Recent DNA study that shows the CO - CAS- Kangal & Volkodavs being separate breeds ON TOPIC Central Asian Shepherd dogs.
Note no Ovcharka in use for these shepherd dogs which is why I mention it. .
http://www.planetmolosser.com/gallery/data/500/nedium/dna1of.jpg
Please click next or home for 4 pages of DNA study plus reference material.
The former USSR Standard had the name Middle Asian Ovcharka in use _before the process of accepting the breed by FCI in 1989 ( widely translated 1993) in which it was changed to Central Asian.
Later when the sweep happened from MAO to CAO Late 90's I too asked why the change . ( Also RKF was formed and accepted by FCI much after the breed was put it thus revisions were made when this happened)
SO I asked Pres of the RKF club of CAO . Responce was a indication the name " midde asian" was more correct.
Since the former republics of the USSR were CENTRALLY located NOT middlely located. So I talk of the "USE OF" and "Change of" as it refers to that link not to exact translations since that is impossible .
The use of "Ovcharka" is being dropped from use even by Russian experts
since they are not a Russian breed..
Natives of Central Asia NEVER use Ovcharka to describe this landrace of breeds ..
Such as Turkmenia sheep dog . Turkmen Wolf hound , watchdog, Asiatic mastiff ( wynn) were in use long before the USSR. These names are mentioned BEFORE the completed forced occupation of the 20's. Jardine 1860
Since this breed is entangled into centuries of WAR, forced occupation , some still in turmoil, religon issues end result hot debate of who came first. and I really dont think the poster wants a run down on the history of a landrace of breeds that dates back thousands of years
Jeannine De Palma
President CASSA
PS Trying to keep this topic ON topic
I do not want to dIve into a different breed known a Caucasian Ovcharka and the history there . Or even who came first in the Soviet Union or history of that breed.
Please start a topic on your breed Caucasian Ovcharka within the dog breeds section .
So NO more confusion or compariing of these 2 different breeds is made. Which always turned into a issue sometimes requiring interference.