Armenian Gampr: Livestock Guardian Dog Breed
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Owning a ranch surrounded by mountainous country is both serene and breathtaking. However, with that beauty and privacy comes harsh weather and predators that threaten chickens and livestock. I began researching the many breeds of livestock guardian dogs and found the Armenian Gampr particularly interesting.
Does the Armenian Gampr make a good livestock guardian? Yes, Armenian Gamprs make excellent livestock guardian dogs as they have been used for this purpose since ancient times. However, this dog breed is not standardized and must be picked carefully to avoid breeding lines from fighting and show dogs.
Does the Armenian Gampr make a good pet? Yes, Armenian Gamprs make great companions for families who have experience training and exercising large breed dogs. People who are interested in these dogs as pets should understand that they do require a lot of socialization, strong fences, and regular grooming.
After a lot of research, I decided that the Armenian Gampr, although a beautiful and well-respected breed, was not for me. If you are a first-time livestock guardian dog owner with a great need for protection against predators, you need to be sure you’re actually getting a dog that has been bred to be a livestock guardian. When it comes to Armenian Gamprs, you need to be especially careful you aren’t getting a dog from a fighting dog or show dog line. Dogs from these lines may not be able to guard livestock successfully.
Regardless of my own concerns about this breed, many ranchers have had great success with the Armenian Gampr as livestock guardians. You might find that this breed is perfect for you and your ranch! And for information on how to train livestock guardian dog breeds with positive methods, check out a review on my favorite training program here.
Other Names: Gampr (translation – “large, hairy beast”)
Armenian Gampr at a Glance
| Characteristics | Armenian Gampr |
|---|---|
| Male Size |
Height: 25-26" Weight: 110-135 lbs |
| Female Size |
Height: 23-24" Weight: 99-130 lbs |
| Barking Frequency | Can be high, particularly at night |
| Fencing Required | High and strong |
| Exercise Needs | Moderate |
| Human Aggression | Suspicious of strangers, aggressive towards intruders, gentle with children |
| Other Dog Aggression | High |
| Training | Can be challenging to train, needs a lot of socialization |
| Coat | Double coat, short- and long-haired varieties |
| Grooming | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 12-16 years |
| Age to Maturity | ~3 years |
| Cost (in U.S.) | $1000-1500 |
| Food Requirements | 2260-5480 cal/day |
| Health Problems | Hip and elbow displasia |
| Similar Breeds | Anatolian Shepherd, Kangal, Caucasian Ovcharka |
| Availability (in U.S.) | Uncommon |
Armenian Gampr Personality/Temperament
The Armenian Gampr has been described as independent, dominant, intelligent, and protective. They are typically lower energy than many other livestock guardian breeds, but are more reactive. They are better suited for the working life, but would do well as a family dog in the right situation.
Here is a great video that gives a nice overview of this beautiful dog:
Armenian Gampr Livestock Guardian Dog Traits
The Armenian Gampr is a calm but serious dog that will respond quickly to potential threats with great power. They are most active between 4:00AM – 8:00AM and at dusk. This is the time when they will be patrolling for predators or other disturbances. Dogs that are “in training” should be kept away from livestock at this time to prevent any unwarranted “rough-housing.” After breakfast, they can be returned to be with the livestock with supervision, if needed.
It should also be noted that these dogs may take longer to fully mature than others. The Armenian Gampr may not be ready to be left unsupervised until three years of age.
Compared with other livestock guardian breeds, Armenian Gamprs tend to be more reactive than others, and may bark or go after threats when it is not entirely necessary. This dog’s guard drive can be refined and they can be trained to be less reactive, however. In order to be properly trained, this dog will require an owner who is well-versed in handling livestock guardian dogs and training large breeds.
This breed will respond to commands, but will think twice before acting upon the instructions as they are very independent thinkers. This is both a positive and a negative trait as they will be able to make intelligent decisions on their own to protect livestock. However, it can make them more difficult to train.
For help with obedience training using positive methods (a must for Armenian Gamprs), I highly recommend the online program, Brain Training for Dogs (affiliate link). For a thorough review of what the program includes, the things I love about it, and the things I dislike about it, see my review article here.
Armenian Gamprs tend to be gentle and protective when it comes to their family companions and are known for their nurturing nature with children. Because of this, they are very aloof and suspicious of strangers. This dog will require a great amount of socialization if you plan to have many visitors to your ranch.
These dogs tend to work well with other livestock guardian dogs, although they may be control freaks when it comes to their favorite tasks or duties. This breed can be very aggressive towards unfamiliar dogs if not introduced or socialized properly.
It is important to note that this livestock guardian breed may bark quite a bit – especially at night. It might be worthwhile to communicate with close-by neighbors regarding the purpose and qualities of your livestock guardian dog. They may be more understanding if they comprehend the reason for the barking and possible disturbances. For more on understanding livestock guardians and barking (and reducing barking if necessary), see my article, Livestock Guardians and Barking.
Last but not least, it is incredibly important to do your research when purchasing an Armenian Gampr. It is known as a “landrace” breed, which means that it has not been standardized or carefully selected and bred like many other breeds have been. This means there is considerable variation in color, personality, and working characteristics. Many Armenian Gamprs have been used as fighting dogs and show dogs. A reputable breeder should be able to tell you if their dogs are of working-class lines or otherwise.
If you are thinking of getting Armenian Gamprs for livestock guardian purposes, you may also be interested in:
Armenian Gampr Pet Traits
Armenian Gamprs can be kept as pets, although they are more commonly found as working dogs. Their rugged nature has traditionally kept them from being house companions. They are not suited for small or confined living spaces – i.e. they should not be kept in an apartment or a home with a small yard.
This breed needs very strong and high fencing as their natural instinct is to roam and patrol. One Armenian Gampr owner said when his dog is excited, his head will clear a six-foot fence with ease! Expect to spend a decent amount of money to ensure your yard is properly secured. For more information, check out my article, How to Keep Your Armenian Gampr in the Yard or Pasture.
These dogs tends to be very headstrong and need an owner that will be consistent and confident. Their handler needs to develop a close relationship with their dogs (through frequent positive training sessions and positive attention) to ensure that they are obedient and well-behaved.
These dogs will also need a great deal of socialization to overcome their nature to be aggressive to other animals and strangers. As puppies, this breed should be allowed to play rough with older Gampr dogs – the older dog will teach them what is acceptable and what is not. Because they grow to be such big animals, it is important they learn to moderate their strength and power.
If the Armenian Gampr will not be a working dog, it will require a long daily walk. Because of this dog’s large size and independent nature, it is important to train this dog to walk properly on a leash. Otherwise, the dog may drag you around and you will struggle with him every time, not a fun way to walk. Here is a great video on how to train a dog to stop pulling and lunging on leash:
Because Armenian Gamprs are nocturnal, they may bark at night – enough to bother neighbors. If they are primarily going to be an outside dog, you may need to prepare an indoor spot for them at night to avoid upsets. See my article, Train Your Armenian Gampr to Stop Barking: When You Don’t Want Fido to ‘Speak,’ for ideas on how to humanely reduce barking in your dogs.
Just recently, I read of an Armenian Gampr owner who had to rehome her beautiful dog because the homeowner’s association voted the dog out – she was just too loud and the neighbors were uncomfortable having such a big animal nearby. This is a heartbreaking example for why it is so essential to properly train, care for, and exercise this breed.
If you want to learn how to obedience train your dog using positive training methods, check out the online program, Brain Training for Dogs (affiliate link). This program is perfect for people who want to raise a livestock guardian dog as a pet. If you want to know why, see my review article here.
If you are thinking of getting an Armenian Gampr as a pet, you may also be interested in:
Armenian Gampr Livestock Guardian Dog History
Place of Origin: Armenia
Traditional Livestock Guarded: Sheep, goats, cattle
Traditional Predators: Wolves, leopards, occasionally bears
Aremenian Gampr Livestock Gaurdian Dog Lifestyle
The Armenian Gampr has been widely regarded as one of the best guard dogs for thousands of years. Armenian literature has long described these indigenous canines as reliable and extremely powerful livestock guardian dogs. Historically, both Armenian shepherds and Yezidi Kurds kept these dogs with their livestock as they moved from mountainous summer pastures in the spring to the villages in the winter months and back again.
The dogs typically guarded against wolves, but also needed to protect against leopards and the occasional bear. Because there were often many sheep for both the shepherd and dog to guard, the dog’s most attractive quality may be its ability to independently adapt to various situations and come to an appropriate decision.
In addition to guarding flocks of sheep, these dogs have also been used to guard homes and families, as wolves were often a threat in small villages during the winter months.
Armenian Gampr Additional History
The Armenian Gampr is an ancient breed – their origins have been traced back at least 7,000 years, but also have been depicted in petroglyphs that date back over 15,000 years! Although their primary use has always been as a guard dog, some of the petroglyphs show that these dogs were thought to have magical powers. Many tales have been told of Gamprs coming down from the high mountains to bring soldiers back from the dead by licking their wounds with their tongues laced with healing powers.
This breed was also a favorite of King Tigram the Great, who ruled one of the larger ancient kingdoms between 95 and 66 BCE! Throughout the centuries, the Armenian Gampr has proven its worth as war watch dogs as well.
Unfortunately, the country of Armenia has been subjected to lots of invasions, wars, a dreadful genocide, and a more recent economic decline in the early 1990s when the country finally gained its independence. These issues greatly affected the Armenian Gampr population. However, in the mid-1990s, their popularity and population had a resurgence.
In 1998, the first Gampr puppies were exported to the United States. Now, there are about 150 Armenian Gamprs in the United States and about 2000 still working in Armenia. Because they are still in the process of repopulation, they remain a rather uncommon breed. They just recently gained International Kennel Club recognition in 2011.
Other Armenian Gampr Jobs
The Armenian Gampr has been used for other purposes than as livestock guardians and pets. They have been used as home and family guard dogs, watch dogs for the Armenian army, and fighting dogs.
Armenian Gampr Appearance
The Armenian Gampr has not been bred for specific anatomical characteristics. They were naturally bred for their working qualities, strength, and stamina. Because of this, there is quite a bit of variability in the appearance of these dogs. This is part of the reason why a standard has not been written for them specifically.
Armenian Gampr Size
Height: 25 – 26 inches (males), 23 – 24 inches (females)
Weight: 110 – 135 lbs. (males), 99 – 130 lbs. (females)
For more on LGD breed sizes, check out my article, Livestock Guardian Dog Sizes.
Armenian Gampr Colors
Because the Armenian Gampr is not a standardized breed and varies greatly in appearance, they can come in many colors or patterns. Solid colors tend to be more popular. Their noses and eye rims are black.
Armenian Gampr Coat
Armenian Gamprs come in two coat varieties: short-haired and long-haired. Both varieties are double coated with a thick, rougher top coat and a soft undercoat. The longer coated, heavier dog was traditionally found in the mountainous areas of Armenia while the lighter, short-coated dog originated in the plains.
Both long-haired and short-haired Armenian Gamprs are well suited for harsh weather – including extreme cold and dry, hot heat. These dogs do not do very well in humidity. Both varieties shed heavily in the spring and fall – the long-haired Gampr sheds a bit more during these times.
Armenian Gampr Head
Armenian Gamprs have substantial, heavy heads with strong, straight muzzles. Their eyes are almond-shaped and come in a variety of colors – though most often brown or amber. Working Armenian Gamprs will often have their ears cropped to prevent biting and tearing when defending against larger predators. If the ears are not cropped, they are triangular in shape and pendulous.
Armenian Gampr Body
Albeit its great size, this dog is lean, agile and built for durability. Its long, flat muscles stretch over strong bones to create a more athletic shape. The Armenian Gampr has visibly strong shoulders and a muscly neck.
Armenian Gampr Tail
The Armenian Gampr has a curved, plumed tail that is carried high and over the back. When relaxed, the tail will hang down naturally.
Armenian Gampr Grooming
The Armenian Gampr has a double coat that will require regular grooming, especially during the spring and fall when they really shed. During these times, they should be brushed daily or every other day. The rest of the year, once a week typically suffices. In order to properly brush and groom your Armenian Gampr, you’ll need a pin brush (Amazon link), a dematter, a comb and a shedding rake.
Luckily, this breed’s coat is self-cleaning and will not need regular bathing. In fact, their coats contain special protective oils that assist in protecting the skin as well as shedding dirt and debris. Bathing too often will strip the dog’s coat of these natural oils.
As with many working dogs, their nails will often wear themselves down and there won’t be a need for nail clipping. However, it is important to always check to make sure they are not overgrowing or cracking. Because this dog is large, it might be helpful to “practice” nail clipping when they are puppies in order to make it routine and not scary. I can attest from personal experience, holding down a 30-pound pup is much easier than trying to wrestle a giant dog who weighs more than I do!
This dog’s ears should be cleaned regularly, especially if they are an outdoor, working dog. They are exposed to lots of dirt and debris that can cause ear infections if left too long.
Teeth brushing is also recommended every few days as well as a once-per-year professional cleaning.
For everything you could ever want to know about grooming Armenian Gamprs, check out my guide, Grooming Armenian Gamprs: The Ultimate Guide.
Armenian Gampr Diet/Eating Habits
The amount of calories the Armenian Gampr needs varies greatly. It is dependent upon the size of the dog as well as her level of activity. Males will need anywhere from 2445 and 5480 calories per day, whereas females will likely need fewer, ranging between 2260 – 5330 calories per day. See the table below for more specific estimates:
| Armenian Gampr | Light Activity | Moderate Activity | High Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 2445-3290 | 2820-3840 | 3290-5480 |
| Female | 2260-3195 | 2605-3730 | 3040-5330 |
These dogs, because of their great sizes, are susceptible to musculoskeletal issues when they get older. Some of these problems can be prevented by being especially careful in their feedings as puppies. Until they reach about 80% of their full growth, you’ll want to feed them a large-breed specific puppy food in order to prevent them from growing too quickly. Some owners have found that the Armenian Gampr does well eating a raw food diet.
For advice on how to properly feed your Armenian Gampr, check out these resources:
Armenian Gampr Lifespan
The Armenian Gampr has a longer lifespan than most large breed dogs. They live to be between 12 to 16 years old. If working in harsh conditions, some may not live that long, while others, such as family companions, may live to be older than that.
The Gampr matures at a slower rate than a lot of other livestock guardian dogs. They may not reach their full grown size until they are at least 3 years old. At this time they are considered mature enough to be left alone with livestock, although it is always best to supervise until you are 100% certain.
For more information on livestock guardian dog lifespans, what to expect from puppies, and how to care for older dogs, see my article, What is the Lifespan of a Livestock Guardian Dog.
Armenian Gampr Cost
Armenian Gamprs typically cost between $1000 and $1500 in the United States. They are a fairly rare breed in this country, so they can often go for more depending on the breeder. Some ranchers opt to import the dogs straight from Armenia.
If you are interested in adopting an Armenian Gampr from a rescue, check out my article, Rescue Livestock Guardian Dogs – Should You Get One?
Armenian Gampr Health Problems
Because this breed has not been inbred and is an ancient breed, they are not prone to a lot of health problems. The Armenian Gampr is a large breed dog and will have the typical health concerns associated with that – hip and elbow dysplasia, in particular.
Livestock Guardian Dog Breeds Similar to the Armenian Gampr
Other breeds similar to the Armenian Gampr include the Caucasian Ovcharka (click for my article on this breed), the Kangal, and the Anatolian Shepherd.
You May Also Be Interested in:
Brain Training for Dogs: The Best Online Obedience Training Program for Livestock Guardian Dogs
The Ultimate Obedience Training Program for Pet Armenian Gamprs: Brain Training for Dogs
The Best Livestock Guardian Dog Toys: Top Recommendations from DOZENS of Great Pyrenees Owners!
