№1 FEBRUARY-MARCH 2009     PRIORITIES                             If someone wishes to publish a book, he needs a real interest in the theme of his book, as well as the wish to broaden the circle of experts and people, who share his ideas. Gathering materials, making photographs, publishing on own account is a serious work, supported by the fascination with the subject of this work. The result of this efforts is the book, made by “Tobet Kazakhy It” foundation, devoted to primordial Kazakh dog breed. Connoisseurs of those grains of national uniqueness, which is still not devoured by globalization, can seek for this book in the bookstores. If Tobet could tell about its lineage, his unhurried tale would include the elements of a beautiful legend and an eloquent parable and a description of everyday life. But genes speak for a speechless creature, the genes of one of the eldest companions of nomadic civilization. Peculiarities of this breed are such, that without a faithful Tobet, Kazakhst couldn’t imagine the tranquil flow of their everyday life. During the four thousands years, which these benevolent giants have spent abreast with humans on the earth of Kazakhstan, they learned to respect   each other. And this calm respect is in blood of every true breed carrier. Tobet is a friend to human, not a servant. As regards Tobets “eloquence” – those, who are lucky to possess such a big and faithful “friend”, affirm that these dogs understand their masters better than some people do, due to the highest level of intuition and intellect. Well, sages, no matter what do they look like, have little love to idle talk – their deeds speak for them. Daniyar Daukey, the owner of the nursery and the president of “Tobet Kazakhy It” foundation, knows probably everything about Kazakh wolfhounds, as these huge and beautiful dogs sometimes called. Daniyar considers himself as a bad storyteller, but his passion and wish to preserve the unique natural gene pool can outshine any verbosity. For example, how many people know that “alabay” is not the name of the breed, but an everyday expression, which can be roughly translated as “doggy”. Contrariwise, the etymology of the word “Tobet” is worthy of its carrier: “a dog, lying on an eminence, overhead guard”.   The favourite place of a pack leader – on the top of the mountain, at the foot of which a nomads’ camp is situated. Long long ago, as well as nowadays though, Tobets were the only defence from the wolves’ for nomad shepherds. “Tobet, by its’ nature, cannot be frightened by wolf”. As soon as Tobet gives a voice, the protection to the herd is guaranteed.                   №1 FEBRUARY-MARCH 2009               PRIORITIES               There are only a few dozens of Tobets left in Kazakhstan. Daniyar recalls: to gather in the nursery thoroughbred descendants of the Kazakh wolfhound, he had to travel throughout all over the Central Asia, and even to appeal to Russian breed-fanciers. Curiously enough, but exactly in Russia the carriers of pedigree qualities, such as stature, readiness, fearlessness and loyalty to humans have been preserved… With such a power, that the nature has endowed these mighty animals, nonaggressiveness and patient self-restraint became the most important attributes of thoroughbred Tobets. That’s why nowadays in auls you can witness a hilarious situation, when children turn a giant dogs into their toys, hobbyhorse, gaming partners, and their parents remain unworried – their children are safe. A real Tobet will never do any harm to human. At the end of the past century, Tobets were classified as “Central Asian sheep dog”. As well as Turkmen alabays, these are assimilated descendants of Tobets. Today is still not late to try to breathe a new life into this ancient unique breed. Tobets are needed in rural areas, they have a high value to dog-fanciers, hunters. A person, who even once have been hunting wolves or boars with Tobets would understand, that these are complete different feelings in comparison with usual shooting – much more excitement, much more heat of feelings, sense of unity with the nature. A thoroughbred Tobet can cost tens of thousands euros, but there are only few “real” Tobets left.               №1 FEBRUARY-MARCH 2009           PRIORITIES                           As any worthy deed, rebirth of Kazakh wolfhounds requires continuation and development. Publication of the book, that’ll most probably soon become a rarity – is the next step. Nowadays Daniyar Daukey receives proposal from Belgian and French connoisseurs to organize in the nearest future a photo-exhibition of our unique dogs. Let the European public admire this indeed precious gift of Kazakhstan steppe. Maybe this admiration will in future, like echo, return to Kazakhstan and we’ll again discover this mythical and real at the same time giant – an “overhead guard” of the nomadic history of Kazakh nation.                 №1 FEBRUARY-MARCH 2009

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