Gampr (Armenian wolfhound): description of the breed, character and reviews of dog breeders

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Gampr is the national dog breed of Armenia. Cynologists call representatives of this breed as follows: Armenian gampr, or Armenian wolfhound (wolfhounds are generally called large-sized dogs).

Dog of the Armenian Highlands

Gampr is a breed of dogs that are the indigenous inhabitants of the Armenian Highlands. In ancient times, they were domesticated by people and used by them for various purposes.

In prehistoric times, these dogs were found throughout the territory of the Armenian Highlands. This is evidenced by the images found on the rocks. At the same time, approximately 20% of the petroglyphs contain clear representatives of the modern Gampr breed (Armenian wolfhound). The rest show dogs of various types that do not exist today.

On the found petroglyphs, you can see hunting scenes. They consist of figures of hunters and dogs of various types. This indicates that in those days dog hunting already existed, in which not only the progenitors of this breed took part. You can also find petroglyphs, the decoding of which means that the dogs of the Armenian Highlands guarded the flocks from predators.

Historical day for the breed was 10February 2011. On this day, she was recognized at the International level. Now the primordial dog of the Armenian Highlands is called Gampr - the Armenian wolfhound.

General description of the breed

Quite often you can hear that dogs of the Gampr breed are called Caucasian Shepherds of the Armenian type. In a sense, this name is correct, the Gampr breed is a variety of the Caucasian Shepherd Dog. It is this name that is given to the indigenous representatives of the Armenian Highlands upon their registration in dog breeders' clubs. But by origin, Armenian wolfhounds are typical molossians (strong individuals of large size (up to 90 cm at the withers) have strong jaws and massive heads). This suggests that the relationship with the Caucasian Shepherd Dog in the Gampr breed is insignificant.

In the 20s of the last century, the factory breed of the Caucasian Shepherd Dog began to be bred in the USSR. Both the dogs of the Armenian highlands and four-legged representatives of all regions of the Caucasus participated in breeding. Today, not every Armenian Gampr is involved in breeding, although the main breeding material consists of representatives of Armenian blood. The fact is that the indigenous inhabitants of the Armenian Highlands have their own specific phenotype. It may or may not meet the standards for factory breeding of Caucasian Shepherd Dogs.

Characteristics of the breed

For all the time of its existence, the Armenian Gampr dog breed has not changed much. She has not been rigorously selected for her phenotype. Breedthere are some signs characteristic of wolves. They were inherited during selection, as there were constant matings of individuals with wild wolves.

According to dog breeders, the Armenian wolfhound has the following distinctive features:

• vitality;
• strong self-preservation instinct;
• independence;
• adequacy;
• smart look, full of seriousness and authority;
• balanced psyche;
• human friendliness.

Without exception, dog breeders distinguish the following breed abilities:

• self-decision-making;
• implementation of reliable human protection;
• fast movement without difficulty;
• good tolerance and understanding of training;
• quality protection of small and large livestock.

The Armenian wolfhound dog is used today for a variety of jobs. She can be a shepherd, a rescuer, a watchman. The breed has excellent mental and physical data. This makes it one of the most dangerous dogs when it comes to fighting. Representatives of this breed are the best wolfhounds in the world.

Appearance

The Armenian wolfhound dog breed has:

• large head and torso;
• strong jaws;
• well-developed muscles;
• wide-boned;
• proportional folded body.

If we consider the appearance of these animals in more detail, then onBased on the reviews of dog breeders, the following description of the breed can be given.

The head of the animal is well outlined and strongly developed. Cheekbones do not fall out. The wide cranial part smoothly passes from the forehead to the muzzle. The forehead of the dogs of the Gampr breed is flat and wide, the cheeks are thick, the ears are slightly lower than the level of the eyes. Gampra's eyes are darker than wool. They are small, slightly slanted, set deep. The teeth are close to each other. They are strong, white, well developed. Dental centers are placed in one line. The Armenian Gampr has a powerful neck of medium length.

Dogs have a wide chest and an elongated body, in the formation of which the chest takes part. In her area, the chest is slightly rounded. The continuation of the line of the chest is the stomach, which is slightly tucked up. The withers are visible above the line of the muscular back.

The animal's tail is set high. It is lowered when the gampr is at rest, and rises above the back, taking on a crescent shape when the animal is irritated.

The paws are strong and have soft pads. Prominent heels. The front and hind limbs are straight, parallel to each other.

There is short hair on the muzzle, forelegs and ears. On the rest of the body, it is double with undercoat, which helps protect the dog from adverse weather conditions.

Gampr is an Armenian wolfhound that can be of any color.

Character

Due to the large size of the dog, many people are afraid of it. If apay attention to the reviews of dog breeders, you can understand that the large size of the animal does not always indicate its anger and aggression.

Dog breeders unanimously agree that all gamprs are smart, have a balanced character. These are brave animals that will always be devoted to their master. They easily become a friend of a person. But the gampr's respect must be earned. If an animal came to a person as a puppy, this does not mean that over time it will become attached to its owner. From birth, they require a good attitude towards themselves. This animal should become a member of the family, which will be constantly supported. Dog breeders are sure that it is necessary to communicate with gamprom in a friendly manner. Aggression and anger towards an animal is unacceptable. Otherwise, an aggressive response from your pet cannot be avoided. Only a friendly attitude towards the animal will help to achieve its location and respect.

Gampr (Armenian wolfhound) can make his own decisions because of his sharp mind. Dog breeders warn: not all commands given by the owner will be unquestioningly executed by the animals. If the commands are about correct training, then there will be no problems. If the pet understands that he needs to do something harmful and dangerous for a person, he will not obey.

Having earned the respect of the dog, all family members are under its care. She pays special attention to children. If new people appear in the owner's house, the gampr meets them with wariness, although it does not show it. It is enough for such people to start doing somethingbad, the animal immediately takes a defensive position. Few such people will not seem!

Contents

You can often find dissatisfaction on the part of dog breeders about the fact that an Armenian wolfhound lives in a city apartment. This, in their opinion, is animal abuse. And they are right, because the breed is unsuitable for such maintenance. And it's not just about the size of the animal. Gampr, whose photo already makes you fall in love with this breed, requires free movement. It will not be possible to organize it in an apartment. The courtyard of a private house can be an ideal place for keeping. Some people prefer to build an aviary for their pet. And there is no need to worry that the animal will feel uncomfortable on the street. Gampras are able to tolerate not only heat, but also the coldest weather. It is in their nature.

When constructing a booth for an animal, dog breeders recommend taking note that it should be located in the shade and be comfortable. It is mandatory to maintain cleanliness in the place where the animal is kept. In no case and under no circumstances should gampres be put on a chain. If the necessary conditions for keeping a pet cannot be arranged, pay attention to another breed of dog.

Care

Armenian wolfhound gampr, the price of which varies between 50-60 thousand rubles (according to December 2014), needs mandatory daily care. Dog breeders are asked to pay special attention to the coat of the animal, which must be carefullycomb out. For this, a special brush is purchased. If it is not possible to engage in daily combing, then at least once every 2-3 days this will have to be done. During the molting period of the animal, you need to pay more attention to it.

Given the cleanliness of the breed, it is not necessary to bathe gampres often. It is advisable to resort to water procedures only when it is impossible to do without them. When bathing a dog, special products are used for this purpose. Dog breeders recommend buying those that are as gentle as possible on the coat and skin of the animal.

Gampr's coat cannot be sheared. Otherwise, the condition of the animal's coat will be disturbed. Pay special attention to the hygiene of your pet's ears and mouth. Nails should be cut as they grow.

How to walk the dog?

The Armenian wolfhound dog breed is very strong, but its activity is moderate. It is not necessary to hope that only the right content is enough for it. In no case should these animals be limited in movement and space. Maintaining a dog's he alth and fitness through long walks and moderate exercise.

According to dog breeders, gampros need to be walked daily at least once. If this is not done, the animal's physical and emotional he alth will suffer. Walking should not be limited to jogging around the yard, which lasts only 10 minutes. The dog needs to be trained by including elements of physical activity. The duration of the walk should not be less than 30 minutesfor walking on a leash. It will take the same amount of time for a dog to enjoy a free run.

Diseases

Gampra's immunity has been tempered for centuries. Compared to other breeds that have been spoiled by unwise selection, the Armenian wolfhound remains a he althy animal capable of working physically. At the same time, the Gampr dog breed has a unique quality: if the animal has been ill with a certain type of cold, in the future its immune system ceases to perceive it.

Dog breeders warn that this breed may develop bone problems later in life. To eliminate them, drugs that treat arthritis are used.

Despite the fact that the Armenian wolfhounds are truly he althy, they need to be taken to the veterinarian regularly. We must not forget that the body of the animal needs to be vaccinated. At the first suspicion of a deterioration in the he alth of a pet, dog breeders recommend contacting a veterinary clinic, and not self-medicating.

Diet

Big, strong, powerful - this is how the word “gampr” is translated from Armenian. The photo of these dogs really shows individuals of a large size. But this does not mean that the animal does not eat in moderation. According to dog breeders, having a large size and consuming a lot of energy, the Armenian wolfhound may well be satisfied with a small amount of food. The comparison is with the amount of food that a dog of similar size needs. At the same time, this does not mean that the animal needs to be fed to a minimum. The main thing is to properly compose the pet's diet.

If the diet of a four-legged friend is correct, there will be no problems with his he alth. The diet should be competent and harmonious. When it is not possible to compose it yourself, contact the specialists.

Gampr's diet should be especially monitored during its molting period.

Conservation of the breed

The main attention of cynologists in Armenia is aimed at preserving the local aboriginal dog - the Armenian wolfhound. Every year, a large number of decorative dog breeds are imported into the country. But these breeding species are much inferior in many respects to representatives of the local breed. Therefore, every year the issue of preserving the indigenous inhabitants of the Armenian Highlands becomes more acute.

Dog breeders are unanimous that the Gampr shared the character and fate of the Armenian people. Representatives of the breed were taken out of the country and used to breed such dogs as the Caucasian and Central Asian Shepherd. This has led to gamprs becoming a rarity. Basically, they can only be found in remote villages.