The Kazakh Tazy dog has a long history, one that goes back to the very roots of the country’s culture. The ancient sighthound breed has recently been getting quite a bit of attention and is well on its way to gaining official international recognition.
According to scientists, in order to know the history of the Kazakh Tazy dog, one needs to go back to the era of horse domestication. At that time, the nomads living in what is now known as Kazakhstan used the four-legged companion to protect their livestock from predators and to help during hunting. The dog is especially well-adapted to live under harsh conditions and can reach speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour.
Since then, quite a lot has happened and for a time, the breed was threatened by extinction. Thanks to the efforts of passionate dog breeders and a presidential decree, the Tazy dog is slowly but surely being rescued. One of those breeders is Yelena Khardina, a Kazakh breeder from Oskemen who has been breeding the Tazy for 16 years and who participates in international competitions.
“For me, tazys are more than just dogs—they embody our past and our soul. If we fail to preserve them, we risk losing more than a breed. We will lose a part of our history. I just fell in love with these beautiful animals at first sight. They are such beautiful creatures that it seems as if they came to us from legends. I knew about this breed before, but I had never seen them up close. And then their grace, stateliness, intelligence and cleverness just took my breath away,” Khardina, whose puppies have gone as far as England and the United States, told the Kazinform news agency.
The way to international fame
The Tazy dog is now considered to be a national symbol of Kazakhstan and in 2023, it received preliminary recognition from the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. That recognition gives Kazakhstan the status of breed holder, meaning the country is the official custodian of the breed, responsible for establishing standards, promoting development, and ensuring preservation. Amongst other things, genetic research needs to be done in order to establish the breed’s uniqueness in order to successfully distinguish it from other breeds.
Seven Treasures “Jety Kazyna” –
— Women of Kazakhstan (@womenofkz) October 27, 2020
concept according to which a Kazakh (men) is considered a Happy Kazakh (men): strength (masculinity?), beautiful & smart wife, fast horse, golden eagle, dog (Tazy) breed, good weapons and comprehensive knowledge.
Art by Nurlan Kilibayev pic.twitter.com/7ZByzaP1H8
“But this is only the first step. FCI has given Kazakhstan 10 years to develop and approve the final breed standards. This period is a time of active work. Now we have to form a population of at least a thousand dogs with a confirmed pedigree. This is not as easy as it seems. Many dogs are in private hands, and owners often do not even think about the importance of registration. We need to educate, develop kennels, organise more exhibitions and competitions,” said Khardina.
Thanks to all those developments, the Tazy is quickly gaining international attention. The breed was featured in the book Dogs of the World by Lili Chin and some of the most famous Tazy owners are Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and French President Emmanuel Macron. The Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has also issued a resolution, meaning to name 3 September as the Day of Kazakh Dog Breeds.
