Buryat-Mongol wolfhounds: breed history, temperament, choice of names, basic care

There are dog breeds that stand out for centuries of friendship with humans. Among such ancient representatives of four-legged friends one should mention the Buryat-Mongol wolfhound, whose unique characteristics are still appreciated by dog ​​handlers and breeders.

One of the oldest dog breeds is considered to be precisely the Buryat-Mongol wolfhound. The ancestors of modern representatives of these animals lived together with the nomadic tribes of Mongolia and Buryatia, accompanying them, serving, playing the role of not only a shepherd dog, but also acting as a serious defender for a person and his home, protecting them from raids by predators.

The breed has several more unofficial names, in the local dialect of animals they call it “hotosho”, which means a yard dog in Buryat. And also four-legged pets can simply be called wolfhounds, Caucasians, a Hun or Tibetan dog, a Mongolian shepherd.

Not only official versions, but also legends are associated with the origin of these animals. So, many indigenous people believe that the ancestor of the wolfhounds, a bitch named Sarama, served the god Indra himself. The animal was distinguished by the presence of red spots in the color, 2 of which were located symmetrically above the eyes, in light of which it was believed that the animal had 4 eyes. To this day, dogs of this breed have an important place in Buddhism, some nationalities consider them sacred animals.

According to a more formal version of the formation of the breed, dogs acquired their qualities by natural selection, without human intervention. Toward the middle – end of the 20th century, the number of wolfhounds decreased markedly, as a result of which the species was threatened with extinction. The work of 2 canine scientists N. Batov and M. Teregulov helped preserve, and in the future, increase the number of the endangered breed. In 2000, the official standard for the Buryat-Mongol wolfhound was adopted.

According to the established requirements that apply to this breed, the growth of males in the withers should be at least 74 cm, while the females of the Buryat wolfhound can grow up to 66 cm. The breed belongs to large animals: the weight of an adult dog can vary within 80 kg.

According to the requirements specified in the description of the exterior, the four-legged pets will have a rather massive head with pronounced cheekbones, limbs with well-developed muscles, the length of the paws exceeds the average size. Features of the development of the animal determine the presence of a large body with a well-developed muscle corset, which will not be visible due to the thick coat of the animal.

The ears of the dog are hanging, have a triangular shape, the eyes should be oval. Their color ranges from amber to deep brown. However, you can meet it with blue eyes, which is not a deviation from the norm. The dog’s bite is scissor-shaped, healthy teeth should be with white enamel, and fit snugly together.

The coat of wolfhounds is hard with a dense undercoat. Among the dogs of this breed, 3 main types are distinguished according to the length of the coat. So, a Buryat-Mongol wolfhound can be:

• long-haired - with a pile length in the range of 30 cm;
• medium-haired - up to 10 cm;
• Shorthair - up to 5 cm.

But, despite the difference in the size of the pile, all dogs molt equally. There are several options for the color of the animal:

• classic - black with a white spot on the chest;
• color variations are allowed: red, gray and brown.

Animals of this breed have a high immunity to many ailments, as well as endurance. It is believed that they inherited similar qualities from their ancestors: wolves. But in large dogs, genetic diseases can occur. Among them, it is worth highlighting dysplasia of the joints, heart disease, joint problems, inversion of the stomach.

Buryat-Mongolian dogs have inherent strengths and weaknesses that must be studied by potential breeders of such pets. So, the advantages of animals include:

• good-natured disposition, despite its large size and rather formidable appearance;
• dogs are very affectionate with their owners;
• pets of this breed can be safely left with small children;
• loyalty to its master is inherently desirable;
• wolfhounds remain playful until old age;
• animals do not show increased aggression to other dogs;
• Pets do not require special conditions for keeping, are not picky in terms of diet;
• dogs respond well to training.

Among the shortcomings of the breed are:

• due to the large size and the need for physical activity, the breed is not recommended to be wound for indoor keeping;
• some pets may show laziness in the learning process.

Animals of this breed demonstrate a rather flexible disposition, have a balanced psyche. The dog will not bark over trifles. For wolfhounds, the meaning of life is to serve their owner.The animals are energetic, but from a puppy into an adult dog it turns into a pretty good one rather slowly, therefore it is necessary to introduce the acquired dog to the outside world gradually.

Buryat-Mongolian wolfhounds will need competent training, otherwise the animal may manifest negative character traits, such as waywardness and excessive self-confidence. The pet will demonstrate its independence from birth, but affection and praise will please him. Animals tolerate loneliness well, but still prefer to be in the company of man.

Dogs of this breed are bright nanny instinct developedTherefore, they can perceive the children of their breeder as their own offspring, will be patient with their pranks and protect, they can spend a lot of time in the company of children. Relative to other animals well tuned without too much jealousy and aggression, especially if another pet was purchased at the same time as the wolfhound. To cats, rather, indifferent.

Choosing what to call such a large pet, you should not consider the commonplace nicknames common for yard dogs. It is better to choose from proud and majestic options, but so that it is convenient to pronounce it to all family members. Buryat-Mongolian wolfhounds get used very quickly and begin to respond to the nickname, especially if encouraged for this animal. Recommended nicknames for a large dog will be:

• Des;
• Zangar;
• Hatis;
• Khan;
• Asha;
• Gerda;
• Sheikh
• Alma
• Nora.

Since the breed is considered human-centered, and the ancestors of the wolfhounds existed in close interaction with people, animals are forbidden to be kept in the yard on a chain. The dog should be treated as a full member of his family, that is, communicate, tell something, give praise or indicate errors in his actions. Although wolfhounds have recently been very often kept in urban apartments, preferred conditions for the dog will still be private households, where their own local area will be present.

For the pet, you can build a spacious aviary with a canopy so that the dog can hide in the heat from the scorching sun, as well as from bad weather in the cold season. A booth will be needed, its size and design should be selected taking into account the impressive weight and increasing growth of the animal.

The Buryat-Mongol wolfhound can be fed with industrial products or natural food. Most of the owners of these dogs prefer to make a dog’s diet from natural products. For a balanced diet, for the most part, various types of meat and offal should be present in the diet; they should be 2/3 in the daily menu. Lean meat is a priority, therefore for dogs you can buy chicken, beef, rabbit, offal.

Usually meat is combined with cereals, there are no restrictions in this case, the main thing is that they alternate between themselves. Dogs need seafood, the best option is boiled sea fish. Sour-milk products are important throughout the entire period of life, but the percentage of fat content should be minimal.

Dog should be fed an hour and a half before the walk or after it. Servings should be normalized to avoid inversion of the stomach. If the breeder considers it convenient for himself to purchase industrial dry feed, then the premium class will be the most successful option in terms of chemical composition. And also the animal should always have free access to water.

Breeders of these large four-legged pets should know that at the end of spring the animals begin the natural process of molting. Moreover, unlike many other breeds, the change of wool is plentiful, accompanied by the death of whole plates. At this time, the dog owner will need to regularly monitor the appearance of the wolfhound, resorting to daily combing, as well as manual trimming.

The process of molting is important for the animal, since there will be a change of dense winter coat to a lighter one, which will facilitate the dog’s existence in the hot summer months. After molting, the pet will have enough 1 combing per week.

The pet does not need frequent bathing, usually water procedures are carried out once a year. However, the water is well-favored, so they are allowed to swim in open water. The attention of the breeder will require the ears of the pet, they must often be inspected for contamination and accumulation of sulfur, due to the size and structure of the ears, mites can appear in them. Therefore, the hearing organs must be maintained in a healthy and clean state.

The eyes and oral cavity do not require any special care measures. Therefore, the organs of vision can be cleaned of secretions accumulated in the corners of the eyes, as they appear. It’s not necessary to brush your pet’s teeth, but you can use specialized brushes and pastes recommended for dogs. Of particular note in wolfhounds are extremities, namely dewclaws, which are recommended for animals to remove.

Breeders of the Buryat-Mongol wolfhounds note the fact that dogs have a well-developed intellect, and therefore they are very flattered by any praise from family members. In the process of interaction and close contact with a person, the dog demonstrates a flexible character, obedience and playfulness. The pet is not intrusive, you can raise a great guard out of it.

For more information on breed features, see the next video.