In 1990, the State Agroindustrial Committee of Turkmenistan approved the standard of the Turkmen Wolf-Hound dog breed.

[3] The ancestor of the Central Asian shepherd originated in a geographical area between the Ural, Caspian Sea, Asia Minor, and the Northwest border of China.

[5] It is considered a symbol of pride and national heritage in Turkmenistan, where a gold statue of the animal was unveiled in 2020.

[6] Some serve as livestock guardians, some protect their owners, and some are used for dog fighting,[7] which is a national tradition in many countries of that region.

Eventually, purebred dogs only remained with herders, breed enthusiasts and farms, with a surfeit of crosses elsewhere.

Trading bloodlines and purchasing unrelated breeding stock between Russia, other former USSR republics (such as Ukraine, Belarus) and countries where CAO (Central Asian Ovtcharka) still at aboriginal stage is a common practice.

[10] Breed-specific dog anatomy includes exclusive features, such as very noticeable extremely flexible joints, false ribs, specific head set, and very strong neck with massive dewlap.

For working qualities, modern Central Asians have been bred into different directions, depending on the demand for specific abilities.

All herders from the same area annually met together, and fought their strongest sheep guardian male dogs to pick the winner.

Only leaders had to determine the strongest dog via a fight; but this was minor, compared to their everyday duties, facing predators and venomous snakes.

Simple pedigree research and conversation with the breeder will reveal what basic instincts one can expect from the dog.

Central Asians from pure show lines are very rare, because most registries require working tests prior to breeding.

[14] This breed presents a robust dog of greater than average size with great strength and power.

[19][20][21] The contest is held annually in Turkmenistan as part of the Alabay holiday celebrated on the last Sunday of April.

The National Breed Club in Russia developed a temperament test to reveal a dog's willingness and ability to protect the premises, as well as titles in Obedience (such as OKD), and in Protection (such as ZKS or KS) for dogs in most pedigrees from Russia and other countries of that region.

RKF, a FCI-recognized Russian Kennel Club, classifies Central Asians as a working dog breed, reflecting tremendous results in obedience, protection and military-related training.

[33] Modern breeding requirements by the leading kennel club in Russia include mandatory temperament tests and training titles, besides show ratings.