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Turkmenistan’s President Created A National Holiday For A Dog Breed Because He Loves Them So Much

Turkmenistan’s president has created a new national holiday to honor the Alabai, a large native dog breed.

Wendy Chuang

Wendy Chuang

— 2 min read
Turkmenistan’s President Created A National Holiday For A Dog Breed Because He Loves Them So Much

Turkmenistan’s president has created a new national holiday to honor the Alabai, a large native dog breed.

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov put up a six-meter (19ft) high golden statue of the Central Asian Shepherd dog in the capital of Ashgabat last November and has written a 272-page book about the breed, according to the Guardian.

Spectators are seen in the stands during celebrations for the national Turkmen Horse Day and the Turkmen Shepherd Dog Day near Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Spectators are seen in the stands during celebrations for the national Turkmen Horse Day and the Turkmen Shepherd Dog Day near Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. (Photo by REUTERS/Vyacheslav Sarkisyan)

On Sunday Apr. 25, the country celebrated its first Alabai Day, the same day the country celebrates its ancient Ahal Teke horse breed.

Horsemen perform during celebrations for the national Turkmen Horse Day and the Turkmen Shepherd Dog Day near Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Horsemen perform during celebrations for the national Turkmen Horse Day and the Turkmen Shepherd Dog Day near Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. (Photo by: REUTERS/Vyacheslav Sarkisyan)

Alabai Day included a competition to find the best Alabai dog based on its appearance and agility.

The champion dog, which was in the border guard service, was given the award of courage by the president’s son, Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Berdymukhamedov.

Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Berdymukhamedov, son of President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, holds a puppy of a Turkmen shepherd dog, locally known as Alabai, during celebrations for the national Turkmen Horse Day and the Turkmen Shepherd Dog Day, near Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Berdymukhamedov, son of President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, holds a puppy of an Alabai dog, during celebrations for the national Turkmen Horse Day and the Turkmen Shepherd Dog Day, near Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. (Photo by REUTERS/Vyacheslav Sarkisyan)

Serdar also appeared at an opening ceremony for a new complex for the breeding of Alabai dogs.

Alabai dogs can weigh up to 79 kgs and are also known as “wolf crushers,” thanks to their skills in guarding sheep, goats and people’s homes, CNN reported.

Dogs and horses are widely used by the herders in Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic bordering Afghanistan, and both of them are considered sources of national pride.

Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Berdymukhamedov, son of President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, presents a trophy to a jockey during celebrations for the national Turkmen Horse Day and the Turkmen Shepherd Dog Day, near Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Berdymukhamedov, son of President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, presents a trophy to a jockey during celebrations for the national Turkmen Horse Day and the Turkmen Shepherd Dog Day, near Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. (Photo by REUTERS/Vyacheslav Sarkisyan)

In 2017, Berdymukhamedov, who has been in power since 2007, gifted an Alabai puppy to Russian president Vladimir Putin. He also erected a golden statue of himself riding the Ahal Teke horse in 2015.

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