Taigan

The story of the Taigan is said to have begun when the dog descended from the mythical bird dog. In the legend, an egg was stolen from the mountain vulture Kumai's nest. Upon hatching, a puppy emerged and became a legend who saved the tribe from starvation by dispatching the wolf packs that were attacking their cattle. In history, this sighthound has been part of the nomadic tribe's lives as they journeyed through Central Asia and Siberia. The strong and hardy Taigan was at home in the remote rugged terrain encountered by the tribes, and the dog was very adaptable, reliable and treasured for their hunting abilities. In fact, the Taigan is more than capable of taking on a wolf and winning the fight. At one stage this courageous dog was on the brink of extinction, as the nomadic way of life gave way to settlements. There was no longer the need for the hunting dog and a lot of the Taigan's became strays. To make matters worse, a campaign to kill off the many stray dogs further reduced their population. Fortunately, a few breed enthusiasts worked to preserve the dogs, but it wasn't until 1964 when the USSR laid the first standard for the breed. When Kyrgyzstan gained their independence in 1991 the people were free to return to their nomadic ways and the Taigan's were again in partnership and word spread to others how this amazing dog was. The Taigan breed is now showing a reversal of their decline and numbers are slowly growing. They are now considered a national treasure of the country.