Armenian Gampr

The Armenian Gampr is a large to giant-sized landrace breed that developed in the highlands that are the historical homeland of Armenia. This means that the development of the breed was more dependent on the isolated area that the dogs were located in than in the preferences of the human population, as breeding of the Gampr dogs was left unchecked. Landrace breeds are prone to higher variability in appearance and structure than standardized breeds, but in many cases are genetically healthier. Numerous carvings and engravings of dogs in the area help to trace the history of domesticated dogs in the area and by 1,000 BC a large portion of these petroglyphs appear to be Gampr dogs, indicating that the breed was not only well established by this time, but often preferred. They are sometimes even credited as being the inspiration for the Aralez, dog-like spirits who descend from on high to lick the wounds of dead heroes and resurrect them. The invasion of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20^th century drastically reduced the population of these mighty canines, but also allowed them to spread as they were employed as foundation stock for a variety of Turkish breeds. When the Soviet Union took control soon after, they took many of the best Gampr dogs and combined them with other dog breeds, resulting in the Caucasian Ovcharka. Recent downturns in the Armenian economy have caused not only a reduction in the population of Gamprs, but those Gamprs that remained were often undernourished and many were underdeveloped. Fortunately, when the economy rebounded, the robust health of the next generation of dogs also rebounded. Although the population of Armenian Gamprs in Armenia has not fully recovered, efforts to preserve the breed in the United States have been showing promise.