Gamp'r- Ancient dog of Armenia

[Rohana]

Wow I am so glad EZ posted here....so how do I get in touch w/ the people with puppies??? I created the Armenian Gampr Club of America to try to find and document and assist as many of the dogs and owners as possible...I know there are more out there, and I would love to take photos, add to the club whatever. We don't charge registration, basically its just me and a few other interested people. With the new regulations in LA county some of these dogs are at risk, and to get them documented, registered etc would be helpful. Some people have been pressured to prove that their dogs are CAO, or caucasian, or whatever, which is not good, just because there is no recognition for the breed here. Gampr are better, if you read the history at gampr.org hopefully you'll agree. I have contacts w/ American Rare breed Association to get these ones we have accepted with them, but we need a few more. I found out that some of the dogs posted on our webpage had some CAO in their background, so I don't wnat to continue their genetics with the pure gampr, that would cause us problems. Also Walter(he posted here) is looking for 2 pups....it would be nice to see if you can help him, and I could arrange a breeding as well.

I will be in LA on Aug 2nd and 3rd...it would be nice to meet with as many as possible!

Rohana

 

 

my mom's cousin's son is breeding 2 of them, I don't think they are in the list of those 15, also another family I say around Reseda area about a week ago had three!!!

 

[vava]

Welcome Rohana, I think Armen's post is from years ago, so likely the site he was linking to no longer exists. It's great that you're working with Gampr's - hopefully the breed can indeed be established in North America - good luck!

[EZ]

Hi Rohana, welkom

 

I think the site in your quote below copied the text about the Gampr from http://www.molosserdogs.com/modules.php?na...nt&tid=1024 ... since it's identical. So you might want to inquire there about who originally wrote it.

 

I'll be in touch. Happy holidays.

Elly.

 

 

Hey Armen, I tried to follow the link from your post but it didn't work - is there a current link you could send?

I am working toward helping to get the breed established here in the US.

Thanks!

Rohana

 

Armenian Sheepdog

http://hundeguiden.no/Hunderasene/RaserAnd...an_sheepdog.htm

 

With origins dating back as far as 15000 years, there is little doubt that the Armenian Gampr is the oldest of all Molossers, and quite possibly all mountain dog breeds. The Armenian Plateau is one of the early cradles of civilization and the Gampr is believed to had existed in the highlands of Armenia since the very begining. With limited human interference, two main types of the Gampyr evolved side by side and 3000 years ago the longhaired and the shorthaired variants were formed. These dogs are considered by most Armenians to be the real Caucasian Sheepdog and Central Asian Shepherd Dog, as well as direct ancestors of most Asian and Turkish breeds. This theory is not very popular, but it does make a lot of sense, especialy when historical facts are considered. When the Turks invaded Armenia in the 9th century A.D. and encountered the Gampr dogs, they were so impressed that they took many of them back to Turkey. There are reportedly even records in Armenia stating how some of their Gampr Storm Dogs were exported to "a monastery in the Swiss Alps" in the mid 1660's, obviously hinting at the development of the Saint Bernard. The Soviets claimed the Armenian Gampr as Russian, with the Georgian type being favoured by Stalin, the result of which are the divisions still felt today in the Caucasian Ovcharka circles. The Turkish Kars Dog is of special interest, seing how Kars was the capitol of Armenia up until the 10th century.

[Zartonk]

The Wikipedia entry for the Gampr is surprisingly comprehensive.

 

 

 

History of the Breed

 

The dogs of this type were spread all over the Armenian Highlands, starting from prehistoric times that is proved by thousands of petroglyphs found in various regions of the territory. Thus, on studying the petroglyphs found in the territories, surrounding modern city of Kars, the age of which is dated 13,000 years back, Professor Oktay Belli. Stambul University, determined that in the vicinities of Kars the hunting with several domestic dogs existed in Neolithic period. No one knows for sure the exact time when the gampr was domesticated, early sources are quite unclear on this account, often bickering among themselves to prove an academic point. While there is a huge diversity among the endemic species dating back tens of thousand of years, the prototype of the modern gampr was formed 3000 years ago. Petroglyphs found in the Armenian Plateau, beginning ca. 15,000-12,000 BC, show a large number and variety of dog types, providing a record of development. Of the hundreds of petroglyphs found at Ughtasar and on the Geghama mountain range, up to 20% of the carvings resemble the modern gampr, while others show a remarkable diversity of dog that no longer exists. A monograph by S. Dal, "Sevan plateau's transcaucasian shepherd dog, 1st millenium BC" described the results of an excavation conducted in 1954 by Lake Sevan. In the excavation site dating approx. 800 - 1000 BC, they found a well preserved dog skeleton in one of the tombs. By comparing the skull with the head of a modern gampr and other canines, Dal concluded that it was a then typical representative of the breed, although there are some marked differences from the modern type, like longer head-face, narrower head box and stronger teeth. Dal concluded that although the selection and breeding process of the last 3000 years affected the dogs general appearance and size, the gampr was already established and formed as a breed in the 1st millennium BC. As a result of these finds it is now believed that natural selection and breeding over the millennia 'built' the modern gampr, a breed that shows traits of the older dog types represented in the carvings while maintaining its own unique physiology. And despite the conjectures of outside nations that the dog originated outside of the Armenian Plateau, and was somehow introduced by countries as far flung as Tibet, there is an endemic species of dog on the Armenian Plateau that is recorded as early as 12,000 BC. The problem of the preservation and breeding local breeds of dogs exists in many regions of the world, including Armenia

 

 

What is a "Natural dog breed"?

 

 

Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs, which are all of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, having characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans, bred from a known foundation stock.

 

The term dog breed may also be used to refer to natural breeds or landraces, which arose through time in response to a particular environment which included humans, with little or no selective breeding by humans. Such breeds are undocumented, and are identified by their appearance and often by a style of working. Ancient dog breeds are some of the modern (documented) descendants of such natural breeds.

 

Some natural dog breeds were more lucky, and they were recognized by international kennel organizations, the others were less lucky, and they are preserved and bred by individuals and small groups or clubs of dog fanciers. One of the bright examples of the first group os Alabay that was recognized by international kennel clubs as Central Asian shepherd dog[5]. From this point of view, Armenian Gampr was less lucky, and this natural breed is bred by individual enthusiasts in Armenia and "Armenian Gampr Dog Club of America", a small club in the USA.

 

At the same time all local and natural breeds of dogs have several traits some of which are mentioned, in particular, in a Russian article "The Wolfhounds - Lie, Legend and Slander" that runs: "The aboriginal dogs differ first of all by the lack of adaptation to the conditions of megalopolis, sexual dimorphism, and great intertype variations. Of course, there are bad individuals both among selective and natural dog breeds. But under other equal conditions an aboriginal dog has one advantage - it is less spoiled by human selection, and a selective breed dog has another advantages - its offsprings have predictable inherited traits, it is adapted (established) to the conditions of megalopolis, and there is information on its origin".

 

 

Phenotype

 

The modern Gamprs have little changed within the history of their existence in Armenian Highlands. Gamprs are one of few natural breeds that were not subjected to hard selection by phenotype. They preserved the genetic variation that other dog breeds had initially. This genetic variation was promoted by spontaneous and, in some cases, intentional periodic matings with local wide wolves that happen even at present. Gamprs differ by their vital capacity, independence, mind, strong self-preservation instinct, ability of the trustworthy defence and protection of livestock, and exclusive friendliness to humans.

 

 

Head

 

Large, well outlined, well-developed, but without prominent cheekbones, without the signs of dryness, impressive. Skull part is wide, with gentle passage from the forehead to muzzle. Gampr has characteristic mighty jaws. Generally 60 % of the total length of the head belong to the skull, and other 40 % to the muzzle. Forehead is straight and almost parallel to bridge of the nose. Cheeks are full, dry, and neat. Ears are a little lower than eye level. Eye color is more dark than coat color. Eyes are relatively small, almond-shaped, deep set, a little slanting, with clever, imperious, and serious look. The serious and stern look is shown even in puppies at several weeks of age. Teeth are white, strong, well-developed, positioned close to one another in the mouth. Teeth centers are located at one line. Scissor-type bite. Neck is mighty, muscular, with medium incline and medium length.

 

 

Body

 

Body is of extended form, index 108-110 %. Extension is formed at the expense of chest, but not waist. Breast is wide and deep, with a little rounded chest. Lower breast line shall be lower than elbow joint. Stomach continues breast line, a little tuck in. Top of shoulders is a little noticeable at the back. Back is wide, straight, mascular and strong. Waist is short and mascular. Croup is extended, wide and straight.

 

 

Size

 

Height in withers in male dogs is 65 cm or more, and female dogs is 62 cm or more. Weight shall correspond to the total size of the dog, and usually varies from 45–50 kg to 60 kg.

 

Tail

 

High set, in calm mode it is lowered. When walking and in irritated state it is raised above the back and igets a sickle-shaped or ring-shaped form.

 

 

Front Legs

 

Front legs, when front watched are straight, parallel to one another. Elbows and humerus bones are long, make an angle of shoulder-scapular joint of 108-110 degrees. Forearms are stright, massive, parallel set. Wrists are long, massive, parallel set. When looking from side, the wrists are set aslant.

 

 

Back Legs

 

When watched from backside, the legs are straight and parallel to one another, when watched from aside - a little straightened in knee and ankle joints. Thigh and legs are long, ankle joints are well expressed. Metatarsus are massive, equal to the thigh length. Heel bones are well-expressed. Forehell part of the leg is long and strong.

 

 

Paws

 

Round, firm, hard, gathered, with soft pads.

 

 

Coat

 

Usually short at the muzzle, ears and front legs. Double coat and undercoat shall be well-developed to protect the dog under any climatic conditions. Depending upon the coat length two types of coat are differed: long-haired - with long top hairs, and short-haired - with dense, relatively short hair.

 

 

 

Coat Color

 

Brown color and piebald pattern are not desired.

 

 

Movements

 

Fast, free and well-balanced. Front and back legs move parallel.

 

 

Faults

 

The substantial difference from the sizes, fixed in the standard. Light-colored eyes and nose. Too prolonged, short or narrow muzzle. Yellow teeth. Round, squint, protruding eyes. Shortness in body type. Slack or humped back, paunchy belly, long waist, short croup. Non-scissor-type bite.

 

 

Disqualification

 

Expressed cowardlyness or virulence. Lack of double coat and undercoat. Cryptorchidism. Blindness and deafness.

 

 

Character and Behavior

 

Gampr means "mighty, strong, large". These dogs shall not be trained, they perform the very function that is necessary in the particular situation. Gampr is a multyfunctional dog. It is no mere chance that Gampr dogs are known in Armenia under different names according to their function. A wolfhound is named "gelkheht" (from "gel" - "wolf" and "hhehtel" - "to smother"), a bear hunting dog is known as "archashoon" - "bear-dog", a rescue dog to rescue people covered by avalanche is named "potorkashoon", a shepherd dog is named "chobanishoon" - "shepard's dog", and Gampr - watchdog.

 

One of the main traits of Gampr dog is its ability to adopt indepedently a proper decision. If the Gampr dog will see that you need its help, it will protect you. If the Gampr will understand that you do not need its assistance, it will not protect you. The Gamprs are very tied to people, especially those dogs that live in human houses, because they feel themselves a family member.

 

 

Breeding

 

In Armenia Gampr dogs are bred by "Gampr", Tiknapah", Aralez" and "Aspar" Clubs, as well as "Amasia" Kennel [8] that carry on the breeding to preserve the phenotype and working traits of Gampr dogs. Only dogs without any inclusions of non-gampr(ie. CAO, Alabai, Kochee etc.) bloodlines shall be bred as gampr, in order to keep the breed pure. There are two strains of gampr, the palace guardian type and the livestock type. The livestock type tends to be smaller, tireless, and slightly more volatile. The palace guardians are generally taller, more square-built, and fairly congenial but still very protective. They have a tendency to be more sedentary, and to stay in one location. During the invasions of Armenia over the last several hundred years, the palace guardian type dogs have been dispersed, with a few remaining in remote villages, but many were taken out of the country and used in the development of the breeds elsewhere, such as the CAO, and in the Red Star Kennel in the USSR. Gampr is supposed to be unique by its genotype, because of belonging to the haplogroup of dogs of other parts of the Armenian Highlands that cluster only with the dogs of Spain and Scandinavia.

Edited April 19, 2010 by Zartonk

[Rohana]

I agree - Zarine Arushanyan did do a surprisingly comprehensive job on the wikipedia article. She had asked for my input, but I did not have the time during the month she needed it. I am very glad she was persistent enough to see it through. Apparently there was a lot of resistance in the Russian academia to the recognition of the topic. She would probably not mind at all if there were further editing - and would most likely appreciate the help. She does have some information that I think is too limiting for the parameters of the breed, but when i have the time it will be easier to address this.

There are somethings we (Armenian Gampr Club of America) are trying to do:

 

• Locate all the dogs in the USA.
  
• Approach UKC for breed recognition.
  
• Place dogs appropriately so that the breed is seen at its best
  
• Place adult dogs in new homes when needed
  
• Contact travelers between Armenia and the USA for carry-on puppy transport.
  

 

Also I would love to find contact info for Peter Savolainen, geneticist.

If anyone has info or or would like to help with any of the above - please contact me through the website, www.gampr.org. I am working on the site so there are some incomplete pages.

There is a man named Paul Agopian in Romania who is publishing a long article on the gampr this week, in an Armenian paper there. As soon as it is available i will post it to the webpage.

 

I do share a lot more photos on Facebook, if you are interested you can look me up with my email, rohana101@yahoo.com, and add me as a friend.

 

There are a lot of attempts at keeping us from recognition as Armenian gampr. People involved in other breeds tend to think that we should be just lumped in with the rest. So I am pushing for recognition,, and the president of the Cane Corso Association of America happens to be Armenian, and has promised to help us in whatever way possible. He knows his business, and I am pretty thrilled to have his support.

 

 

Rohana

www.gampr.org

rohana@gampr.org

[MosJan]

good friend just got one less then a week a go , his nephew has 2 more darn good looking dogs, Zangi Zrngi

 

our neighbor Artur in N hollywood has one, yo can see his picture in gampr.org,

 

http://www.gampr.org/sitebuilder/images/teen-438x324.jpg

 

so has my other friend Edward that owns a ranch in Santa Clarita

 

if i'm not wrong this is teh picture of his dog at his ranch

 

http://www.gampr.org/sitebuilder/images/Wade_and_Mrout2-366x265.jpg

 

 

good dogs if you own your ranch - but not for the city, be in our house wan Artur's dogs are barking... ohhh boyyyyyyyyyyyy

[Rohana]

So you are Arthur's neighbor - he is such a nice guy! And his dogs are very good, both bred by Garnik. And actually, they should be especially noisy this week - the female is ready to be bred, but not quite in the right frame of mind~ haha lucky neighbors!

If you could share info with the people who have new pups, and the others....thank you!

His dogs are much older now than in the pic on my site, well filled out and really athletic.

The other dog, Mroot, lives with me now. Ed sent her to me almost 2 yrs ago. She is such a good dog. And she is expecting a litter next month! Here is one of her other pups~

He is 110 lbs at 6 months, in this pic.

 

Rohana

www.gampr.org

[Zartonk]

Welcome to Hyeforum Rohana I'm real glad to someone from AGCA here!

 

Zarine has done a great job with the article. Would you by any chance know the basis of the Russian academic opposition though? Its just very peculiar to me.

Edited April 19, 2010 by Zartonk

[MosJan]

So you are Arthur's neighbor - he is such a nice guy! And his dogs are very good, both bred by Garnik. And actually, they should be especially noisy this week - the female is ready to be bred, but not quite in the right frame of mind~ haha lucky neighbors!

If you could share info with the people who have new pups, and the others....thank you!

His dogs are much older now than in the pic on my site, well filled out and really athletic.

The other dog, Mroot, lives with me now. Ed sent her to me almost 2 yrs ago. She is such a good dog. And she is expecting a litter next month! Here is one of her other pups~

He is 110 lbs at 6 months, in this pic.

 

Rohana

www.gampr.org

 

 

o yes Arturs dogs are much much much BIGGER now

 

PS. Thank you for the web site good info

[Rohana]

Welcome to Hyeforum Rohana I'm real glad to someone from AGCA here!

 

Zarine has done great job with the article. Would you by any chance know the basis of the Russian academic opposition though? Its just very peculiar to me.

 

I can fwd you the email from her, its a bit cryptic, and maybe 'opposition' isn't actually the case, but here's an exerpt:

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> > Dear Rohana Mayer,

> >

> > I am happy for receiving your reply. Thanks very much. Yesterday, for

> > my surprise,

> > I found out that both Armenian and Russian articles about Gampr are

> > subjected to great

> > suppression, and they even want to delete it from Russian Wikipedia.

> I

> > managed to rewrite

> > it within the night, giving several sources, including Savolainen and

> a

> > Russian geneticist Ryabinina

> > (she proved that Kavkazskaya ovcharka is not the same as

> Severokavkazski

> > Volkodav - a dog,

> > similar to Gampr). But again they are not satisfied, and demand to

> > prove that some international

> > kennel organization recognizes Gampr as a breed. I had never studied

> > dogs before, though I have

> > several published articles on cats and cat domestication, etc. So, I

> do

> > not know the rules and I

> > guess the rules in cat fancy will not much difer from the same in dog

> > fancy. But, wnyhow, I need

> > some prove of such recognition. When I will protect this article, I

> > will try to edit or create the

> > corresponding articles in Armenian and English Wikipedia. But this

> task

> > is urgent. Thus, please

> > sent me any prove of the recognition of Gampr in any respectful

> American

> > kennel association or register.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

I hope she doesn't mind the publicizing of her email! If you want the rest of the written conversation let me know. I think she had a hard time getting everyone to be consistent in helping her compile information, so I hope it went well. I think with the way Wikipedia works we can all edit it, but i only know english! and I think she published in Russian as well.

Anyway I tremendously appreciate her efforts. And I don't think I was able to help her as much as she wished. She did let me know that Peter Savolainen is in the US now, so thats a start - I would love to track him down and see what we can do with further genetic analysis.

You can email me at rohana@gampr.org if you want a copy of the email from Zarine, if it helps.

 

Rohana

[shaunt]

Very nice work!

[MosJan]

lucy - she is only 6 or 7 months old shes getting bigger day by day

[MosJan]

more of lucy

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30879716&l=20dfde7256&id=1394731341http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30879716&l=20dfde7256&id=1394731341

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30879717&l=fef27cf6cc&id=1394731341

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30879713&l=5ffd00fd2d&id=1394731341

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30879713&l=5ffd00fd2d&id=1394731341

[Arpa]

ՎԵՐԱԴԱՐՁ

Դանիէլ Վարուժան

Հացին Երգը

 

Այս իրիկուն ձեզի կուգանք, ե՜րգ երգելով,

Լուսնակ ճամբով,

Ո՛վ գիւղակներ, գիւղակներ.

Ձեր բակերուն մեջ ամէն

Թող գամփըռներն արթըննան,

Եվ աղբյուրները նորէն

Դոյլերու մէջ քրքըջան.

Ձեր տօներուն համար դաշտէն` մաղերով

Վարդ ենք բերեր` խաղերով:

Edited January 3, 2010 by Arpa

[Rohana]

lucy - she is only 6 or 7 months old shes getting bigger day by day

 

She is very pretty. Great proprtions, nice coat. I like this first pic of her best, she has a very intelligent look in her eye.

There is a cute little male her age in Pasadena, belongs to Nishan and Saro Paparian, but I don't have current pics. He is gold/blond and white.

 

I just added the AGCA constitution, bylaws, ethics and Officers list to the AGCA page,links are on the 'About Us' page.(http://www.gampr.org/about_us.html) I have several nominations for various posts on the board, but 2 need filling .... any takers? The positions are:

 

Director #6 Public Relations-

Director #6 will preside over the Public Relation(s) Committee, merchandise and the Fund Raising Committee. #6 will ensure that the respective committees are on task and fully functional. Position requirements in addition to those stated above: Must have good organization and people skills.

 

and

Director #8 Rescue and Newsletter-

Director #8 will oversee the rescue committee; helping them coordinate and communicate with other organizations and keeping apprised of surrenders and dogs in need as well as to the number of successful adoptions. #8 will work closely with the Treasurer in regards to funding the club has available to the rescue committee. #8 will coordinate the production of the chronicle, making sure each party that is supposed to contribute does.

 

I am basically covering Director #8's tasks, as i do rescue/rehoming from my house, but I am certainly willing to share, or have a director be in charge of the technicalities.

 

In a couple weeks I am expecting that we will be set up to take formal memberships, as of right now its a bit of a loose-knit group. Mike Ertaskiran of CCAA has offered his help in whatever way needed to help us get more organized and functional - so this is the first step. Also I am hoping we can do some kind of exhibit or show during April...we'll see. Once we finish organizing and have our first meeting we'll know more.

 

So..any volunteers for the 2 board positions? Email them to me at rohana@gampr.org. There may be nominations coming from the people whom I emailed last night, so if we get multiple nominations, we'll have the excitement of a vote... wheeehew. And its ok for people to nominate themselves.

 

 

Rohana

[MosJan]

Thank you

 

i will let him know

 

the only 2 others in Pasadena ( that i know if them ) in her age are sister & the brother of her

i'll see if i can get some pics for you ..

Thanks

Movses

[MosJan]

at last had a chance to see Lucy's 2 brothers

Hastings Ranch Ca.

[Rohana]

at last had a chance to see Lucy's 2 brothers

Hastings Ranch Ca.

Thank you! They look good. Was it just a litter of three? Do you know the names of the parents?

I have been putting off the AGCA meeting, until Hamlik returns from Armenia - and he's back now. With a puppy :)a red male, good looking dog, lots of brain, levelheaded but hasn't been socialized yet. I hope to come to Little Armenia Monday or Tuesday, depending on weather and schedules.

I have posted Lucy on the females page on gampr.org (http://www.gampr.org/females.html) I will post a page for her and her siblings, add them to the males and females page...which is which in the picture? do you know their names? If we can find out the names of the parents we can add them too....hint hint....

Thank you! and check the info next to Lucy's pic, and let me know what I should have written, ok?

Rohana

[MosJan]

I don't have much info on parents, the guardian / keeper of the dogs is in Armenia at this time, wan i see him next time i''ll ask.

[MosJan]

Lucy is my friends dog, name: Garo Ajemyan of Pasadena, she's in Pasadena most of the time, on the wekkends shes at Garos Ranch in Vailermo CA, and she loves it

Lives in Pasadena

Born (May 2009?)

Owned by Garo Ajemyan

Lives with sheep and other
livestock, has 2 brothers in
nearby area

 

never like to use owner or have never call ourselves - since every pet in our house is part of our family - we use guardian / keeper,

[MosJan]

http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/photoset/1227

 

 

http://media.pn.am/media/set/1/227/big_80ddea7f4.jpg

[Yervant1]

HISTORY TESTIFIES ABOUT ARMENIAN ORIGINS OF GAMPR DOG: CYNOLOGIST



17:17, 16 December, 2013



YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Gampr is a national Armenian breed
of dog and the historical sources certify this. The Chairperson
of the Armenian Association of Cynologists Violeta Gabrielyan
stated this at the course of the press conference held on December
16. Among other things the Chairperson of the Armenian Association
of Cynologists Violeta Gabrielyan noted that the Armenian Gampr dog
has an age-old history. In addition Violeta Gabrielyan underscored:
"Studying descriptions of our historians we can state that this breed
of dog had had appeared yet in the IV century and it was used in army."

Armenian Gampr is a breed of livestock guardian dog native to the
Armenian Highlands, including the territories of modern Eastern
Anatolia of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia. The Armenian Gampr
was bred by local people usingprimitive selection.

The modern Gampr has changed little within the history of its existence
in Armenian Highlands. It is one of few natural breeds not subjected to
hard selection by phenotype. They preserved the genetic variation that
other dog breeds had initially. This genetic variation was promoted
by spontaneous and, in some cases, intentional periodic matings with
locally indigenous wolves (still present). Gamprs differ by their vital
capacity, independence, mind, strong self-preservation instinct,
ability of the trustworthy defense and protection of livestock,
and exclusive friendliness to humans.

This mountain dog's head is large, well-outlined and well-developed
but lacks prominent cheekbones. The back is wide, straight, muscular
and strong. At the withers, the height in male dogs is 65 centimetres
(26 in) or more, and in female dogs is 62 centimetres (24 in) or more.

Weight corresponds to the total size of the dog, and usually varies
from 45 to 60 kilograms (99 to 130 lb).

The Armenian Gampr has a well-developed undercoat, in order to protect
it under harsh conditions. Depending upon the coat length, there are
two types: long-haired, with long top hairs, and short-haired, with
dense, relatively short hair. A brown or piebald coat is undesirable
according to the breed standard.

Gampr dogs are not trained, instead performing the necessary
functions naturally. The Armenian word "Gampr" means "watchdog",
but the same breed may instead be called a "gelkheht" (from "gel" -
"wolf" and "khekhtel" - "to choke") if it is predesposed to be used as
a wolfhound; a bear-hunting dog is known as "archashoon" ("bear-dog");
an avalanche dog is named "potorkashoon", and a shepherd dog is named
"hovvashoon". The Gamprs are very tied to people, especially those
dogs that live in human houses, because they feel themselves a family
or pack member.

In Armenia Gampr dogs are bred by "Gampr", Tiknapah", Aralez" and
"Aspar" Clubs, as well as "Amasia" Kennel that carry on the breeding
to preserve the phenotype and working traits of Gampr dogs.

Only dogs without any inclusions of non-Gampr (i.e. CAO, Alabai,
Kochee etc.) bloodlines shall be bred as Gampr, in order to keep the
breed pure. There are two strains of gampr, the palace guardian type
and the livestock type. The livestock type tends to be smaller,
tireless, and slightly more volatile. The palace guardians are
generally taller, more square-built, and fairly congenial but still
very protective. They have a tendency to be more sedentary, and to stay
in one location. During the invasions of Armenia over the last several
hundred years, the palace guardian type dogs have been dispersed,
with a few remaining in remote villages, but many were taken out
of the country and used in the development of the breeds elsewhere,
such as the CAO, and in the Red Star Kennel in the USSR.

Gampr is supposed to be unique by its genotype, because of belonging
to the haplogroup of dogs of other parts of the Armenian Highlands
that cluster only with the dogs of Spain and Scandinavia.

The geographic and cultural coexistence of the Caucasian Ovcharka and
the Central Asian Ovcharka, and its use as a standard, is itself seen
as an issue threatening the continued existence of the Armenian Gampr
dog landrace. The Armenian Gampr Club of America states: "The gampr
is not: An Alabai, a Caucasian Ovcharka, a Kangal, an Anatolian, an
Akbash, a Karakatchan, a Central Asian Shepherd, a Koochee, a Tornjak,
a Sharplaninatz, or a cross of these.

http://armenpress.am/eng/news/743942/history-testifies-about-armenian-origin
s-of-gampr-dog-cynologist.html

[MosJan]

[MosJan]

http://youtu.be/IcA8CwgJ52U

 

Արմավիրի մարզում հերոսացել է գյուղացիներից մեկի շունը: Գիշերը արթնացել են ոռնոցից ու տեսել` ինչպես է կռիվ տալիս գիշատիչ կենդանու դեմ:

[MosJan]

«Շիրակ կենտրոնը» շարունակում է ներկայացնել տեսանյութեր գամփռ շնատեսակի բուծման և այդ տեսակը կորստից փրկելու գործի շիրակցի նվիրյալների մասին: Մենք այս բովանդակությամբ տեսանյութեր պատրաստելով` նպատակ ունենք խրախուսել եւ քարոզել ոչխարների հոտերը գայլերից գելխեղդ շների միջոցով պաշտպանելու եւ ոչ ամենեւին այդ գիշատիչներին զենքով ոչնչացնելու մեթոդը:
Ներկայացվող տեսանյութում հայկական ավանդական շնատեսակների բազմացման և տարածման գործի արթիկցի նվիրյալ Լյովա Երիցյանը պատմում է իր շների և հատկապես անասնապահական մարզերում շնաբուծության զարգացման կարևորության մասին:
www.shirakcentre.org