Turkmen Alabai is a variety of Central Asian Shepherd Dog, with which ignorant dog breeders often draw a parallel to the Caucasian Shepherd Dog. But if you look at the silhouette of Alabai, you can understand that the similarities are very distant. Asian is an ideal sculpture, where everything superfluous is cut off by the works of nature itself.
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Origin history
Alabai, he is a Turkmen wolfhound, is a breed with a thousand-year history. Moreover, for such a long time she was not "spoiled" by West European breeders.
Animals that appeared as a result of mixing the blood of Tibetan mastiffs and dogs of nomadic shepherds grazing sheep in vast areas of the Asian region evolved naturally.
As such, no one was engaged in the selection of this breed. It was just a natural selection. Dogs with dense coat, providing excellent thermoregulation, with a thick skin, which was not easy to bite by predatory animals, as well as strong and hardy dogs were quoted. All these parameters were determined by the purpose of the dog, which was to protect caravans and housing.
The official selection of the breed occurred only in 1993. But even after that their distribution in the world remains rather low. The main reason is that, for example, in Turkmenistan, purebred representatives of the breed are the property of the nation, therefore, their export is prohibited.
Description of Turkmen alabay
In their ethnic homeland, Alabai are still used today to protect pastures and houses.Thanks to their massive physique, thick hair and thick skin, they easily make enemies flee, which can be both robbers and predatory animals.
Dogs of this breed are not afraid of a gaze and do not look away, continuing to look down at the beholder. It is worth noting that they have a sharp mind and want to think before executing a command. If they decide that the team is not practical, they may refuse to execute it.
Alabai can be called a phlegmatic and well-balanced dog. The animal is unwilling to show aggression and, as a rule, only growls when it violates its borders, warning that it is not worth approaching anymore.
Important! The Central Asian Shepherd Dog gets along well with children, but do not leave it alone with them for a long time.
Life span
The average life cycle of the Central Asian Shepherd, regardless of species, varies between 11 - 15 years. Providing a balanced diet, conducting regular grooming, as well as creating comfortable living conditions, the pet can live a little longer. And if the above points are violated, then the dog may not live up to the lower age threshold.
Central Asian Shepherd Dog Breed Standard
Purebred animals that may qualify for the championship must meet the breed standards that were released in 2010:
- the head is massive, large, similar to a bear;
- muzzle - extended with folds on the forehead;
- the nose is black with rather large nostrils;
- jaw - the lower one is quite wide, the right scissor or straight bite.
- eyes are rounded with a wide landing;
- ears are small, triangular auricles hanging on cartilage, which stop 3 days after birth.
- body - wide, muscular with well-developed deep chest;
- limbs - strong, muscular;
- tail - set high and has the shape of a sickle, if not stopped (the latter is more acceptable);
- wool - straight and stiff, with a thick undercoat, length can vary from 3 to 7 cm;
- color - black, gray, white, with tan marks of even shape, sometimes red or brindle;
- growth at the withers - up to 70 cm;
- weight - 40 - 60 kg.
Turkmen Shepherd is a typical molossoid.
Puppy selection criteria
Turkmen alabay is not suitable for every dog lover. But it happens that the buyer, looking at the 3-month-old "teddy bear", clumsily rolling on its so far unstable legs, can not resist his appearance. But it should be remembered that in a couple of months the "baby" will reach an impressive size.
If a firm decision was made in favor of this breed, then following the puppies of the Turkmen Alabai, the following recommendations should be remembered:
- there should not be more than five puppies in the litter, otherwise the risk of genetic abnormalities is high;
- the mother's age should not exceed an eight-year threshold;
- the baby should be active, playful, distinguished by a stable psyche and good appetite;
- attention should be paid to the eyes, which should be clear, and the appearance as a whole is shiny hair, moderate fatness, cropped ears and tail;
- in a house with children it is better to choose a bitch, but from a dog you get a great guard;
- the optimal age of the puppy for moving is 1.5 months.
On a note! The purchase should be made in specialized nurseries, where all documents (metrics, veterinary passports) will be attached to the puppy, and parents and conditions of detention will be demonstrated.
Purpose and character
Today, Alabai provide invaluable help to shepherds in grazing sheep flocks. They are also used as vigilant guards of country houses. But in addition to their official purpose, they often start up as companions.
Alabai are excellent defenders who, however, are not inherent in aggression: they do not attack people, they only scare away uninvited guests with a fierce growl. Over the years, the breed has formed aversion to other dogs. However, this does not mean that they cannot coexist calmly with them in the same yard.
The Turkmen wolfhound does not belong to fighting breeds, but a tournament is held annually in its homeland, where the Alabai must prove himself fearless, brave and self-confident representative of the proud breed.
Pride of Asians can cause problems for beginners in matters of dog breeding. Alabai will submit only to the undisputed leader, recognizing the owner in him.
For this, professional dog handlers recommend that each newly made dog owner send the wolfhound to an obedience course, as a result of which the animal will obey the owner’s dominant personality. Parenting Alabai should be ongoing.
Maintenance, care and feeding
Alabaev should be kept in an enclosure on a personal plot. It must be equipped with a booth, which is insulated so that the pet is warm in winter.
The main maintenance activities to be carried out regularly:
- daily mopping at the location of Alabai, while vacuuming the pet's lounger;
- weekly litter wash.
In the apartment, representatives of the breed feel uncomfortable. But if nevertheless the alabay was in such an environment, then the owner will have to provide him with appropriate physical exertion. Walking should be done at least twice a day for more than an hour. The place for rest in the room should be allocated away from drafts and heating appliances.
Alabai does not require special care. Its coat is coated with a special grease that repels dirt. But do not think that it does not need to be combed out. The implementation of this procedure is especially required during molting, which occurs in the spring season. For combing, special mittens and brushes made of coarse wool are used.
Daily, it is recommended to inspect the Asian mouth, eyes and ears. If necessary, they are wiped with cotton swabs.
When cleaning the ears, do not use sticks, which, as a result of sad accident, can cause hearing loss.
Since alabai are susceptible to joint diseases, they need to provide a balanced diet with a high calcium content.
You can feed the animal with natural food, but then the diet should be:
- fresh lean meat (beef, veal);
- offal (twice a week);
- fish;
- cereal cereals;
- dairy products;
- vegetables and fruits.
If you do not have time or there is no opportunity to prepare a large number of fresh meat products, then you can use ready-made dry premium feeds created for large breeds.
How to train alabai
Without proper training, an Alabai with an amazing protective instinct becomes a potentially dangerous breed of dog. Serious upbringing begins at the age of 3 months, when the owner is approved as a leader. Each day, training for new teams should be given 20-30 minutes. Overload the Asian is not worth it. By the 7th month at this pace, the dog will master the main commands.
For a properly completed task, the animal should receive encouragement in the form of goodies and praise. But for improper execution or refusal it is strictly forbidden to use violence, otherwise the owner will lose credibility in the eyes of the dog, which is not permissible.
One of the main nuances of training is that it should be carried out by a person who is physically capable of holding a powerful dog.
Pros and cons of the breed
Among the advantages of the breed stand out:
- security instinct;
- lack of uncontrolled aggression;
- the severity of the instinct of the shepherd;
- loyalty to puppies and children;
- sharp mind;
- endurance;
- unpretentiousness in the maintenance and care;
- good thermoregulation and health.
The cons include:
- need for movement;
- large sizes;
- the need for early socialization;
- plentiful molt;
- intolerance to strange dogs;
- rather difficult learning associated with disobedience.
The Turkmen Alabay is a wonderful defender who, by virtue of his devotion, will never give the owner and other family members an insult even at the cost of his own life. However, so that the dog does not pose a danger to the owners and others, it requires serious training.
