Overview
The Kazakh Tazy is a sighthound from Kazakhstan, used for hunting and considered one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. It looks similar to the Saluki but is a related, separate breed.
The breed is rare, with fewer than 300 purebred dogs, and the Kazakh government is working to protect it from dying out. The FCI accepted it in September 2024.
History
Nomadic Kazakhs prized the Tazy for running down wolves and for hunting hare, wild boar, fox, badger, deer and saiga. It held a special place in the culture, and it was taboo to call it simply a dog. It was said a Kazakh would trade 47 horses for one.
The breed's ancestry is unclear, and it shares DNA with look-alike dogs from North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. In 2014 a Tazy show in Astana was held to raise awareness of the breed.
Appearance
A medium-sized, deep-chested, long-legged dog with short hair on the body and longer feathering on the tail and ears. The overall look is of a lean and athletic hound, rather like a Saluki.
Temperament
Tazys tend to be independent and aloof with strangers, but they are known for playfulness, endurance and vigilance. They can keep a steady running pace over long distances, around 12 to 15 km per hour, which reflects their long history as hunters.
Care and exercise
This is an athletic hunter that needs plenty of daily exercise and safe space to run, ideally in a securely fenced area. Its short coat needs only light brushing. Because of the strong chase instinct, it should be walked on a lead in open country.
