HISTORY OF DOG BREEDING IN SOUTHWESTERN ASIA

L. P. Sabaneev (edition 1986) described two dog breeds discovered in 1877 in the Pamir Moutnains by scientific expeditions of the Turkestan Society of Lovers of Nature. One of them is “Javzy (Asian longhair bird dog); a small male over three years old. Height at the shoulder is 18 inches, length from base of tail to tip of muzzle is 28 inches, tail is 10 inches (1 inch = 2.54 cm); coat color of body is dark coffee brown turning paler on fringes; nose is pale coffee brown; eyes are dingy green resembling color of French mustard; iris is brown. Body slightly bulky, but well proportioned and beautiful, emphasizing strength and endurance of the dog; tail is straight and slightly longer proportionally to the dog’s size; ears are small, set like in European Setter; nose is small, pointed, as a result of which muzzle in lateral view looks wedge-shaped. Ears, tail and thighs have rather long furnishing of wavy hairs. Hair over entire body is short and rather thick, on the abdomen hair is longer than on other parts; perhaps the dog is well coated for a harsh climate. Generally, appearance of the dog strongly resembles Setter. If not for it’s sturdy body and peculiar wedge-shaped muzzle, the Javzy, would seem to be a true Setter, but in miniature. I would never expect to find a definitely cultured dog breed in such an inaccessible, remote mountains of Central Asia… The Javzy is great at making faces; like the Karateginka, he is a leaper and a player, but he has an independent and proud character; in a fight he is passionate and aggressive, attacks any enemy and would not give up until it injures it into bleeding… Generally, the strength and energy of them (Javzy) is remarkable, but due to their small size and habit to run by short leaps, like if the dog would jump from one rock on another, they are little use in local (near Tashkent) hunting in thick grass and thickets… Mountain hunters use their peculiar dogs along with falcons and hawks on beautiful partridges, ulars, quails, ducks and snipes; in mountains, they are very agile during search and have a strong pointing set…” L. P. Sabeneev makes a conclusion that the Javzy was a dog of very ancient origin out of some other unknown dogs, possibly out of Spanish dogs introduced in Southern India by Portuguese and from there, across India and Afghanistan, reaching Pamir Mountains, where they have changed and became adapted to mountain climate.

Another dog breed from Tajikistan is the Karateginka. The Karateginka was found in Karategin and Darvaz. This was a mountain Asian dog for hunting with birds of prey. It was also named the Asian Wirehaired Bird Pointer. The breed was described by only one specimen: “At a glance, Karateginka bitch is similar to the Javzy, but after close examination, it shows quite sharp differences in details, indicating that this is a different dog breed, although in this particular specimen, signs of the Javzy blood are noticeable. The Karateginka is bigger then the Javzy; height at the shoulder is 19 inches, length from base of tail to tip of muzzle is 29 inches; half tail is missing, because of the frost bite, therefore it is hard to judge about its length, but most likely it should be rather short. The body coat color is white with pale coffee brown spots on the head, ears and back; nose is coffee brown; eyes are dingy green resembling mustard, like in the Javzy and the pupil is brown. Hairs on entire body are not wavy, straight, like in goat, medium long, thick and rather stiff; it is wiry above eyes and on anterior part of the muzzle, which causes a peculiar look of the dog. It is particularly peculiar, because of the steep, domed forehead; stop like in the Setter, but the muzzle is tapering and ends with a small nose. Ears are small, pendulous and set correctly; there is furnishing on ears, tail and thighs. The body is light, proportional, with well developed muscles on thighs and shoulders, legs are lean and with small compact feet. Generally, the Karateginka is not as pretty as the Javzy, has a wilder look, especially because of his habit to keep the muzzle up… The Karateginka is surprisingly well coordinated and skillful at leaping on stone walls about 6 yards high; he runs like crazy on the yard and is impossible to catch, if the dog does not want to be caught; Dogs of this breed are hardier then the Javzy and, because of this, are preferred by local hunters, although their scent is weaker than in the Javzy.”

A. Obruchev (1955) mentioned Kalmykian Spitz-like guard dog, which existed in the 19th Century in Northwestern China. M. G. Dmitrieva-Sulima (1911) wrote about sight hound-like Laika of Kazakhs, which existed in Akmolinsk Province, Central Kazakhstan, in 1900. All these breeds disappeared completely in early 20th Century. L. P. Sabaneev (1964) described the Khivan Tazy, a variety of the Tazy, which did not survive until present.

Descriptions of the way of life of people of Central Asia found in the literature of different times, contain information about another dog breed from Uzbekistan, which have never been known anywhere else. This is the Gurji. The Gurji was found in Surkhandarya and Bukhara Provinces. Although descriptions of the Gurji were put together in 1939, the dogs had disappeared by that time almost everywhere. Therefore, it would be correct to discuss them with dogs belonging to the previous time period. Here, we offer excerpts from articles containing interesting information; because the book where they had been published, is not accessible to the readers. In Sherabad District, Surkhandarya Province, “very few hunters (five of them) have hunting dogs. Their dogs belong to two breeds, the Tazy and the Gurdji. Mixes of the two breeds also occur. Gurdji belonging to Kurbanbobo, Azan Kishlak, Istari Selsoviet, was 34 cm at the shoulder, 41 cm at the pelvis, length of body from tip of muzzle to tail base 19 cm, circumference of chest was 43 cm, and tail was 25 cm. Coat color was blackish… When fox run in a hole, this was time for the Gurji, which went into the hole and pulled the fox out.

The hunting style of the Gurji is interesting. Entering hole, the dog holds his head low protecting it from the fox’s bites. The fox viciously bites the dog’s back. At this moment the Gurji raises his head, grabs the fox by the throat and pulls it out of the hole. Sometimes this fight ends with bloody consequences for the Gurji…” (Sultanov, 1939).

“Body structure of the Gurji resembles a Dachshund; he differs from sight hound in smaller size and rather strong sense of smell. Gurjis are used, when a fox or a corsac escapes into hole. Gurji easily enters the hole and chases out or catches the fox by the throat and pulls it on the surface. Usually, both breeds are used during the hunt. Total number of Gurjis in possession of hunters of Guzara District, Bukhara Province, is eight” (Salikhbaev, 1939).

Descriptions of the Gurji made by different people, who saw them in different parts of Uzbekistan, allow us to conclude that this was a different breed, not a mix of the Tazy with the Dachshund and the Fox terrier.

The existence of aboriginal breeds has been always linked with fate of the people who created them. Changes of religion, migrations and disappearance of ethnic groups inevitably led to extinction or transformation of breeds of animals. This process has been going on for centuries and millennia and it is quite a regular part of social and biological evolution of humankind. In the contemporary time period, during the first half of 20th Century, the Javzy, the Karateginka, the Mahugo and the Gurji became completely extinct. There are some other dog breeds of Central Asia, Kazakhstan and Northwestern China, which are also extinct without leaving any evidences and descriptions. We can only surmise about their existence; because there were no human tribes living on our planet, which did without dogs and other domesticated animals (except Australia). All these breeds are gone forever and there were no drawings or even so much as photographs left, except some lines cited above containing information about them.

A noted cynologist of Uzbekistan, N. A. Markanov, who has been involved with dogs since the 1930’s, mentioned the Karateginka and the Javzy referring to L. P. Sabaneev. He mentioned the Javzy, calling it a bird pointer or a sight hound, perhaps mistakenly. Besides, he also wrote about “Tashkent Setters”, which occurred in Uzbekistan in early 1930’s, but degenerated at a later time. He wrote: “They were similar to the German Longhair Bird Poinitng Dog and had a dull coat color like in the Irish Setter. These dogs were valued by hunters for their balanced temperament, ability to find lost and injured game and adapted to local climate conditions”. Because expeditions of Turkestan Society of Lovers of Nature in late 19th Century brought several Javzys and Karateginkas to Tashkent, it became possible that they could be used for development of the Tashkent Setter, but there was no other information about them. There is also a possibility that for the breeding of Karateginkas and Javzys in Pamir Mountains local longhair Taigans and similar dogs were used.

Among all diversity of aboriginal dogs of Southwest Asia and Kazakhstan, only sight hounds of Eastern group, the Tazy belonging to two major types, the Kazakh Tazy and the Turkmen Tazy and Kirghisian Taigan and preserve through education sheep herding dogs. The latter one has different names, in Turkmenistan it is called Kopek and Kopeksi, but most often Alabai; in Tajikistan it is called Dakhdarma; in Uzbekistan this dog is called Kopek and Kazakh-it; and in Kazakhstan it is called Tobet-it, Alapar-it and Arab-it. In the 1930’s, based on Turkmenian and partly on Tajik dogs, the Central Asian Ovtsharka was developed and recognized as a purebred, which now is available beyond borders of the former Soviet Union. Besides, as a result of mixing with other breeds, there were several similar types of this dog, which also had their names, such as Duregei, Durek, Kain-Kaptal, Dubara etc.

Eastern Sight Hounds and Taigans are the oldest dog breeds used for exciting hunting on hares, foxes, saiga antelope and other game. The number of the Tazy in regions of their aboriginal origin is rapidly declining. Only a few dogs remain in Tajikistan and adjacent provinces in China. In early 1980’s, in Turkmenistan, there were 80-100 dogs (Rustamov and Atamuradov, 1986) and only 10-20 Tazys remained in private possession of lovers of this breed. They are united in National Club of Falconers of Turkmenistan. In Kirghistan, about 50-100 dogs remain, which fit the Tazy breed standard, and about the same number or fewer still exists in Uzbekistan. They do not occur any more in Karakalpakia. By late 1980’s, in Kazakhstan, there were 800-1000 Tazys, but by the present time, only 100-150 pure Tazys remain. The majority of their owners are members of Club of Purebred Hunting Dogs or its regional branches.

The other breed, the Kirghisian Taigan, is also an ancient sight hound breed related to the Afghan Sight Hound (the Bakhmul). The Taigan was common in large mountain regions of Southwest Asia, in Pamir and Tyan –Shan Mountains. By the present time, it does not exist in Tajikistan. In Kirghisistan, according to Almaz Kurmankulov, who is a Chairman of the National Society of Kirghisistan for Preservation of the Taigan, only 100 pure and mixed with the Tazy Taigans remain. About 100 Taigans and their mixes with the Tazy remain in Shymkent, Province, Jambyl Province and Alamaty Province of Kazakhstan.

Sheep herding dogs belong to an ancient group of breeds of “chabans” (nomadic sheep herding people). It was used for guarding and escorting sheep flocks in vast areas ranging from Iran and Afghanistan to Mongolia. Now, it is threatened to become abandoned in the countries of their origins. Since 1991, in Turkmenistan, the work on the restoration of the Turkmenian type was started. The dog is called the Turkmenian (Asian) Wolf-killing Dog (“Volkkodav”). About 100 breeding quality dogs are registered. Breeding of similar dogs is well organized in Uzbekistan, Kirgisistan and Kazakhstan. It is different with the Kazakh type of such dogs. Until WWII, it was distinguished as a separate breed under name the Kirgisian Ovtsharka. Modern cynologists sporadically mention its existence, but for some reason, they assume that this is the same dog as the similar breed of Kirgisistan. They forget that in old Russia word Kazakh was not in use. Instead they were called Kirgiz, which were subdivided into “Kirghis-Kaisaks” (contemporary Kazakhs) and “Kara-Kirgiz” (contemporary Kirghiz). When the Soviet Union was created, since 1920 to 1925, there was only one Kirgizian Soviet Republic, which at a later time was divided into Kazakh Autonomous Republic and Kirghizian Autonomous Republic. When they refered to the description of the Kirghizian Ovtsharka, they overlooked that range of its distribution is “… in Kirghizian steppes east and southeast of Orsk” (Kalinin et all. 1992), which is Kazakhstan now. It is important to offer a detailed description of the Kirghizian Ovtsharka, because since 2000, in Kazakhstan, work on restoration of this type of dog as a special breed, the Kazakh Tobet, has began (Plakhov and Shelestova, 2000).

“The Kirghizian Ovtsharka is a large wolf-like dog with a powerful body complexion. It has a well pronounced guarding instinct. It is moderately aggressive, strongly attached to the master, adapted to conditions of continental climate, guarding sheep flocks, herding cattle and protecting the house of a Kirgisian herdsman and often used for hunting steppe wolves. Appearance of the breed: head is large with elongated muzzle and broad forehead, jaws are strong with a correct bite, eyes dark colored, ears small set up like in wolf. The neck is extraordinarily powerful, gradually transitioning into broad muscular chest and has a sharp curve. Legs are strong and feet are compact, shoulders are sloped with a well developed locomotion mechanism. Tails are carried low and with a hook like bent at the end. Coat is smooth with well developed undercoat. Coat color most often gray and white, height at shoulder is up to 80 cm” (Tkachenko, 1929; cited from Kalinin et al. 1992).

Formerly, this breed type was widely distributed in Kazakhstan. Thus, in 1961-1963, an Expedition led by Yu. N. Pilshchikov conducted a survey in southern part of Kazakhstan and examined 18,425 dogs of similar type (Kalinin et al. 1992). At present, dogs of the Kazakh type sporadically occur in Shimkent Province, Zhambyl Province and Kzyl-Orda Province. Their total number, including mixes, does not exceed 100 dogs with a trend to decline of the population. In Northeastern Kazakhstan and adjacent territories, in the 1940’s – 1960’s, there was the Mongolian Ovtsharka. During WWII, Mongolia supplied cattle to the Soviet Union as brotherly help. The final destination of the cattle drive was the Semipalatinsk meat processing plant. Here, in Semipalatinsk Province, Mongolian herdsmen left their dogs and returned back to Mongolia using surface transportation. From here, these dogs spread in many regions of Kazakhstan. They were aggressive, large, and predominately black and tan dogs. Because there was no breeding program for these dogs, finally they merged with great many types of local sheep herding dogs.

Thus, unfortunately, the Central Asian region remains poorly investigated cynologically. Rock paintings occurring in many provinces of Kazakhsan indicate that by the third millennia B.C. there were hunting and sheep herding dogs of at least five different types: Spitz-like dogs, Dachshund-like dogs, Sight Hounds, Sheep Dogs and Hunting Dogs. Therefore, in Neolithic time, the rate of dog breed formation in Central Asia was comparable to other culturally advanced countries, such as Egypt, Messopotamia, China and India. Most likely, such a high level of development, including the dog breeding, remained for centuries, despite wars, migrations and economic and social disturbances. A major change took place as a result of Arabian conquest and spread of Islam, which became a major religion. Islam, with its negative attitude towards dogs as “unclean” animals led to reduction of dog breeding and allowing only breeds of practical importance, such as dogs protecting sheep from wolves, property guarding dogs and hunting dogs for pleasure. The division of people into agricultural settlements near oases and nomadic steppe populations impaired cultural exchange, including exchange of domesticated animals. Work with other dog breeds was not only terminated, but evidence about their use was also annihilated. As a result, by the beginning of the modern time period, except numerous eastern type sight hounds and sheep herding dogs, some breeds survived for some time in most remote and inaccessible regions, such as the Javzy and the Karateginka in the Tajikistan mountains, the Gurji in Uzbekistan deserts, and among people less affected by Islam, the Laika in central Kazakhstan or Spitzes of Kalmyks in Eastern Turkestan. These breeds survived until late 19th-early 20th Centuries, but became extinct by present time. Drastic social changes caused by revolution , hunger of the 1930’s, transition from nomadic to settled way of life, loss of traditions, reduction of lands available for hunting, decline of economic importance of hunting and biological factors, such as reduction of game populations, introduction and raise in popularity of imported dog breeds, new contagious diseases, high mortality of puppies in overpopulated regions, poison lures for extermination of wolves and other varmints and mixing with other breeds along with extermination of female puppies in litters led to extinction of rare breeds and considerable reduction of formerly numerous aboriginal dog breeds.

Thus, unfortunately, the Central Asian region remains poorly investigated cynologically. Rock paintings occurring in many provinces of Kazakhsan indicate that by the third millennia B.C. there were hunting and sheep herding dogs of at least five different types: Spitz-like dogs, Dachshund-like dogs, Sight Hounds, Sheep Dogs and Hunting Dogs. Therefore, in Neolithic time, the rate of dog breed formation in Central Asia was comparable to other culturally advanced countries, such as Egypt, Messopotamia, China and India. Most likely, such a high level of development, including the dog breeding, remained for centuries, despite wars, migrations and economic and social disturbances. A major change took place as a result of Arabian conquest and spread of Islam, which became a major religion. Islam, with its negative attitude towards dogs as “unclean” animals led to reduction of dog breeding and allowing only breeds of practical importance, such as dogs protecting sheep from wolves, property guarding dogs and hunting dogs for pleasure. The division of people into agricultural settlements near oases and nomadic steppe populations impaired cultural exchange, including exchange of domesticated animals. Work with other dog breeds was not only terminated, but evidence about their use was also annihilated. As a result, by the beginning of the modern time period, except numerous eastern type sight hounds and sheep herding dogs, some breeds survived for some time in most remote and inaccessible regions, such as the Javzy and the Karateginka in the Tajikistan mountains, the Gurji in Uzbekistan deserts, and among people less affected by Islam, the Laika in central Kazakhstan or Spitzes of Kalmyks in Eastern Turkestan. These breeds survived until late 19th-early 20th Centuries, but became extinct by present time. Drastic social changes caused by revolution , hunger of the 1930’s, transition from nomadic to settled way of life, loss of traditions, reduction of lands available for hunting, decline of economic importance of hunting and biological factors, such as reduction of game populations, introduction and raise in popularity of imported dog breeds, new contagious diseases, high mortality of puppies in overpopulated regions, poison lures for extermination of wolves and other varmints and mixing with other breeds along with extermination of female puppies in litters led to extinction of rare breeds and considerable reduction of formerly numerous aboriginal dog breeds.

Whatever happened, sheep herding dogs and Eastern Sight Hounds together with people survived droughts and starvation and attacks of wolves and villains. The dogs served their masters by successfully protecting sheep herds and hunting, sometimes risking and loosing their lives. They lived through disturbances and turmoil of the 20th Century, such as revolution, hunger and WWII. During one period, they even grew in popularity and numbers. However, recently, by the end of 20thCentury at the threshold of new social changes, they found themselves abandoned by those people, whom they have been serving. Circumstances which caused the extinction of the Javzy and the Karateginka in 19th Century, now threaten the Tiagans, the Tazy and sheep herding dogs. Besides worse economic conditions and the loss of national traditions of keeping and breeding dogs, poor pedigree work and role of kennels are major dangers to aboriginal dog breeds of Southwestern Asia. Loss of any domesticated breed is not only impoverishment of gene pools of the planet Earth, but also a loss of biodiversity, because each breed is a live monument of the culture and civilization of people, who had created it. This is a monument of the result of work and life of dog breeders during millennia. We cannot afford to be indifferent, allowing to become extinct any breed of domesticated animal. Their preservation is important not only for protection of genetic diversity of the planet, but also for recreation and filling leisure time of peoples of Southwest Asia.