A dog of the Kazakh Tazy breed named Akbakai came into the spotlight at the international Ethnosport Culture Festival in Istanbul. The dog from Balkhash attracted the attention of attendees, received a medal and even drew interest from visitors who wanted to buy it. Kursiv LifeStyle explains how the Kazakh Tazy captured the hearts of guests at the ethnofestival in Turkey.
According to the press service of the Karaganda regional administration, participants from nearly 20 countries spent four days in Istanbul competing and showcasing their traditions. Kazakhstan was represented at the festival not only by renowned Tazy dogs from Balkhash and Bayanaul, but also by berkutchi — masters of traditional falconry with golden eagles.
«Although it was Tazy Akbakai’s first trip abroad, he ended up in the spotlight of numerous festival visitors. The dog was awarded a medal, while attendees highlighted his build, friendly temperament and calm nature. Representatives of the World Ethnosport Union were also among those expressing interest in the breed,» the statement said.
Agybai Zhassanbekov, Akbakai’s owner, couldn’t make the trip to Turkey himself, so his friend Aibat Toleuov presented the dog at the event.
Zhassanbekov has been breeding national Kazakh dog breeds Tazy and Tobet for around 20 years. He brought Akbakai from the Mangystau region when he was still a tiny one-month-old puppy.
«I think we can say without exaggeration that our Tazy captured the hearts of people in a faraway country. The world has seen Kazakh dogs. People even wanted to buy Akbakai — that’s how much attendees liked him,» Zhassanbekov added.
The dog is two years old and was trained for hare and fox hunting. Akbakai was also trained for traditional Shyrga tartu hunting competition, which showcases hunting hounds’ speed, agility and hunting instincts.
Zhassanbekov and Toleuov train their animals on a small plot near Balkhash Airport. However, the space is already becoming insufficient, as they not only keep dogs but also horses, which are also needed for national sports.
«Today, the country places great emphasis on the Kazakh Tazy as a symbol of national heritage, so it is important to preserve the breed and pass it on to future generations,» Zhassanbekov concluded.
