Far away from towns and villages, in a small mountain country, there are still some places cut off from modern civilization, where on alpine meadows with rich and diverse vegetation cattle herds are grazing; mountain peaks retain there snow caps and crystal clear water in creeks is icy cold. Here, life is going at the same pace as it was for thousand of years in the past. Here, there is no electricity, running water or regular communication with the outside world.  People live in small collapsible houses built out of thick felt called yurta.  The only mean of transportation is horse. Only some contemporary household items remind us of present time and not in the remote past.  These are exactly those conditions, under which the Kyrgyz sighthound Taigan had been formed. The Taigan is mentioned multiple times in Kyrgyz epos “Manas”.  There some myths about origins of the Taigan.  According to one of them, the Taigan originated from mountain vulture Kumai. One egg was stolen out of nest of this bird. A puppy hatched out of the egg. When the puppy grew up and became Taigan, he saved entire tribe from starvation by exterminating marauding pack of wolves.  Origins of the name of the Kyrgyz sighthound Taigan remains a mistery. In Kyrgyz-Russian dictionary, this word is translated as sighthound. Som interpred word Taigan as “catch up and kill”.  Horse and Taigan breeders tie origins of word “Taigan” with horses, because Taigan and horse followed Kyrgyz people during their entire history.  In Kyrgyz language “tai” means a year and a half colt, most restless and playful. “Gan” means blood. Thus the whole word means something like “romping blood”. Kyrgyz language has a word “taigak”, which means sliding or slippery. This meaning is close to Taigan. Taigan chasing game approaches at high speed, movement of his legs is not seen and the impression is that the dog moves like sliding towards standing quarry.

Taiga became a loyal satellite of nomad cattle keeper, sharing with him all hardships of nomad’s life, travel over long distances, short resting breaks, shortage of food and danger of wild predators. All this helped to shape up a low maintenance sigh hound, capable to work under any conditions and helping to obtain food for the master and for himself. Hunting independently, Taigan killed to feed himself marmots, ground squirrels and hares. Hunters killed with assistance of Taigans mountain goat (Capra ibex), roe deer, wolf, fox, jackal and badger. Kyrgyz traded pelts of hunted animals for household goods with other peoples.

Fearlessness and aggressiveness of the Taigan were very important in life of nomadic cattlemen.  During hunting they successfully overpowered wolves helping to control population of this predator and protecting the cattle. To produce a more efficient wolf killing dog, nomads mated Taigans with Kyrgyz sheep guarding dog, named Dobot. The mixes were called Dologoy.

For centuries Taigans remained indispensable assistants of Kyrgyz people. Families having a Taigan have never been hungry or got into trouble. Therefore, Taigan was always a treasure. A bitch with puppies was kept in the left half of yurta, although Kyrgyz custom discorages to keep a dog inside. A puppy of well proven working Taigan was valued high and considered a generous gift. If such a puppy was transferred to a new home, then it was done only for exchange for a good purebred horse. An adult well working Taigan was not for sale. Since old times, in Kyrgyzstan, there is a tradition, according to which a good Taigan can be obtained only as a gift or it can be stolen.

During most of its history, this breed was reproduced without much control under conditions of geographic isolation, but this did not influence the population.  When new settlers arrived and new dog breeds came with them.  Other bred dogs became mating with Taigans, because Taigans traditionally lived being never confined or tethered.  Most conscientious hunters tried to protect their dogs from accidental breeding, but they were a few. With introduction of effective firearms, transportation, industrial development and mass influx of new people, the Taigan was loosing his importance as a provider to the family.

During 70th, there was another reason threatening the Kyrgyz sighthound.  Historically, Taigans always lived free near the yurta and ate whatever they could catch. This fact automatically made the Taigan a pest damaging reproduction of game animals. There were ordinance, which required extermination of all dogs living not confined.  However, in Kyrgyz mentality Taigan should not live confined. Therefore, Taigans were shot along with any feral dogs and the Kyrgyz sighthound began disappearing as a breed.

Concurrently with this, in 70th-80th, cynologists alarmed the society about the disappearance of the Kyrgyz sighthound.  There was survey, census and evaluation of quality of still remaining Taigans across Kyrgyzstan. Pure type Taigans were found only in most remote hard accessible high mountain regions of the country.

In late 80th, in Kyrgyzstan, a kennel for preservation of the Kyrgyz sighthound was created. However it existed only for two years, because of lack of funds. At the same time, two pairs of Taigans were brought to the Show of Achievements of Agricultural Industry. They became a founding stock of the Kyrgyz sighthound in Russia. After cynologists concluded that the Taigan had extinct, many wanted to buy the last remaining specimens of disappearing sighthound.  Mass exportation of dogs resembling the Taigan out of Kyrgyzstan began. Emigration of Russian-speaking hunters played an important role in the process. Moving out they left their dogs or sold them for pennies to dog businessmen.

Only a few real Taigan lovers understood the danger of this development. They made a considerable effort to save the breed, traveled across Kyrgyzstan, collected most typical dogs and placed them in reliable hands. Thanks to these enthusiasts, the Kyrgyz sighthound is now preserved in his home country as it was millennia back in history.  This is confirmed by hunting dog shows in population of purebred Taigans in Kyrgyzstan is growing by year. All puppies are examined in the Club of Hunters, tattooed and their owners receive certificates about origin of puppy. Now, popularity of the Taigan in his home country is as high as it was for centuries in the past.

The Taigan is an aboriginal, above average size sightjound; it is strong, elegant, with lean and sturdy body structure, with powerful jaws, well developed muscles and explosive energy. In everyday life the Taigan is a quiet dog, mistrustful with strangers and very devoted to his owners.  Therefore, this is a good guard dog.  The Taigan is a dignified dog, do not tolerate rough and forcible treatment. This is a result of the fact that the Taigan for centuries was considered as a friend and assistant of Kyrgyz; they usually did not called him a dog. Among Kyrgyz Taiga is Taigan and all other dog breeds are dogs.

During hunting, Taigan is very agile, tough and fast.  He has a tremendous endurance, intelligent and is capable to take right decisions on his own.  While rather flegmatic in everyday life, the Taigan explodes when seeing a wild game and reacts fast to changes in situation.

All physical features of the Taigan are caused by conditions of his life in high mountains with harsh climate, low atmospheric pressure and deficiency of oxygen. When hunting mountain goat (Capra ibex), Taigan should be physically active at the altitude up to 3,000-3,500 meters above sea level. Sparse air in high mountains helped to create a dog with a high erythrocyte density in blood capable to adapt to rapid changes in atmospheric pressure and deficiency of oxygen. Lean body with sturdy bone and well pronounced angulations at joints and broad muscles allow the Taigan to make sharp turns on steep slopes. Running fast, the Taigan can turn at angle of 180 degrees. Besides, under conditions of ragged terrain, where it is impossible to see the game animal, Taigan is using unique for a sighthound scent.  Exactly this makes Taiga a universal hunting dog.   Kyrgyz say: when Taigan runs, blood sprays out of his ears”.  This is why ears of Taigan are well protected from strikes with his hind legs with well developed burkas.  A peculiar hair cover of the Taigan is important for keeping him warm on cold rocky ground and blwoing wind, when he is resting or sleeps curling on snow.  “Boots” on Taigan’s feet protect him from injuries, when running on rocky ground. Coat color of Taigans varied depending on the habitat.

Oldtimers tell that in valleys Tigans had predominately light coat colors and in mountains their coats were darker colored. Perhaps this was associated with climatic differences. In high mountains, the climate is harsh, when strong cold winds blow it is hard to warm up, but darker coat colors help well utilize sun heat. Frequent coat colors of these dogs are black, black and gray, gray of various shades and with irregular black spots on basic gray background (chubaryi in Russian).  In the valleys climate is milder, but summer temperature is rising up to 40 degrees C and local Taigans are white, buff or various shades of red. A dark colored dog can die of overheating here.  The same explanation can be applied to local variations in hair density among dogs living in high mountains and in the valleys.  Dogs obtained from high altitude regions have a well developed undercoat and need twice per year combing periods, otherwise their coat becomes matted and the dog is loosing the pretty appearance. Valley Taigans retain characteristic of the breed pattern of hair distribution, but they are less heavily coated then mountain Taigans. Length of furnishing hairs is about 7 cm and with little density undercoat. In Kyrgyzstan, there are valleys Taigans, which obtain good furnishing coat only in winter time.

Keeping Taigans is complex enough. This aboriginal dog lived free for thousands of years. Dogs obtained food by hunting independently, endured long travels with their nomadic owners and the dogs lived in a state of constantly good physical shape.  Besides this, the Taigans have never been trained in any way. Running free in and around the camp, dogs were free to make their own decisions.  Under this conditions and importance of the dogs for their owners, interactions between the dogs and the people were like among equal.  Therefore, keeping a Taigan under modern conditions, one should remember that millennia of history of free life made a certain imprint on the dog’s character.  Taigan should be kept with free exercising, long walking trips and ravels in fields every week. Under conditions of insufficient freedom and exercising, the Taigan can become withdrawn, become irritable and even display aggression to the master. This may be explained by excessive amount of adrenaline in the dog’s blood, which should be utilized during active walking trips, at play and better during hunting. It is better to teach Taigan only elementary necessary commands, which were used by his native nomadic owners, such as come up when called, , walking on the leash, the dog must know his place, prohibitive commands and also encouraging commands during hunting, such as “Search”, “Look up”, “Get it” and especial command asking the Taigan to jump on the horse back to better overview the surrounding.  Other commands, such as “Seat”, “Lay” are usually executed very slowly even by well trained Taigan, showing the owner that he does it only once and for respect to him as a friend.

Taigan is never fawning to his owner. He acts like he knows his own value and accepts petting like making a favor to his owner and looking at him from under his long eyelashes with pride of eastern princess.  Since puppy age, Taigan chooses a circle of people close to his master and he will recognize them.  To the rest people he would react like a wild animal and not allow them to approach by trotting away from them in circles and growling. He would investigate the stranger and this result in an unpleasant impression, because it would be hard for him to guess, what would happen next.  One, who experienced bite by Taigan’s teeth at least once, would not want to try it another time.  Grabbing and tearing Taigan cuts skin like by scissors tearing off large pieces of flesh and causing serious and sometime fatal injuries. Reaction of Taigan is lightning fast and if his foe is active and fights back, the dog would have enough time to retaliate. Therefore, dealing with Taigan, it is better not to aggravate him and treat him politely. Taigan does not allow treating himself rough. At the same time, Taigan is a very loyal dedicated to the master dog.  He loves his master and ready to do much for him. Old men say that Taigan would never abandon his master in trouble. There are many tales stories about faithfulness of Taigan based on real events.  Inside home, Tiagan is very polite and restrained. He is well balanced and not aggressive during walking trips. However, like dogs of many other breeds, Taigans have different personalities. There are aggressive and independent dogs and there are very affectionate and social ones.  However, they all retain basic qualities of character typical of the breed.

Dealing with other dogs, Taigans are indifferent and calm like strong adversary. This is associated with the fact that Taigan is a natural wolf killer. For many years of his history, Taigan was a hunting dog and he hunted to kill.  Actually any Taigan can kill a young wolf. Only a rare descendant of mythical “bird-dog” would fight a mature wolf male. However, dealing with wolf Taiga is fearless.  A mature wolf male is a serious enemy, because he survived since puppy age and lived through a few mating periods, during which wolves fought to death. Therefore, a mature wolf would kill an inexperienced Taigan. Experienced Taigans chasing wolf tear his tendons and runs aside. During this time the hunter shoots. If wolf is not shot, the Taigan resumes chasing and tears the other tendon and, if the wolf cannot run further, the hunter dispatches it. Only strongest and most experienced Taigans kill mature wolf. After tearing hind leg tendons, Taigan kill s wolf holding it by the throat. Therefore, being with other dogs, Taigan without growling and barking remains always a leader. His competitors feel strong spirit of this dog and do not attempt to challenge it.

Taigan loves freedom and hunting the most and this is what everyone having this dog should bear in mind. Kyrgyz follow a special system of preparation of Taigan to hunting. Feeding played an important role in this, although idea that Tiagan should not be fed, because he can feed himself persists. True hunters and fanciers of the breed know that poorly fed Taigan would never have the stamina.  Therefore, between hunting seasons, Taigans are fed with baked ground grains cooked with bones (talkan). Prior to hunting season, dogs died includes increasing amounts of meat and three days before taking off to hunt, the dog is fed with high calorie fat meat only.  Taigan must be well fed during hunting.  Correctly fed Taigan runs twice faster then dogs fed with regular plain diet. Therefore, true hunters pay serious attention to feeding puppies.  If it happened that in the family was a mother nursing a baby, she set aside some milk for Taigan puppy. Is not it a proof that Kyrgyz valued and respected this breed? Therefore, everyone, who had a chance to become familiar with this mysterious and noble dog breed, fell in love with it for the rest of his life. This is why it is important not to let this little known to the world breed of sighthound to disappear from face of Earth.

Luckily, there are still many people, who cannot imagine themselves without thrilling hunting with Taigan, love the breed and little by little contribute into preservation and history of this aboriginal sighthound. Today, we can tell with certainty that gift, which Kyrgyz got from the mythical bird Kumai, is preserved, loved and revered like it was for millennia in the past.