When people read the Turkmen Alabay book by our Hero-Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, they realize that our ancestors have always considered alabays as loyal companions and friends. The Turkmen alabays became the pride and national value of our people. The book consists of five chapters, including in ‘May the Rays of Prosperity Illuminate the World!’, ‘First and Loyal Friend’, ‘Childhood Friend – Loyal Friend’, ‘Symbol of Loyalty and Courage’, and ‘Some Notes in My Notebook about Thoroughbred Turkmen Alabay’. This valuable book provides important information about the role of alabays in the life, folklore, literature and creativity of the Turkmen people.
The Turkmen proverbs about aim and happiness, namely, ‘a horse is an aim’, ‘dog brings happiness’, ‘my dog is my happiness’, prove that our people saw aims in horses and happiness in alabays. Thus, along with the antiquity, bravery, cleverness, courage, and intelligence of this breed, the book provides many historical sources to reflect the dogs’ loyalty and faithfulness and to increase the love for the Turkmen alabay, which is considered a faithful and loyal friend nowadays. The Turkmen Alabay International Association, established at the initiative of the President of Turkmenistan, demonstrates that the glory of our alabays, which provoke great interest in the world and differ from other dog breeds in their appearance, qualities and behaviour, will be enhanced and passed down from generation to generation. At the same time, the Association cooperates with the fans of the alabays in foreign countries and produces a positive effect on their work. Archaeological findings on the territory of Turkmenistan, namely, in Altyndepe, Gonurdepe, Nisa, Dandanakan (60 kilometres from the Ancient Merv), confirm that alabays are one of the oldest dog breeds.
