Part I

It’s the last summer of the XX^th century. The temperature is up to 30⁰ C above zero. The machinery - from automobiles up to computers – fails to perform its functions; people still potter about somehow. And only God’s churches, burned by the sun, are shining with their domes, and as even hundreds of years ago, call under their vaults, in a shade, in coolness where there is always a relief for soul and body. We arrived at the Holy Trinity New Golutvin convent in Kolomna. And when the bells started ringing somewhere around us as if right from the heaven, that bell-ringing was supported by mighty dog voices behind raspberry bushes, apricot and cherry trees...

There are a lot of miracles in our life. Isn’t it a miracle when in the convent headed by mother Hegumene Xenia, sisters-nuns added to their duties of obedience one absolutely nonfeminine: breeding of Central Asian (CASD) and Caucasian sheep-dogs (CSD)... Behind the walls of the ancient convent aged 200 years, they established kennels named "Orthodox Convent”. For many experts and holders of CАSD and CSD breeds this kennels prefix is not only well known yet, but is also a high quality guarantee of sires.

We have often met fragile, in long dark clothes, young sisters-nuns skillfully coped with "Asians” at large exhibitions in Moscow. First we didn’t even try to come up to them - not only because of a terrible breed of dogs, but also because of fearing to exclude continuation of conversation, so important for us with any our tactless and improper word.

There were some uncertain calls, and finally we received an invitation to “Orthodox Convent” kennels in spring. It turned out that sisters-nuns are not only familiar with our magazine and newspaper “Cat and Dog”, but also read and even approve of it.

It’s 10 years to the convent in Kolomna. And from the very beginning there have always been East-European sheep-dogs and ”Caucasians” in it - for guarding. There is a lot of work - except for the convent is necessary to guard a farmstead where sisters breed cows, nanny-goats, sheep, there are also horses and breeding bull Baikal of improbable forms and dimensions usually called Synok. Sisters graze sheep and goats on horses with the help of two Caucasian sheep-dogs - Аya-Sary (Аisha), Orthodox Convent Darkho and "Asians" (Vaygach, Kitchi, Irtcha, Zhasur-Tibet). For brevity, further we shall alight a Kennels prefix - Orthodox Convent.

If we turn to its origins, the idea of dog nursery was born spontaneously. Sisters thought much and hesitated which breeds of dogs to take. They were afraid of Caucasian sheep-dogs because they knew that breed to be difficult to deal with. So, they started to learn about Central Asians. Everyone asked about this considered them to be even worse than CSD. And suddenly someone presented a calendar card with a photo of "Asian" from the “Russian Legend" kennels. And, in spite of all conversations, they made up their mind. They got in touch with the kennels owner Rosa Zaynetdinova and visited her.

January. It’s cold outside. And the kennels shook us up to depth of soul by how it was equipped and professionally maintained. So, they decided to be guided by this sample of a responsible approach to CASD and CSD breeding.

Rosa Zaynetdinova presented sisters Sudzha (that became Champion of Russia in 1995) and Aphi Aladzha - 4,6 months, the daughter of well-known snow-white Aphi Dinar, a favorite of all “Cat and Dog” editorial staff. Sisters-nuns were taken away with both the mistress of the kennels, and the dogs. Till now they have been recollecting Rosa Zaynetdinova with gratitude. Her gift laid the foundation to the "Convent" kennels wherefore after first two "foundresses" there appeared Ork, Benzair-Guard, and wide-known Pharaon.

It should be mentioned that initially sisters didn’t know anything about this difficult breed. But they started to read, study, and look … Finally they comprehended how to receive good offspring. Pharaon and Benzair-Guard gave very good children. For example, their Vaigach now regularly carries his service in the convent and on the farmstead. Yellow "girl" from this pair left for Saint Petersburg and "went uphill" there.

Last August 2 export dogs from Central Asia got to the convent - so fighting (former fighting dogs), that pulled down enclosures. They were remained for breeding - dogs Tchaynar and Gekchab, “Tadzhik” Yashin and "Turk woman" Gelnar.

Gelnar is a very good dog - three of her 5 cubs were left in the kennels too. They are real "Asians".

There are totally 15 dogs, including "Caucasians" given by Tatyana Yagodkina’s well-known Risk (see " Cat and Dog” №№ 1-2’ 99). Like Rosa Zaynetdinova she helps sisters-nuns to comprehend a complex science of breeding, but now concerning Caucasian sheep-dogs. Today results are almost improbable: the grand daughter of Risk Aya-Sarai (home-style Aisha) politely in turn gave representatives of “Cat and Dog” staff, her pad huge as bear’s and humbly glanced at us, moving her brows thoughtfully. She was left for breeding as the best cub of a brood. Sisters Aisha and Darkho perfectly graze sheep, goats, and even vast bull Synok obeys them...

Now sisters-nuns are ready to tell us about the characters of their wards in detail themselves. For example, about what they can see being practically inseparable with dogs. They consider, for example, that “Asians” are little bit more softly in character than "Caucasians", this breed being as though "Creativity of the nation”, as personification of the character of its people. "Asians" are very different in characters and among them there are a lot of talented shepherds, "Caucasians" realize in themselves eastern, mountain character. "Asians" are closed, they are inside themselves, while "Caucasians” like to show themselves, as they are hot in temper and conduct according to the rule: first done, then thought". An “Asian” will study each person from head to foot. Without aggression, they lie and watch over a group of people thinking of each of them. Among CASD there are very kind dogs, tender like cats. But there are also fighting ones, like Pharaon, for example, who is a working dog that likes to guard. Since the first night of his watch - in a new place, in the convent, he ran around the territory, surveyed it all and became to guard barking. CASD can't be just a chained watchdog. They need freedom, communication with people, being a more independent beast, than CSD - real aggressive watchdogs that are closer to wolf-kind mountain shepherd dogs.

All this we heard from nun Taisia, one of 10 sisters responsible for the maintenance, breeding and work of all conventual dogs, and also for their participation in the most prestigious Russian exhibitions. Results of their selfless work are the following:

1. Champion of Russia Sudzha;
2. 4 САС Pharaon;
3. 4 САС Vaygatch;
4. 2 САС BBR (Best Breed Representative) Aya-Sary (Aisha) - CSD;
5. САС BBR Gelnar;
6. САС BBR Yashin:
7. САС Varkhan;
8. The best cub of "National exhibition СASD-99 - Irtcha (Tchaynar-Bensair Guard).
9. "The Best cub" and "The Best Junior" Zhasur-Tibet, "Asian", the son of Pharaon and Aphi-Aladzhi);
10. The best cub "Cairo” (Gektcha-Gelnar).

Cubs of kennels "Convent" found new masters in Moscow and the Moscow region, in Saint Petersburg, Serpukhov, Ryazan, in Moldova and Holland. On exhibitions they take prize-winning places and conquer the rings. Mother Taisia is responsible for breeding work. “We give our cubs to people which are engaged in this breed so that they could continue our common business – to kept this ancient breed as a part of the beautiful that was created by God thousands of years ago” - mother Taisia explained to us.

Now we are attracted there where we feel so bright due to pure, amicable unification of people, dogs, trees, colours, - behind the ancient convent walls.

We should have printed this article in the autumn edition of the magazine, but circumstances detained its publication. And life was still going on...

PART II

The attraction turned out to be so strong that that summer we still managed to visit the Holy Trinity New Golutvin convent and then even in winter, on Christmas.

Events took their trundle, summer was followed by autumn, and then winter came, but there remained immutable light in soul from purity and warm pleasure of meetings with very different and unexpected people behind the convent walls.

On August, 29 there was a big feast devoted to the 200^th anniversary of the Holy Trinity New Golutvin convent establishment and the 10^th anniversary of the renewal of monastic life in it. There were many visitors including eminent ones that seemed to have known the way there for a long time and feasibly helped to restore it in former, and maybe even better way. The Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II got thoroughly acquainted with the convent life, including enclosures with Central Asian sheep-dogs. One of the sisters brought out a black cub - for personal acquaintance and a picture of it was made; later on His Holiness accepted our magazine “Cat and Dog” as a gift.

PART III

“Autumn legend” - one-breed exhibition (САSD) of Central Asian sheep-dogs, as it was promised, took place on September, 19. By the moment of its beginning 140 dogs were put on the list. Organizers were Russia Cynologists’ Federation, All-Russian Club CASD and the kennels of domestic breeds "Convent". We already gave the report on the exhibition in our issue № 9 ' 99, without delay. Photos will help to imagine unexpected charm of this exhibition that took place rather far (80 kms) from Moscow at a cozy stadium richly surrounded by birches, spruces, maples, like a glade...

Nature and working atmosphere in the rings, close neighborhood of ancient walls of the Kolomna Kremlin and universal spirit of goodwill, - all this caused "Cat and Dog” to hand a prize of the Year at this exhibition - "Golden Dog”, to an "Asian" and with such explanatory: to "the Kindest, Philanthropic Dog“. Certainly, these are not the most important qualities of the "Asian”, but La Sherry (owner Renat Nuriev) matched with it very much in a spirit of universal friendliness reigned at that exhibition.

There was one more our meeting - on Christmas. We waded to the enclosures where kids of "Asians" and "Caucasians", - such cheerful kindergarten pottered on fresh clean air, such ridiculous robust fellows. But it grew dark early, and it became senseless to take any pictures.

Now I can’t but wait for spring. Easter. New meetings with sisters and their wards.

Natalia Dmitrieva, Kolomna - Moscow

PHOTOS:

1. The Assumption cathedral
2. The Most Holy Patriarch Of  Moscow and All Russia Alexy II meets a black “Asian” cub
3. A working process moment of “Autumn legend”
4. Hegumene Xenia, Mother Superior of the Holy Trinity New Golutvin convent gives prizes at the “Autumn Legend” exhibition
5. The farmstead guards: Aisha (on the left), Darkho (on the right)
6. The Holy Trinity church of the convent
7. Novice Natalie with Asurat at the enclosure in the forest near the farmstead
8. Mother Taisia’s duty of obedience is breeding work in the “Convent” kennel
9. Vaygatch
10. The youth: Tibet (f. Paraon, m. Aladzha), Kitchi (f. Gektcha, m.Gelnar), Kumtash
11. This is Asurat
12. Lak Sherry (owner Renat Nuriev) won our Prize of the Year “Golden Dog” as “The Kindest Philanthropic Dog”.
13. Sabur and Sortchang are Tekhtcha and Bakhtara’s cubs
14. “Convent” nurslings among the prize-winners
15. On the farmstead
16. Gektcha, aborigine, aged 6
17. The champion of the exhibition “Autumn Legend-99” Akhtana (Smolensk) with his ineffably happy owner Garayev
18. –
19. Sudzha, Champion of Russia
20. Among the guests there was V. Tereshkova, a friend of the convent, who presented a mini-tractor to hard-working sisters
21. A memorable picture. From the left to the right: Rosa Zainetdinova, a kind inspirer of the “Convent” kennels, President of All-Russia CASD club; mother Hegumene Xenia; experts: Helen Erusalimskaya and Eugene Kuplyauskas; dog Senat from Yaroslavl (owner Putaev); sitting: Larisa Andreeva – the handler of Akhtana, Champion of the exhibition.