Kangal 

  History 

The Kangal Dog or Anatolian (Karabash) Dog as it is also known, is a sheep-guard from the Sivas-Kangal region of central Turkey.  It has a history in its homeland where it is still working today as it has done for centuries. A large, strong, mastiff-type dog, it is kept by the shepherds strictly as a working animal primarily to guard the flocks of sheep and goats which graze the open plains of the vast Anatolian plateau. A pure-bred Kangal Dog is highly prized by its owner, who will go to great lengths to organise a mating with another good dog.  Because of the hard life they have to lead only the strongest and steadiest pups are kept, and these are carefully reared and fed in the early months to achieve the size and strength required in adulthood. To give the dogs the advantage in any confrontation with  wolves,  the Turkish shepherds usually fit them  with iron-spiked collars to protect the neck.  Their ears may also be cropped to avoid them being torn causing loss of blood. The name Karabash is popularly used for these dogs in Turkey because of the characteristic black mask (kara = black, bas = head).  The true type is also correctly known however as the Kangal Dog, after the aristocratic family of landowners from the Sivas region who, hundreds of years ago, took great pride in preserving this dog as a pure breed distinct from other shepherd dogs of inferior type.  Historical evidence shows, in fact, that a breed of lion-like guard dog has been in use in this and other parts of the Middle East since many centuries BC.

General Appearance    Large, upstanding, tall, powerfully built, with borad, heavy head and short dense coat.  Must have size, stamina and speed.

Characteristics: Active breed used originally as a guard dog for sheep; hardworking; capable of enduring extremes of heat and cold.

Temperament: Steady and bold without undue aggression, naturally independent, very intelligent. Proud and confident.

Head and skull: Skull large, broad and flat between the ears. Slight furrow between the eyes and slight stop. Mature males have broader head than females.  Foreface 1/3 of total head length. Slightly pendulous black lips. Square profile. Nose black.

Eyes: Rather small in proportion to size of skull, set well apart and deep showing no haw. Golden to brown in colour. Eye rims black.

Ears: Medium sized, triangular in shape, rounded at the tip, carried flat to skull and pendant, higher when alert.

Neck: Slightly arched, powerful, muscular, moderate in length, rather thick. Slight dewlap.

Forequarters: Shoulders well muscled and sloping. Forelegs set well apart, straight and well boned; of good length; strong pasterns, slightly sloping when viewed from the side. Elbows close to the sides.

Body: Chest deep to point of elbow, ribs well sprung. Body powerful, well muscled, never fat, Level back. Body in proportion to leg length, slightly arched over loins, with good tuck up.

Hindquarters: Powerful, lighter than forequarters; moderate turn of stifle.

Feet: Strong feet with well arched toes. Nails short.

Gait: Relaxed even gait, with the impression of latent power, very supple movement. Noticeable straight line of head, neck and body, giving impression of stalking in some dogs. Great drive when viewed from the side.

Tail  Long, reaching at least to hock. Set on rather high. When relaxed carried low with slight curl, when alert carried high with end curled over back, especially in males.

Coat: Short, dense with thick undercoat. Flat, close-lying, neither fluffy nor wavy. Slightly longer and thicker at neck, shoulders and tail; no feathering on ears or legs.

Colour: All colours acceptable but it is desirable that they should be whole colours, cream to fawn, with black mask and ears.

Weight and Size

Weight: Mature Dogs 50-64kg (110-141lbs); Bitches 41-59kg (90.5-1301bs)

Size: Dogs 74-81 cm (29-32") at the shoulders; Bitches 71-79cm (28-31")

Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness of the fault should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

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