General characteristics of the dog, territory of development, assumptions regarding the appearance of the species, application, popularization and recognition of the breed. Armant or Armant is a common dog that is approximately fifty-three to fifty-eight centimeters tall and weighs twenty-three to twenty kilograms. Breed individuals have a fairly large head. They have harmoniously small eyes, a deep and wide chest. The ears are different for each individual. They can be straight or drooping, and there is no specific standard for the ears. Armants have several types of coat colors. The most common of which are black, black-brown, gray and gray-yellow variations of color combinations.
Representatives of the species are very mobile animals. Armant are excellent working dogs with a fearless and loyal temperament. They are generally good for teaching. But the success of this venture requires an owner with a strong, strong-willed character. These dogs are calm and gentle from the start, but they have a lot of energy that can lead to destructive behavior if the dogs are not trained and socialized from an early age. Trained pets maintain good relationships with other animals and are very sensitive to young children and adolescents. It is believed that due to the similarities between the breeds, the Armantes played a role in the Border Collie breeding. The breed remains in use in Egypt, and dogs are still used as guard dogs and for grazing.
Territory of origin and development of Armanth, history of the name
The armant was developed almost exclusively as a working animal in the countryside. Combined with the fact that the variety was probably bred even before the time when the exact studbooks of most dogs were recorded, there is therefore very little evidence of the origin of the breed. All that is known for certain is that the breed was definitely developed in Egypt, most likely in the time period before 1900.
It is possible that these dogs were first bred in the village of Armant - the ancient Greek settlement of Hermontis, but the history of the city predates this much. Located just over twelve miles south of Thebes, it flourished during the Middle Kingdom and was enlarged during the 18th dynasty of Pharaoh's reign by the construction of huge temples (but now it no longer exists). Cleopatra VII made it the capital of the surrounding nome, and we know the city continued to thrive during the early Christian era.
Representatives of the species got their name from the name of the village of Armant, where most of their livestock lived and still lives. But, of course, this is an assumption, because there is no exact evidence to support this version. While each theory is based on little more than pure speculation, there are a number of statements as to how this species developed.
Possible versions regarding the appearance of Armant and his ancestors
Some experts claim that Armant is partially or completely descended from the local Egyptian canines. Egypt's herding dogs have the most extensive history anywhere in the world. Despite considerable controversy over the exact details, most experts now agree that dogs were fully domesticated from the wolf at least 14,000 years ago. It is now believed that all canines are descendants of one or possibly two separate domestication events that took place in India, China, Tibet, or the Middle East.
These early dogs were very wolf-like and were probably almost identical to the Australian wild Dingo dogs. The first canine species that was domesticated by man preceded the development of agriculture. These animals accompanied the bands of nomadic hunter-gatherers, served as watchmen, guardians, companions and hunting assistants for the extraction of meat and animal skins.
Dogs that lived before the Armants proved to be so useful that they eventually quickly spread across the globe to be around wherever humans lived, except for a few remote islands. Since it is relatively easy to get to Egypt from any possible canine domestication site, especially from the Middle East and India, pets almost certainly reached the Egyptian lands at a very early period.
Initially, all dogs were very similar in appearance, as they lived in similar conditions and performed similar tasks. About 14,000 years ago, people living in the Middle East took up the development of agriculture and settled in the villages on a permanent basis. They began to cultivate agricultural fields and raise livestock herds.
Even the earliest cultivators realized that the hunting instincts of the dogs, the predecessors of Armant, could be redirected for herding to help manage herds. The dogs' desire to protect his flock and territory can be used to protect herds and homes from wild predators such as wolves, bears, and lions, as well as human thieves and raiders. These early Middle Eastern farmers began breeding dogs specifically for this purpose, and may be the first time they attempted to significantly alter the original animal from its original form.
Agriculture became a way of life and was so successful that it began to spread quickly, and the first herding dogs (the ancestors of the Armants) along with it. Some of the earliest cultivators lived just a few hundred miles from the first rural settlements, in the regions of Egypt and Mesopotamia. Although the early farmers lived in small villages, the fertile river valleys of these two regions allowed the world's first cities to develop. Kingdoms developed, and then empires, which provided sufficient additional food to support artists and chroniclers.
Between 5,000 and 7,000 years ago, Egyptian and Mesopotamian relics such as statues, paintings, and tomb wall paintings begin to display several different types of dogs. These canines have been clearly bred for specific purposes, as many of the dog varieties are shown performing different tasks. Refined and fast greyhounds were used for hunting, large and ferocious dogs of the mastiff type were used for battle and defense. There were also herding dogs, the ancestors of the Armant species, who protected and managed herds of shepherds. This is compelling evidence that by 3000 BC. (and probably thousands of years ago) the Egyptians already bred herding dogs and that these pets almost certainly had a strong protective instinct.
Further evidence is provided at the ancient dog cemeteries. The ancient Egyptians also equally loved dogs as pets and revered them for their connection with the god Anubis. Many thousands of Egyptian mummies of these animals have been discovered, many of which confirm this. In addition to names like Blacky, Antelope and Uneless, many dogs have had names like Good Herdsman and Brave One. There are experts who believe that Armant may be descended from these first herding dogs. They point to evidence suggesting that these breeds have been present in Egypt since at least the 1400s. This theory is certainly possible, but there is almost no evidence that such dogs have closely crossed with other species over the centuries.
History of the ancestors of the Egyptian shepherd
Another important version related to the origin of Armand is that it is a descendant of European dogs that were introduced to Egypt over the past two centuries. The breed is very similar in appearance to several French herding species, in particular the Briard from France. Many argue that Armant is descended from French shepherd dogs brought to France by Napoleon's army in 1798. They accompanied the French army and its followers and later the dogs were acquired by local farmers through purchase, or when they remained in the French evacuation in 1800.
Undoubtedly, such dogs accompanied Napoleon, but, also, there are no chronicles confirming this. While the Briard and other breeds such as the Beauceron were widely used by the French army, this did not really start until World War I. It is also unlikely that Napoleon would have imported a large number of dog species with his army.
There are claims that Armant is one of the ancestors of the Border Collie, based on the alleged similarities between the two breeds. However, this theory is probably completely false based on the age of the Border Collie and the likelihood that Egyptian dogs were introduced to Scotland at the time the breed developed. However, it is much more likely that the British introduced their herding dogs to Egypt.
The British maintained a significant trade and military presence in Egypt for several decades, which in 1882 led to the establishment of a protectorate over the country or its outright occupation. Some of England's greatest amateurs have taken their pets with them all over the world. It is possible and even probable that some British collies and shepherds appeared in Egypt in this way. Although rarely discussed, Armant may have been the ancestor of much earlier imported European canines.
The Romans and Greeks were present in Egypt at different times, and possessed highly protective shepherd dogs that they were known to bring with them, such as the Molossus and the Roman Cattle Driving Dog. In addition, the crusading knights from England, France and Germany occupied the neighboring region of Palestine for several decades and may have brought their pets with them as well. This could explain both Armant's appearance and his estimated potential age.
In fact, Armant is almost certainly the result of crossing many different species. As in other parts of the world, Egyptian farmers bred their herding dogs almost exclusively for their ability to work. If they were excellent breeders, they were probably used for breeding regardless of their appearance or origin. This means that Armant is probably a descendant of both Egyptian and European herding dogs, with possible additions to the Arabian and Asian varieties. While it is unclear when the Armant took its modern form, all evidence indicates that he became a fully developed breed no later than the late 19th century.
Armant's application
Armant served his masters primarily as a shepherd, who was entrusted with collecting stray sheep from the flock and moving them where the farmer needed. The breed also served as the guardian of its wards. When predators such as a wolf or a hyena approached the herd, the dog first barked to warn the shepherds, and then came up to drive out the intruder. At night, Armant served the same purpose in his master's house. The dog not only protected from wild animals, but also malicious people.
According to Islamic tradition, dogs are considered unclean, and many restrictions are imposed on them, for example, they are prohibited from visiting houses. Only the noble Al-Khor was freed from this framework. He is an ancient descendant of hunting dogs, which typically include the Saluki, Sloughi, and Afghan Hound. Due to these restrictions, most Egyptian farmers did not allow the presence of the Armants in their homes. However, a very large percentage of the population of Egypt (10 to 25%) are Coptic Christians. Islamic rules and clauses regarding dogs would not be enforced by Coptic farmers, and they probably gave higher privileges to Armant, but apparently no research has been done on the matter.
For most of its history, Egypt has been primarily a rural and agricultural community. This meant that Armant had a lot of pasture work. In fact, the breed is still quite commonly used by Egyptian herders to manage their herds. Since the 20th century, the succession of Egyptian governments have worked to modernize the country.
Technology and industrialization are increasingly coming to Egypt, and they have been accompanied by huge waves of urbanization. As in other countries of the world, such processes have led to both an increase in the level of crime and an increased public perception of lawlessness. To protect themselves and their property, the Egyptian public is increasingly turning to the use of guard dogs.
Armant is one of the most popular breeds selected for this purpose as it is known in Egypt for its strong loyalty and total fearlessness when faced with any opponent. The use as a protective dog has led to the fact that the population of Armand has increased dramatically, and this species is becoming more common in most parts of Egypt.
Popularization and recognition of Armant
Despite its growing popularity in its homeland, Armant is rarely found outside of Egyptian territory. There are several breeders of the variety in France, the Netherlands, and possibly Belgium as well. In addition, the breed is sometimes found in other Middle Eastern countries, especially those that border Egypt. Dog shows are still not popular in Egypt and as a result, little effort has been made to standardize the breed in that country.
Due to the complete lack of unification and virtually no pedigree book, Armant has not been recognized by any major national or international club or kennel such as the International Cynologique Internationale (FCI) or the American Kennel Club (AKC). Several small dog organizations have granted breed recognition, including the Continental Kennel Club (CKC) in the United States of America.
French and Dutch breeders appear to be keeping pedigrees and working on a more standardized breed, but it is unclear exactly where the nuances of their efforts lie. It is not known whether the Armants found their way to the United States of America, or if they did, only a few isolated individuals. In Egypt, Armant is well known and is probably one of the most widespread species in this area, although statistics on Egyptian dog breeds do not really exist. Unlike most modern breeds, the vast majority of Armant remain active or retired working animals.
Most members of the species are actively used as herding and protective pets, and, most likely, this situation will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future. These dogs are so poorly known outside of Egypt that it is very difficult to find correct images of them, and many alleged photographs of the Armant are actually completely different breeds such as Newfoundland, Harrier, and Briard. …
