Erbent is traditionally regarded as the heartland of the Tazy, Turkmenistan's ancient coursing hound. Lean, long-legged, and built for speed across open desert, the Tazy is physically close to the Afghan hound and the Saluki, and shares a common ancestry with the sight hounds of the broader Central Asian steppe. Local families here have bred the dogs for generations, and it is not unusual to see a pack resting in the shade of a yard wall while its owner talks you through the bloodlines.
The dogs are used for hunting hare, fox, and occasionally gazelle across the surrounding Karakum, working in tandem with trained golden eagles — a practice known as berkutchi that survives in pockets across Central Asia. Erbent families are among the few in Turkmenistan who still hunt this way. If you visit with a local guide, you may be invited to watch a training run; asking directly, without an introduction, is considered intrusive.