Central Asian shepherd (Alabai)

The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is a large, muscular dog with a fairly short coat with a thick undercoat. Confident, determined, alert, but with a rather high arousal threshold. He is not without aggression. Has excellent predispositions to protect the area. It is not recommended to keep him in the apartment.

Nature

The Central Asian Shepherd Dog, also known as the Allah or Wołkarz (meaning strangler of wolves), is a massively built dog in the mountain type. There is no upper limit to the height or weight of the dog of this breed, although the pet should be harmoniously built. He should also remain an efficient and agile dog. There are dogs about 90 cm tall, but this can be paid for by the disturbed construction harmony. Most often bitches do not exceed 75 cm at withers, males 80 cm.

Asian is a great guardian and defender. It doesn’t bark much. It is spoken only if it decides that it cannot do without it. He’s a bodyguard type – fearless, imperceptible and effective in defense. Alabai will not let go until he chases away or neutralizes the intruder.

The situation is completely different when the owner of the owner enters the Asian area. The principle is simple: whoever is with you is on our side. Such a guest is greeted as the best friend. Friendly pinching, licking and pushing can not be avoided.

In view of his own herd, the Central Asian Shepherd Dog is very tender and caring. He loves “his” children and feels responsible for them. Asiatic life with other domestic animals is also going on well. Shepherd treats them as part of the herd under his care. He is like a big brother. By no means does this mean that the Allah is weak. In the herd of dogs is the dominant. When the males appoint a leader among themselves, everyone must respect that. Fighting for power lasts short and most often are harmless, they end when the opponent gives way.

Skills

Central Asian Shepherd dogs watch their grazing herds to this day. They are invaluable guardians to get around threatened by predators – wolves or bears. The guardian is like a sphinx – it can’t be moved. The weather rarely rushes them to the shack.

The territory of the Central Asian Shepherd is a sacred place. With the height and jumping, the Alababa one and a half meter fence is a piece of cake, but the Asian does not feel the need to check it personally. He prefers to stay at home, where he feels the host responsible for the security of the “herd” entrusted to him. Usually he chooses a point from which he calmly, as if thoughtful, observes the surroundings. Just in case an intruder appeared. When a potential enemy is found in the area, the CLA turns into a warrior. It will not rest until there is a threat to the security of the site. The situation changes when the intruder “gives the rear”. According to Asians, there is no need to chase an intruder when he withdraws.

Training and education

For this breed, socialization is extremely important, unless we use the dog in a traditional role, that is, as a guardian of herds grazing in huge spaces – which, however, in our conditions is unlikely to happen. Even a dog guarding the area should, however, be familiar with the surroundings – in the case of this breed, it absolutely does not hurt in fulfilling its natural guardian function!

Devotion, submission to the leader and intelligence are the qualities thanks to which many people consider the alabai as an ideal family dog. Care for him must be based on mutual trust and understanding. Blind obedience should not be demanded of the Asians, however, appropriate relations should be established from the beginning so that serious problems do not arise when the dog matures.

This does not mean, however, that you should use cold rearing and lead it sharply. The combination of consistency and clearly defined requirements with the right dose of love and tenderness will make the Asian feel happy and fulfilled dog.

Who is this race for?

Dogs of this breed need free space. They value freedom, and they require something to watch over – if not the herd, then at least the area and the safety of the household. Asian owners should be a person who already has experience in arranging dogs, is firm, balanced and nervous. This is not a dog for mentally weak and erratic people.

Advantages and disadvantages

Disadvantages

• independent
• tends to dominate
• is aggressive towards strangers and dogs
• requires an experienced guide
• not suitable for keeping in an apartment

Advantages

• very loyal and devoted to the family
• tender and caring for weaker members of the herd
• properly arranged, it is a great family companion
• excellent watchman, does not require training in this direction
• does not require much movement and attachment
• easy to care for

Health

Central Asian Shepherd Dogs are generally very healthy and resistant dogs. However, they can suffer from intestinal disorders, bone diseases, hip dysplasia, osteochondrosis and spinal arthrosis.

Feeding

Asiatic nutrition should be given sufficient weight, especially in the early stages of development. Dogs of this breed use food very well and should not be overfed. This can lead to problems such as difficulty moving, a sunken back, flattened paws, etc. It is better to hold the Asian a bit thinner than to “collapse”.

A young dog should receive nutritious food that provides all ingredients essential for development. For an adult dog, the daily dose should be divided into two portions to reduce the risk of stomach enlargement and torsion. A good idea for this breed is the BARF (RAW) diet.

Care

Care of the alabai, especially short-haired individuals, is not problematic. It is enough to brush it once in a while (e.g. once a week or two), although it is worth doing it more often during the molting period. We bathe the dog only when necessary. If our CAO is not able to walk on harder surfaces, check the condition of its claws from time to time and shorten them if necessary.

Let’s remember to get the dog used to the puppy for grooming. If we neglect this, then we can have a serious problem to get an adult, strong dog to them. Nursing treatments are not only important for the quadruped’s health, but are also one of the ways to build relationships. The dog should comply with them, but at the same time, it is worth building nice associations (especially with combing) so that it is not only an unpleasant necessity, but pleasant moments for both man and dog.

Accessories

Two brushes – one of the bristles or loosely spaced metal teeth, used for brushing, and the other of the metal wires without balls, for combing a thick undercoat will be useful for asians.

History

Thousands of years ago, among the pastures of Uzbekistan, Turkmenia and Tajikistan, a dog like a lion was born – the Arabian. This powerful herd guard worked in the weather and bad weather, on the plains and in the inter-mountain valleys, steadfast and balanced, always ready to defend his flock.

For centuries of breeding, the only selection criterion was utility. Breeders associated the Central Asian Shepherds, choosing the strongest and bravest individuals. The breed standard has been created relatively recently and is still being improved. In almost every pedigree you can find a dog “aboriginal”, that is, a dog entered in the introductory book, often taken directly from the steppes and mountain pastures.

Due to their nature, alabai are becoming more and more popular among Polish breeders. The first came to Poland at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, but the real craze for this breed erupted in the second half of the 1990s. Currently, the breed has already established itself in our country.

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Central Asian Shepherd Dog – group II FCI, section 2.2, reference number 335

• Origin: Russia, Central Asia
• Character: confident, balanced, proud and independent; these dogs are very brave, characterized by high ability to work, endurance and natural territorial instinct
• Size: dogs – not less than 70 cm; bitches – not less than 65 cm
• Weight: dogs – not less than 50 kg; bitches – not less than 40 kg
• Coat  thick, hard, straight, with a dense undercoat; short and dense on the head and front sides of the legs; on the withers, the hair is often longer; the top coat can be short or longer, depending on its length, two varieties are distinguished: with short hair (3-5 cm), the same all over the body, and longer hair (7-10 cm), forming a ruff, feathers behind the ears, on the tail and hind sides of forequarters, and trousers
• Color: any, except for genetically blue or chocolate in all combinations and coat (black-red)
• Lifespan: 12-15 years
• Vulnerability to training: moderate, independent and tends to dominate

Interesting facts

In the homeland of the breed, males were also used for traditional dog fights. It should be emphasized that in these fights the dogs did not fight for life and death, but until one of the opponents gained advantage. Winners of the “wrestler” were often admired and cherished, which in practice meant that they were given the best food.