ASTANA – Kazakhstan is celebrating Kazakh Tazy Day for the first time on Sept. 3, commemorating the anniversary of the breed’s preliminary recognition by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in 2024, reported the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.
The FCI made the decision in Amsterdam on Sept. 3, 2024, granting preliminary recognition to the Kazakh tazy and officially recognizing Kazakhstan as the breed’s country of origin. The tazy has lived alongside people in the Great Steppe for centuries, serving as a hunting companion and becoming an important part of Kazakh culture and daily life.
Its place in Kazakh tradition is also reflected in the FCI breed standard, which refers to the tazy as one of the Zheti Kazyna (Seven Treasures) of the Kazakh people. From national heritage to international recognition Efforts to preserve and promote the breed gained momentum in recent years.
In 2022, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the government to take measures to preserve the national breed and promote it internationally. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and French President Emmanuel Macron during a walk accompanied by Jules and Jeanne, Tazy dogs gifted by the Kazakh President.
Photo credit: Akorda A major step came Aug. 22, 2023, when the Union of Cynologists of Kazakhstan became a full member of the FCI at the federation’s General Assembly in Geneva. The membership enabled the country to formally submit the tazy for international recognition.
In March 2024, Kazakhstan submitted documentation on the breed to the FCI. The same year, Astana hosted a specialized breed exhibition where international experts examined 100 Kazakh tazy of various ages, colors, origins and types. The dogs were evaluated for their physical structure, movement and compliance with the breed standard.
In an interview with The Astana Times, FCI President Tamás Jakkel praised Kazakhstan’s progress and said a long-term program is now underway to achieve full recognition. “We have outlined a program for the next several years to reach final recognition. I offered my support and partnership, and we agreed to continue cooperation,” he said.
Jakkel noted that the issue has broad public relevance given the large number of households that own dogs. Preliminary recognition is only one stage of the process. The tazy must undergo a lengthy observation period during which the stability of the breed is assessed across several generations.
This includes monitoring pedigree records, health, genetic diversity, breed characteristics and natural and working abilities.