Central Asian Shepherd Dog

Size
Large to Giant (27Kg +)
Exercise
60+ min/day
Training
Daily
Size of home
House with garden
Time at home
Often alone
Grooming
Weekly
Barking preference
Watchdog barking
Personality
Independent

Breeder List

Breeder - Mrs Elena Swegen (ALABAI)

elena.swegen@gmail.com
See Details
Breeder - Ms Julie Deem (ATABRAI)

atabrai@yahoo.com
See Details

History

Central Asia Shepherd Dog (CASD) is one of the most ancient breed of dogs. They were formed as a breed from natural selection during more than four thousand years in the vast territory, which spreads nowadays from the Caspian Sea to China and from Southern Ural to Afghanistan. Its heritage is from the most ancient dogs of Tibet, Cattle Dogs from various nomad tribes’ dogs that are closely related to the Mongolian Shepherd Dog and the Tibetan Mastiff. The CASD were mainly used to protect cattle, caravans and the owner’s dwellings, and being exposed to rigid natural selection. Hard living conditions and constant struggle against predators have had influence on the shape as well as the dog’s character and it has made it strong, fearless, and taught it to save its energy. In the places of primordial habitation, the CASD were used mainly to protect herds from predators and also as guard dogs. The work with the breed started in the USSR in the 1930s.

Appearance

Any coat is short or moderately long with a heavy undercoat and it can be any colour, ‘except genetic blue and genetic brown in any combination and black mantel on tan.’

Most common colors are black/white; fawn of different shades, from almost white to deep red; brindle. Some have a black mask.

Sizes

Height at the withers:
Males: Minimum 70 cms.
Females: Minimum 65 cms.
Large size desirable, but proportional constitution must remain.

Weight
Males: Minimum 50 kgs.
Females: Minimum 40 kgs.

Temperament

Self assured, balanced quiet, proud and independent. The dogs are very courageous and have high working capacity, endurance and a natural instinct of territory. Fearlessness towards large predators is a characteristic feature.

Suitability

The large Central Asian Shepherd Dog may spend a considerable amount of time moving around in its native lands, and this kind of slow but steady exercise is what it likes best. With a job to do and a piece of property to protect, it will find the highest spot and keep an eye on all that happens.

The real life test for the Central Asian is simply to be a farm dog, or herd protection dog, in any country.

Neither the longhaired nor shorthaired coat require a lot of grooming, but the thick undercoat results in heavy seasonal shedding twice a year.

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Central Asian Shepherd Dog you may have think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog and its needs and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

References

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 28 Feb 2011)

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Breed Standard - Central Asian Shepherd Dog

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is of harmonious build and large stature, moderately long (neither long nor short in body).Robust, muscular body, voluminous, but not with visible muscles. Sexual dimorphism is clearly defined. The males are more massive and courageous than females with more pronounced withers and a larger head. Full maturity is reached by the age of 3 years.Important Proportions: The length of body only slightly exceeds the height at withers. Larger stature is desirable but proportional constitution must remain. Length of forelegs up to the elbow is 50-52 % of the height at the withers. The length of muzzle is less than 1/2 the length of head, but more than a 1/3.

Characteristics

[Not specified - See General Appearance and Temperament]

Temperament

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	Massive and in balance with general appearance. Head shape is close to rectangular, seen from above and side.Cranial RegionDeep in skull. The forehead is flat and the skull part is flat and long. Occiput is well defined but hardly visible, because of well developed muscles. Supraorbital ridges are moderately defined.Stop: Stop is moderately defined.Facial RegionNose: Large, well developed but not exceeding the general contour of the muzzle. Colour of the nose is black but in white and fawn coloured dogs the nose can be lighter.Muzzle: The muzzle is blunt and of moderate length, it is almost rectangular viewed from above and sides and narrowing very slightly towards the nose. Muzzle is voluminous, deep and well filled under the eyes. Bridge of muzzle is broad, straight and sometimes with a slight down face. Chin is well developed.Lips: Thick, upper lips tightly covering the lower lips when the mouth is closed. Full black pigmentation is preferable.Cheeks: The Cheekbones are long and well developed, without interfering with the rectangular shape of head.
Eyes	Medium sized, with oval form, set well apart, looking straight ahead, and moderately deep set. The colour of the eyes from dark brown to hazel. The darker colour is preferable. The eyelids are thick and preferably with lower eye lid not too loose. No visible third eyelid. Fully pigmented eyes rims are preferred. Whatever the colour of coat, eye rims should be black. Expression is confident and dignified.
Ears	Medium sized, triangular shape, thick, low set and hanging. Lower part of ear base is level with, or slightly below the eyes. Traditional ear-cropping, in the fashion illustrated on the cover, is still practiced in country of origin and in countries where it is not prohibited by law.
Mouth	The jaws are strong and broad. Teeth are large, white and close to each other, 42 in total. Incisors are set on a line. Scissors bite, pincer bite and also reversed scissors bite is accepted. Canines are set well apart. An injury to the teeth that does not affect the use of the bite is of no consequence.
Neck	The neck is of medium length, very powerful, oval at cross-section, well muscled, and low set. Dewlap is a specific breed feature.
Forequarters	Forelegs are straight with strong bone, seen from the front parallel and not close together. Seen from the side, the forearms are straight.Shoulder: Shoulder blade long, well laid back, forming an angle with the upper arm about 100°. Well muscled.Upper arm: Oblique, long, and strong.Elbow: Correctly fitting, turning neither in nor out.Forearm: Straight, very strong bone, long, oval cross-section.Metacarpus (Pastern): Moderate length, broad, strong, upright pasterns.
Body	Top line: Well proportioned and well sustained, and must keep typical topline in stance.Withers: Well defined, especially in males, muscular, long and high, with well defined transition to the back.Back: Straight, broad, well muscled, the actual length is about ½ of the length from the withers to tail set.Loin: Short, broad, muscled, slightly arched.Croup: Moderately long, broad, well muscled, slightly sloping to tail set. The height at the withers exceeds the height over rump by 1-2 cm.Chest: Deep, long, broad, distinctly developed, ribcage broadening towards the back. False ribs are long. Lower part of the chest is level with the elbow or slightly below. Fore chest extends slightly in front of the humerus/scapula joint.Underline and belly: Belly is moderately tucked up.
Hindquarters	Viewed from the rear straight and parallel, set a little wider than forequarters.Thigh: Broad, moderately long and strongly muscled.Stifle (Knee): Turning neither in nor out. The knee angulation is moderate.Lower thigh: Of almost the same length as upper thigh.Hock joint: Moderate angle.Metatarsus (Rear pastern): Very strong of moderate length, perpendicular. No dewclaws.
Feet	Forefeet: Large, rounded, arching toes, pads are voluminous and thick; nails could be of any color.Hind feet: Large, rounded, arching toes, pads are voluminous and thick; nails could be of any color..
Tail	Thick at the base and set fairly high. The natural tail is carried in a sickle curve or curled in a loose ring that begins at the last third of the tail. When alert the tail rises to the line of back or slightly above. Hanging at rest. Traditional tail docking, in the fashion illustrated on the cover, is still practiced in country of origin and in countries where it is not prohibited by law.Natural tail is of equal value to a docked tail.
Gait/Movement	Well balanced and elastic. Trot with free reach in the forequarters and with powerful drive from the hindquarters. Top line is steady while moving. All joints to bend without effort. The angulations in hindquarters is more distinct when moving than in standing pose.
Coat	Skin: Thick, sufficiently elastic loose lying to prevent injuries if in combat with predators.Hair: Abundant, straight coarse and with well developed undercoat. Hair on the head and on the front part of limbs is short and dense. Coat on withers is often longer. The guard coat can be short or slightly longer. Depending on the length of the outer coat there can be either shorter hair (3-5 cm), covering the whole body or with longer hair (7-10 cm) which forms a mane on the neck, feathers behind the ears and on the back parts of the limbs and on the tail.
Colour	Any, except genetic blue and genetic brown in any combination and black mantel on tan.
Size	Height at the withers:Males: Minimum 70 cms.Females: Minimum 65 cms.Large size desirable, but proportional constitution must remain.Weight:Males: Minimum 50 kgs.Females: Minimum 40 kgs.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.• Slight deviations from the breed type.• Female tending male type.• Rounded skull, narrow muzzle & narrow lower jaw, small nose.• Eyes obliquely or close set, loose eyelids.• Ears high set.• Thin or loose hanging lips.• High over the croup. Slightly short croup.• Narrow front.• Exaggerated angulations in hindquarters.• Splayed feet and long toes.• Hackney gait, slightly un-balanced movement.• Very short coatSevere faults• Highly strung.• Significant deviation from required type and constitution.• Leggy appearance; light in bone, soft muscles.• Eyes too light or bulging eyes.• Top line falling away.• Croup much higher than the withers.• Narrow, short and steep croup.• Natural stubbed tail, kinked tail.• Pasterns too high, down in pastern.• Hindquarters set too far under body.• Height at withers 2 cm less than stated minimum.Disqualifying Faults• Aggressive or overly shy dogs.• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.• Timid, overexcited.• Male of female type.• Overshot or distinctly undershot bite.• Eyes of different colour, blue or green eyes; squint.• Loose joints.• Coat of any combination of genetic brown or genetic blue colour.• Colour that is tan with distinctive black mantle.• Coat that is curly or soft.• Unbalanced movement

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

History

Central Asia Shepherd Dog (CASD) is one of the most ancient breed of dogs. They were formed as a breed from natural selection during more than four thousand years in the vast territory, which spreads nowadays from the Caspian Sea to China and from Southern Ural to Afghanistan. Its heritage is from the most ancient dogs of Tibet, Cattle Dogs from various nomad tribes’ dogs that are closely related to the Mongolian Shepherd Dog and the Tibetan Mastiff. The CASD were mainly used to protect cattle, caravans and the owner’s dwellings, and being exposed to rigid natural selection. Hard living conditions and constant struggle against predators have had influence on the shape as well as the dog’s character and it has made it strong, fearless, and taught it to save its energy. In the places of primordial habitation, the CASD were used mainly to protect herds from predators and also as guard dogs.The work with the breed started in the USSR in the 1930s.