The Taigan dog is native to Kyrgyzstan, where it is a highly prized national treasure.
The Kyrgyz people are secretive and guarded about their best dogs. So much so that if you are looking for a Taigan dog for sale, you need to gain the respect of village intermediaries just to be shown a dog.
The Taigan has recently been interbred more often with the neighboring Kazakh Tazi dog breed to create the Tazoid and shares the expected sighthound lifespan of between 11 and 13 years.
It is swift, agile, and a superior hunter. Unlike other sighthounds that it bears a resemblance to, such as the Saluki, it is also a good guard and watchdog.
Other names for the Taigan include the Kyrgyz Sighthound or Greyhound, the Kyrgyz Borzoi, or the Kyrgyzdany Taighany.
History of the Taigan: Where Do They Come From?
Local lore has it that a puppy hatched from an egg laid stolen from Kumai Mountain by a Vulture and grew up to save an entire village. It did this by chasing away a pack of wolves that were eating the village cattle.
Although the myth is a stretch for the wildest imagination, we can still see the seeds of where the Taigan comes from and how this dog was shaped.
The Taigan stems from the nomadic people who once traveled the ancient Silk Road, particularly from the Altai Mountains in Mongolia to the remote and rugged Tian-Shan Mountains on the Chinese borders.
There the early Kyrgyz people bred the dog for functionality and toughness. It needed to hunt for both its own food and the sustenance of its owner.
The Taigan also had to be brave enough to chase away predators such as wolves away from livestock, kill jackals, and warn its master of any strangers. Impressively, the Taigan has also hunted alongside trained eagles or falcons.
Looking at its purpose, it’s clear how the myth arose.
Their livestock and homestead guardian instinct make the Taigan different from other sighthounds like the Afghan hound.
Today these dogs are as valued in their native Kyrgyzstan as they ever were. Traditionally, one could only get one as a gift or through theft. A good Taigan was considered priceless and often given as a wedding present.
And it’s not that different today since outsiders may need permission from village elders even to see a real Taigan.
While modern technology, rabies, and crossbreeding have drastically reduced their numbers, it is impossible to say how many dogs are left.
After all, most of them are kept in mountain ranges away from prying eyes. One might need to go through an organization like the American Rare Breed Association to find one.
Today, it is reported that pure Taigans are facing extinction. However, the Kyrgyz Sighthound is celebrated with annual festivals to show off its abilities, so it is still thriving in some ways.
