Breeds / Large
Central Asian Shepherd Dog puppies
A powerful central Asian livestock guardian, steady and calm with its own family, independent minded and serious about the ground it considers its own.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin Russia
- Adult weight 39.9 to 49.9 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 88 to 110 lb
- Adult height 65 to 70 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Medium double
- Typical lifespan Not published
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
Where these come from:
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
No published figure for life expectancy, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.
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. It 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. It carries itself with a settled, unhurried confidence, is affectionate with its own family, and takes territory and livestock seriously without needing instruction.
Energy is moderate but endurance is high, so daily walking and hiking suit it 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. It fits an owner with land, solid fencing and a real guarding role, and it is 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 it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its 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
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.
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.
Other large breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.