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Review Article

Possible genetic resemblance among white coated shepherd dogs such as Turkish Akbash Shepherd, Polish Tatra, Kuvasz, Chuvach, and Central Asian Shepherd Dog

Orhan Yılmaz  

Faculty of Engineering, Ardahan University, Ardahan, Turkey

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 21(1), 2022, 11‒16
2. DOI: 10.21005/asp.2022.21.1.02

Abstract. According to scientists, the dog was domesticated in Asia and spread to other parts of the world from this continent. Turks are also from Central Asia. It is believed that the homeland of the Turkish Akbash Shepherd Dog is Central Asia. The Turks may have taken these white-skinned shepherd dogs to other parts of Europe as well. It is also believed that the Hungarians came from the Hun Turks, one of the ancient Turkish tribes. When the ancestors of the Hungarians came to this region, they may have brought white-skinned dogs, which are now called Kuvasz Dogs. Hungary, Slovakia and Southern Poland are in the same basin and dogs called Kuvasz, Chuvach and Tatra are bred in the countries of this basin, respectively. Kuvasz, Chuvach and Tatra were brought by the Hun Turks and may be dogs of the same origin. This paper claims “All white-skinned shepherd dogs are descended from the Central Asian Shepherd Dog, which was taken by the Turks from Central Asia to other countries.” If this hypothesis can be proven as a result of genetic analysis, the results of this research will not only serve animal science, but also anthropology for humanity.

Keywords: Canis familiaris, guardian dog, genetic relationship, Akbash Shepherd, Tatra, Kuvasz