88-143 lbs
24-27"
Central Asia
This fascinating ancient dog, originating as far back as 3000 B.C., developed by natural selection. Their dog breed developed in response to climate and other physical circumstances.
While they are thought to have developed from the Tibetan Mastiff, one can’t be certain, as they originated so long ago, with no human-directed breeding. They are, in fact, thought to be the oldest breed still existing today.
The Central Asian Shepherd is large and powerful, with strong muscular legs, a large short head, and a thick neck with a noteworthy dewlap. Their coats can be long or short, in white, fawn, black, or brindle. As the dog breed developed, three distinct breed types developed according to purpose, including herders, dog fighters, and livestock guardians. These three dog breed types have personalities to match their purposes.
While all Central Asian Shepherds are smart, confident, brave, and protective, the fighting dog breed type is more aggressive. Because they are so large, powerful, and intense, Central Asian Shepherds are not good starter dogs; first-time dog owners should start with someone a bit easier to handle. This dog requires large amounts of food, exercise, and training to focus his prodigious mental, emotional, and physical energy. The Central Asian Shepherd is impressive in every way, and is a dog to aspire to; just be sure you’re ready to handle the whole package.
The Central Asian Shepherd’s origins are betrayed by its name: the dog breed comes from the center of Asia, between the Ural river, Caspian sea, Asia Minor, and the Northwest border of China. They date back to somewhere between 2000 and 3000 B.C. and are thought to be related to the Tibetan Mastiff, though because their breed developed independent of human intervention, responding only to environmental influence and impact, it is impossible to trace their origins with full accuracy.
They are genetically quite similar to the Caucasian Shepherd, Kangal Dog, and Akbash, which are also aboriginal breeds in the same geographical area. Following their hazy origins, with the intervention of humans in their breeding process, the Central Asian Shepherd breed developed in three distinct directions: livestock guardians (like other similar breeds from that region), guard dogs, and dog fighters.
One of their most colorful nicknames is “Voldokov,” which is Russian for “Wolf Crusher”; this should give you an idea of their strength! It is thought that a dog breed similar to this canine 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, though their popularity has since declined somewhat. While rarely found in the United States, it is beginning to be bred more in America. This dog breed has received recognition from many different clubs and registries, including the National Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, American Canine Registry, American Rare Breed Association, the very important Federation Cynologique Internationale, and even the American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service Program, although they have yet to be recognized by the American Kennel Club.
A large, muscular, powerful dog thought to have descended from a Mastiff-type breed, this canine has a body that is slightly longer than it is tall. It presents an imposing presence and is larger than the average dog. The bones of this dog breed support a wide, strong back and large chest. The front legs lead to muscular shoulders, and the hind legs have strong thighs. This dog breed’s face is somewhat jowly, with a broad head and a slimmer muzzle. The teeth and jaws under those jowls are quite strong—don’t forget the dog breed’s working dog history! You will see a confident, dignified expression on the Central Asian Shepherd’s regal face, accented by its medium, oval, wide and deep-set eyes, which range from hazel to dark brown, thick eyelids, and black eye rims. In some countries, the tail is docked at a moderate length and the ears are cropped into a cauliflower shape, unless the dog is in a country where canine cosmetic surgery is illegal, such as France and Australia. This large dog breed has large paws, features a dense coat that can be long or short, with a heavy undercoat. The coat color can be black & white, fawn in various shades, or brindle, sometimes with a black mask.
Minimal grooming is necessary to keep the coat of this dog looking attractive. The Central Asian Shepherd typically sheds quite heavily in the spring, at which time extra brushing is required in order to prevent matting and promote the shed. During the remainder of the year, this breed is considered to be a light shedder, and does not require frequent bathing or grooming. They are not hypoallergenic dogs, but typically have no doggie smell. The strong nails of the Central Asian Shepherd must be trimmed on a regular basis in order to avoid tearing or injury to the nail.
This breed will not do well in an apartment, and if the living space is too small, the Central Asian Shepherd may resort to digging and chewing. It will adapt to living indoors, but it prefers to be outside patrolling and guarding the family home. As a puppy, the Central Asian Shepherd grows quite fast, and needs a lot of natural foods. Take care to feed your adult Central Asian Shepherd a large amount of high quality food twice a day.
Best described as calm and fearless, the CAS is an independent dog that makes for a great family guardian. When challenged, this dog will stand its ground, but this dog breed is generally very good with the entire family. Some suggest that supervision is in order when the dog is around small children. This dog breed may dominate other dogs outside the home, and it is generally suspicious of strangers. This dog breed is prone to barking at night. It is important to socialize this breed from the beginning, and if well socialized, it will get along with other family pets such as cats, other non-threatening dogs, and other non-canine animals. They do very well living with other Central Asian Shepherds, as they understand each other. Central Asian Shepherds are working dogs, enjoy having a job to do, and need strong owners who will establish leadership and clear boundaries. They are very intelligent, and benefit from training if it is done with love, kindness, and positive rewards (like most of us). When seen relaxing at home, the Central Asian Shepherd may be mistaken for a puddle of indolence. Don’t be fooled; they’ll go from zero to sixty in mere seconds.
Written by Darlene Stott
Published: 08/30/2006, edited: 08/18/2021
More articles by Darlene Stott
How much should a central asian shepherd puppy weight at 4 months? And height also. Thank you
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
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.
