From Steppe Hunting to the World Dog Show: Kazakhstan Marks First Tazy and Tobet Day

Kazakhstan is marking Tazy and Tobet Day for the first time on September 3, celebrating two indigenous dog breeds that performed very different roles on the nomadic steppe for centuries. The swift Tazy accompanied hunters, while the large Tobet guarded livestock and encampments. Kazakhstan is now seeking greater international recognition for both: the Tazy has already received provisional recognition from the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and made its debut at the World Dog Show, while geneticists are studying the origins of the Tobet. The new commemorative date was established in 2026 and will be observed annually on September 3. The date coincides with the anniversary of the FCI’s decision to provisionally recognize the Kazakh Tazy. On September 3, 2024, the organization accepted the breed on a provisional basis, published its official standard, and designated Kazakhstan as its country of origin. The FCI is a Belgium-based international federation of national canine organizations whose standards are used at major international dog shows. For Kazakhstan, its decision was also significant because it formally identified Kazakhstan as the Tazy’s country of origin. Provisional recognition does not yet amount to definitive recognition. The Tazy is listed in the FCI nomenclature under number 372 and belongs to Group 10, Sighthounds. The breed can already compete at international FCI shows and is eligible for World and Section Winner titles, but Certificat d’Aptitude au Championnat International de Beauté (CACIB) awards, which are required for the International Beauty Champion title, will become available only after definitive recognition. The Tazy is a light hunting sighthound adapted to Central Asia’s vast open spaces and sharp temperature fluctuations. On the steppe, it was used to hunt hares, foxes, and other game, often alongside horses and birds of prey. The value of a good hunting dog extended far beyond its practical role. The Tazy is associated with the Kazakh concept of Zheti Qazyna, or the “Seven Treasures,” a traditional idea encompassing some of a person’s most important companions and possessions. There is no single historically fixed list of the seven, but a hunting dog appears in many of its commonly cited versions. A year after receiving provisional recognition, the breed reached one of the world’s biggest international stages. In August 2025, eight Tazy dogs from Kazakhstan traveled to Helsinki for the World Dog Show, the FCI’s flagship international gathering. Held on August 8-10, the event marked the Kazakh Tazy’s first official presentation at the World Dog Show following its new international status. The Tobet represents a different side of life on the steppe. It is a large livestock guardian dog, adapted to living alongside herds and protecting them from predators. The work demanded endurance, independence, and the ability to operate across great distances in extreme heat and cold. Unlike the Tazy, the Tobet does not yet have separate recognition as an FCI breed. In recent years, however, its origins have become the subject of genetic research. In 2024, an international group of scientists studied 107 Tobet dogs from Kazakhstan and Mongolia. The research,...