This is a breed that is known under many names, and nearly as many types and sub-species as names. Due to the enormous region that is the breed's homeplace it has different names from region to region. Some consider the Turkmenian name Alabai as the correct name for the breed, and consider this a breed from Turkmenistan. This is not correct, the breed have for centuries been found in the huge region stretching from Caspian Sea in the west to the Pamirs in the east, and from northern Iran and Afghanistan in the south to South Siberia in the north. This region covers the modern countries of - Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afganistan, Iran and Russia. If we count some close related breeds, like the Mongloian Ovtcharka, as sub-spieces the region where these dogs can be found is even larger.
This breed, or more correct -some of the sub species, is the oldest breed in the Molosser family, which you can read more about at the Origin of the Molossers page.
The Sredneasiatskaia Ovtcharka are also known as Mid Asian Ovtcharka, Middle Asian Ovcharka, Mid-Asiatic Sheepdog, Sredneaziatskaya Ovcharka, Central Asiatic Ovcharka, Central Asia Shepherd Dog and as Alabai or Turkmen Alabai in Turkmenistan. In Tajikistan the breed is known as Alach, Dakhmarda & Koyuntchi, in Uzbekistan as Sarkandjik, in Afgansitan as Sage Koochi or Djence-Sheri and Djence-Palangi, in Iran as Sage Mazandarani. The Mongolian variant is called Khonch Nokhoi, or Mongolian Ovtcharka in English. The name Sredneasiatskaia may also be spelled Sredneasiatskaya, and the name Ovtcharka may also be spelled with a W, as in Owtcharka, some places.

Note the difference in type between these dogs, from the light variant on the left, to the heavy on the right.

The Central Asian Ovtcharka is classified as a Russian breed, since the Soviet Union occupied a large part of the homeplace of these Central Asian Molossers when the breed was recognized by FCI. It can be questioned if it is correct to "toss" all the different types and sub-spieces into one breed. It would be like classifying all the different Scandinavian spitz breeds (a total of 10 different breeds) as only one breed, called Scandinavian Spitz. The danger when doing such a classification is that the line between the different types fades away, and the local sub-spieces dissapears. This have already been done with the modern western created Tibetan Mastiff, with all its sub-spieces, some of them very close to the Central Asian Ovtcharka.

Example on Central Asian Ovtcharka variants.

Two different types. The dog on the left are the winner at the European Dog Show-97. The dog on the right are the World Dog Show Junior Winner-98.

M. B. Wynn wrote about the Central Asian Molossers already in his 1886 published book "The History of the Mastiff", where he described them as Asiatic Mastiffs. It is interesting to read what he writes, since this is problary the first time these dogs was decribed in western litterature.
Wynn writes; "It would be difficult to denominate any precise home of the Asiatic Mastiff, or to give any more generic name to embrace the allophylian varieties than that from their distinctive features, they must at once be classed as belonging more or less to the Mastiff family. Their geographical position however has extended, and still extends from the Caucasian ranges through the valleys of the Elburz mountains, and onwards through the north of Turkistan to the Himalayas, and thence northwards over the vast area of Thibet, the Shan districts, Mongolia and Siberia."
it is interesting that already Wynn considered the Tibetan Mastiff, Shan Mastiff and the CAO as belonging to the same breed, more or less.

A Central Asian Ovtcharka of real Mastiff type.
Picture by Rasaq Qadirie.

Wynn further give us a specific description on the Turkmenian variant (Alabai); "The Mastiff of Turkestan being a small dog, little better than could be produced by crossing an English Mastiff with a Scotch sheepdog".
Wynn also gives some wonderful very detailed descriptions of two "Asiatic Mastiffs"; "Some years ago I met with two Asiatic Mastiffs that had been brought over from Russia, the one said to be a Siberian was of a dirty white colour, with long coarish coat, somewhat long in head, but broad, blunt and square in muzzle, with very small ears, deep but somewhat narrow in body, standing problary some 31 or 32 inches at shoulder with great bone, but very deficient in muscular development compared to good speciments of the English variety. The other was a lower standing animal, being not more than 29 inches at shoulder, with rounder barrel, short stout limbs, and one of the most typically mastiff heads I have ever seen-eyes remarkable small and grey in colour, the muzzle short blunt and very deep, lips extremely pendulous, ears very small, coat short, very dense and somewhat wolly, colour a deep red chestnut, with blue or slate coloured points, and a white streak up the face, white on breast and paws, stern somewhat thick and brush-like. He had a split nostril, and the skin instead of being black, was bluish slate colour."

The same large CAO as pictured at the top of the page.
Here together with a German Shepherd Dog.
Picture by Moshe Gorelik.

The right thing to do would be to separate many of the sub-spieces and classify them as breeds of their own. The only problem with this is that it should be done in the country of origin, and there they do not always see the need to do this, and they do not have the same interest as us westerners for purebred dogs and proper classifications.
But, in some of the countries the interest for their local traditional domestic animals are growing. In Turkmenistan, for example, they have written their own standard for their local variant the Alabai. Hopefully other Central Asian countries will follow in the footsteps of Turkmenistan.

Turkmenistan

Tadjikistan

Afghanistan (Sage Koochi)

A few CAO's from different regions/countries.
Pictures by Rasaq Qadirie.

The Central Asian Ovtcharka were, together with the Caucasian Ovtcharka, and the South Russian Ovtcharka at a later time, bred at the state-owned Red Star Kennels, to be used as police and army dogs, but also as an guardian of large fabrics and warehouses. These CAO's bred by Red Star Kennels were usally very small, and very inbred. Below you will find a picture of such a dog.
The breed are still little known outside of the former USSR. However, in the latter years the westernes have become aware of this beautiful breed and exports have taken place to both Europe and America, as well as to the Middle East.
The CAO have also gained much popularity in Russia, and in 1999 over 7000 purebred CAO puppies were registered in Russia.

CAO bred by Red Star Kennels, Moscow.
Picture by Rasaq Qadirie.

The Sredneasiatskaia Ovtcharka is a very powerful and athletic breed, and still to today used as a watchdog for the livestock. The breed have a enormous courage and is known to be fearless to almost every living thing. When I first met some Russian owned speciments, they immediately catch my eye as easy moving yet powerful animals. I must say that I am very impressed by this breed and I am sure that the breed are going to be fully accepted among western Molosser enthusiasts.

The male CAO named "Afgan", born in 1961, and presented to Russians by King of Afganistan.
This dog was the second-best dog of all at a USSR dog-show in 1967.
Picture from Moshe Gorelik, Israel.

The Sredneasiatskaia is a very protective breed but are friendly among their human family, grown-ups and childgren alike, and even to the family's other animals. Even if they are very protective they are voice controllable and quick learners. They do not bark without a reason, bonds to their territory and do not stray.
There are existing lines which is extremely dog aggressive but these dogs are owned solely by local magnates and they do not sell any dogs to others or use their dogs as a stud for other than their own bitches. These dog agressive lines are bred at total separation from the common working lines.

A natural ear compared to a cropped.

The ears are usally cropped and the tail are docked in their homeland, this because of their work as a protector for the livestock, were they often are engaged in fights with the large predators. An uncut tail or ear are very likely to be torn and may cause infection, and even more important, cropped ears prevent loss of blood and therefore life. Dogs have at least one very fat vein in the ear and a torn ear can be life threating to the dog, because of the possible blood loss.
In the original standard uncropped ears and un-docked tails are considered as a fault, but shall not be penalized in countries where not allowed.

The head shall be massive and solid with a flat skull, the muzzle is wide and heavy. The stop are moderately defined and the cheeks well developed. The lips thick and hanging. The ears small and lowset on the uncropped speciments.
The neck short and muscular, chest broad and deep, strong back, tail set high, in its homeland an uncropped tail is a fault.
The coat are straight and medium coarse with well developed undercoat. The coat comes in to lenghts, the long, about 7-8 cm. and short, 3-5 cm. and smooth. The skin is thick and loose, especially around the neck. A massive dewlap are typical.
The Sredneasiatskaia are known to feel comfortable at many degrees below zero and should not bother if it is very hot either.

All colors are permissible except dark saddle shading into a light bottom what is an evidence of impurity. A dog of this colour can be seen on the far left at the picture below.
The most common colours are grey, white, yellow, reddish, black and brindle. Colour markings are also common on this breed.

The breed standard does not spezify a maximum high but there are however a minimum high given at 65 cm. (25,5 in) for males and 60 cm. (23,5 in) for females.
The weight of the males exceeds 45 kg. (99 lbs), but CAO's of the more "mastiffy" and heavy type can be the double of this weight, or even more.
The most common accepted classification of the breed is by the head; the "horse" type head, the "brick" type head and the "bear" type head. The first mentioned, the "horse" type, are the narrowest while the "bear" type are the largest and broadest. The most wanted headtype, and the one classified as the "classical" is the "brick" head.

A beautiful CAO puppy with uncropped ears.
Picture by Rasaq Qadirie.

The Central Asian Ovtcharka is generally a healthy breed, bred for functional purposes for centuries, originally by the shepherds for protection and guarding of the livestock against wolves, leopards and bears. In the southern region of the breed's homeland there were even tigers in earlier times, and the shepherd needed a dog who could fight and scare off these large predators. To this kind of work the central Asian Ovtcharka were, and still is, excellent. Even now people of the region who needs a protector for their livestock do not even consider other breeds because they know that the Sredneasiatskaia is the best suited breed for the task.

Pooh, a Israelian owned CAO bitch, only 13 months of age but already showing her good quality.
Picture by Moshe Gorelik, Israel.

Links

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