Central Asian Ovtcharka Dog Names

The Central Asian Ovtcharka is beginning to see a surge in popularity since being accepted into the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service (AKC FSS). This is the first step for a breed to become fully recognized by the AKC. While breeders and exhibitors of the Central Asian Ovtcharka work diligently to promote this large livestock guardian dog to the AKC, they are also competing in United Kennel Club (UKC) events. Aya, or more formally UKC Champion Sary Shaitan Dan Aya, knows a thing or two about participating in UKC events. She earned her UKC championship in May of 2016. She was only 10 months old and has been recorded as the youngest Central Asian Ovtcharka to earn a conformation championship through the UKC in Michigan. Aya was born in Moscow, Russia at Sary Shaitan Kennels in July of 2015. As a mature female, Aya stands at 27.5 inches at the withers and weighs around 128 pounds. She is an impressive female and turns heads where ever she goes. Aya is owned by Larry and Katerina of Guardian Dog Kennels in New Haven, Michigan. The reasoning behind Aya’s name comes from Turkish-Altaic mythology and it is a symbol of having a good soul. Ayas are also the benevolent angels who live in the sky and are a source of creativity and abundance here on earth. Aya seems to be living up to her name and has become deeply bonded to both Katerina and Larry.

Larry and Katerina do not breed Central Asian Ovtcharkas as a way to make a living; instead, they focus on the overall health and preservation of the breed. In order to better understand how to train and live with a Central Asian Ovtcharka, Katerina went back to school to become a Certified Dog Trainer with an emphasis on working dogs, especially livestock guardians. Katerina has long been a fan of the Central Asian Ovtcharka beginning when she was a teenager and her family brought home Alabai, a Central Asian Ovtcharka. Once married, Katerina shared her love of the breed with Larry and they traveled overseas to Moscow, Russia to Sary Shaitan Kennels. They brought home Aya and her sister Alsu. The following year, Katerina traveled back to Moscow to pick up a male Central Asian Ovtcharka puppy named Safar. They do not breed often, carefully planning each litter and then evaluating each puppy to ensure they are meeting the breed’s standard for health, conformation, and temperament.