Dog Breed Information, Description, Origin, History, Temperament, Height, Weight, Exercise, Life, Group, Articles, Health, Books, Photos, Posters,
Wallpapers, Training, Dog names, Links and more.
The Kangal Dog is the national dog breed of Turkey. This large dog (which can often grow as large as 140 pounds (64 kg) was originally used as a Livestock guardian dog, but has been increasing in popularity as a guard dog. It is of an early mastiff type with a solid tan or grey coat, and should always have a black mask on its face; indeed, another name for the breed is Karabash or black head.
The breed is often referred to as a sheep dog, but it does not
herd its charges. Instead, it is designed to live with the
flock and act as a livestock guardian dog. This trait has
given it growing popularity as a guardian for families as
well, as it watches members of its flock with extreme
devotion.
The supposition of fact is that the Kangal dog and the
Akbash dog were originally distinct, natural and pure breeds
and that the Kangal was combined with the Akbash to create the
Anatolian Shepherd Dog.
Appearance: The Kangal Dog is a large, heavily boned
dog with long legs and a mastiff-like appearance. The head is
large and moderately wide, with drop ears that may or may not
be cropped, set on a strong, slightly arched neck. The body
should be muscular, not fat, with strong forelegs, a deep
chest, and a sickle or curled tail carried high. The overall
appearance should be of proportions slightly longer in body
than in legs.
Because the working characteristics of the breed are
paramount, the UKC standard also notes that field scars from
working, such as may be gained from briars or predators, are
not to be penalized. Males should weigh 110-145 lb, with a
height of 30-32 inches at the withers, while females should
weigh 90-120 lb, with a height of 28-30 inches.
Colour and Coat: The colour and coat are perhaps the
most obviously distictive aspects that separate the Kangal
from the similar Akbash and Anatolian. The coat must be short
and dense, not long or feathery, and of a fawn, dun, or grey
appearance with a black facial mask and ears. White at certain
points (chest, chin, toes) may or may not be allowed,
depending on the standard. Some dark Kangal also have black
paws and a dark chest. Most importantly, the coat should not
be broken or spotted.
Split-Lump Controversy: The Kangal dog's validity as
a separate breed is a matter of controversy, especially
between Anatolian Shepherd Dog breeders and Kangal dog
breeders. Kangal dog breeders feel that the standard they have
laid out for the breed most truly reflects the working dogs of
the Kangal region, and that the Anatolian is merely a Çoban Köpegi
or generic sheepdog of uncertain breeding. They also point to
an assumed increase of fawn Karabash dogs as a tacit admission
by Anatolian breeders of the correctness of the Kangal
position of being one of many original types.
Anatolian breeders state that the variation in colours in
the Anatolian reflect the true diversity of the Turkish
sheepdog, and that Kangal breeders ignore examples of spotted
or brindle Kangals in the field, claiming they're not actually
Kangals. Furthermore, nontrivial variations of conformational
styles in Kangal dogs are overlooked and geographic origins of
many dogs called Kangal are significantly diverse. Some
Anatolian breeders accuse Kangal breeders of actively culling
unsuitable coloured dogs that come from purebred Kangals. In
general, erroneous assumptions have been made about the
Anatolian without study of Turkish dog bloodlines imported and
bred. A hallmark of this is that conclusions are suggested by
merely presenting specially selected photographs as proof.
Generally, the arguments are whether Turkish dogs really
are so breed specific, and if the splits placed on them by
groups are arbitrary, or if the breeds are distinct and bred
to be distinct in Turkey, therefore any mixing of bloodlines
would be muddying the genetic waters. It is unlikely that the
arguments will be settled soon, even with the increased use of
genetic fingerprinting in the tracing of breeds. Suffice to
say, both groups consider their dogs true Turkish livestock
guardian dogs.
Temperament: The ideal Kangal dog should be calm,
controlled, independent, and protective. Aloof towards
strangers, but never shy or vicious. A well-trained Kangal is
sensitive and alert to changing situations, handling them with
intelligence. They make good guardians of livestock and
children, but they may not be suited for all homes, as the
stubborn intelligence of the Kangal makes for a difficult
pupil.
Temperament controversy: Unfortunately, some people
assume that guardian dog or watch dog means attack dog, and
will train this large and hard-to-control dog to be aggressive
towards humans. Very rarely, some people also use Kangals in
dog fights. Kangal dogs and Kangal crosses are occasionally
owned by persons hoping to get a macho animal.
This has led to the restriction and banning of Kangals in
most parts of Germany. Kangal owners feel unfairly singled
out, and point out that aggression towards predators,
especially with such an intelligent dog as the Kangal, does
not equal aggression towards humans. It is notable that some
famous German guard dog breeds, such as the German Shepherd,
are not restricted.
The Kangal in Turkey: One of the national treasures
of Turkey, the Kangal dog is part of a group of special sheep
dog breeds specific to the country. Each is considered an
important example of the cultural character of its region. To
protect and conserve the genetic purity of the Kangal Dog, the
government of Turkey has established several state-sponsored
breeding centers.
In its home region of Kangal, in the Sivas region of
Anatolia, the Kangal Dog is still primarily used as a
livestock guardian, and prize animals compete annually in the
Kangal Sheep Dog and Sheep festival.
In its duties as a national symbol, Kangal dogs often have
jobs as guardians of state buildings, or as gifts in
international friendship to other heads of state. There was
also a brief fad of owning Kangals by more well-off city
dwellers in Istanbul, but it has quickly died down as the 140
lb (64 kg) dogs are not well-suited for city living.
The Kangal internationally: Originally, the Kangal,
along with the Akbash, was imported into Europe and the United
States primarily as the foundation for the Anatolian Shepherd
Dog. Curious enthusiasts of that and other Turkish dog breeds
discovered that the general look of the Anatolian didn't
always reflect the look of the dogs from various regions of
Turkey. Several, such as David and Judy Nelson in the United
States, decided to breed to the regional types of Çoban Köpegi
rather than for Anatolian.
For 30 years, there has been a small but growing interest
in the Kangal dog, and as such, the United States and
Australia have kennel clubs that recognise the breed. In the
UK, Canada, and Germany, there are also enthusiast groups,
though Kangal ownership has been restricted severely in
Germany, where they are considered a dangerous breed.
HeyDogs is an easy to use site that keeps both dog professionals and dog enthusiasts up to date on the latest information on dogs. You can find the best in dog training, behavior, natural health, agility, clicker training, and other dog related topics
Looking for the perfect
Dog name? Dogs names for your new Puppy.
Browse thousands of Dog names, names for both male
and female dogs, Start looking by clicking on a
letter!
Hi Cats is a website you can find extensive information on all Cat Breeds, Articles, Health, Books, Photos, Desktop Wallpapers, Posters, Training, Cats names, Links and more.
HeyDogs.com Dog Breeds Information
Guide menu 
