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The Armenian Gampr dog today has more similarity to the historical
origin breed of all mollosser type dogs than other more well-known
breeds. Historical evidence shows the development of livestock and
companion dogs to have been in existence on the Armenian plateau
before other ancient civilizations. Anthropological findings indicate
that the current gampr type became what it is today at least 3000
years ago (Richard Ney, n.d.), and as the breed was developed out of
necessity and continues to be a necessary part of human survival in
its native area, the gampr has retained a surprising amount of its
original characteristics. Various central Asian countries have closely
related strains of the original shepherds’ dog. However, some of the
other breeds also have had genetic manipulation in the last 200
years, which in most cases has meant the loss of the primitive
soundness and depth of instinct that remains today in the gampr.
Located in a very fertile zone, at the crossroads of travel between
ancient Persia, Asia, and Europe, the Armenian plateau has given
rise to some of the earliest milestones of civilization. Armenian
innovations and products have been at the forefront of the
development of humanity, and many steps of human progress
appeared first here. Armenia was the first country to define the
zodiac, adopt Christianity, use astrology, create an astronomical
observatory and a calendar with a 365-day year, and the Armenians even built a Stonehenge thousands of years before the well-known European site (Ney, n.d.). As these developments spread across Asia, so too did the early breed of dog, protecting livestock and people as they traveled.
Historical records show early breeds of domesticated livestock to have existed in Armenia 25,000 years ago, roughly 10,000 years before their existence elsewhere (Ney, n.d.). Although the oldest archeological evidence of settlements in Armenia
are 90,000 years old (Ney, n.d.), under the
current city of Yerevan, many early peoples
were nomadic, and wealth was measured in
possessions, including livestock. A dog such as
the gampr is invaluable in protecting one’s
possessions, particularly livestock. Even now, it
is common knowledge among owners of sheep
or goats and livestock guardian dogs that a
good dog will save the owner thousands of
dollars in prevented losses. During the
thousands of years of nomadic herding and
trading, a good dog could easily have meant
the difference between life and death.
According to early petroglyphs beginning ca.
15,000-12,000 in the Armenian highlands,
specifically “at Ughtasar and on the Geghama
mountain range, up to 20% of the carvings
resemble the modern gampr, while others show a remarkable diversity of dog that no longer exists.”(Ney, n.d.) The continued
existence of domesticated animals at that time was most likely restricted to those which were particularly useful and
relatively self-sustaining.
Archeological records of early dogs are somewhat concurrent and very widespread. Many archaeological finds indicate that
the “first” domesticated dog came from several origins. One fairly recent find is of two skulls that are quite similar to the
gampr and other central asian shepherd breeds, and it is postulated that this may be the first link between wolves and ancient
dogs (Viegas, Jennifer, May 2003). Russian scientist Mikhail Sablin reported that the two dogs found were very similar to the
wolves in the area at the time, but had shorter snouts, wider palates, and measured about 27.5 inches at the shoulder, which is
about average for the gampr. Found near Bryansk, which is at the westernmost tip of the Russian Federation, the dogs were
in a cave at the edge of the broad plain stretching through the Ukraine, northeast through Poland and south to the Caucasus
mountains, Georgia and Armenia. The skulls are reported to be about 14,000 years old (Viegas, 2003).
Another possible origin of the domestication of the dog is southeast Asia. Extensive genetic mapping indicates a genetic
“age” of the domestication process, 12,000-15,000 years old. A landmark study lead by Peter Savolainen and involving a team
of scientists from several continents organized mitochondrial DNA clades from modern dogs into 5 main groups. Since ninety-
five percent of the dogs studied were from three clades, Savolainen’s team looked to the remaining clades which included the
first three but had more genetic diversity, indicating a longer age of genetic development. The greatest differences in
mitochondrial DNA were apparently from southeast Asia, indicating to the analysts that this was where the original
domestication process had begun (Savolainen et al, November 2002).
are 90,000 years old (Ney, n.d.), under the
current city of Yerevan, many early peoples
were nomadic, and wealth was measured in
possessions, including livestock. A dog such as
the gampr is invaluable in protecting one’s
possessions, particularly livestock. Even now, it
is common knowledge among owners of sheep
or goats and livestock guardian dogs that a
good dog will save the owner thousands of
dollars in prevented losses. During the
thousands of years of nomadic herding and
trading, a good dog could easily have meant
the difference between life and death.
According to early petroglyphs beginning ca.
15,000-12,000 in the Armenian highlands,
specifically “at Ughtasar and on the Geghama
mountain range, up to 20% of the carvings
resemble the modern gampr, while others show a remarkable diversity of dog that no longer exists.”(Ney, n.d.) The continued
existence of domesticated animals at that time was most likely restricted to those which were particularly useful and
relatively self-sustaining.
Archeological records of early dogs are somewhat concurrent and very widespread. Many archaeological finds indicate that
the “first” domesticated dog came from several origins. One fairly recent find is of two skulls that are quite similar to the
gampr and other central asian shepherd breeds, and it is postulated that this may be the first link between wolves and ancient
dogs (Viegas, Jennifer, May 2003). Russian scientist Mikhail Sablin reported that the two dogs found were very similar to the
wolves in the area at the time, but had shorter snouts, wider palates, and measured about 27.5 inches at the shoulder, which is
about average for the gampr. Found near Bryansk, which is at the westernmost tip of the Russian Federation, the dogs were
in a cave at the edge of the broad plain stretching through the Ukraine, northeast through Poland and south to the Caucasus
mountains, Georgia and Armenia. The skulls are reported to be about 14,000 years old (Viegas, 2003).
Another possible origin of the domestication of the dog is southeast Asia. Extensive genetic mapping indicates a genetic
“age” of the domestication process, 12,000-15,000 years old. A landmark study lead by Peter Savolainen and involving a team
of scientists from several continents organized mitochondrial DNA clades from modern dogs into 5 main groups. Since ninety-
five percent of the dogs studied were from three clades, Savolainen’s team looked to the remaining clades which included the
first three but had more genetic diversity, indicating a longer age of genetic development. The greatest differences in
mitochondrial DNA were apparently from southeast Asia, indicating to the analysts that this was where the original
domestication process had begun (Savolainen et al, November 2002).
are 90,000 years old (Ney, n.d.), under the
current city of Yerevan, many early peoples
were nomadic, and wealth was measured in
possessions, including livestock. A dog such as
the gampr is invaluable in protecting one’s
possessions, particularly livestock. Even now, it
is common knowledge among owners of sheep
or goats and livestock guardian dogs that a
good dog will save the owner thousands of
dollars in prevented losses. During the
thousands of years of nomadic herding and
trading, a good dog could easily have meant
the difference between life and death.
According to early petroglyphs beginning ca.
15,000-12,000 in the Armenian highlands,
specifically “at Ughtasar and on the Geghama
mountain range, up to 20% of the carvings
resemble the modern gampr, while others show a remarkable diversity of dog that no longer exists.”(Ney, n.d.) The continued
existence of domesticated animals at that time was most likely restricted to those which were particularly useful and
relatively self-sustaining.
Archeological records of early dogs are somewhat concurrent and very widespread. Many archaeological finds indicate that
the “first” domesticated dog came from several origins. One fairly recent find is of two skulls that are quite similar to the
gampr and other central asian shepherd breeds, and it is postulated that this may be the first link between wolves and ancient
dogs (Viegas, Jennifer, May 2003). Russian scientist Mikhail Sablin reported that the two dogs found were very similar to the
wolves in the area at the time, but had shorter snouts, wider palates, and measured about 27.5 inches at the shoulder, which is
about average for the gampr. Found near Bryansk, which is at the westernmost tip of the Russian Federation, the dogs were
in a cave at the edge of the broad plain stretching through the Ukraine, northeast through Poland and south to the Caucasus
mountains, Georgia and Armenia. The skulls are reported to be about 14,000 years old (Viegas, 2003).
Another possible origin of the domestication of the dog is southeast Asia. Extensive genetic mapping indicates a genetic
“age” of the domestication process, 12,000-15,000 years old. A landmark study lead by Peter Savolainen and involving a team
of scientists from several continents organized mitochondrial DNA clades from modern dogs into 5 main groups. Since ninety-
five percent of the dogs studied were from three clades, Savolainen’s team looked to the remaining clades which included the
first three but had more genetic diversity, indicating a longer age of genetic development. The greatest differences in
mitochondrial DNA were apparently from southeast Asia, indicating to the analysts that this was where the original
domestication process had begun (Savolainen et al, November 2002).
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