What dog breed is this?

TaraA · June 2011

My fiance's Iranian friend has a farm in northern Iran. Here are some pictures of some of the dogs that live on the farm and guard their sheep from wolves. The dogs are around German Shepherd sized 75-85 lbs when they are well fed. My fiance's friend admits that his dad keeps the dogs hungry . . . not sure why

These dogs have their ears cropped much like some of the CO pics I've seen.

The friend doesn't know what dog breed they are . . . any ideas??

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150648679915564.693964.678035563&l=c8203243a1

sunyata · June 2011

I have no idea... But the solid white one is super adorable.

Araks · June 2011

Hmm, those kinda look like the CO I saw when I was in Armenia. Probably the Iranian "type" of the breed, not sure though.

TaraA · June 2011

@sunyata- I think that one's still a pup . . . I agree very cute.

@Araks- That's the first thing I thought when I saw those pics, but when I googled some Caucasian Ovcharka images, I didn't think that these dogs looked much like them.

BradA1878 · June 2011

I was just admiring your pics on FB.

)

They look to me like aboriginal Ovcharka or Gampr. They are similar to the Central Asian Ovcharka found in Afghanistan (called the Sage Hoochee) and Turkey (like the Akbash), but they resemble the Gampr more than anything (tho a little small) IMHO...

http://www.gampr.org

All the aboriginal Ovcharka (sheep dogs) from that area look kinda the same and are hard to define due to the inter-mixing. I mean, even the CO is still a land race, there are CO that look similar to that as well.

Very cool you have pics of real working ovcharka. awesome.

PS: A hungry LGD values their resources more heavily than a fat well-fed LGD (which means they guard their resources - their flock - more ferociously).

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Calia · June 2011

Those almost look like dogs that Brad (or someone) had posted about a while ago. Wil have to find the thread to see if they match

EDIT: lol, double posted with Brad