Aboriginal dog breed of the Armenian Highlands
- Fact:
You can go hunting with this dog. It is known that gampras alone can cope with a wolf or even a bear. - Fact 2:
The four-legged guard needs constant communication with a person. - Fact 3:
Armenian wolfhounds are easy to care for. The wool is combed once a week. - Fact 4:
The dog tolerates life well on the street. The thick coat and undercoat protect it from any weather.
Gampr is an Armenian wolfhound. The name of the breed translates as “strong”, “powerful”. It describes well the main qualities of a dog. She is smart, resilient and attentive. Endowed with self-esteem and courage.
Story
Gampr is a breed with a long history. The first documentary mentions of it date back to the 1st millennium BC. e. The age of rock paintings depicting hunting scenes is even older – 3 thousand years. It is believed that the animals' ancestors were domesticated wolves.
Wolfhounds from Armenia have served as a protector and friend of man for hundreds of years. They took part in the military campaigns of Tigran II. Members of the royal family were rescued. As evidenced by the records of the historian of the 5th century. Movses Khorenatsi.
Cynologists have shown interest in Gampras as an independent breed relatively recently. At first it was classified as a variety of Caucasian Shepherd Dog. Dogs received official status only in 2011. At the same time, they were recognized as a national treasure of Armenia.
Breed characteristics
Throughout its existence, the Armenian Gampr dog breed has remained virtually unchanged. She has not been subjected to strict selection for her phenotype. The breed has some characteristics characteristic of wolves. They were inherited during selection, as constant matings of individuals with wild wolves were carried out.
According to reviews from dog breeders, the Armenian Wolfhound has the following distinctive features:
- viability;
- strong instinct of self-preservation;
- independence;
- adequacy;
- an intelligent look, full of seriousness and authority;
- balanced psyche;
- friendliness to people.
Without exception, all dog breeders highlight the following abilities of the breed:
- independent decision-making;
- implementation of reliable human protection;
- fast movement without any difficulties;
- good tolerance and understanding of training;
- high-quality protection of small and large livestock.
The Armenian Wolfhound dog is used today for a variety of jobs. She can be a shepherd, a rescuer, a watchman. The breed has excellent mental and physical characteristics. This allows us to classify it as one of the most dangerous dogs when it comes to fighting. Representatives of this breed are the best wolfhounds in the world.
General description and photo
The wolfhound is an indigenous breed. People practically did not interfere in the formation of her appearance. These are large and hardy dogs. Height at the withers varies from 63–80 cm. Weight from 45 to 84 kg. Males are always a little larger in size.
Gampras are well built. They have a proportional and muscular body. The impression that animals give is power and strength. No signs of heaviness or clumsiness. Their movements are fast, smooth and free.
These dogs command respect. They are independent, smart, and to some extent independent. They have a developed instinct of self-preservation, security and protective qualities. Cowardice or malice are considered disqualifying vices.
Nutrition
The Armenian Gampr (Alabai) is an unpretentious dog, especially indiscriminate in food. Natural nutrition is recommended for her, since, like many other native breeds, she digests raw meat better than prepared food.
For your information! Chondroprotectors should be added to natural foods to prevent arthrosis, as well as calcium to strengthen bones.
Walking Gampra
Standard
Gampras have a slightly elongated body. Wide and deep chest. Straight back and strong lower back. High croup and toned stomach. The front and hind legs are parallel to each other, with obvious muscle definition. The hock joints are strong and well developed. The paws are massive and large, collected in a lump.
The animals have a large head, a wide forehead, and powerful jaws. The ears are set low. The eyes are almond-shaped. Must be darker than wool. Set wide apart and set deep. The look is stern and serious even in puppies.
The coat is thick with abundant undercoat. It can be both long and short. Its main function is protection from cold, heat, rain and wind. There are no strict requirements for color. Preferred:
- brindle;
- pale yellow;
- zonal;
- cream.
Liver and brown are undesirable.
How to choose a Gampr puppy
Armenian Gampras are very similar to the Caucasian Shepherd Dog. However, even puppies already exhibit characteristic features, such as powerful paws, a large head, and soft, thick and short hair. Babies under 4 months of age may have pink paw pads and nose pads, but they darken over time. But not everyone’s bite then turns into a scissor bite.
The Gampra puppy has characteristic features in appearance
Note! When choosing a dog of this breed, you must ask the nursery for all the documents - a certificate of registration of this enterprise and papers for the dogs themselves, in particular, you need the pedigree of the producers, if any, certificates confirming victories in exhibitions.
Price and where to buy a puppy
Gampr is a rather rare dog. The problem is that under the guise of this breed, unscrupulous sellers may offer Caucasian Shepherd puppies that are too large for the standard of their breed. Therefore, you should only buy from officially registered nurseries, and almost all of them are concentrated in Armenia and work under the auspices of the local canine union.
On average, an Armenian Gampr puppy costs about 40 thousand rubles*, but some set higher prices. If the seller indicates a lower price, there is always a risk that this is not a purebred puppy, but a crossbreed.
If you take the matter seriously, the gampr can become your most loyal and devoted friend. After all, these are very smart dogs with a calm and balanced, although somewhat stubborn and wayward character.
*Prices are as of November 2022.
Kinds
Unofficially, dogs are divided into several types according to the following criteria:
- Wool length . There are long-haired and short-haired representatives of the breed. The former are characterized by elongated guard hairs.
- Based on their working qualities, they are divided into watchdogs and herders. The first ones are taller and heavier. They have an almost square body type. More calm character. The latter are very hardy, with well-developed security qualities.
This classification is conditional. It is not documented. Currently, work is underway to recognize the long-haired Gampr as an official breed variety.
Owner reviews
Alexander. D.
The dog was bred exclusively to guard the farmstead. We planned that he would live in an enclosure and be released only when we were away or at night. The surprise was that the dog turned out to be a wonderful companion. With such dimensions, he is a very careful and neat dog.
He never barks in vain, he doesn’t know how to bark at all. He makes such guttural sounds and growls very intimidatingly, but only as a last resort. The security guard is simply excellent. The first one never shows aggression towards other animals. He lives next door to cats and everything is peaceful with them. He takes his children on sleds and is constantly worried if they fall.
Lyudmila V.
As soon as we moved into our house, we immediately thought about a dog. All breeds were sorted. I had to choose - I should spend most of the time with him, and the children, of course. We were very afraid to adopt a fighting dog; we had read about their aggression.
Gampra was brought as a gift to my husband from Georgia. We acted responsibly and went to training. Everything went very smoothly there. Our “baby” grasped everything on the fly, and we were almost equal in size. It's very calm at home with him, even when we're alone. We live next to the forest and if we go skiing with our children, we definitely take our bear with us. So even wild animals are not afraid of us.
Character
These pets are independent and proud. The model of their relationship with a person is partnership. They are very sensitive. If there is a lack of attention to itself or if cruelty is shown, the dog may respond in kind to the owner. Therefore, you need to establish friendly relations with her based on trust and respect. Show who is the “leader” in the family.
Armenian wolfhounds are good at capturing emotions. Having appeared in the house, they immediately become close to women and children. Formidable dogs have well-developed “herding” instincts. They immediately take small family members and pets under their care.
This breed is very attentive and serious. She is ready to protect her home and owners until her last breath. Therefore, it is important to start socializing and raising the puppy as early as possible. And don't stop exercising throughout your pet's life.
Breeding
Making up for lost time in the last century, the Canine Union of Armenia has devoted all its efforts to restoring the dogs of the Armenian highlands, and therefore the export of gamprs from Armenia is currently strictly limited. Nowadays, the breeding of Armenian wolfhounds is carried out primarily by people interested in preserving the breed itself, who know its background and care about its future.
Gampr on a walk
Nurseries
Thanks to the hard work of Violetta Gabrielyan, breeders who previously bred Gamper clandestinely got the opportunity to officially register their kennels in the Kennel Union of Armenia. The number of nurseries where you can purchase Gampra is extremely small, and it makes no sense for potential owners to count on financially profitable offers if they are aiming to buy a purebred puppy. By 2022, 5 nurseries were registered: “Mkhitar”, “Karpat”, “Vagharshapat”, “White Gumpr”, “Vanap”, and their number is gradually growing.
Bravery and curiosity are inherent in Gampras from early childhood.
Requirements for the owner
Raising an Armenian Wolfhound is a difficult and energy-consuming task, so beginners are not advised to start their acquaintance with dogs with this breed. Gampr is suitable for an owner with a firm hand, who is able to show the pet its place, without allowing himself to be too soft, but also without going to extremes.
General recommendations
It is recommended to purchase puppies that are already three months old - this is explained by the specificity of the maturation of gamprs. A six-month-old gampra can no longer be distinguished from an adult dog, while a two-month-old dog is still too young to meet its owner. As a rule, puppies are active and sociable, often running up to their potential owner. Cowardice and uncertainty are not typical for this breed.
Gampra puppies grow very quickly
Purchasing Tips
When buying a puppy you must:
- feel the puppy’s belly - a swollen or hard belly indicates pathology;
- feel the ribs - balls in the rib area that are invisible at first glance may be a consequence of rickets, which develops in the puppy due to improper feeding;
- feel the paws - you should feel slightly protruding cartilaginous growth points on them in the area of the folds;
- Inspect your ears - they should be clean and free of unpleasant odor.
Gampr puppies in the kennel
Possible nicknames
Of course, you can give the puppy any favorite nickname, however, if you want to reflect the Armenian roots of the wolfhound, below you can find some options for “native” names:
Table 3. Nicknames for wolfhounds
| Male | Bitch |
| Ara - legendary hero | Gadar – “top of the mountain; white, beautiful, pure" |
| Diran – “controls” | Kohar – “precious stone” |
| Ardak – “honor” | Arpi – “sun” |
| Azat – “free, independent” | Armanush – “beautiful late flower” |
Armenian Gampr puppy price
The price range varies, on average, a purebred puppy costs $700-900. Despite the fact that nurseries providing Armenian wolfhounds are also appearing outside the CIS, it is recommended to purchase purebred puppies directly in their homeland - the Caucasus.
Gampr in his native lands
Working qualities
Gampr is a multifunctional working dog. She can become a watchman, protector, shepherd. It’s not for nothing that it has many names in Armenia:
- wolfhound;
- warrior;
- security guard;
- herding dog;
- rescuer.
You can go hunting with such a dog. It is known that gampras alone can cope with a wolf or even a bear. Capable of putting several strong men to flight. This breed is very resilient and independent. It is important for her to feel needed and to be at work all the time.
Price
Buying a puppy of this breed is not very easy, especially outside the Caucasus. The minimum price for Gampra is about $1,000. Today, the export of breeding puppies has become difficult, and there are not too many nurseries outside Armenia.
This shortage affected the cost of purebred puppies. When purchasing a dog, it is important to pay attention to the presence of all the necessary documentation confirming its breed. The best Gampra puppies are still sold only in Armenia.
The Gampr dog breed is one of the best choices among other multifunctional working varieties. Ease of care and excellent character traits are the main advantages of the breed. With the right approach, there will be no problems with the wolfhound.
Health and life expectancy
Natural selection has endowed Gampras with excellent health and strong immunity. They are not afraid of any climatic conditions. They are not susceptible to colds, allergies, or skin diseases. But dogs do not live very long - only 9 or 10 years.
The only problem that may arise is diseases of the musculoskeletal system. This is due to the size of the animal. It is better not to overload puppies with extensive physical exercise. Don't let them jump high or run around too much without a break. The activity level is increased gradually.
Upbringing
Only a person with a strong will and strong character can raise a gampra. The dog can think and make decisions independently. Before dedicating his life to a person, a wolfhound will think. Therefore, it is important to establish partnerships with him.
The four-legged guard needs constant communication with humans. It is important for him to realize that he is useful and needed. Without physical and intellectual stress, the pet begins to get bored and willful, refusing to obey the owner.
Pregnancy
A bitch's pregnancy is the time when you need to review her menu and pay special attention to her well-being.
Clubs of Gampr Armenian Wolfhound lovers in most countries work to preserve the breed, therefore each litter receives maximum attention from professionals.
To avoid problems with joints, the bitch must receive special multivitamins and macroelements. It is excellent when they are selected by an experienced veterinarian.
The owner will need to arrange a quiet place for the Armenian dog, usually go for a walk with him and control the absence of heavy physical activity.
Maintenance and care
Armenian wolfhounds are easy to care for. The wool is combed once a week. During the molting period - every day. They wash only if it is really necessary. Check your eyes and ears regularly. Clean if necessary. Nail trimming will not be necessary if your dog spends a lot of time outside.
The content must be approached responsibly. This is not an "urban" breed. Her elements are space and will. Ideal conditions - a country house with a large plot. Your pet needs to spend at least 3 hours a day outdoors. Walks should be accompanied by active games.
The dog tolerates life well on the street. The thick coat and undercoat protect it from any weather. For your pet you need to equip an insulated booth or canopy. There he can hide from the rain or scorching sun.
Diseases
Armenian wolfhounds have good health and do not have genetic diseases. Due to activity on the street, it is necessary to pay special attention to anti-parasitic treatments and adhere to the timing of vaccinations. With proper care, a dog can live to a record number of years - 20.
Among the diseases that can most often be found in gampros are:
- joint dysplasia;
- otitis;
- mechanical damage.
As a rule, all of these health problems arise as a result of improper care or nutrition.
Feeding
Gampras are not picky and are not prone to overeating. Therefore, they do not face problems with excess weight. For proper development of a pet, the diet must contain:
- lean meat;
- bones and cartilage;
- offal;
- cereals;
- vegetables (raw and cooked);
- dairy products;
- vitamins.
Puppies are fed 3-6 times a day. For adult dogs, 1-2 times are enough.
Diet
Large, strong, powerful - this is how the word “gampr” is translated from Armenian. The photo of these dogs really shows large specimens. But this does not mean that the animal eats in moderation. According to reviews from dog breeders, being large in size and expending a large amount of energy, the Armenian Wolfhound can be satisfied with a small amount of food. The comparison is with the amount of food that a dog of similar size needs. At the same time, this does not mean that the animal needs to be fed to a minimum. The main thing is to properly plan your pet’s diet.
If your four-legged friend's diet is prepared correctly, there will be no problems with his health. The diet should be competent and harmonious. When it is not possible to compose it yourself, contact specialists.
The diet of the gampr should be especially monitored during the period of its molting.
