Central Asian Shepherd Dog puppies

About the Central Asian Shepherd Dog

The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is an old livestock guardian from the steppe and desert country of central Asia, shaped over centuries by work and hard conditions rather than by a stud book. This is a large, heavily built dog of 39.9 to 49.9 kg standing 65 to 70 cm, with a broad head, thick bone and a dense medium double coat. They carry themselves with a settled, unhurried confidence, are affectionate with their own family, and take territory and livestock seriously without needing instruction.

Energy is moderate but endurance is high, so daily walking and hiking suit them better than short bursts, always contained or on lead. Grooming is light for most of the year, then the undercoat comes out in one heavy annual shed. They fit an owner with land, solid fencing and a real guarding role, and they are unsuited to flats or busy suburban streets. Most new owners underestimate the independence and expect obedience-dog compliance from a dog bred to work alone.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Central Asian Shepherd Dog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock, which the breed's parent club treats as the key clearance
• Elbow dysplasia, screened by elbow evaluation of breeding stock
• Bloat and gastric torsion, a surgical emergency in deep chested dogs
• Entropion and other eyelid faults, found on an eye exam and corrected surgically

Your Central Asian Shepherd Dog puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Central Asian Shepherd Dog.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 39.9 to 49.9 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 49.9 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Do slow feeder bowls work? Choosing one for a puppy that gulps
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other large breeds

More on the Central Asian Shepherd Dog

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Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Central Asian Shepherd Dog breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/central-asian-shepherd-dog/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

No published figure for life expectancy, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.

Photo: Halalosirambankiskecskek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.