Grand Anglo-Francais Tricolore vs Central Asian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Originating in France, the Grand Anglo-Francais Tricolore has been recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2006. He was developed in France in the 1800s.

He is a rare breed, even in France. Today he is essentially a hunting- and scentdog and isn't really kept as a companion pet. The breed is recognized in France too by the French Kennel Club and also recognized internationally in 1983. In France today the dog is bred and kept primarily as a hunting dog and pet combined.

This large dog breed is a native to the wilds of Central Asia, where it has been guarding and protecting livestock for thousands of years. In fact the Central Asian Shepherd is one of the oldest dog breeds of the world.

Early records as to the precise origin of the breed aren’t available. There are suggestions that the breed descended from ancient Middle Eastern livestock guarding breeds, while the other suggests the dog is descended from the Tibetan Mastiff. It is almost certain that the dog was domesticated from the Wolf.

Looking quite a bit like its Foxhound ancestors,the muscular Grand Anglo-Francais Tricolore is a large dog standing at 60cm to 70cm tall at the withers and weighing in the region of 30kg and 35kg.

The Tricolore has a fairly broad, flat head, black nose and large brown eyes. His ears are set at eye level, they are medium length and floppy. The legs of the dog are straight and strong and the chest is deep and broad. The tail is long and slim. His double coat coat is short and smooth and he is tri-colored – tan, white and black.

Temperament:

Your Grand Anglo-Francais Tricolore has always been used as a hunting dog and scenthound and has been used in a hunting team. The dog has been created by crossing French scenthounds with English Foxhounds, with this particular dog being descended from crosses between the Foxhound and the tricoloured Poitevins.

There are actually 3 Grand Anglo-Français breeds, with this Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore being one. He is a docile dog and doesn't make a particularly good watchdog. The dog enjoys the company of other canines and while he can get on well with his human family, and is good and patient with children, he isn't the ideal pet with children, as his mind is on hunting and the chase and following exciting scents.

He is a dog totally dedicated to hunting and hunting in packs sees him getting on well in the presence of other dogs. His strong hunting instinct and his wish to roam on a scent makes it that he will require a very large garden.

The Central Asian Shepherd is a large dog, standing at up to 70cm in height and weighing in the region of 50kg. The dog is powerfully built and muscular, with the tail being traditionally docked to a short bob. Undocked, the tail is naturally long, thick at the base and tapering down. When relaxed, the tail is carried low, but when he becomes alert and excited, the tail is up and curved.

The ears of this dog are also traditionally cropped close to the head so that the dog almost appears to have no visible ears. This practice is also falling away and the natural ears of this breed are small and set at- or below eye level.

The brown eyes are small to medium size and are deep set. The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is double-coated with short to medium length hair and can be found in quite a few different colors such as tan, white, black, grey, brindle, ticked or a blend of these colors.

Temperament:

You have to be careful about where you buy your Asian Shepherd from as these dogs can be prone to aggression. With good breeding however, the dog is evenly tempered. As a first time dog owner, this shouldn’t be your first choice as it is a dominant, wilful, territorial, independent dog who will require a tough, firm, strong owner. Training and socialization are imperative to ensure he becomes obedient. He is then capable of forming close and strong bonds with his master, becoming a loyal and devoted pet. He also makes an excellent guard dog.

He is a protective dog breed, and once trained can get on well with children and other pets. He is the kind of dog that you will want to supervise around small children.

The Tricolore is an excellent hunter but he also makes a good family pet. Because of the dog having ingrained hunting skills you won't find him being used essentially as a pet.

He can be stubborn, but with training and socialization he can become obedient and amicable. He is a dog that will require a great deal of exercise as he is an exuberant dog and won't do well in an environment where there is scant regard to outdoor living and exercise.

While hunting is a great love of this tri-colored dog, he is also capable of being a loving and devoted pet.

It is important for those interested in the Central Asian Shepherd Dog as a pet to do some research on the breed. For instance this is a large dog that has been used for fighting.

While he can’t be described as being overly aggressive, you do need to be aware of his history, especially when you have small children in the home.

This dog is intelligent and confident too while also being exceptionally protective, and therefore he makes a good watchdog.

It is essential to have your Central Asian trained and socialized, and then he becomes far more relaxed and obedient, making him a loyal, loving guardian and friend.

Living to be about 10-13 years of age, your Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore is fortunate to be a healthy dog, but just like many other dogs, he may well get sick and then, as a responsible dog owner, you need to get your 4-legged family member to the vet.

Hip Dysplasia:

An abnormal hip joint can be hard for your dog as you notice him becoming less active and battling to get up after lying down. Hip dysplasia can lead to osteoarthritis, a limp and lameness. Get him to the vet so that you can at least help with making your pet's problem easier to bear.

Bloat:

Typically with deep chested dogs, the Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore can develop the life-threatening problem of bloat, when the stomach twists.

The Central Asian Shepherd doesn't have any hereditary ailments and he is generally a healthy, robust breed.

Large breeds are always prone to hip- and elbow dysplasia, an abnormal development of hip and elbow, brought about by a number of factors such as genetics, the wrong diet and rapid growth with some large puppies.

A dysplastic hip or elbow doesn’t move smoothly as it should, and this results in joint inflammation and pain. Symptoms can include loss of muscle mass, pain when moving around and difficulty with standing up again once your pet lies down.

The exercise requirements of this breed are high and he thrives on being busy and being involved in a hunt. If you do happen to keep him as a pet, he will require plenty of intense exercise from going on walks to joining in with your jogging and cycling activities. He just never seems to get enough exercise.

Grooming:

The Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore requires little grooming and will do well with a good brushing twice a week to remove loose hairs.

Diet:

For your Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore to be strong and healthy, he'll need protein for strong bones and muscles.Protein needs to be the primary ingredient in an active dog's diet. If you're not sure, ask your vet about the best kibble to feed him and add in some raw meat to this every now and then.

Where possible, cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken can be added into the kibble too to make his diet more interesting and healthy. Fresh, cool water should be reachable for your dog 24/7.

Central Asians are large dogs and when he is looked after well he can reach up to 15 years of age.

Diet:

It is important to see that he receives top quality, size-specific food, of which he eats a lot, and that it has all the vitamins and minerals he needs for his size.

A puppy will need high energy foods because of their energy. As he grows bigger, protein will become imperative. It is always a treat for your pet to add in some brown rice, vegetables and cooked chicken into his kibble from time to time.

Raw meat can be expensive, but if you can, it is important to ensure that your large pet gets some raw meat into his diet too, to keep his skin and coat healthy and to ward off disease. Make sure he has non-stop access to a bowl of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

As previously mentioned, the coat of the Central Asian Shepherd can be fairly short but it can also be medium length. He isn't going to require any exceptional grooming but you will certainly need to give him a good brush twice a week, more so in his shedding periods. This will rid him of loose hair and keep his coat free of tangles and matting.