A BIT OF BACKGROUND
History of the Breed
The Central Asian Shepherd Dog, also known as the Alabai and Turkmen Wolf-Hound is a livestock guardian dog breed. Traditionally, the breed was used for guarding sheep and goat herds, as well as to protect and for guard duty. The ancestor of the Central Asian shepherd originated in a geographical area between the Ural, Caspian Sea, Asia Minor, and the Northwest border of China. Aboriginal Central Asians as well as mixes still can be found in its countries of origin, such as, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Some serve as livestock guardians, some protect their owners. This breed bears a strong genetic similarity to other aboriginal breeds.
The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is self-assured, balanced, quiet, proud and independent. They are very courageous and have a high working capacity, endurance and a natural instinct of territory. This breed is known for its fearlessness towards large predators. Central Asian Shepherd Dogs are a natural protective breed that require a non-stop observance for the life of the dog. They are not for first-time dog owners. They were formed as a breed from natural selection during more than four thousand years in a vast territory, which spreads nowadays from the Caspian Sea to China and from Southern Ural to Afghanistan.
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Average size
Height: 25.5-27.5 inches
Weight: 88-110 lbs
Life expectancy: 10-15 years
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Breed Traits and Characteristics
Affectionate with Family
Good with young children
Good with other dogs
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Like all breeds there may be some health issues. The Central Asian Shepherd Dog has less inherited genetic diseases than a majority of the man-made breeds but still requires clearances of hip dysplasia to take the place of natural selection. Working with a responsible breeder, those wishing to own a Central Asian Shepherd Dog can gain the education they need to know about specific health concerns within the breed. Good breeders utilize genetic testing of their breeding stock to reduce the likelihood of disease in their puppies
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Recognized by the ACK Companion Events in Jan 2010 working class breed