The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is also know as the Central Asian Ovtcharka and Sredneaziatskaya Ovcharka. This breed is recognized by the FCI as a breed of Russian origin. The FCI is the top kennel club in Europe. Most breeders consider the Central Asian Shepherd Dog as one of the most popular breeds in Russia. In some polls, they are rated the number one breed. This breed is also recognized by the NKC, APRI, UKC, ANKC, and the ACR. The American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) allows the Central Asian Shepherd in America.
The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is a large Mastiff type dog. This dog is a working dog. Primarily, it is used as personal guardians, livestock guardians, estate guards, and flock guardians. Depending on the country, the ears and tail of this breed can be docked or not docked. The reason for this is because some countries, such as Australia, Netherlands, and France, have begun to ban cropping and docking. The body of the Central Asian Shepherd dog is a little longer than it is tall. From the forehead to muzzle there is no stop. This breed is designated as two different varieties. One is the short variety and the other is the long variety. The coat of this breed comes in a wide range of colors. The Central Asian Shepherd Dog are rugged dogs and they have wide backs, large chests, and big bones. They have very powerful muscles in their shoulders and well bones forelimbs. This breed has powerful thighs and a very strong back.
Appearance
The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is a robust dog that is larger than average. It has much power and strength. This breed has been described as alert, curious, and independent. This dog is as long as they are tall at the withers. It is possible for some to be slightly longer than tall. The hair of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog is moderately long or short, with a heavy undercoat. The ears are cropped short and the tail is docked moderately long. The exception to this is in countries where cosmetic surgeries for dogs have been ruled as illegal. The most common colors of the Central Asian Shepherd dog are black/white, almost white to a deep red, various shades of fawn, and brindle. The head is quite solid and there is no pronounced scull or stop. The neck is set low and short. The muscles of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog are considered flat and the body is broad and proportionate. This breed has false ribs that are obviously developed. Because of that, the ribcage appears quite long. The legs of this breed are straight and it is heavy boned. The leg bones of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog should be in proportion and there should never be any impression of short bones. The typical gait of this breed is gallop, although it can trot for hours without getting overly tired. It is not normal for the Central Asian Shepherd Dog to be shy or uncontrollably aggressive. These are disqualifying factors.
The average height of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog is between 27 – 32 inches. For bitches, it is between 24 – 27 inches. The average weight of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog is between 121 – 176 pounds. For bitches, it is between 88-143 pounds. Some males are larger than the average. This breed has no maximum weight or height.
Personality
The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is a flock guardian who is calm and fearless. This breed does not back down and they are independent. They are very good with members of their own family. However, they should be supervised around children. Outside of its territory, they may have the tendency to try to dominate other dogs. These are guardian dogs and they are wary of strangers. That should be kept in mind when taking them out in public because they will act on their instincts as guardians. The Central Asian Shepherd Dog have the tendency to bark at night. If you live in close quarters with other people, that may present a problem for your neighbors.
Unless the Central Asian Shepherd Dog is being used as a flock guard dog, it is important that this breed be socialized. They usually get along with other non canine animals, such as cats. They also tend to get along with other dogs, as long as that dog is not considered a threat. This breed is considered to be a family dog and they want interaction with every day activities. It is necessary that the owner of this breed understands flock guard type dogs and also the temperament of this breed. A timid owner will not do well with a Central Asian Shepherd Dog.
Care
The Central Asian Shepherd Dog doesnt require much grooming. This breed has a heavy, double coat. Because of this, brush and weeds do not easily get caught in the coat. Mud can easily be brushed out of the coat, once it dries. In the spring, the Central Asian Shepherd Dog shed very heavily. At that time, the coat should be brushed more than normal to ensure the dead hairs are removed. At other times of the year, they are light shedders.
This breed needs a large yard with a fence. They need to be given a job. Always keep in mind their natural instinct is to guard. If they do not have enough room to move around, they will become very bored. In turn, this will lead to chewing and digging. Even when this breed is given lots of exercise, they still enjoy being outdoors, guarding their territory. If they dont have a fenced in area, they will naturally expand their area for as far as they can. This breed should be given a long walk each day
History
The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is a breed that is 4000 years old. All the facts of the true origin of this breed are not known. Many people think the Tibetan Mastiff is a forefather of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog. This breed is found in various parts of Russia, Siberia, Iran, and Afghanistan. For centuries, the independent minded Central Asian Shepherd Dog has guarded and protected flocks and nomadic herdsman. When the Mongols invaded central and eastern Europe, dogs similar to the Central Asian Shepherd Dog may have accompanied them. The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is not often seen outside of the Central Asian Republic. This breed is in decline in Russia. The Caucasian Sheepdog is becoming more popular in Russia. The Central Asian Shepherd Dog has begun to be bred in the United States of America.
According to reports, the Central Asian Shepherd Dog probably originated in the area between the Caspian Sea area, Turkey, Ural, and the Chinese border in the northwestern part of the country. Central Asians and mixes are still found in the countries where it originated. These countries are Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tadzhikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and other countries in the area. Some of these dogs are livestock guardians and others are used for protection of their owners. In many of the countries where the Central Asian Shepherd Dog resides, they are used in dog fights. These fights are considered a sport in quite a few of the countries in that region.
Since the 18th century, scientists in Russia have done studies on the dog population in the local area. After the communist revolution, the government began focusing on working dogs that could be used by the army. They imported the best breeds they could find that would meet their military requirements. As time went by, this practice caused harm to the dogs in the area. It also led to cross breeding in certain areas. In the majority of areas, the only purebred dogs that were left were owned by herders, farms, and breed enthusiasts. Against the odds, the CAS dog survived as a breed.
The modern Central Asian Shepherd Dog has been bred for different purposes. In the areas where this breed resided, dog fights have been a popular pastime for the longest period of time. They arent considered as destructive as pit bull fights. It was more about obtaining dominance than destroying the other dog. In most cases, the dogs would evaluate each other before the fight and the less strong animal would simply leave. Actually, injuries happened very seldom. Dog fights in the modern era are much different from traditional dog fights. In the same way, guardian dogs are different from dogs used primarily for fighting. Most Central Asian dogs specifically originated from lines that produce fighting dogs. Most breeders know the background of their dogs and know whether they come from fighting backgrounds.
The demand for livestock guardian dogs is not as great as it was in the past. This breed has a wide range of good qualities. They are territorial but protective of its family. They are considered to be safe around children and love elderly people. They will protect smaller animals from danger and they are very kind with their own family.
