# Central Asian Ovcharka

> Brad's preferred LGD landrace. Has owned and worked with multiple CAS including Timur and Nina.

## Central Asian Ovcharka (Alabai)

The Central Asian Ovcharka — also called the Alabai, Central Asian Shepherd, or CAS — is a unique landrace breed from Central Asia, encompassing countries like Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and parts of Russia. Despite regional names, they are all Central Asian Shepherds. The breed is adapted to the harsh climate of the steppes, with extreme temperature swings from hot to cold and varied weather conditions from dry to wet and snowy. Traditionally used by nomadic people, these dogs are accustomed to constant movement and long distances, making them ideal for guarding livestock.

My interest in the Central Asian Ovcharka began long before I acquired any. I initially hesitated due to the breed's reputation for dog aggression, but I have not found this to be a significant issue in practice.

My work with the Central Asian Ovcharka has included importing quality dogs from their countries of origin to enrich the breed's population in the U.S. I had two Central Asian Shepherds, Timur and Nina. Dan Nash connected me with Timur because he liked Nina and wanted a puppy from her — Timur came from Dan's Maxomagic Kennel. Nina was imported from Kazakhstan. Nina exceeded my expectations; she was a large female with excellent movement, a proper head type, and an outcross from the existing U.S. lines.

Nina was incredible with my family, particularly my daughter and wife. She was a serious guardian but became very loving once introduced to people. She was also an excellent mother, good with other dogs, and amazing with livestock. Nina bonded instantly with yak calves, tolerating their playful antics, and was equally successful with goats. Timur stayed with goats and pigs around the clock. I used Nina and Timur as livestock guardians, and they helped watch for predators like coyotes when walking goats in the forest.

A notable trait of the breed is aggression toward birds — this is beneficial for areas with hawks and owls, as CAS are vigilant against aerial threats to livestock.

### As Pets

Central Asian Ovcharkas are surprisingly low-energy, clean, and quiet in the house, making them great with family. However, they need a large fenced yard and are not suited for apartment living. Compared to the Caucasian Ovcharka, the Central Asian Shepherd is generally less challenging to manage — they share the guardian instinct but tend to be more approachable.

## Details

- **Category:** Breeds
- **Tags:** central-asian-ovcharka, central-asian-shepherd, alabai, lgd, guardian, livestock, import, landrace
- **Region:** Central Asia — Kazakhstan/Mongolia

**Also read:** [All breeds](https://bradanderson.org/breeds?format=md) · [About Brad](https://bradanderson.org/about?format=md)

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