Gampr

Gampr on the postage stamp of Armenia, 1999, artist Albert Kechyan

As an aboriginal breed of dogs of the Armenian Highland , the Armenian wolfhound is known in Armenia under the name "gampr", that is, "powerful, strong, large." In the world cynology, these dogs are better known under the name Caucasian Shepherd of Armenian type. Dogs of this type have been spread throughout the Armenian Highlands since prehistoric times, as evidenced by the rock paintings found in various parts of historical Armenia . Among the rock carvings found on the mountains are Ukhtasar , Jermajur and the Geghama mountain range , which dates back to the 1st millennium BC. e., about 20% of petroglyphs represent dogs of the type of modern gampra, while the remaining images represent various types of dogs that no longer exist at the present time ^[3] . Among this group of rock paintings there are many images of hunting scenes and groups of hunters with dogs, consisting of 20-30 figures of hunters and dogs ^[4] . Based on rock paintings that date back to 3 thousand BC. Oe., doctor-professor of Istanbul University Oktay Belli (Oktay Belli) found that in the vicinity of the modern city of Kars in that era, there was already a dog hunt with the participation of several dogs of different types ^[5] .

In 1954, the waters of the shoaled Lake Sevan retreated and tombs of the era of the kingdom of Urartu, dating back to the 8th century BC, were discovered. er A well-preserved skull of a dog was found in one of the tombs. The zoologist S. Dahl reported on the discovery in the article “The Transcaucasian Shepherd of the beginning of the first millennium BC from the basin of Lake Sevan” ^[6] . Measurements and comparisons show that the dog that owned the remains was very close to the wolf, and was essentially a wolf that was domesticated several generations ago. Judging by the found skull, the dog to which he belonged, outwardly, was significantly different from modern gampros and was smaller in size. In modern gampros, the anterior part of the muzzle is shorter, the cranium is wider, the teeth are weaker. The modern gampr has a broad forehead, while the dog, whose remains are 2,800 years old, had a medium-sized forehead ^[7] .

Historically, shepherd dogs have been used to protect herds and dwellings from predators and aggressors. The first mention of the use of large dog-shaped dogs by the troops of the Armenian king Tigran II dates back to the 1st century BC. er

According to the testimony of the historian of the 5th century Movses Khorenatsi, the king Sanatruk was saved by his dog in infancy: “The legend says that the baby was kept by some newly-appeared marvelous animal of white color, sent by the gods. But, as far as we found out, the following happened: a white dog discovered the infant with the nurse, who accompanied the searchers ” ^[8] .

The problem of preserving and breeding local dog breeds, unfortunately, exists in many regions ^[9] , including Armenia ^[10] . In Armenia, the issue of preserving the local native breed of dogs Gampr is also in the center of attention of cynologists and canine organizations. In early March 2007, an exhibition of Gampr breed dogs was held at the Museum of Natural Resources of Armenia in Yerevan, Armenia, organized jointly with the “Biological Diversity of the Armenian Highlands” foundation ^[11] . Every year the issue of preserving the breed becomes more acute due to the increasing importation of dogs of decorative and service breeds, which, as a result of breeding to improve the quality of the exterior, are significantly inferior in their service properties and functionality to dogs of the local breed. On the other hand, dogs were taken from the Armenian Highlands and used to create factory breeds. For example, dogs brought from Armenia, like dogs from the Caucasus regions, were used to create the Caucasian Shepherd Dog breed.

In 2009, the Cynological, Kinologo-Sporting Union of Armenia was founded on the basis of the Aragil animal lovers club, which became part of the Union together with two large service dog clubs and a decorative dogs club ^[12] . The union unites three large clubs with over a thousand owners of dogs of different breeds. The symbol depicted on the logo of the Union, was the image of the mythical dogs of the Armenian Highland Aralez , in the description of which the features of the Gampras are guessed. From the first days of the existence of the Union, breeding work was carried out on the formation of a sufficiently large population of Armenian wolfhounds to register the standard and breed in international canine organizations ^[13] .

February 10, 2011 in Moscow at a meeting of the tribal commission of the International Kenological Union (International Kennel Union (IKU)), a canine organization operating in 17 countries ^[14] , was recognized as the standard of the Armenian wolfhound -Gampra. The certificate of recognition of the breed was registered under number 204, Gampr entered the second group of dogs of the International System IKU, as a working dog. The status of the national breed of Armenia was assigned to him, while Armenia was listed as the country of origin ^{[1] [15]} . September 21, 2016, the recognition of Gampra Alianz Canine Worldwide, which includes 68 countries ^[2] . According to the accepted standard, the short-haired version of the Armenian gampra is recognized (guard hair length is 2-6 cm) ^[16] . A great role in recognizing the breed outside of Armenia was played by the President of the Cynological Kinologo-Sporting Union of Armenia Violetta Gabrielyan. The Kennel Union of Armenia systematically holds International Dog Shows with the invitation of foreign experts, thereby contributing to the promotion of the Armenian Wolfhound-Gampra, as the national breed of dogs in Armenia. Currently, the Kennel Union of Armenia (KKSSA) is also working to recognize the long-haired variety of Gampra, which has always existed along with the short-haired, due to the diversity of relief and the presence of different climatic zones in Armenia.

Modern gampras have changed little throughout the history of their existence in the Armenian Highlands. Gampras are one of the few aboriginal breeds of dogs that have not undergone a strict phenotype selection. Spontaneous, and sometimes intentional periodic matings with local wild wolves, which are still occurring, have contributed a lot to the diversity of the gampros. Gampras are distinguished by their vitality, independence, the ability to independently make the most optimal decision, a strong self-preservation instinct, the ability to provide reliable protection and protection of small and large livestock and exceptional friendliness to humans ^[17] . In fact, Gampr is a local Armenian variety of the Caucasian Shepherd Dog, and the true aborigine of the Armenian Highlands. Under the name of the Caucasian Shepherd Dog, this breed of dog is registered in the dog breeding clubs of the former USSR, but with a group of dogs called Shepherd Dogs (collie, sheltie, bobtail, Briar), it has little in common, because it is a typical moloss by origin .. From Caucasian Shepherd Dogs Gampr it is distinguished by the fact that it is still an exceptionally multi-functional, working dog, which is still capable, if necessary, of killing a not very large Caucasian wolf alone ^[18] .

Head

Large, well-painted, strongly developed, but not with prominent cheekbones, without signs of dryness, impressive. The skull is wide, with a soft transition from the forehead to the muzzle. For gampra characterized by powerful jaws. 60% of the total length of the head is the skull, and the remaining 40% fall on the face. The forehead is even and almost parallel to the nose. Cheeks are thick, dry, taut. Ears are located slightly below eye level. Eye color is darker than coat color. The eyes are relatively small, almond-shaped, deep-set, slightly slanting. Look smart, domineering and serious. Strict and serious expression of the eyes is evident even in puppies at the age of several weeks. The teeth are white, strong, well developed and closely spaced. The centers of the teeth are located on the same line. Scissor bite. The neck is powerful, strong, muscular, medium slope and medium length.

Corps

Elongated shape, stretch index 108-110. Elongation is formed by the chest, not the waist. The chest is wide and deep, with a slightly rounded chest. The lower line of the chest should be below the level of the elbow joint. The abdomen continues the line of the chest, slightly taut. Withers stand out above the line of the back. The back is wide, straight, muscular and strong. The loin is short and muscular. The croup is elongated, wide and straight.

Dimensions

The height at the withers in males is not lower than 67 cm, in females not lower than 63 cm, with proportional addition they can reach K-74-77 cm, and C-65-71 cm, weight varies from 45 to 70 kg. (With proportional addition, height in withers may be higher)

Tail

Set high, in a relaxed position omitted. When walking or in an irritated state, it rises above the back and takes a sickle-shaped or ring-shaped form.

Forelimbs

Seen from the front, straight, parallel to each other. The elbows and humerus are long; they form an angle of the shoulder-blade joint about 108–110 degrees. Forearm straight, massive, in parallel set. Wrists long, massive, set in parallel. When viewed from the side wrists set obliquely.

Rear limbs

Seen from the rear, straight and parallel to each other, to the side, slightly straightened at the knee and hock joints . Thigh and shin long, hock strong, broad, muscular. The knee joint is well defined. Hocks are massive, equal to the length of the thigh. The heels are well defined. Forefoot part of limb is long and strong.

Paws

Round, strong, collected, with soft pads.

Coat

Usually short on face, ears and forelimbs. Double wool and undercoat must be well developed to protect the dog in all climates. Depending on the length of the hair, two types of coat are distinguished: long-haired (work is underway to recognize the long-haired type) - with an extended guard hair and short-haired - with thick, relatively short hair.

Color

Color is allowed any. A dark mask is preferred. Liverne and brown colors are undesirable. (Fawn and zonary colors with a black mask are preferred.)

Free, fast, rectilinear, free pace. Sideline neckline, back and croup in one line. Moves confidently, the power and strength of the dog is felt.

A defect is a significant deviation from the dimensions specified in the standard. Light colored eyes and nose. Very long, short or narrow muzzle. Yellow, small, sparse, severely damaged teeth. Round, bulging eyes. Short body. Narrow, sagging or humpbacked back. Slack belly. Long loin. Narrow, short, sharply sloping croup.

No double coat or undercoat. Blindness, deafness. Cryptorchidism is complete or one-sided.

Gampr - means powerful, strong, large. Gampr is a multifunctional working dog, it is known in Armenia under various names according to its functionality: wolfhound (hunting, shepherd's and also a warrior) - “ gaylhekht ” (from “gail” / “gel” - wolf and “khekhtel” - choke) ^{[ 19]} , the hunting dog “ archashun ” - “bear dog”, from which bears were hunted ^[20] , “ poked dog ” - rescuer (from under snowdrifts), shepherd dog - “ hovvashun ” (from “hoviv” - shepherd and “Shun” - dog) - “shepherd’s dog” and, finally, “ gampr ” - guard dog ^[21] . One of the most distinctive features of dogs of this breed is their independent mind. If gampr decides that you need his help, he will protect you. Gampras are very attached to people and are aware of themselves as a member of the family, this is especially true of those living in a person’s house. Unlike most breeds of domestic dogs that unconsciously devote themselves to humans, gampras must first reflect on this. The owner needs to create a relationship with the dog so that she realizes it. If the owner ignores the gampra, he, in turn, will ignore the owner. Relationships with the gampra are more like a friendship: it must be maintained, protected, otherwise the gampra will put an end to it, finding new friends for itself. Gamprs have a tendency, before recognizing the head of the family, to show affection for younger family members, children and women. The same attitude of the gampra to the wards of domestic animals: first of all they take care of the kids and lambs, and only by ensuring the safety of the young in the herd, they begin to protect the adult animals of the herd. Once in the new environment, the dog must realize that it is an important part of the family or herd. Only after that she will remain and will defend. If a gampr lives in a human family or performs guard functions, the dog should be included in the working relationship and perform service functions ^[17] .

In the early 2000s, dog breeding and kennels “Aralez”, “Aspar”, “Gampr”, “Tiknapa”, “Amasia” ^[22] were engaged in breeding dogs of the Gampr breed in Armenia, but the main and official work is carried out in “Mkhitar” kennels ”,“ Karpat ”,“ White gampr ”,“ Tavros ” ^[23] , which are members of the Kennel Union of Armenia, the organization headed by Gabrielyan Violetta, who is the author of the recognition of the Armenian wolfhound gampr in International Cynology. In nurseries, work is being done to preserve not only the exterior characteristics, but above all the working qualities. In Ukraine, the Shamir nursery is breeding Armenian Gampra ^[24] .

Judging by the phenotype and proximity of the ranges, the gampras are genetically close to the dogs of the North Caucasus and Eastern Anatolia, which were involved in the studies, which resulted in scientists finding that dogs with similar haplotypes are found only in the populations of dogs, the so-called random breeding in Spain and Scandinavia ^[25] . Only dogs without outcross inclusions (such as the Central Asian Shepherd, Alabai, Kochi, etc.) should be bred as Gampra, outcrosses with dogs belonging to other genetic groups are prohibited.

There are two varieties of the Gampr breed: the type of yard guard dog and the type of shepherd dog that helps herders to herd the herds. Dogs - herders helpers are usually relatively smaller in size, more resilient and have a slightly more changeable character. The yard guard dogs are generally a bit higher, the shape of their body more approaches the square one. They are calmer, but their security functions are no less developed. They tend to be sedentary and stay in the same place. During the invasions of Armenia that took place over the past few centuries, dogs like the yard watchdogs became rare, being preserved mainly in remote villages. However, a large number of such dogs were exported from Armenia and used to develop other breeds (such as the Central Asian Shepherd Dog, Caucasian Shepherd Dog, East European Shepherd Dog), especially in the Krasnaya Zvezda Kennel in the former USSR ^[26] . ^[27] .

• Aralese
• Van cat

• Волкодавы народов мира (рус.)
• Армянский гампр
• Урарту — родина кавказских овчарок. Моя планета
• Фотографии щенков Армянского гампра (англ.)
• Армянский волкодав — гампр на Shant TV
• Фотографии армянских волкодавов на Международной сертифицированной выстaвке собак всех пород ранга CACIB «Армения 2011» в Ереване (22-23.05.2011)
• Официальное представительство ККССА на Украине по национальной породе собак Армении питомник «Шамир»
• Питомник кавказских овчарок и армянских волкодавов Гампр «Шамир»