Central Asian Shepherd

88-143 lbs
24-27"
Central Asia
Central Asian Ovtcharka, Middle Asian Ovtcharka, Mid-Asian Shepherd


The Central Asian Shepherd dog — also known as the Alabai dog — is thought to be one of the oldest breeds in the world. They’re very large and powerful dogs, so need an experienced pet parent who knows how to handle them. They prefer to protect you and guard the house rather than to play and snuggle up with you. 

In this guide to the Central Asian Shepherd, you’ll discover:

  • They’re an ancient dog that date back to somewhere between 2000 and 3000 BC. 
  • They developed into three types: herders, dog fighters and livestock guardians.
  • This Asian Shepherd dog is a very large, muscular and powerful breed. 
  • The Central Asian Shepherd makes a great guard dog as they are very protective. 


Central Asian Shepherd breed overview

Among the Central Asian Shepherd’s many nicknames they are known as ‘Voldokov’ which is Russian for ‘Wolf Crusher’ — which gives you an idea of their strength. 

The Central Asian Shepherd dog price is on average, $2,400, from a reputable breeder. Their high price is likely to be, in part, because they’re still quite rare in the USA. However, they are starting to grow in popularity. 

The life expectancy of this breed is up to 15 years, although they have been known to live for up to 17 years. 

If you’re about to welcome a Central Asian Shepherd into your home then you’ll want peace of mind that your pup is covered for any health issues. It’s quick and easy to compare the best pet insurance plans from top providers. 

purpose Purpose
Guarding and herding
history Date of Origin
Ancient Times
ancestry Ancestry
Tibetan Mastiff

Central Asian Shepherd Health

Sketch of Central Asian Shepherd
Average Size
Male Central Asian Shepherd size stats
Height: 27-32 inches Weight: 121-176 lbs
Female Central Asian Shepherd size stats
Height: 24-27 inches Weight: 88-143 lbs

Central Asian Shepherd Breed History

The Asian Shepherd dog, unsurprisingly, comes from central Asia. They originate in territory from the Caspian Sea to China and from Southern Ural to Afghanistan. This breed dates back to somewhere between 2000 and 3000 BC when they formed from natural selection. 

It’s believed they are related to the Tibetan Mastiff, although it’s hard to be sure as humans were not involved in their development.

Once humans did become involved they developed three distinct types: livestock guardians (like other similar breeds from that region), guard dogs, and dog fighters. 

It’s thought that a dog breed similar to this escorted the Mongols during their invasion of eastern and central Europe. They were the most popular dog breed in Russia in 2000, and still rank highly.  

While rarely found in the United States, they are beginning to be bred more in America. 

This dog breed has received recognition from many different clubs and registries, including the American Rare Breed Association and the American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service Program. They are, however, yet to be recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Central Asian Shepherd Breed Appearance

The Central Asian Shepherd size is large — they have an imposing presence, reaching heights of up to 32 inches. Their body is slightly longer than it is tall. A powerful dog, they have a wide and strong back, large chest and paws with muscular shoulders and legs. The Central Asian Shepherd dog’s weight can be up to a whopping 176 lbs. 

They have a broad head with a slimmer muzzle and a thick neck. Their face is jowly, leading into a recognisable dewlap. Beneath this they have incredibly strong teeth and jaws. They have wide and deep-set eyes, which range in color from hazel to dark brown, thick eyelids, and black eye rims.

Their coarse coats can be long or short, with a dense undercoat. The most common coat colors are black, white, brown, sable or brindle — they can also be a combination of these colors.  

This breed is, sadly, known for having a docked tail and cropped ears. Not only is this controversial, it’s actually illegal in many countries.

Similar breeds to the Central Asian Shepherd

If a Central Asian Shepherd isn’t the right breed for you but you’d like a similar breed, you might like to consider: 


Whether you choose a Central Asian Shepherd or a similar breed, you need to look after their health. 

Sign up to a wellness plan which covers their annual shots and boosters then compare the best pet insurance plans so that if your Central Asian Shepherd does suffer from health issues you’ll be covered.

Central Asian Shepherd Breed Maintenance


Central Asian Shepherd dogs require very little grooming. They’re not considered hypoallergenic dogs, however, as they do shed quite heavily during the Spring. During this time you’ll need to brush them more regularly to prevent both matting and your home becoming covered in their fur.

Throughout the rest of the year, they shed very little and can be brushed around once a week or so and only bathed when necessary. 

Their nails should be trimmed and teeth brushed regularly. You should also check and clean their ears.  

Central Asian Shepherd health risks 

This is generally a very healthy breed. But, there are a couple of conditions you need to be aware of. These are: 

  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Elbow Dysplasia

Even if you have a breed that is generally very healthy like the Central Asian Shepherd, it’s important to have a good insurance policy. Browse and compare top pet insurance providers to find the best option for you and your dog. 


Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia happens when the ball and socket hasn’t formed properly so it rubs and grinds instead of gliding smoothly. This can happen to dogs at any age; it can be early onset from just 16 weeks or they may get it later in life. It can be in one or both of their hips and there are a number of causes but it can develop because of rapid weight gain or obesity.  

It will restrict movement as well as being very painful. You may need to look at their diet and weight management alongside treatment such as oral supplements, physiotherapy or surgery. 


Elbow Dysplasia

Elbow dysplasia is arthritis of the elbow and will typically affect both elbows. It tends to be an issue for large breed puppies that grow quickly just like the Central Asian Shepherd puppy. You may notice they are limping, their legs appear stiff or their joints are swollen. They will likely need corrective surgery. 


Feeding a Central Asian Shepherd — what’s the best diet?

This breed requires food that is formulated for giant or extra large breeds — take a look at some of our recommendations for dog food for large breeds here. They’ll also benefit from food that is specifically for dogs with low-energy. 

Central Asian Shepherd puppies grow quite fast and need a lot of natural foods. They should be fed around four times a day. Adults require a large amount of high quality food but this can be fed twice a day. 

They’re prone to gaining weight if overfed, so keep this in mind, especially when feeding treats. 

Do you think you're feeding your Central Asian Shepherd the best possible diet that’s both tasty and beneficial to their health? Read more advice from our friends at Dog Food Advisor, such as their tips for best large breed puppy food and the best large breed dog food. 

Central Asian Shepherd Temperament


As this is such a strong and powerful breed you may be wondering, are Central Asian Shepherds dangerous? While they’re not inherently aggressive, they are protective and can be territorial. Not only that, they were developed into three distinct breed types — herders, dog fighters and livestock guardians. They have personalities to match so unsurprisingly, the fighting dog breed type would be raised to be more aggressive. 

In general, the Central Asian Shepherd dog temperament is confident and brave. They’re often described as being fearless and will stand their ground when challenged, which does make them an ideal guard dog. 

They are, however, very good with the entire family although it’s important they’re supervised around young children. 

They can be suspicious of strangers and may try to dominate other dogs. Socializing them from an early age will ensure they get along with other family pets. While they can get along with all types of animals and breeds of dog, they do best when living with other Central Asian Shepherds. 

They’re very intelligent but can be quite difficult to train so will benefit from positive reinforcement. Prone to barking at night, you’ll want to take this into account as part of their training routine. 

Remember, a Central Asian Shepherd dog is a working breed so enjoy having a job to do, and benefit from strong owners who will establish leadership and clear boundaries.

Central Asian Shepherd Activity Requirements


This breed is low-energy. Regular exercise is important but a Central Asian Shepherd will particularly benefit from being kept mentally stimulated. It may be best to walk them on a leash and exercise them in a fenced area.

Be aware that this isn’t a breed suitable for living in an apartment. In fact, if they don’t have enough space, they’ve been known to start digging and chewing out of boredom and frustration. This is a very independent dog and will actually be much happier spending time outside than inside, as they love to patrol and guard the family home.

Top Central Asian Shepherd Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable Central Asian Shepherd breeders of 2024.
Top Central Asian Shepherd breeder K9 Wizard
K9 Wizard
Deep Gap, North Carolina
Top Central Asian Shepherd breeder Grand Central Asians
Grand Central Asians
Byron, Georgia

Central Asian Shepherd Owner Experiences

Inga (Original name was Nuga)
2 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
wrestling
Training her is the best
Hiking with pack
My Co-worker told me there was a dog that needed rescue from the shelter on death row. Because of her size, age, and handler aggression. So me and my wife decided to go check on that dog. She was very friendly with my wife. We took her home and named her Inga (Peace). Inga's first owners were herders in Mongolia and lost their farm animals during last winter. So they can't feed and keep their dogs. Inga is the only survivor of their four dogs. She was ear-cropped and tail docked only 92.5 lbs and 28.7 inches when we took her. Almost like skin on bone. At first, she was aggressive towards men and large brindle, grey or black dogs. But very friendly with women, children, and small animals (we have two Russian Toy Terriers and one beagle mix). We won her trust and now she is attached to our daughters and dogs. We just fell in love with her. Central Asian Shepherd is the best dog I ever had. Very intelligent, you can just see from her human-like eyes. I don't know why people say Central Asian Shepherds are very difficult to train. She just picks up our almost every move and word. At first, she was confused for a few minutes when I taught her a simple command but then she understood and took over it. Inga likes praise words more than dog treats. Very confident, maybe too confident. When we're out for a walk she just ignores children, animals, and birds except Crows and Typical Magpies. We don't know why. But she just ignores chickens, pigeons, and other water birds like ducks, geese, and Cranes. Her aggression comes out when strangers or cars stop near our land. Her barks remind me of Great Dane's or Cane Corso, deep from her lungs. She instantly knew our land's end and routinely patrolled land. Sometimes our small dogs follow her and sometimes she plays with them. Even tho she's not fond of chase and run. Central Asian Shepherd like to wrestle (Only wrestle with me). Her health condition was bad because of her starvation. But significantly improves daily feeding and advice from Vets. Now she is 114.8 lbs and 29.6 inches. No other health problems come up during vet checkups. So my experience with Central Asian Shepherd is not that long but knowing and spending time with my Inga is very positive and amazing. I had a few dog breeds since I was a kid like Neapolitan mastiffs (my maternal grandparents had male and female on their farm in the late '80s'), Great Danes, and an American Pitbull Terrier (my parents had them during the '90s and early 2000), and Bullmastiffs (my full experience with them from puppy to old age) Central Asian Shepherds are most intelligent, healthy one. Inga can hike all day long with us through the mountains. Stamina and energy are pretty impressive to large dog breeds. During the day Inga is not so active just checks a few spots on the land and at nighttime is more active barking and running up and down the land. Also, become playful in the evening like cats. We planning to get one more Central Asian Shepherd when Inga reaches 5 years old.
3 months, 1 week ago
Mist
1 Year
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing in the snow
Fetch
Chase
Play
Catch treats
Explore the woods
Run
Walking
Highly intelligent. Will often consider her decisions to be the best (where to go when walking etc.) Loves to play fight with her fellow dog companions.
2 years, 7 months ago
MISHKA
3 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Hike
Walk
Love it, friendly w my kid and he weigth now 33.25 kg, is that good?
5 years, 8 months ago
Bataar
9 Months
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I've own this breed sense I was 16 years old(now I'm 44)Bataar right now 30 inch tall at the shoulders and 115 pounds,he is huge for a puppy,not hyper well balanced very calm and he thinks before he acts and yet when we walk nobody just walk up to him and pet him,he will not let you pet him but if I talk to the person a few minutes then he walk up to them and they can pet him,yes he like to bark at night but I teach him to bark on command and works very well that technique, I do lot's of training with him he master the sit and stay already even if I go into stores,gas station he will not move from the spot. My experience with this breed:must train,socialize,don't order this breed around if you ask them to do something they will gladly do it no harsh voice need it,extremely fast learning breed,always on watch even when his relaxing one minute sleeping,next his ready to go,they thrive on the family members attention not strangers thou,most people don't know about this breed(A Russian breeder pointed out for me almost 30 years ago)this is the only breed what looks for threat not just from the ground but above to,they known for killing birds(my puppy got 2 birds so far)Just got lined up for Bataar a personal protection training,my friend who trains police dogs he will do it.Little bit about how these puppies are growing,I got Bataar 3.5 months old he was 40 pounds a month later 59 pounds an other month later 76 pounds the 3rd he was 95 pounds 4th month 114 pounds next I will weight him when he turns 1 year old in November.I can say average 16-18 pounds they gain a first few months(my puppy his on raw diet)but vitamins a must for this breed because they grow very fast. At the end this is a beautiful,well balanced and fearless breed yet not for everyone you really have to know what you doing when you own this breed.Rest of my life I will only have this breed!!! Regards Andrea Takacs
5 years, 2 months ago
Misha
5 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking and training obedience
Simply the best breed I've had. Though definitely dont like strangers touching them.
4 years, 5 months ago
Bear
9 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Fetch, walks, playing with hose and water
He's very very strong, smart, somewhat suspicious of any strangers. But over all loyal and shows protective instincts for me. Beatifull fella. 9 months about 100 lbs and 25 inchd
4 years, 3 months ago
Bear
9 Months
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Tug of war fetch walks water play with hose .
Fetch
Tug of war
Fetch,walks,body rubs, brushing, water play with h
Smart, crazy strong, bigger than my last dog a saint Bernard. Stubborn at times good with my cat n chihauhaua. Excellent bodyguard dog. Very lovable with me like my kid. Wouldn't give him up for a million bucks.
4 years, 2 months ago
Zuri
21 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I got her when she was 3 months old.she is very sweet,but did not like my other dog at first (another female appx 1 year older than her). Now they are best friends. I am a dog trainer, so we have done tons of socialization with people and all different kinds of animals. She is ok with other dogs as long as they are on the more submissive side. We got 2 kittens when she was about a year old and bonded with them quickly. She is very friendly with people, however if someone enters the house without knocking she is always ready to protect if needed. She normally watches my reaction to the person entering before being protective or friendly. It seems as long as we (my family members) appear to be ok, she will be excited to meet the guest. One time a man walked in unexpectedly and startled me, she lunged at him and cornered him at the door...until we were notified he was the plumber and my sister told him to enter. So if we needed protection I'm sure Zuri would deliver. She is affectionate, playful, goofy, and beautiful. The shedding can be awful if she isn't groomed properly at least twice a year. Training is slower than with my other dog. Zuri requires a strong hand, but calm leadership. Trust and respect are key to good training with CAS. She is sensitive to the emotions of her leaders,, and is very protective of my elderly mom and my great nephew I am raising. This breed is majestic, snobbery, and definitely likes to bark at night. Background noise helps if you have neighbors nearby that are out at night and very early morning. All in all, this breed attracts a lot of attention.
3 years, 9 months ago
Bella
9 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
A very friendly, active, self assured. Intelligent. Needs strict borders. Needs a leader who is strong in spirit so to say. Very lovely, smart dog. Training with patience and love. Never try to yell at this breed. You will lose the authority as a leader. Love this breed.
3 years, 9 months ago
Alabai
6 Months
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Best Watch And Guard Dog Much Friendly Best Dog ever
3 years, 3 months ago
Animal Expert Question Icon
Question - My pet
Question

How much should a central asian shepherd puppy weight at 4 months? And height also. Thank you

Answer
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Question - Nutrition
Question

Does anyone know on average how much it will cost in food bill per month to keep three central asian shepherds and one caucasian shepherd dog. Thank you

Answer
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Question - Behavior
Question

Hello. I would like to adopt a male dog, a Alabai-Central Asia Shepard, and he is 8 years old, and knowing his devotion for his owner I want to know how will he adapt at a new home, family, owner, etc. In my yard are 4 medium dogs, 4 puppies, 10 cats, 2 children under 4 years and 2 old women. May I make this step, or in my condition it will be better to raise an Alabai from the beginning, rather then adopt an old one? Thank you.

Answer
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd