Turkmen Alabai
Encyclopedia
The Alabai is a molosser
of very ancient origins, originating in Turkmenistan
. This dog may reach 90 kg (200 lb), and be over 80 cm (31 in) tall at the withers. Its main function is to protect livestock from predators. In Russia
, it has earned the nickname of "volkodav" ("wolf crusher"). During the Soviet
era, Russian
breeders created the "Central Asian Ovtcharkarka" by mixing several ancestral breeds of Asian molossers, including the Alabai of Turkmenistan, the Tobet
of Kazakhstan
and the Torkuz
of Uzbekistan
. The Alabai is one of the original central Asian molosser breeds and is considered a national treasure
in Turkmenistan.
Molosser
Molosser is a category of large, solidly-built dog that includes several breeds, probably all descended from the same root stock. The name derives from Molossia, a subregion of ancient Epirus, ancient Greece, where the large shepherd dog was known as the Molossus.The proper noun "Mastiff", however,...
of very ancient origins, originating in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
. This dog may reach 90 kg (200 lb), and be over 80 cm (31 in) tall at the withers. Its main function is to protect livestock from predators. In Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, it has earned the nickname of "volkodav" ("wolf crusher"). During the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
era, Russian
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
breeders created the "Central Asian Ovtcharkarka" by mixing several ancestral breeds of Asian molossers, including the Alabai of Turkmenistan, the Tobet
Tobet
The Tobet is a molosser of very ancient origins, originating in Kazakhstan. This dog may reach 90 kg in weight and be over 80 cm tall at the withers. Its main function is to protect livestock. In Russia it has earned the nickname of "Volkodav" which means “wolf crusher”. It can be...
of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
and the Torkuz
Torkuz
The Torkuz is a molosser, a breed of dog of very ancient origins originating in Uzbekistan. This dog may reach 90 kg in weight and over 80 cm in height at the withers. Its main function is to protect livestock from predators. In Russia, it has earned the nickname of "Volkodav" which means “wolf...
of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
. The Alabai is one of the original central Asian molosser breeds and is considered a national treasure
National treasure
The idea of national treasure, like national epics and national anthems, is part of the language of Romantic nationalism, which arose in the late 18th century and 19th centuries. Nationalism is an ideology which supports the nation as the fundamental unit of human social life, which includes shared...
in Turkmenistan.