How to Identify a Central Asian Shepherd Dog

A Central Asian Shepherd Show Dog

The Central Asian Shepherd Dog can be found in the areas of Russia, Iran, Afghanistan and Siberia. They are a cold weather, high altitude, working breed that has accompanied and protected the nomadic tribesmen of the steppes as well as their herds for centuries. The exact origins of this dog are unknown, but it is possible the Tibetan Mastiff is one of its ancestors. Though the dog bears a striking similarity in function and appearance to the Caucasian Ovtcharka they are not related. It is unfortunate that the breed is beginning to lose popularity in Russia over the Caucasian Ovtcharka, which has been properly domesticated for daily life for more than six decades now. Recently the breed has been shipped to the USA and, though still rare to see, is gaining favor.

Instructions

1. Start by judging the dog’s weight and size as well as taking note of any physical features. A Central Asian Shepherd Dog can stand from 27 to 32 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 100 and 170 pounds. Do not discount larger dogs though; this breed has been known to grow far larger, though this is not the norm. The body should be noticeably longer than it is tall, with very thick bones, wide shoulders, deep chest, and a very well developed musculature. The breed is commonly found to have a docked tail, but naturally the tail is long, curved, feathery, and always held high.

2. Look at the dog’s fur. Depending on the time of year the dog will have one of two kinds of coat. In the summer it will be roughly 1.5 inches long. This will be replaced by a 3 inch long coat in winter. Central Asian Shepherd Dogs comes in many different colors, including white, black, gray, straw, red-brown and gray-brown.

3. Finish by examining the dog’s head and face. The ears are commonly docked but in their natural state they are long, curved at the tips, and hang down the sides of the dog’s head. The eyes are dark and well recessed. The skull itself is very large and triangular in shape. The dog will have loose rolls of skin across much of the face and neck which were originally used to protect it’s head from extremely cold temperatures. This and one other trait is very telling. The forehead should form a flat plane all the way to the tip of the dog’s nose. There is no dip defining the muzzle from the skull on this breed.

Tips & Warnings

• This dog is a guardian and protector. Even it is taken as a companion it will regularly patrol the house and yard. Such a large dog has need of a very large yard and must have the opportunity to run around as much as possible. They are a friendly and very family oriented species, but should be watched around children as they respond violently to being hurt near instantaneously. The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is still a little on the wild side and likes to bark, but if a pup can be obtained shortly after it’s been weaned they can be easily trained to make great companions and household guardians.