Nomad Cultures of Middle Asia:
Evidence of early nomad cultures in what is now known as Middle Asia exist as far back as 2000 B.C. This is when first artefacts from the nomadic iron age appear in Aq Kapruk IV. The ancient Aryan city of Kabul is established, now in eastern Afghanistan.
Throughout the ages, following the Silk Road from China through India and into Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan and Iran, caravans followed the Oxus River using the grasslands and water to sustain their livestock. They had a rich culture and a healthy lifestyle. Their dependence on the natural world resulted in a great wealth of knowledge about nature.
The nomads depended on their animals for food - cheese yogurt, meat - and wool and skins for shelter and wonderful textiles such as kilims, carpets or donkey/camel/sheep bags for transporting their things. The designs for these textiles varied depending on the tribe making them and are much sought after now in western markets.
In order to protect their livestock and themselves these nomads needed loyal, intelligent, tough guard dogs that had strong bodies, that were quick and agile, and which were also independent and relatively self-sufficient and able to hunt for their own food. These were the priorities for breeding these dogs. Color, unlike selection in the western world , had no priority.
In my opinion, this is what provided the foundation for the old bloodlines from which have developed the many regional types of Middle Asian dogs we now have today.
These dogs had to be able to withstand extreme highs and lows of temperatures in the mountains, and in the deserts. They had to be tough enough, and fit enough, to keep pace with camels.
They had to have the stamina to live on minimum food and water supply, yet keep their ability to do their jobs regardless of the environmental conditions.
Often, this meant hunting their own food, such as small desert mammals, in order to survive. And they had to be strong enough to fight off any intruders, animal or human.
On most occasions, these dogs could probably just scare off an overly curious mountain lion or wolf, but every once in awhile these dogs had to face the predators in direct combat, and show fearless aggression in deterring a threat to their flock.
This determination was later appreciated by hunters, who used these dogs to hunt bears, mountain lions, and even giant tigers.
Although Koochee dogs had the ability to drive off any predator, they were not bred for aggression. Quite the opposite; if a dog showed too much aggressive behaviour, that dog would be culled, either by humans or by older, stronger dogs in a pack.
It is in more recent times, that Koochee dogs have become a valuable commodity on the fighting circuits in traditional and non-traditional environments.
However, many owners, who do not understand the origins of these beautiful animals, often deem them to be cowardly in the first few years of their development. This 'cowardice' is an adaptation of a Koochee dog to survive in their harsh surroundings by learning about them and accepting their role, until they become strong enough. This limits the risks to their health when challenging for leadership of the pack.
A typical Koochee dog will complete this learning process in about the first three years of their life. This is considerably longer than in any other breed.
Origins Of Middle Asian Breed Differentiation
Social and political conditions in this area have changed dramatically over the years causing some nomad tribes to settle in some areas and become farmers due to declining access to traditional grazing land and migratory routes. Others have been forced to move and (re)settle in other areas due to war.
Afghan nomads have moved and settled in parts of Uzbekistan which used to be a part of Afghanistan. Some Turkmen people live in Tadjikistan, Pakistan, Iran and even Turkey today.
All of these people brought their dogs with them and have continued to breed them. Their dogs now demonstrate signs of regional difference - some obvious and some more subtle. This may be due, in part, to the inevitable crossbreeding (with the existing region's dogs) which occurs when a people and thier dogs move into a new region, as well as the natural adaptation of the breed over the years (i.e. in angulation, coat qualities, head, muscular construction etc.) to a particular climate/landscape (i.e. mountain, steppe, desert).
Koochee Dogs
Koochee dogs are a result of centuries of breeding guardian dogs by nomadic tribes of Middle Asia (Koochee people).
Although they are not recognized as a breed, they posess a set of character traits that are recognizable and distinguishable among certain types of dogs. These traits are not based simply on appearance, but instead encompass a dogs behaviour, their pre-dispositions, reactions, and special adaptations to their native environment.
Koochee dogs are unique, in that they have not yet been victimized by western breeding standards, and are still true to their origin and purpose. There are quite a few officially recognized breeds of dogs that resemble the koochee dogs, and are their close relatives (i.e. Kangal dog of Turkey, also known as the Anatolian Shepherd, Central Asian Shepherds (Ovcharka) or CAO, and many large shepherd and guard breeds throughout Asia and Europe).
Unique adaptations
All Koochee dogs have a protective underwool coat, which enables them to regulate their body temperature in various conditions.
As they are a rather large dog (typically in the range of about 80 cm (32 inches) at the withers, and averaging a weight of about 55-65 kg (135 - 155 lbs.)), it would be expected that they would 'overheat' fairly quickly in warm and hot temperatures.
However, that is not so.
Koochee dogs are very resistant to heat exhaustion, and have an instinctive ability to conserve their strength, and limit their efforts to a minimum, until exertion is required of them.
For this reason, they might sometimes appear sluggish, or lazy, or disinterested and tired. That is only an illusion. A Koochee dog can suddendly leap up, even from a sleeping position, and surprise with their great agility and tremendous speed.
In motion they resemble a cat, despite their great size showing to be nimble and fleet-footed.
Because their gene pool was not limited to produce dogs that are either big, heavy, with long coat, or light, skinny, with short coats, their phenotypes can adapt easily, according to the demands placed on them in their surroundings. Hence the variety in types of Koochee dogs.
There are three main types, with sub-variants from mixing the types or raising them in different localities.
Of the three, the mountain type is the heaviest, with the longest coat, while the desert type is the lightest, with the shortest coat.
The steppe type is somewhere in between, and most capable of reflecting the characteristics of both in its phenotype, according to the environment they are raised in.
Because of the rich variety present in Koochee gene pool, these dogs are incredibly resistant to genetic defects and diseases that normally plague the dog world.
Their health is legendary, and their longevity and durability is maintained in original populations. With careful breeding and providing the right setting for these dogs, this vitality can remain in a non-traditional context as well.
Koochee Characteristics
Depending on their geographic area of origin, three types of koochee dogs can be recognized based on the length of the coat.
They are mountain-type, steppe-type, and desert-type (including the half-desert sub-variant). Individual types will be discussed in greater detail further on.
All three types have an underwool, but the mountain-type dogs have longer fur than the steppe-type, and the steppe-type have longer hair than the desert-type.
No matter which type these dogs are, they should be agile, fast, and very athletic, with great stamina. In this way, they are much different than most dogs seen at dog shows today. Their development is a result of their working lifestyle, which is the very purpose of their breeding.
Appearance, including size and weight, as well as coat color, was never a criteria for breeding these dogs.
Nomad people need a breed that can run fast, work under arduous conditions, without much food and water, and in extreme temperatures.
MOUNTAIN TYPE:
Environment: Mountainous regions, with higher elevetions, more humidity, and lower temperatures (especially in wintertime)
Appearance: Heavier, longer coat. Stronger bone structure. Medium height, with broader chest. Larger, mastiff-type head (brick-type head).
Special notes: Mountain-type Koochee dogs move slower along a flat ground, but they are very agile in mountaineous regions. They can climb and cover areas of rock faster than other Koochee types. Similar as in Taighan (hunting windhound of Middle Asia - mountain regions).
STEPPE TYPE:
Environment: Large, flat expanse of land covered with wild steppe vegetation (small bushes, brush grass)
Appearance: Medium to long fur. Medium bone structure. Medium to tall height (between 70 and over 80 cm). Mastiff-like head in more-less windhound habitus.
Special notes: On a flat ground these dogs are very fast compared to the mountain-type. Similar as Tazi (hunting windhound of Middle Asia - steppe regions)
DESERT TYPE:
Environment: Dry, dusty, flat desert landscape, very often rich in salt and calcium carbonate, quite hot throughout most of the year, especially in the summer (temperatures reaching 50�C).
In the winter temperatures can fall below 0.
Appearance: Short coat, with underwool in cold season. Strong bone structure. Medium height.
**I assume that the salt minerals and calcium carbonate contribute to the strong bone structure of these dogs, and the salty soil helps prevent parasitic infections .
Special Note: Can exhibit head characteristics from two other types.
Content Taken From:
koocheedog.com
Photos:
