Alabai, or, as it is more correct to call a representative of this breed, the Central Asian Shepherd Dog (SAO) is a large, brave, strong dog with a developed innate instinct of a hunter and guard.
Alabais rank 8th among the largest dogs in the world.
Despite their impressive size and menacing appearance, these beautiful animals look very harmonious and even graceful in appearance.
However, the restrained power, which cannot be overlooked in the alabai, inspires respect and even fear.
This article presents the types of the Alabai breed with their names, descriptions and photographs.
History of the origin of the breed
The Central Asian Shepherd has existed for about three thousand years; according to some archaeological sources, the age of the breed can reach 6 thousand years.
- Nomadic tribes played a role in the origin of Alabai. Their pastures required powerful protection from attacks by predatory animals.
- Having settled over fairly vast territories, from the Caspian Sea to the Tibetan Plateau, people contributed to the emergence of the first Central Asians, strong and resilient, who could easily cope with a wolf.
- The breed was formed in natural conditions, without any human intervention.
The Central Asian Shepherd Dog breed contains the genes of their ancestors from ancient Asia and the dogs that were used in Mesopotamia for fighting. The breed is related to the Tibetan mastiffs. Shepherd dogs of ancient nomadic peoples are also directly related to this breed.
Interesting: Ears and tail docking for this breed began thousands of years ago.
“Central Asian Shepherd Dog” is the official name of this breed in Russia. Since 1989, the description of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog breed has been enshrined in the standard under the number FCI No. 335. And for a long time no changes were made to the adopted standard.
Purposeful study of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog in the USSR began in the 60s of the 20th century. The formidable appearance of the breed was supposed to be used in the protection of strategically important objects; the heavy nature of the dogs made this task impossible.
Dream Interpretation
Many people are interested in: why do you dream about Alabai? In general, the dog has always been considered a symbol of friendship and loyalty. A dream with alabai portends news from your friend.
The color of the pet also matters:
- Black: Beware of your friend. Perhaps he is planning something against you.
- White color: Be confident in your close friend.
- Red color: means your boyfriend, husband or wife.
Remember the behavior of Alabai in a dream. The dog grins at you - beware of your friend. You are running away from an animal - beware of the pitfalls in life. You play with your pet - good news awaits you. A dog that barks, growls, attacks - scandals and insults will soon await you.
Description of the breed, characteristics (photo of the dog)
The Central Asian Shepherd is distinguished by its harmonious body structure. The Asian is very muscular, the withers are high. The ears are small relative to the body. Ear set is low. The head is large, with a square muzzle.
The life cycle of the breed is long - up to 15 years.
According to the standard, an adult:
- A male at the withers is about 80 cm tall and weighs about 70 kg;
- Bitches reach 70 cm, weight 60 kg.
The Asian has a coarse coat about 8 cm long and a thick undercoat up to 4 cm. A massive mane forms on the neck. The tail is thick, high set.
- The color of the shepherd dog can be black and white, red, gray, piebald, brindle, and speckled.
- In addition, there are other colors that are popular in other countries.
- In the photo of the Central Asian Shepherd you can see all the variety of colors of the breed.
- The eyes are widely spaced, not very large, elongated. The color of the pupils depends on the color of the coat.
- The tip of the nose is black, but some colors (fawn and white) have a light color.
- The upper lips should cover the lower jaw and have black pigmentation.
Alabai with tan color
The Alabai dog's gray color with large black or beige spots is not uncommon. Moreover, there must be large light areas on the chest. They can be white or beige.
Such light “inserts” run along the chest, may taper in the abdomen, cover the paws and end at the base of the tail. In this case, the newborn puppy has a poorly defined outline of the future pattern. Shades appear brighter and clearer later, closer to a month.
Tan color type
Character and behavior
Of course, before you decide to get a dog of this breed, you need to read a lot of literature and talk with knowledgeable people. And it’s best if it’s a canine specialist. Answer the question: “Can I cope with such a big dog?”
The character of today's Asian Shepherd is not simple. And behavior often reflects how involved the dog's owner is in raising the dog.
- Alabai will not simply follow commands, he is too smart for that.
- First, the dog evaluates the need for the command, and then executes it (if necessary).
- The character is very strong, and you need to start raising an Asian as early as possible.
Advice: A dog of this breed should not be hit or scolded, otherwise it will be a disaster. It is best to use the services of a specialist.
Interesting Facts
- Alabais are the eighth largest dogs in the world.
- The record holder for size is an animal named Bulldozer. The largest Alabai in the world lives in Russia. The weight of the largest dog reaches 125 kilograms.
- The word alabai means “motley” or pockmarked.”
- As a protest, the pet may relieve itself in the most unexpected place.
- In some countries it is prohibited to keep the breed, as it is considered aggressive.
- You can see Alabai in such films as “Makar the Pathfinder”, “Boatswain”, “Okhlamon”.
- The Uzbeks call the dogs Buribassars, which literally means “wolfhound.”
- Many people wonder: why does the little Alabai bite? This is due to his built-in hunting instincts. You need to explain to your pet in time that you shouldn’t do this.
- Is Alabai dangerous for humans? Of course, if you are a stranger who has entered his territory.
- There is a variety of the breed called the Turkish Alabai Kangal. According to the myth, the dog was given to the Ottoman padishah. He was delighted with the strength of the dog, which was able to kill the lion. The photo shows a Turkish Alabai dog.
Training
Training an Asian is an important stage in a dog’s adaptation to society.
Since Alabai is one of the few dog breeds that have a stubborn character, during the training process the main thing is not to give up and to carefully monitor the correct execution of commands. Otherwise, the dog will decide that it is okay to be disobedient.
- But the most important thing here is not to go too far and switch to a higher tone during training.
- You can start training as early as 2 months.
Advice: If punishment is necessary, you need to take the puppy by the withers, shake it quietly, and clearly say in a stern voice (not angry): “No” or “Ugh.”
Basic commands that a dog must understand:
- Lie;
- Place;
- Near;
- Sit;
- To me.
Learning commands should be gradual. This breed takes longer to learn commands than other dog breeds.
Breeding
The female's pregnancy lasts 56-64 days. A week before the expected date, choose a place for birth. A pregnant Alabai bitch should get to know him.
It is advisable to prepare disposable diapers, cloths, medicines, a baby box, warm water and scales.
Signs of labor are as follows:
- The girl is losing hair in the nipple area.
- The pet became restless.
- Immediately before giving birth, the girl begins to experience intermittent breathing. One gets the feeling that the dog does not have enough air after running.
- A day before giving birth, a plug comes out (this is a blood clot that blocked the cervix).
Since Alabai are strong dogs, they usually give birth on their own. But still, you must control the situation and stock up on the veterinarian’s number in advance.
The bitch gives birth to 9 to 12 puppies. Their weight is 500-700 grams. Monitor your dog after birth. She can “torture” kids with her love.
Health and illness
Given the large size of dogs of this breed, they may seem to be in good health. And in a sense, this is true, Asians received a wonderful immune system from their ancestors.
However, the breed is susceptible to diseases, often related specifically to the size of the dog, and in some cases the cause of the diseases is improper care.
- The main problem of the breed is joints. The weight of the dog leads to overload of the joints, which leads to arthritis and arthrosis.
- Alabai is a very active dog. If movement is limited, obesity may appear and the load on large joints will increase. Which in turn can lead to arthrosis and arthritis.
- How to prevent these diseases is a balanced diet and active movement.
- Poor nutrition leads to gastrointestinal problems, and this in turn leads to diabetes.
Tip: Table food is not suitable for a dog! This is the path to disease.
In autumn and spring, pay attention to the prevention of deworming.
A special collar will help with fleas and ticks. But the microscopic mites that cause the disease demodicosis cannot be cured without professional help.
Timely vaccinations, good maintenance, and proper nutrition will help your pet stay healthy.
Nicknames for Alabai
The nickname Alabai is given once and for life. Before you name your pet, look at it carefully. Perhaps some character traits or color will help you choose the right name.
For boy
Popular boy nicknames with meaning:
- Aydin is the moon.
- Ayik is a bear.
- Aikol – noble.
- Darman is strength.
- Ailaker is dexterous.
- Jasur – brave.
- Kagysh - fight.
- Miyat is a protector.
- Palvon is a hero.
- Zangar is a giant;
- Kashan is beautiful.
- Sardar is a leader.
- Tupan is a hurricane.
- Nuker is a fighter.
- Enish - victory.
- Khaibat is a threat.
- Demir - iron.
- Kamal is a fortress.
- Yur is neat.
- Zangar is a giant.
- Kubat – strength.
- Derkan is correct.
- Kamtar is modest.
For girl
Popular nicknames for girls with meaning:
- Ai – moon, month.
- Aina – glass.
- Alada – care.
- Altyn-Gul is a golden flower.
- Orzu is a dream.
- Vepa – loyalty.
- Gala is a fortress.
- Nabira is a granddaughter.
- Kadama - armor.
- Paida - good.
- Kecha - night.
- Tara is the world.
- Tylla is gold.
- Kelin is the bride.
- Nezi – gentle.
- Shagga - quickly.
- Egna – needle.
- Vada is a promise.
Nutrition
Feeding such a large breed of dog must be taken very seriously.
- The main thing in the diet should be meat. It should be low-fat and the fresher the better.
- It is possible to use high quality ready-made feed. You should not feed your Asian dog dry food intended for small dogs.
- For Asians, sweets, flour, spices, and, of course, salty are forbidden.
- Porridge and fish, but low-fat, are very good. Vegetables and fruits will also come in handy in your dog’s diet. Eggs, dairy products.
A balanced diet, which contains the vitamins and minerals necessary for the development of the Alabai, in combination with the correct dosage of portions, is the basis for the dog’s health and active life, as well as the prevention of many shepherd diseases.
Clean water should always be available.
What to do if your weight is below normal
The standards given in the table are desirable, but not mandatory. If the pet's weight is no more than 10% less than them, then there is no need to worry about lack of body weight.
But if the deficiency is significant and the dog clearly looks skinny, then the pet should be shown to the veterinarian in order to rule out a possible serious illness due to which the dog does not gain the required weight.
In the event that an examination in the clinic does not reveal any abnormalities in the pet’s health, it will probably be necessary to change the conditions of its keeping or feeding, for example, increase the calorie content and nutritional value of home-cooked food, or transfer the dog to another ready-made food, with a higher content of protein and fat. .
IMPORTANT!
For an underweight Alabai, physical activity can also be useful, but it is very important to remember that a growing puppy should not be overloaded and that he should move as much and at the pace he wishes.
It is not recommended to wear harnesses with weights on a young dog..
Perhaps the pet will pump up its muscles in this way, but in this case its physical development may turn out to be inharmonious, which is why the dog will ultimately look disproportionate.
Also, you should not give a growing Alabai food supplements that help increase muscle mass, as this may be unsafe for his health..
Walk
The Asian is a very large dog. And a city apartment is not the best place for such a breed.
- She will feel good in a private household, where you can set up a large enclosure for her.
- This applies to older puppies and adult dogs. But it is better to place a small puppy in the house until he gets stronger.
- A stronger puppy can be safely transferred to an enclosure.
- But if, after all, a fan of this breed lives in a city apartment, then he must provide his dog with two walks a day for 2 or more hours each.
And if a dog can get around in an enclosure without a leash, then when going for a walk in an urban environment with a Central Asian Shepherd, you need to have a muzzle and a high-quality leash.
What weight should an adult Alabai have depending on gender?
The minimum weight allowed for Alabais according to the standard is 50 kg for males and 40 kg for females.
The maximum weight is not specified by the standard: for a male it can reach 80 kg or even more, and for a female - 65 kg.
The weight of some representatives of this breed can significantly exceed that specified in the standard and amount to up to 100 kg.
By the way, the record holder among Alabais is a dog named Bulldozer . The owner gave his pet such an eloquent nickname when he saw him shoveling snow.
Grooming
When keeping an Alabai, you need to make it a rule and constantly examine the dog’s mouth, ears and eyes. Wipe your eyes with a cotton swab dipped in tea leaves. Treat the ears with a cotton swab soaked in chlorhexidine.
It will be enough to bathe the animal once a month, drying the fur well.
Constantly comb, and especially during the molting period. The bedding where the dog sleeps can be washed more often.
How to feed a grown pet correctly?
Feeding is the basis for the proper development of a dog, especially during the period of active growth and skeletal formation.
It is necessary to create a diet so that it is based (30-50%) on protein products - meat, fish, offal, milk and fermented milk products. Little Alabai also require carbohydrates and fiber, which they can get from cereals, vegetables and fruits.
The number of feedings per day depends on the age of the dog:
- up to 1 month – 9;
- 1 month – 6;
- 2-3 months – 5;
- 4-6 months – 4;
- 6-10 months – 3;
- after 10 months and older – 2.
IMPORTANT!
Errors in nutrition made during development can cause the development of pathologies.
Weekly diet for a puppy at 4-5 months
| Day of the week | Menu |
| Monday | 500 g beef, 200-250 g rice porridge, 20 g vegetable or butter, 700 g calcined cottage cheese, 200 g stewed carrots and zucchini, 1 egg, 200 g rye bread, bran and herbs |
| Tuesday | 500 g veal, 200-250 g buckwheat porridge, 20 g vegetable or butter, 400 g calcined cottage cheese, 300 ml kefir, 200 g boiled pumpkin, 200 g rye bread and herbs |
| Wednesday | 500 g beef, 250 g rice porridge, 20 g vegetable or butter, 300 g calcined cottage cheese, 150 ml kefir, 150 ml yogurt, 200 g pumpkin and zucchini, 200 g bran and herbs |
| Thursday | 500 g veal, 200 g rice porridge, 20 g vegetable or butter, 400 g calcined cottage cheese, 300 ml kefir, 200 g carrots, tomatoes and apples, 200 g rye bread and herbs |
| Friday | 500 g fish, 250 g buckwheat porridge, 20 g vegetable or butter, 700 g calcined cottage cheese, 200 g cucumbers and tomatoes, 200 g rye bread, bran and herbs |
| Saturday | 600 g offal, 200-250 g rice porridge, 20 g vegetable or butter, 500 g calcined cottage cheese, 200 ml kefir, 200 g bell pepper and carrots, 1 egg, 200 g bran and herbs |
| Sunday | 500 g fish, 200-250 g buckwheat porridge, 20 g vegetable or butter, 400 g calcined cottage cheese, 300 ml yogurt, 200 g beets and tomatoes, 200 g rye bread, bran and herbs |
Mating
To get high-quality offspring, it is important to know some aspects of mating Alabais.
- The female matures at one year of age, the male at 16 months.
- Estrus occurs 1-2 times a year. More often in the spring.
- It is necessary to pair a female with a male only on the 3rd heat. By this time, the dog will be fully strengthened and ready to give birth to healthy offspring.
- Males can be taken for mating from the age of 2 years.
- Early mating has a very bad effect on the dog's health.
- Estrus lasts approximately 25 days. Mating is carried out 8-12 days after the start of estrus.
- Before mating, the animals must be introduced. It is better in the territory of the male, but in her territory the female may turn out to be aggressive.
- The mating process is repeated after 2 days.
- In a litter, as a rule, there are up to 10 puppies.
To what age do they grow?
The most intensive growth occurs in the first 6 months of Alabai’s life. After six months, the young dog grows a little more, but the rate of growth is already noticeably decreasing.
It is believed that most Alabais reach their maximum size before the age of 1 year, but if the dog subsequently grows further, it is only slightly, by 1-2 cm.
But at the same time, even before the age of three, the dog continues to grow in width and gain muscle.
Growth in females usually slows down or stops with the onset of the first heat, therefore, girls of this breed sometimes gain height only until 9-10 months.
Choosing a puppy
When choosing Central Asian Shepherd puppies, you should focus on a reputable kennel or a breeder with good reviews.
Advice: You should adopt a puppy when he is 2.5 months old. By this age he will have received basic vaccinations.
When choosing a puppy, you need to focus on healthy appearance. What are the main health indicators?
- Beautiful, shiny coat.
- Eyes and ears are clean.
- No hernia on the abdomen.
- Nose is wet.
- Wonderful appetite.
It is also worth paying attention to the puppy’s behavior. He shouldn't be afraid of sounds.
They usually check with a bunch of keys that are thrown on the floor. The puppy that comes up first has the makings of a leader. And if such a puppy is raised correctly, he will grow up to be a brave and reliable dog.
Vaccination schedule
| Age | The drug and its purpose |
| 3-4 weeks (optional vaccination) | Nobivac Puppy DP – vaccine against canine distemper and parvovirus enteritis |
| 8-10 weeks | Nobivac DHPPi + Lepto – against canine distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus enteritis, parainfluenza and leptospirosis |
| 10-13 weeks | Nobivac DHPPi + Lepto + Rabies – against canine distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus enteritis, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, rabies |
| 6-8 months (after teeth change) | Nobivac DHPPi + Lepto + Rabies – against canine distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus enteritis, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, rabies |
In the future, vaccinations must be carried out annually at the same time.
In addition to the Nobivac drug, Eurican, Primodog, and Duramune vaccines are popular.
NOTE!
Only a healthy dog can be vaccinated; deworming must be done 10-14 days before vaccination.
How much does a Central Asian Shepherd cost?
The cost of an Asian puppy depends on several factors:
- Exterior. The more the puppy’s appearance corresponds to the breed standard, the higher the price;
- Signs of tribal marriage. This parameter is of concern to those who want to participate in exhibitions in the future;
- Well, for those who just need a good friend, breed marriage is not a hindrance;
- Coat color. Rare colors (for example, white) will cost much more.
Also, the price of a Central Asian Shepherd may depend on the location of the breeder. Large cities sell at a higher price than in the outback.
- Prices for puppies with deviations in appearance start from 15 thousand rubles.
- Puppies with a normal, simple exterior will already cost from 20 thousand rubles.
- Puppies whose exterior promises a great future cost from 30 thousand rubles.
When purchasing a puppy, you must complete all paperwork correctly. Without them, it's just a dog.
Well, if the purchase of a puppy was dictated by the desire to have just a good friend, and not to make money from him, then all questions about the exterior and the correct execution of papers do not matter at all.
