Giant
15 Years
79 Kg
Utility Dogs
Curious, Independent, Quiet
The Central Asian Shepherd (CAS) or the Central Asian Ovtcharka is a very large ancient breed of dog bred through natural selection more than four millennia ago in the vast region of Central Asia. This giant canine is almost three-quarters the size of an adult lion and is known for its power and stamina in bringing down predators. It has a massive bone structure and powerful muscles, with a body that is slightly longer than tall. It features a massive head with a slight stop, flat forehead, deep and blunt muzzle that tapers very little to the large black nose. It has dark oval eyes with fully pigmented eyelids. Its upper lips hang over the wide lower jaw giving the breed its serious and intimidating look. The ears are traditionally cropped close to the head but naturally small, triangular, pendant and set low to the head reaching below the eye level. The highly set tail hangs down to the hock in a sickle shape but is traditionally docked. The head is supported by a short but muscular neck. All four legs are well-boned and muscular and are cushioned by large feet with very thick pads. A male Central Asian Shepherd is more massive and powerful looking than a female, which is smaller and lighter in build. A typical male weighs 50 kilos and more while a female weighs 40 kilos. The typical height of a male Central Asian Shepherd is 70 cm while a female stands at 65 cm. Coat colours come in white, black, grey, russet, straw, gray/brown, brindle and flecked.
All dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
All dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
There are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
There are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
There are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
All dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
All dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
Barking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
Majority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
There are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
All dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Before you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The Central Asian Shepherd is an ancient breed that is very diverse in size, conformation, coat type, colour, temperament and a number of other characteristics, mainly because the region it originated from is a vast landscape of geographic diversity. For many thousands of years, large, heavily-built dogs called Alabai in Turkish, with cropped ears and docked tails, have been used by nomadic Central Asian tribes to protect livestock from wild predators such as wolves and mountain lions and even thieves. This breed naturally evolved through the passing of time, and develop traits according to the region it was found. Those found in the hot and dry countries of Central Asia developed shorter hair than those found in the bitterly cold and windy countries of the region, although the longer rougher coat variety is becoming rare nowadays. Only the toughest pups survived and only those with the strongest guarding instincts were selected to guard the livestock. Today, working Central Asian Shepherd dogs are still a common sight in many Central Asian countries and it is common to see puppies from the same litter with different abilities and inherited temperament. Many are used as livestock guardians, some serve as household guard dogs and some are used for dog fighting. It is one of the most popular dog breeds in Russia, making it to the number one spot in 2000.
This massive breed is naturally calm and gentle, but it is a fearless guardian of flock and properties. As a natural guard dog, it is an independent thinker and will stop at nothing to do what it was born to do – guard and protect. It does bark a lot, which may present a problem if the dog lives in a suburban household. It is an affectionate breed that thrives on human interaction and companionship. The Central Asian Shepherd is not a pet for a first-time dog owner not only because of its huge built but it also needs an owner who understands a shepherd- or guardian-type dog and the temperament that goes along with it. This breed is inquisitive when outside the house and can actually stand six feet on its hind legs just to check out what is on the other side of the fence.
As the owner, establishing a strong pack leader status is the first and foremost training that the Central Asian Shepherd dog should know and learn. This large thinking dog should learn that its owner is the master and not the dog. It has a tendency to act independently and will only do what it was commanded if it deemed necessary or justifiable, so obedience training from an early start is highly needed. Outside the house, it may try to dominate other dogs so early socialisation to as many experiences as possible is also a must.
Although this dog is a massive breed, short-haired CASDs actually requires very little grooming for its well-developed coat. The long-haired CASDs need weekly brushing which will help remove dead undercoat that does not always fall by itself. However, daily brushing (including a vacuum) is a must during heavy seasonal shedding twice a year.
The Central Asian Shepherd dog is one of the healthiest breeds of dogs and can live up to 17 years. It has the least inherited genetic diseases than most of the modern purebreds we have today but like other large dogs, it is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia so it is always recommended to have the dog screened for hip and/or elbow problems.
This breed was born to move around in its native land following its nomadic masters. This type of slow but steady phase of exercise is what best suits the Central Asian Shepherd. It is a highly adaptable breed that will do quite well from just patrolling the household yard to going out for a walk or jog with its owner around the block or even going on a hiking trip for miles and miles.
This enormous guardian of the flock is a good family dog and an excellent guardian of children. It is a calm and gentle breed that is excellent with all the members of the family and has a high tolerance for kids. However, both the dog and the children must be adult-supervised when they are around each other as the sheer size of the dog can easily knock a small child down. It will get along well with household pets including cats. Outside of the house, it may try to dominate other dogs, especially those of the same sex, but early socialisation and consistent training during puppyhood will help curtail this demeanour
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