In our country, this breed has long been called "Turkmen or Central Asian Shepherd Dog." Alabai - that is how the Turkmen and Tajik shepherds themselves called the dog. The breed was bred several thousand years ago, and it came to us almost in its original form. The terracotta figurine found in Altyn-tep, a Bronze Age settlement on the territory of modern Turkmenistan, depicts Alabai, and the found animal bones dating from about the 2nd millennium BC indicate that even then people knew how to stop the tails and ears of representatives of this breed.
Alabai, a large dog with a shortened muzzle and powerful jaws, is believed to have originated from Tibetan mastiffs, and they, in turn, are descendants of black Tibetan wolves. The name “shepherd” is somewhat incorrect, since in China, India, Persia, and the countries of Central Asia, the breed was not used to drive sheep from pasture to pasture, but to protect herds from attacks by large predators and armed robbers. Therefore, the Alabaev has a strong instinct for the protection of the territory, home, property. They are often used precisely as an alert watchman, although in China they served in the army and for hunting people, and Alexander the Great brought them from Persia to persecute large animals.
Alabai character is complex, requiring proper training. To protect the house, it is better to get a couple of animals - a male and a female. Ladies are more distrustful, cautious and prefer to bark a threat from a distance, while the stronger sex is often reckless and more aggressive. But the girls are mobile, obedient, execute commands better, but are cunning, and often still achieve their goal. If you decide to have a dog, you need to immediately prove to him that the owner of the house is you, otherwise incidents cannot be avoided. But with the right training and the right behavior with you, there will always be a devoted and obedient assistant, a faithful companion and beloved family member.
Alabai female, whose character is more flexible, requires affection and a clear manifestation of care. If the owner simply uses it instead of an alarm, does not communicate with her, the dog will languish with longing. But in the diet, the representatives of this breed are unpretentious, have excellent appetite, and this must be taken into account if you want to keep the dog in good physical shape.
To protect the territory, several males of the Alabai breed should not be brought up. Their nature is such that soon clashes will inevitably begin for the right to leadership, which runs the risk of not ending in “first blood”. In two bitches, such fights will be smooth. It is best guarded by heterosexual animals. The bitch is the first to feel the danger and spurs a more phlegmatic male to action. In addition, representatives of this breed have a very strong sexual instinct. The owner of the bitch needs to be tied at least three times, and in order to keep in the yard a dog who sniffs a flowing bitch, you will need a three-meter fence, and even better a chain.
You can make alabaev and as partners. However, in order for the dog’s behavior to be social on the streets of the city, thorough training should be conducted. Alabai, whose character has been cultivated for centuries as unfriendly and even aggressive towards strangers and alien animals, must understand the distance at which a simple passer-by can become a threat to the owner. A dog school will teach your pet how to tolerate other animals. After all, the Alabai by nature are very smart, balanced and sensitive. Excessive resentment can be considered a character flaw: do not scold them for the slightest reason.