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Gampr, also known as the dog-bear, the Armenian gampr, is not a lap dog, but a big and stern beast. The height of an adult dog can be from 67 cm in males and from 63 cm in bitches, the weight of an adult can reach from 45 to 70 kg. A characteristic feature is the black mask on any color except brown. It has a short coat, with a double undercoat. Live dogs of this breed 13-15 years.
They are loyal, brave and become excellent companions of man. Such a dog is absolutely not suitable for a city apartment, as its main task is to be a guard.
Breed history
Armenian gampra is a native breed. It differs from widely known and standardized, breeding breeds.Within this breed, individuals may differ from each other. Their evolution depends more on geographical and natural factors, and not on human intervention.
Breeding breeds have a set of clearly defined characteristics of the appearance that dogs must possess, while the standards of the gampr breed indicate the general characteristics of the breed as a whole, and not its appearance.
The ancestors of these dogs originate from the Armenian Highlands, where they have been common since prehistoric times. Proof of this are the images on the rocks made by ancient people. They used gampra for hunting small and large prey. Such rock carvings were found throughout Armenia and date back to 1-3 millennium BC. For the first time, gampras are mentioned in the time of Tigran II in the 1st century BC, where they took part in hostilities.
As a breed, the Armenian wolfhound was recognized in 2011 by a canine committee. In the same year, the status of a national breed of Armenia was obtained.
Breed destination
Since ancient times, gampr served man and protected the house and cattle from wild animals and aliens. Also, these dogs helped to feed the sheep and were lifeguards for the shepherds who fell under the snow.
Over time, the breed lost its primary purpose and was on the verge of extinction. But the interested people did not allow this, because gampr is culturally significant for Armenia. Therefore, it is used as a shepherd and a guard now. It is also indispensable in search and rescue missions for avalanches and raids. But most importantly, gampr is a companion, friend and family member.
Breed character
Outside of stressful situations, the Armenian wolfhound has an enviable calm, but always remains vigilant and attentive. These dogs very rarely bark and do not show unreasonable aggression. Excellent get along with children and other animals.
“Gampr”, translated from Armenian, is strong, powerful, large, and this fully corresponds to the name. And he is unusually smart. However, they do not like to obey.The owner of the gampra must have a strong, strong-willed character, since the freedom-loving dog will strive to take the place of the chief. The Armenian Wolfhound is a nobly calm dog with a stable psyche and friendly qualities.
How to choose a puppy
When starting a future guard, it is necessary to understand that puppies should not be fearful or asocial. It is necessary to pay attention to the behavior of puppies and choose those babies who themselves run up to you, show interest and friendliness. The optimal age for taking a puppy is 2-3 months. It must be remembered that they grow up later than small dogs.
Care and maintenance
The key to a happy gampra life is to feel needed. This dog is a hard worker, he used to work hard. The situation of a city apartment is clearly not suitable for him. A dog of this breed requires constant open space, freedom of movement. An open-air cage is well suited for it, but you need to consider that for such a dog the minimum walk time is 2-3 hours per day, regardless of the weather. Walking an adult dog should consist of running and playing.However, it should be remembered that for puppies the level of increasing physical exertion should be gradual in order not to overload the joints.
Pets tolerate any temperature well. But it should provide a warm shelter for the winter and a source of cooling in the summer.
Combing gampra should be no more than once a week, and you need to bathe only if necessary. In the moulting season, wool must be combed out. It is necessary to monitor the condition of the ears and teeth and clean them when they are dirty. Claws should be cut only in case of abnormal or defective growth.
Possible health problems
Due to the fact that the breed has not undergone selective breeding, it does not suffer from genetic diseases. Gampras are very viable, resistant to viruses and colds due to their immunity. Problems that may arise in some individuals are problems of the musculoskeletal system. It is necessary to constantly monitor and monitor the loads of the growing individual, since a quick weight gain overloads the joints, which can lead to irreversible problems in the adult state.
Eating puppy and adult dog
Nutrition gamprov must be organized according to the needs of the pet, its mass and the number of daily loads. The dog eats everything and cannot be called a glutton. Puppies should be fed 3 to 6 times depending on age. Adult dogs need two meals with all the vitamins and minerals. The choice of dry or natural food - a personal matter of each owner. However, if you choose dry food - these should be premium class firms, plus nutritional supplements. If the choice of natural nutrition, the diet should consist of lean meat, cereals, vegetables and dairy products. If you are not sure that your pet gets enough micronutrients and vitamins, then you need to resort to nutritional supplements.
Balanced nutrition for gampra is about a third of meat or fish from the total diet. Meat is acceptable raw, but the fish must be boiled to avoid the appearance of parasites.
Briefly about training
Due to the fact that gampr is a contact dog, it needs to socialize from an early age.It is important for them to communicate with the person constantly, play and receive maximum attention. But do not forget that dogs are pack animals and, if you do not explain to the puppy that you are the owner of the house, he will declare himself the leader.
This breed is reluctant to train, but they are not required. They are incredibly smart and they themselves know which solution will be the most optimal in any situation. If you still decide to train your pet, then have patience and act confidently. It is necessary to give the dog a clear motivation. And from the methods of coercion and violence should immediately be abandoned, they are unacceptable.
Pros and cons of breed
Despite its massive and formidable appearance, the Armenian wolfhound is distinguished by noble calmness, kindness and a balanced character. But the dog does not intend to perceive strangers as friends. If he feels threatened, then by all means he is ready to defend himself against outsiders. However, these dogs will not bark for nothing. Some owners believe that their four-legged friends do not know how to give voice.
Since these dogs love to keep everything under constant control, the most comfortable place for them is a good viewing platform, from where they can be observers of what is happening and begin to act if necessary.It is important to install an open-air cage with a good viewing angle and close the dog in it only in case of an urgent need.
The insight and intelligence of the Armenian Wolfhound allows it to be independent and make independent decisions. Because of the heightened sense of independence, such dogs are very difficult to train, and for inexperienced dog breeders this process is completely impossible. However, do not worry, gampry themselves know how to act, without training.
The advantages of a bear dog include:
- devotion;
- calm;
- lack of unwarranted aggression;
- bravery;
- excellent guard and shepherd skills;
- caution and attentiveness;
- mind, propensity to make decisions on their own.
The disadvantages include: the presence of a wayward character, education requires a firm hand, it does not stand to bend under the person.
Gampras, possessing unpretentious food habits, are resistant to many diseases, which greatly facilitates the life of the owner. Also, these dogs can rightly be called long-livers. There were cases when dogs of this breed lived to 20 years. With proper feeding and care, the dog will live a long and happy life, remaining a loyal friend and guard until old age.
Price and where to buy
Armenian wolfhound or gampr - the dog is not very popular. Recently, however, more and more dog handlers have become interested in breeding this breed, so even in Russia you can find several nurseries where you can buy gampra. A puppy of this breed costs about 45 thousand rubles.
Video: Dog breed Gampr
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