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The Mongolian Shepherd, or Bankhar, is a prehistoric and rare breed of dog. Many experts consider it the oldest. These data are partially confirmed by archaeological excavations. The main place of residence of the Bankhara is Mongolia. Outside this country the breed is very rare. Before the war, it was popular in some regions of Russia, but then it lost its position and practically disappeared. The revival began only at the beginning of this century.
Mongolian Shepherd Banhar
History of the breed
The history of the Mongolian Shepherd Dog began more than 14,000 years ago . This is one of the oldest breeds that existed and was domesticated by man. It is believed that it is the bankhar that is depicted in ancient human cave paintings. He has become man's friend since time immemorial. In ancient Asia, they were often used in hunting, as herders, and for the defense and protection of possessions. Even great politicians and officials resorted to the help of animals in military operations.
Today the breed is quite common and can often be found in Asian countries. But international organizations have still not recognized it.
general characteristics
extraordinary intelligence allows it to master a variety of “professions.” They make excellent guards, hunters, watchmen, rescuers, show dogs, pets, companions, and so on.
It is recommended to buy it for wealthy people living in the house. After all, the dog is not small, and even a large apartment will seem like a cramped cage to him. And given its significant size, it will require quite a bit of food, not counting medicines to maintain health and other things needed for maintenance. Having children or elderly people in the family is not a problem. The animal loves to play, so it often becomes a child's best friend. But it is important to explain to the child that the dog cannot be offended either by words or deeds. Proud and willful, she will not tolerate such treatment.
According to the standard, the minimum height of a male at the withers should be 60 cm , and that of a female – 55 cm . But usually they are much larger. The weight at the stage of formation of the animal should not be lower than 30 kg .
Description and characteristics
Once you see a Mongolian dog, it will be difficult for you to confuse it with another shepherd dog in the future . In adulthood, the dog reaches enormous sizes. According to the standards, the minimum height at the withers for a male is 60 cm, for a female - 55 cm, while weight below 30 kg is not allowed. But in reality the breed is much larger.
Banhar is often compared to a bear. It has thick, often black, fur that is pleasant to the touch. The undercoat is very thick and dense, the coat is hard, elastic, and odorless. There are red circles around the eyes and on the paws.
The eyes are narrow and brown. A special feature of the breed is a frightening trait: at night, the eyes glow red. The tail is thick, medium length, slightly curled. The dog is suitable for people living in a private house, as the dog will feel constrained in an apartment. He treats children and older people positively, but you should immediately warn the child that you cannot offend the animal, otherwise an aggressive reaction will follow.
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Description of the breed
The animal is quite rarely of medium height; most often it is a large, impressive-looking dog. They have massive bones and excellent muscles. The shape of the dog is more square than rectangular. The head is sick, but proportional to the body. The jaws are well developed. The ears are set low and drooping.
The eyes are a little narrow, expressive with a clear, confident look, most often brown. Their peculiarity is that in the dark their eyes glow red. There are light yellow fur rims around the eyes. This is a kind of protection from the blinding sun and the reflection of snow, so that the handsome man’s vision does not deteriorate. The tail is of medium length, often curled into a half ring.
The dog's body is covered with soft, velvety and shiny fur . The guard hair is straight, thin, but slightly harsh. And the undercoat is thick and especially soft. The length of the coat is uneven. The neck and shoulders, for example, are covered with rather long fur that looks like a mane. The hind legs also have long hair, which is also called “pants”. On the rest of the body, the fur is approximately the same - medium length, with the exception of the ears, front paws and muzzle, which are covered with short fur.
There are only three types of color - black, black and tan or red. The latter is extremely rare.
Breed description, standards and appearance
The Mongolian Banhar is a strong, large, ideally built dog, larger than average in size. The height at the withers of an adult bankhar reaches:
– boy – 74 cm,
– girls – 66 cm.
The average weight of a Mongolian Shepherd varies between 60–70 kg, but there are giant individuals reaching 100 kg.
Standard
The Standard describes the Bankhar Mongolian Shepherd as follows:
- The head is large, proportional to the body. The transition from forehead to muzzle is smooth but clearly defined. The muzzle is wide and large, looks swollen due to a thick fat layer. This is where the name of the breed came from – “Bankhar”, which translated from Mongolian means “plump”, stuffed with wool.
- The dog's eyes are medium-sized, oval, obliquely set. A distinctive feature of the breed is its bright yellow “glasses.” And in the dark, the bankhar’s eyes glow with red lights, which allowed the Mongols to distinguish it from a wolf at night.
- The ears are small, triangular, set low, hanging. They fit tightly to the head and are thick. In ancient times, the Mongols even specially smeared their ears with hotosho fat so that they could withstand heat and frost.
- The neck is of medium length, wide, no dewlap. The shape is slightly curved, there is a pronounced scruff. The neck is lined with rich fur, which makes the bankhara look a bit like a lion. This cover protects against sharp wolf teeth.
- The body is powerful, square in shape, which is a sign of the aboriginal breed. The chest is wide, the back is slightly elongated and straight. The croup is wide, moderately sloping. The muscles are well developed, the physique is proportional.
- The paws are straight, set wide, parallel to each other. Strong and powerful, with short fingers.
- The tail is large, framed with rich hair. It twists into a ring and falls onto its back.
- The fur resembles that of a bear, up to 15 cm long, velvety to the touch and smooth. The guard hairs are coarse and not adherent. The undercoat is thick; during shedding, up to 2 kg of fluff can be collected from one dog. There is no dog smell.
- black and tan and solid black are the most common, tan comes in brown, copper, yellow, red and gold;
- “Zurkh Tsaagan”, or “white hearts”, is also quite common, a black dog with a white chest and white “slippers”;
- red (all shades, from golden to dark copper) - a rarer species;
- the rarest ones are white and red; since ancient times, such bankhars have been considered a symbol of success and wealth.
This breed standard is accepted in the RKF and in Mongolia. As mentioned earlier, the FCI today has not recognized the Mongolian Shepherd Bankhar breed as an independent breed.
Color
The color palette of the Mongolian Banhar is varied:
Character
The character of such a pet is confident and calm . He is characterized by composure, patience and pride. Fans, breeders and dog handlers describe her character with one, but eloquent word - iron.
The animal is extremely smart . Scientists attribute its intellectual abilities to the age of the breed. But be that as it may, when you get a Mongolian Shepherd, you can be sure that it will quickly learn all the rules of behavior, be trained, and even be able to learn some interesting tricks.
He treats all family members friendly, as well as the animals that live with him under the same roof. But if she behaves typically with people, then she considers other animals to be her wards, trying to teach them life, behavior, and also, if possible, protect them. Bankhar will always distinguish a villain from a friend and will help protect any member of his family.
If he doesn’t like something in the stranger’s actions, he first emits a characteristic roar. Most often, this is enough to calm down the ill-wisher. But if a person continues to show aggression towards an animal or its family members, he attacks it. The attack is always swift and instantaneous, so it is advisable for the owner to know how this happens. True, in favor of the dog it is worth noting that an attack is an extreme measure for it, and it does not often resort to it.
Character and behavior
Banhar is seemingly balanced and phlegmatic. In fact, it is a fierce guard, vigilant and wary. But you shouldn’t be afraid of the dog; it won’t touch people you know well. Banhar knows exactly who is inside and who is outsider.
Several Mongolian Shepherds cope with large herds on their own; they do not need people to help them. They form a circle around the pasture and patrol their areas for days on end; predators have very little chance of getting prey while the bankhar is on guard.
Shepherd dogs chatter among themselves, reporting danger or the beginning of moving to another place.
Maintenance and care
Unpretentious. It can handle different temperatures and climates without problems.
- He needs to live in a house or in a yard. Apartments are too small for a Mongolian Shepherd. If it is kept outdoors, it is important to build a spacious box for the animal, as well as provide plenty of free space in the yard. Cages, chains and enclosures are not for them. This is too freedom-loving dog. If you keep it in the yard, there will be no problems. But if you tie him up or put him in an enclosure, he will not give his owners a normal, quiet life.
- Even if the dog lives on the street, he needs to be walked outside the yard at least once a day for an hour or more. For walks, you should choose spacious streets or, even better, an obstacle course. After all, they absolutely need physical activity!
- You can comb the animal at will. Mongols rarely do this kind of thing. The fur, of course, becomes matted over time, but this allows the dog to freeze less in extremely low temperatures. On the other hand, by combing an animal you can get valuable pet fur, which is often used to stuff clothes and belts.
- The dog loves to play often. This is an affectionate animal, although it does not look like one. Bankhar can show and express his love to his owner and loves to play with him or any other family member. So games should take place in communication with the dog.
- Education should begin from the first days in a new home. This is a freedom-loving and proud animal. It is important to let him understand who is boss in the house and teach him to obey from an early age. You can start training later, when the animal grows up and gets used to it.
Puppies
Some people buy Mongolian Shepherd puppies without a pedigree to save money. They explain this by saying that they buy an animal for the soul, and not for exhibitions. Even if you plan to keep a bankhar in an enclosure for protection, still take one that has a pedigree.
This is not just a piece of paper, but proof of the thoroughbredness of the animal; without a pedigree, there is a possibility of buying not a purebred bankhar, but a cross with a mongrel or another breed, then the working qualities and appearance will differ from the standards.
Types of puppies:
- Show class. These are perfect representatives of the breed with no flaws. With these you can conquer exhibitions and win medals. They are very expensive.
- Pet class. These are exactly the puppies for the “soul”. Ordinary pets, guards, are good-looking, but have some disadvantages, breeding “marriage”. They cost an order of magnitude cheaper than the show class.
Typically, Mongolian Shepherd puppies do not have any health problems; they have good immunity. Therefore, you should not be afraid that a sick baby, all diseases in a bankhar are only acquired.
Feeding
Banhar is unpretentious when it comes to food. You can feed both food and regular food. At the same time, meat and bones in the diet are not replaced by anything. Unless they feed the animal food. Just porridge, even with vitamins and vegetables, is not suitable for him. To raise a healthy, strong dog, it is important that the food is nutritious, healthy and balanced.
In each individual case, it is worth developing an individual diet taking into account the height, weight, age, physical characteristics, and health of the animal. Breeders and veterinarians will help with this.
Care and maintenance
The Mongolian bankhar is not picky when it comes to grooming; there will be no difficulties with it. And no wonder, because representatives of the breed are adapted to life even in the steppes, where there is no talk of any comfort or convenience.
It is generally not customary for dogs kept for herding to be scratched or bathed. It is necessary for their fur to grow, curling into dense dreadlocks, which will protect not only from bad weather, but also from predators.
The Mongolian Shepherd needs space and freedom; it cannot be kept within four walls. If you live in an apartment, you will need to take a lot of long walks with your pet. If you plan to keep it in the courtyard of a house, you cannot put the bankhar on a chain; it does not tolerate shackles.
The right diet
In Mongolia, representatives of the Bankhar breed are fed almost exclusively with meat. It can be raw or lightly cooked. But such a diet is too expensive, and not every person can provide it to their pet. What to feed bankhar?
Breeders recommend giving preference to premium balanced dry food. The content of meat ingredients in them ranges from 40 to 80%, which meets the needs of the dog. The food also contains a complex of vitamins and minerals.
You can feed the bankhar with natural food, and the daily menu is as follows:
With a natural diet, you need to add a vitamin complex.
Walking and exercise
The Mongolian Shepherd Dog Banhar requires long walks without a leash. If possible, it is better to take the bankhar to the forest or steppe, where it can run around and frolic to its heart’s content. A park will do.
They also need physical activity; they are hard workers. It is recommended to take him to specialized areas for dogs, to take him to the forest, where he can play with the hot dogs, to the river. In winter, you can harness the bankhar to a sled; he will be happy to give children rides.
Training and education
Banhar Khotosho is a large and serious dog that requires serious training. Consistency and strength of character are what is required from the owner. Breeders of the breed recommend turning to experienced dog handlers for training.
Mongolian Shepherds are intelligent and quick-witted; they remember commands quickly and carry them out clearly and with pleasure. You need to immediately, as soon as the Banhar puppy appears in the house, indicate what is possible and what is not. Under no circumstances should an attitude be allowed where today something is forbidden, but tomorrow it is possible, otherwise the dog will simply get confused.
Care and hygiene
In Mongolia, working dogs are not washed or combed, because the fur provides protection. But if you keep bankhar “for the soul,” then you need to care for it accordingly:
Breed photo
Nicknames
Big, strong, beautiful and proud bankhar requires a special nickname. Most often they are chosen from foreign names or words that mean something. Suitable for a boy: Avchy, Adyl, Azhdarkha, Baland, Batyr, Vatan, Gurp, Davlat, Jannat, El, Zhaan, Ilkhan, Kaman, Nesher, Nuker, Sevmok, Talap, Tez, Ulug, Khal, Chikish, Shamol, El, Yakyn.
For a girl, you can choose a nickname from the following options: Alana, Galaba, Gez, Daldala, Zhandi, Zhaldyz, Kara Kelle, Mapa, Oila, Pata, Salashi, Fatiha, Khotin, Shoola, Erteki.
Interesting
- The length of the coat of these dogs varies in different regions. The further north the area, the longer the fur will be.
- It is believed that no other type of dog has a similar coat texture.
- An amazing distinctive quality of the animal is its lack of smell. This applies to both fur and the dog in general. She takes on the smell of the place she lives in. Thanks to this camouflage, other animals can never smell it, and therefore it can be an excellent hunter.
- In the last decade, the Mongolian Shepherd has become very popular in China, South Korea, and Japan as a pet. Its presence in the family speaks of wealth and well-being.
