Choosing a dog is a responsible step that requires a thoughtful approach, because you are choosing a friend and protector for many years. The Alabai and the German Shepherd are suitable for protecting the home and family; in an emergency, the Alabai acts with lightning speed and decisiveness, independently assessing the degree of danger, the German Shepherd quickly and accurately carries out the owner’s commands. Which of them to choose, who will serve better, can the Alabai and German Shepherd together? To answer the questions that arise, you need to get acquainted with the characteristics of these breeds.
The purpose of the German Shepherd and Alabai
The Alabay and the German Shepherd belong to a group of herding dogs or shepherd dogs that protect herds from predators and help people herd livestock. The intelligence and extraordinary abilities of representatives of these breeds made it possible to use them for other purposes.
Purpose of the German Shepherd
A good memory, the ability to quickly understand the owner and the desire to please him, as well as strength and endurance make it possible to use the “German’s” talents in various areas. These dogs cope with a wide variety of tasks.
- Grazing and protection of livestock.
- Protection of people and objects.
- Companion and protector for the family.
- Guide.
The shepherd easily changes owners, unquestioningly following the commands of the new owner.
Patrolling streets or objects every day with different military personnel, she obeys all members of the unit; in this work, German Shepherd vs Alabai has no competition.
Purpose of alabai
In the areas of their original habitat, Alabais are used for grazing flocks, protection from predators, thieves, home guarding and hunting. If we compare the work for the main purpose of herding dogs of the Alabai and German Shepherd breeds, the comparison will be in favor of the Asian. This animal is used to making decisions on its own, it does not need commands, it will not allow the herd to scatter in different directions and, without hesitation, will enter into battle with a predator, defending the owner’s property.
They hunt with alabai in steppe regions, mainly in Kazakhstan. Gun dogs are thinner, lighter, long-legged, short, and develop greater speed in pursuit of game, unlike their guard dogs. These Asians are also used to protect livestock, mainly sheep.
In Russia, Alabais are bred to protect homes, objects, personal protection and as pets. Dogs have highly developed territoriality, so they have no equal in protecting an apartment or property. Attempts to use the breed in protective guard service failed; the Alabai does not always follow the orders of the owner, not to mention other people, and has his own opinion on everything.
Main differences
This table provides a comparison of the Caucasian Shepherd and Alabai.
| External indicators | Caucasian Shepherd Dog | Alabai |
| Head | The largest, widest part is in the cheekbone area | Proportional |
| Eyes | Small eyes, deep set | Wide apart |
| Ears | Set on high | Low set |
| Muzzle shape | Square | Rectangular |
| Coat type | Straight hair and thick undercoat | Thick coat, can be long or short |
| Limbs | Short | Middle length |
| Tail | Twisted into a ring, fluffy | Often docked, so it is short |
The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is smaller in height: the Alabai grows up to 70-80 cm, and the Caucasian - 60 cm. But it all depends on the feeding habits and living conditions.
Alabai is more than Caucasian
Exterior of Central Asian and German Shepherds
If we compare the exterior of the Alabai vs the German Shepherd, these breeds are the complete opposite. The standards and appearance of a “German” are strictly defined and have not changed for many years; adjustments are constantly being made to the description of an Asian.
Appearance of a German Shepherd
A fairly large dog, strong built, with well-developed muscles. Colors: solid black, saddleback (black or gray) with grayish, yellow or red tan. The coat is thick, hard, of medium length; there are long-haired individuals.
The muzzle is elongated, usually with a darkened mask. The ears are pointed and erect. The head is proportional, with “clean” lines.
Description of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog
The Central Asian Shepherd Dog (popular names - Alabai, Turkmen Wolfhound, Asian and others) is not an established breed, but a breed group that unites very different aboriginal dogs obtained as a result of folk selection, and living in Central Asia and surrounding areas. Alabais are divided into several intra-breed types.
- Turkmen alabai. Taken as the basis of the breed. A large group of large or fairly large dogs of strong build. “Alabai” translates to “spotted,” and many members of the Turkmen lineage have speckles or spots all over their bodies. Houses are guarded by large and heavy alabai, herds are grazed by lighter and smaller animals that are able to travel long distances in a day along with livestock.
- The Tajik branch is distinguished by its raw build, folded loose skin and elongated hair, necessary to not freeze in the highlands of the Pamirs.
- Uzbek Asians are distinguished by their elongated body; there are many individuals with an elongated muzzle. One of the local names is Buribasar (wolfhound).
- Tobet lives in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The dog is used to protect and herd sheep, very few in number, close to extinction.
- Gorse. Distributed in the north of Kazakhstan, it guards flocks and is used for hunting. It has a greyhound-like appearance: the muzzle is elongated, the dog is light, the smallest of all Central Asians, and develops high speed while running.
Despite the fact that all Alabai are very different, there are signs that are considered a disadvantage for all representatives of the breed. This is a sharp transition from the forehead to the muzzle, brown and chocolate colors, the shape of the bite is an undershot.
Walking, physical activity and rules of safe behavior on the street
Metis needs daily walks. This is a large dog that cannot relieve itself in a litter box at home. That is why she needs to be walked several times a day with a muzzle and a leash. It is much easier for owners who live in private houses. In their case, the pet will always be outside and will not require time for walks.
At home, the dog needs attention. The owner must have regular contact with the dog. For example, learn commands or play. Otherwise, the dog will become unsociable, aggressive and cowardly.
Dimensions and weight of Alabai and German Shepherd
To determine who is larger, an Alabai or a German Shepherd, you can compare the descriptions of breed standards. The German Shepherd has a height of 60-65 cm at the withers for males and 55-60 cm for females. Weight is 30-40 and 22-32 kg, respectively.
According to the latest edition of the standards, the parameters of the Alabai are the height at the withers of males is at least 70 cm, females - more than 65 cm. The weight of males is from 50, females from 40 kg.
If you watch dog fights between a German Shepherd and an Alabai, you will notice that very often smaller Asians take part in them than the “Germans”. This is not surprising, because huge, heavy dogs will not be able to walk all day long over rough mountainous terrain, and even run around the flock, making sure that the sheep do not stray from the herd.
In the first breed standard of 1931, the height at the withers of the Turkmen wolfhound was from 65 cm, for females from 60 cm, but in reality the dogs were assessed only by their working qualities. If a small individual guarded the herd better than a large one, it was left behind. In Kazakhstan and the steppe regions, the height at the shoulder of males is only 58-60 cm.
Feeding the dog
If you are going to feed your dog dry food, it must be of high quality, because cheap food can cause health problems.
Natural food must be balanced . It should contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals. The majority of your diet should be protein-rich meat. Then come carbohydrates, and only then fats.
IMPORTANT!
Proper nutrition is the key to a healthy dog. Eliminate all fatty, sweet, starchy and canned foods from your pet’s diet.
If you give your dog bones, make sure they are not tubular ones . Large beef ones will do. You can pamper your pet with offal or some fruit to which he is not allergic.
Character of Alabai and German Shepherd
The Central Asian and German Shepherd have diametrically opposed characters. “German” is 100% people-oriented. He is ready to serve his master faithfully, instantly fulfilling all his demands. This is an intelligent, balanced dog, brave, kind with its own, and vicious towards its enemies.
Alabai is an independent dog with preserved instincts of a wild animal. Being on the street, he easily gets his own food and distinguishes enemies from friends. This dog often herds herds on its own, it does not need commands, it makes decisions itself. The IQ of the Alabai is higher than that of the German Shepherd. He is smart, cunning, capable of intrigue (a purely human quality).
The dog is considered vicious, but this is far from the truth. In Central Asia, shepherd dogs run free through the streets, accompanying herds. Aggressive alabai pose a danger to people, and they are simply shot. Dangerous animals are kept only to protect houses, and they make up a very small percentage.
The character of crossbreeds, mother Alabai, father German Shepherd, can be unpredictable; these dogs inherit the qualities of one of the breeds, or are characterized by increased nervousness.
Attitude to training Alabai and German Shepherd
In relation to training, the Alabai loses against the German Shepherd. The Asian is better at fulfilling the owner's requests than the team's. Like a child, he needs to be interested; learning is best done in childhood through play. The German Shepherd enjoys learning and is ready to complete tasks just to be praised by its owner.
If you look at how a German shepherd fights against an Alabai, the fight will show that the shepherd attacks mainly head-on, while the Asian tries to get around the enemy from behind and attack unexpectedly. The alabai performs the same trick when he is trained for protective guard duty. Therefore, it is not enough for a trainer to train a wolfhound to wear a sleeve, but must be in a protective suit.
Who to choose - Alabai or German Shepherd?
When deciding which breed to get, many are guided by a simple criterion: you need to take the one who is stronger, the Alabai or the German Shepherd. In fact, strength is not as important as intelligence and work ability. First you need to understand why you need a dog.
- If there are small children in the house, it is better to take a female Alabai. They are smart, kind, adore all family members, and are indulgent towards children. Contrary to popular belief and the reputation of an evil beast, cases of Alabai attacks on people are less than 1%, against 10-14% (according to various sources) of the German shepherd. It is important when raising an Asian to never show cruelty or keep him on a chain. Those who have adopted dogs of this breed at least once literally fall in love with them, saying that this is not an animal, but a person.
- To guard your apartment, you can take a representative of any of these breeds, but it is better to choose a female. Many male dogs like to fight, and this is inconvenient for the city. If you need an active dog that will happily take part in games and play ball, choose a German Shepherd.
- Alabai are suitable for protecting territory; it is better to take a female into the family; for protecting objects and factories, it is better to take a male dog. You can keep an Asian and a “German” together. The working qualities of one will be complemented by the advantages of the other. To do this, they are raised together from puppyhood or dogs of different sexes are taken.
- For fans of dog fighting. After watching a fight between a German Shepherd and an Alabai on the Internet, lovers of bloody fun are rushing to buy a puppy of the winning breed. Such people should not have animals at all. Dog fighting is prohibited, and they give not suspended sentences, but very real ones. In addition, angry dogs often attack their owners and their family members. Not everyone can be saved.
There is no clear answer to the question of who is better, an Alabai or a German Shepherd; each breed has its own strengths and weaknesses. It is important to understand a simple truth: if you take not just a security guard, but a friend whom you truly love, he will repay with selfless devotion, become a reliable companion and protector for you and your entire family.
Behavior in a dangerous situation
Both breeds are similar in that they are wary of strangers and unfamiliar people. Therefore, the owner needs to monitor the reaction of his pet. Caucasian Shepherd Dogs can become aggressive if a stranger violates the boundaries of their territory.
Alabai will not be the first to show anger. But they navigate a dangerous situation faster than a Caucasian - he needs time to think about his further actions.
It is important for shepherds to prove their superiority
