GROUP 6 - UTILTY

Brief History
The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is possibly the oldest breed in existence today. A product of natural selection, they are a strong, healthy, and resilient breed. They are used to guard livestock and their owners.

Average Life Span
When considering a dog, please realise that you are taking it on for its lifetime. The average life span is 12 to 15 years.

Temperament
Self-assured, balanced quiet, proud and independent, very courageous and have high working capacity, endurance and a natural instinct of territory. Fearlessness towards large predators is a characteristic feature.

General Breed Description
The Central Asian Shepherd Dog of large stature, robust, muscular body, voluminous, but not with visible muscles. The acceptable colours are any colour except genetic blue and genetic brown in any combination and black mantel on tan.

Coat and Care Requirements
The coat is abundant, coarse with well-developed undercoat. As livestock guard dogs out roaming their territory, they do not require much grooming, except when they have their annual coat drop.

Size
Height: Males: Minimum 70cms, Females Minimum 65cms.

Weight: Males Minimum 50kgs, Weight Minimum 40kgs.

Health
All breeds have individual health issues. When speaking to breeders it is recommended you enquire about the breed’s health and what health testing the breeder does. The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is generally a healthy breed, however health conditions do occur occasionally. These may include Hip Dysplasia (HD), Elbow Dysplasia (ED).

Suitability
Central Asian Shepherd dogs are independent, strong-willed, loyal and potentially aggressive to other dogs and people. They really are only suitable for guarding livestock. They are only loyal to their owner and are very suspicious of intruders or people it does not deem as friends.

In Conclusion
Now you know a little more about this breed. If you have decided this is the dog for you and wish to investigate further, please contact the Breed Club or Dogs Victoria. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog events where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the breed and its needs. With any breed of dog, it is important to research and determine suitability for your lifestyle before committing to a puppy which will be a part of your family for many years to come.

Whilst many breeds are recommended for families, it is imperative that when children are with dogs they are supervised at all times. Basic obedience training is a vital part of dog ownership.

Dogs Victoria is about the responsible ownership of all dogs and in particular the preservation of pure breeds.

Link to Dogs Australia Breed Standard: https://dogsaustralia.org.au/breed/detail/177