also ponders the owner’s commands and may refuse to fulfill silly and empty requirements.
Character
What is a Central Asian Shepherd Dog? The characteristics of the breed say that it is characterized by a calm and balanced character, is unfocused and reluctant to show aggression, preferring to express its dissatisfaction with a formidable look and a warning bark.
Is the Central Asian Shepherd Aggressive? The characteristic of the breed suggests that the “Asian” as a whole can be called a peace-loving dog, normally it does not show aggression just like that, and if the borders of the territory are violated, someone claims to be in the hierarchy, family members are in danger. Another cause of aggression can be pain - Alabai can not tolerate it.
Transformation from a phlegmatic calm animal into an angry bear occurs instantly. Asians can be assertive and dangerous opponents. Such a drastic change often takes the enemy by surprise.
Alabay has a strong protective instinct, fearless, confident in his abilities.
Does it matter what gender the Central Asian Shepherd? Characterization of the breed suggests that sexual dimorphism is expressed among Alabaevs not only in appearance. Bitches are usually active and outgoing, but males are calm and even phlegmatic.
Socialization
How sociable is the Central Asian Shepherd? Reviews indicate that Alabai are friendly to family members and other pets. They get along well with children, but they should immediately explain to the child that if he hurts the dog, the friendship will end quickly. Still, Alabai is playful enough and can become a good companion and advocate for the baby.
As for strangers and animals, the Alabais are indifferent to them, but exactly as long as they do not contact and do not violate territorial borders. Alabai is instantly wary and can be aggressive towards a stranger. They do not tolerate drunken spirit and can be aggressive towards other people's dogs.
The social intra-tribal instinct in Central Asian shepherds is very developed. They quickly form a flock, take their places on the hierarchical ladder and rarely fight for leadership. Education and socialization should begin at an early age.
Care
What are the features of caring for a Central Asian shepherd? In the room where the dog lives, you need to keep clean. You need to wipe the floor daily, vacuum the lounger and wash it weekly. Do not allow the dog to sleep on upholstered furniture and mattresses. As a litter, you need to use a mat under which you can put a soft litter, but not a thick mattress.
The place where the dog sleeps should be placed away from windows and batteries to avoid drafts, hypothermia, overheating. It’s best to choose a quiet area, not near the doors and walkways, where the dog can relax.
Keeping a Central Asian shepherd in the apartment is not recommended. Nevertheless, the recommendation cannot be considered a direct prohibition, but in the case of apartment keeping the dog needs to be walked twice a day for at least two hours in total. The animal needs to move a lot, and in an apartment with lots of furniture and fragile things you won’t be able to run.
Equally important in caring for the dog is taking care of its coat. You need to clean it daily with a special mitt or brush with rough bristles.
In addition, it is required to inspect and clean the mouth, ears and eyes of the animal daily with cotton swabs. Cotton buds are not used for dog care - they can easily cause injury, which will eventually lead to deafness.
But washing the animal is often not necessary. The procedure is performed as necessary, preferably not more than once a month, using high-quality hair care products. After washing, the wool needs to be dried well to avoid hypothermia, especially in the cold season. You can use a hairdryer.
Nutrition. "Natural"
What feeding requirements does the breed have? The Central Asian Shepherd is a massive animal that consumes a lot of energy and needs to be replenished. Alabai well absorb products that are poorly suitable for other breeds, so feeding the Central Asian shepherd has its own characteristics.
You need to feed an adult animal twice a day, morning and evening.
With high physical activity, another meal is added to lunch. Food should be at room temperature. Feed the animal no earlier than 1.5-2 hours before a walk. After eating, the animal should be at rest.
For the proper development of the body, the animal must receive proteins, which cannot be replaced. The daily protein requirement for a dog of this breed is about 100 grams. The most enriched with this component are meat, fish, dairy products, as well as cereals - millet and barley.
The daily requirement of an adult animal in fats is about 25 grams. Without them, metabolism and normal digestion are impossible. The dog's body is not able to properly process vegetable fats, so it is necessary to give it animal fats.
Carbohydrates are an indispensable source of energy, the average daily need for them is 350 grams. Potatoes can be a good source. Together with food, various trace elements, potassium and calcium salts enter the body. But sodium is added in the form of table salt. A day is enough 15-20 mg.
For the convenience of the owner and ensuring a balanced diet, it is recommended to create a menu for a week. The main food for alabai are meat products that have a high calorie content. They use meat from both domestic and wild animals, but the product must undergo a veterinary examination, be benign, fresh, without signs of spoilage.
The meat contains a large amount of fats and proteins necessary for the body of the shepherd. For feeding use lean meat - beef, lamb, horse meat. As a supplement, you can use dried meat, but replacing them with fresh is unacceptable.
At least once a week, alabai should be given raw meat in small pieces. As a treat, you can sometimes give the dog corned beef, but such a product must be well washed and boiled.
The lack of trace elements and mineral salts can lead to various kinds of diseases, brittle bones, and a disorder of the nervous system. Therefore, meat and bone meal is also an important component of the diet. It is absorbed worse than meat. It should be given 100-200 grams 2-3 times a week, adding to porridge or soup.
The majority of plant foods in the diet are cereals, especially millet and oatmeal. Shepherd’s barley and barley porridge are reluctant to eat, so they are mixed with millet and oatmeal. The daily norm of vegetables does not exceed 200-300 grams, you can offer cabbage, carrots, lettuce, beets, potatoes, spinach, young nettles.
As a source of fats, ghee beef or fish oil is used. The meat in the diet is partially replaced by boneless fish. Asians digest milk well. You can give 300 grams of bread daily.
Nutrition. Dry food
Despite the fact that most owners prefer to feed their Central Asian shepherd dogs with natural food, it is possible to transfer to a special dry food. Such a decision should be deliberate and balanced, since frequent transitions from “drying” to “natural” will negatively affect the health of the animal. The breed of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog has been formed for a long time and has certain nutritional requirements.
The Akana, Origen, Proplan, Hills, Bozita, Ekanuba brands have rulers for gigantic dogs. This is the kind of food suitable for Alabai. Compared to natural food, the amount of dry food sufficient to meet the daily needs of the animal is very small. Therefore, you need to transfer the dog to "drying" at a young age, in 2-3 months, until the stomach is stretched.
When eating dry food, it is imperative to provide an additional load on the jaw - give bones, sticks, special treats. Food can be soaked in water. The transition from "drying" to natural food can also be difficult - it will be difficult for the stomach to cope with large pieces of food, vomiting, and indigestion may appear.
The amount of food depends on the activity of the dog. With physical exertion, portions need to be increased. The animal should always have access to clean water.
How to choose a puppy
Alabai, like all large dogs, mature late, the mating of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog is carried out not earlier than reaching 18 months.
Have you decided to get a Central Asian Shepherd puppy? Weigh the pros and cons in advance, because the maintenance of such a serious dog will require large material and time costs. The owner of such a dog must be physically strong and have a strong-willed character. Do not act impulsively, approach the choice wisely. If you like the Central Asian Shepherd, photos of the kids can just melt your heart. Do not forget that from these cute cubs a fierce beast will grow.
Bitches of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog are mobile and persistent, they are constantly fighting for leadership, pugnacious and more cruel. Males are balanced, calmly take their place in the pack.
Many dog handlers say that you first need to choose a breeder, and then a dog. Central Asian shepherd puppies from some couples may have owners already at birth, as people can wait for years for litters from a certain pair. Another point: you do not need to try to save money, because the content is weak - pleasure is not cheap, especially at first.
So, a few rules to follow when buying Alabai:
- No bird markets. If you need a mentally and physically healthy dog, carefully select a breeder.
- Before buying, carefully study the photos of the puppies of this breed, you should have a good idea of how the puppies of the Central Asian shepherd look at a young age, how long is six, a large muzzle, overall fatness, etc. If the puppies seem too thin for you, have a muzzle of a different shape and you something else is alarming, then refuse the purchase.
- Be sure to look at the parents, they must be healthy, balanced, adequate.
- The ideal age for buying a puppy is 2 months.
- Choose a curious, not fearful baby.
- If the puppies have long hair, most likely it is a cross between a Caucasian shepherd.
- The puppy must be active, healthy-looking, with straight legs, clean hair, eyes, ears, a wet nose.
Feeding
Puppies should not be overfed, even though they seem very large. This not only threatens overweight and stress on fragile bones, but also leads to a stretching of the stomach.
Puppies up to three months of age are fed 5 times a day, up to five months - 4, and 3 times a day until they reach the age of 8 months. If the dog leads a passive lifestyle, then two meals a day are enough for him, for dogs with great physical exertion - three meals a day.
Feeding is done at the same time in strict portions. Constantly food in a bowl is not left. The diet consists of meat products, cereals, fresh vegetables and herbs. Dry food is not recommended for the puppy. The abundance of too liquid dishes can lead to inversion of the intestines.
New products are introduced gradually, in small portions. If an allergic reaction is detected, the product is excluded. It is recommended that the puppy be given a raw chicken egg 2 times a week. It is useful to give the shell, previously crushed in a coffee grinder.
Several times a week, meat products are replaced by boneless fish. As a treat, pork ears, cheeks, hooves, and beef bones are offered 2 times a week.