the Values of Nomadic…FCI Preliminarily Recognizes Kazakh Tazy as Official Dog Breed
ASTANA — The General Committee of the International Canine Federation (FCI) decided on Sept. 4 to grant preliminary recognition to the Kazakh Tazy as an official dog breed, designating Kazakhstan as the breed’s standard holder.
The work on the revival of the Kazakh breeds Tazy and Tobet is under the patronage of the Office of Presidential Affairs.
According to Kazakhstan’s Presidential Administration’s press service, this decision is a key and final step before fully recognizing the Tazy as a Kazakh breed at the international level.
FCI President Tamás Jakkel congratulated Kazakhstan on this historic decision, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming ten years, during which health tests and data on the breed must be collected to ensure the Tazy’s well-being and secure its place as a recognized breed globally.
International Recognition
President of the Kazakh Union of Cynologists, Bauyrzhan Serikkali, spoke to Kazinform news agency about the timeline for international recognition of the Kazakh Tazy dog breed, the challenges in breed verification, and the steps being taken for its preservation and development.
About the number of Tazy dogs in Kazakhstan, The President of the Kazakh Union of Cynologists said:” Exact numbers are difficult to pinpoint, as many owners do not register their dogs with cynological organizations. The breed is popular in rural areas. This spring, the KCU conducted breed inspections nationwide, registering dozens of dogs at each inspection, often 70-90 individuals. While not all were purebred, most met the breed standard, with 10-20% being high quality. It is safe to say there are several thousand Tazy dogs in Kazakhstan”.
He added: “As for those officially registered in the KCU’s Unified Stud Book, the number stands at 2,757. Government attention to this issue has positively impacted the preservation and international recognition of the breed, leading to a significant increase in Tazy registrations”.
Bauyrzhan Serikkali said:”Breed affiliation is confirmed by experts during special breed inspections. Each dog is evaluated according to the breed standard, which describes the ideal representative in detail, including conformation of the head, body, limbs, tail, coat, and other characteristics. If the dog matches the description, it receives a ‘zero’ pedigree, meaning a pedigree with the note ‘no data on origin.’ If the dog joins a cynological organization and its offspring are documented according to breeding rules, the puppies’ pedigrees will list their ancestors”.
Conditions for Tazy Owners
The KCU offers favorable conditions for Tazy owners, including free pedigree issuance, breed inspections, and opportunities to obtain pedigrees. Partner clubs organize Tazy exhibitions and conduct breeding work. The number of Tazys in the KCU system is steadily increasing, as reflected in the Unified Stud Book.
The main issue is the lack of understanding among owners about the importance of adhering to breeding requirements and maintaining proper documentation. Some owners get a ‘zero’ pedigree after an inspection, thinking their work is done, but fail to properly document litters and puppies. Breeding requirements are strict:
pedigrees can only be issued if all conditions are met, including positive confirmation ratings for parents, litter registration, puppy inspection at five-seven weeks, and microchipping. If these conditions are not met, the pedigree documents cannot be issued, causing a generation of dogs to fall out of the breeding process, necessitating a restart.
Since 2022, Kazakhstan’s Presidential Administration, on behalf of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has prioritized the recognition of the Kazakh Tazy. Over the past two years, their work included legislative amendments, scientific research, breeding shows, and exhibitions.
Registration of dog breeds for international recognition is only possible through national cynological organizations with full FCI membership. In August 2023, Kazakhstan’s Union of Cynologists met all FCI requirements and achieved full membership, earning the right to declare its national dog breeds.