The name Sage Ashayeri means “the nomads dog” in Iranian. These dogs live in the West and central area of Iran. They are part of the nomad traveling groups Bakhtiari and Qashqai, which cross mountains and flat areas, hunting and breeding animals. Perfectly adapted to their traveling life, the dogs are indispensable part of each family, where you can find them in groups of 3 to 5 dogs. They are very good at guarding the livestock, protecting the tents, and even hunting.
A study from 1987 showed that the traveling nomad groups had in their possession around 17 million livestock, so you can imagine how many of these dogs are living with them, in order to help manage and protect such a vast amount of animals.
Although not very big in size, they have a strong character and great instincts towards defending and protecting, and are aggressive towards strangers and tolerant with wild animals. Since they prove to be fearless, you can easily understand why they are used for hunting as well. Their instincts have been well proven even against big animals, like wolves, bears and boar. In case of some wild animals, like the wolf, they will attack in packs of minimum of 5 dogs. The breed is very alert and territorial, making them excellent watch and guard dogs, qualities highly appreciated by the owners, when trusting them with the protection of their flocks and homes.
They have a strong muscular body, with powerful necks and enduring legs. They usually have a docked tail, although it is not uncommon to see specimens with the tail left as is. Their spirit is not justified by their size, with heights rarely exceeding 60 cm (20 in). They are usually found in two colors - yellow/white, brown/white, red/white, and even black/white. Though less common, there are specimens in solid colors like brown, grey and fawn, tricolor or even brindled as well.
Depending on which tribes they are part of, we find a different fur adaptation, mainly due to the regions they are travelling within. In the Qashqai tribe, we find them having short and smooth coats, while longer coats are typical for the dogs in the Bakhtiari tribe. Of course, having a smooth fur means they require more grooming to keep their coat clean and healthy.
The Sage Ashayeri is used to perform its daily tasks without the step by step orders from their masters. They have an independent character and, therefore, they require a firm and consistent trainer to make them a house pet. An experienced owner is recommended.
These dogs have evolved adapting to a life of open spaces, nature and plenty of exercise on a daily basis, making them a great outdoor companion. With high energy levels, they will require an active life and are suitable for rural areas where they can run and play. However, the Sage Ashayeri displays a lot of qualities they are rarely seen outside of its country of origin, Iran.
