Kangal (Anatolian Shepherd)

The Anatolian Shepherd, or Kangal, is a strong and devoted breed that has a long history of defending livestock. This dog, which is Turkish in origin, is renowned for its strength, intelligence, and unshakable commitment to its flock or family.

These dogs, who have been bred for centuries to work alone and defend herds from predators, are innate guardians. When trained and socialized appropriately, Kangals, despite their size and strength, are known to be gentle with their families and other animals.

The Kangal is an incredibly intelligent and peaceful animal that makes a loyal friend and guardian. They do, however, need seasoned owners who are aware of their particular requirements and temperament.

Originally from Turkey, the Kangal, also called the Anatolian Shepherd, is a strong and devoted dog breed that is well-known for its remarkable guarding skills and protective demeanor. The Kangal is a calm, perceptive, and extremely dependable breed that is excellent as a working dog and companion. It was bred to guard livestock from predators. But because of its size and strong instincts, it needs to be properly socialized and trained, so its ideal owners are those with experience who can meet its special requirements.

Brief information about Kangal

In the past, the Kangal breed has stood watch over and shielded the herd from all kinds of predators. Intelligent and well-balanced Kangals are easy to train, devoted to their owners, and not prone to needless aggression. Dogs are hardwired to live outside in all kinds of weather. A dog that is powerful and energetic has long, lean legs, a big head, and a black mask.

Anatolian Shepherd, Kangal Shepherd, Turkish Kangal, and Anatolian Karabash are some names for Kangals.

Country🇹🇷

The Central Anatolia region of Turkey is where the Kangal dog breed first originated. Kangals are regarded as a component of the national legacy by the Turkish government. Turkish postage stamps and coins both feature dogs.

After several Turkish dogs were brought to the US by the US military, people started referring to dogs as Anatolian Shepherds. Turkey does not recognize the name "Anatolian Shepherd," as the Turkish guard dog is known by a different name, Kangal. The name of the eastern Anatolian province of Kangal is where the dog got its name, "Kangal."

Turkish cynologists think that Americans refer to a mixed breed that was developed with the involvement of all recognized Turkish herd guardian dogs under the name "Anatolian Shepherd." American standards do not recognize the diversity of Turkish Shepherd breeds; instead, they permit fur of varying lengths and colors.

Every breed in Turkey has unique fur requirements that are more exacting and rigorous. Conflict eventually resulted from the dispute between Turkish and American specialists. Turks accused their opponents of breeding dogs that were crossed. The Americans, for their part, maintained that their Turkish counterparts were misrepresenting some species of representatives of questionable breeds as purebred.

Group

Anatolian Shepherds are classified as Pinscher, Schnauzer, Molosser, Mountain, and Swiss Cattle Dogs in the international classification. While English cynologists have classified Kangals as part of the "Pastoral Breeds" group, Americans classify Anatolian Shepherds as belonging to the "Working" group.

Wool

A kangal coat can be short or medium length, straight, and robust. Wool is draped thickly over the body. In many cases, the coat’s density helps protect against skin breaks caused by predator bites. Water and snow are repelled by the wool’s outer layer. The dog is shielded from weather disasters by its thick undercoat. Slightly longer and thicker wool can be found on the neck, shoulders, and tail. Both long-haired and short-haired dogs can be found in the same litter.

Colors

Wool with varying tones and patterns is suitable for Anatolian Shepherds, ranging from light brown to gray "wolf." Although it is not recommended, a small amount of white fur on the chin, chest, and toes is acceptable in kangals, who are "solid-colored" dogs. A black mask on the muzzle is a mandatory breed characteristic for any color of coat. The traditional hue is thought to be the color of a "deer" wearing a black mask.

Sizes

Dogs that are two years of age or older are eligible to use the standard size indicators for Kangal. A male should reach a maximum height of 81 to 74 cm at full maturity, while a female should reach a maximum height of 71 to 79 cm.

Weight

Male Kangals are typically thought to weigh between 50 and 65 kg, and female Kangals are thought to weigh between 40 and 55 kg.

Temperament

An imposing, robust Anatolian Shepherd Dogs are resilient and agile. A Kangal dog appears brave and composed. The protective instinct is blended with attentiveness, attentiveness, and commitment. Kangals have strong territorial feelings.

Turkish Karabash or Kangal must be stored in a roomy space; this could be a private home with an adjacent parcel of land. A dog cannot be chained. The dog has not been found to have any evident health issues. When given the best possible care and living environment, Kangals show excellent health.

Grooming will require a great deal of attention during the twice-yearly shedding periods. As members of the breed are susceptible to ear infections, routine exams and ear care will help prevent them. It is essential to combine obedience training with early socialization. A Kangal’s owner needs to be a self-assured, knowledgeable dog breeder with the fortitude of a leader.

Fertility

The size of the litter in a Kangal can range from three to nine puppies.

Life expectancy

The life expectancy of an Anatolian Shepherd in an optimal and safe environment is from 11 to 13 years. How many years Kangals live depends largely on their lifestyle, the amount of exercise, nutrition and regular veterinary examinations. Actively working dogs engaged in security have a high mortality rate.

Use

Through appropriate and continuous socialization, the Turkish Kangal Shepherd can develop into a wonderful companion for people. However, the breed’s members are not "domestic" in the traditional sense of the word. Dogs require a large space because they can withstand both extreme heat and cold. If the dog is housed outside, it must have a warm spot inside the house where it can shelter during extremely cold weather.

Cost

You can indicate a price range from fifteen to one hundred thousand rubles based on the cost of a Kangal puppy from internet ads. Here, we can talk cautiously about the conformity of the breed. Certain nurseries make a point of using Turkish dogs as their core breeding stock. According to breed experts, Turkey is the only place where one can find a purebred Kangal.

A foreigner finds it challenging to purchase a Kangal puppy in Turkey. In Turkey, pedigree nurseries actively promote and maintain the dog’s working characteristics. A sizeable portion of the Kangal breeding population is occasionally observed watching over flocks and herds of animals in pastures. Limited export licenses are granted by Turkish authorities, contingent on a prohibition on additional breeding outside the nation.

Photos of Kangal

Images of Kangals from the past depict a strong and watchful protector surveying the area from above. Obedient to the "breed call" to monitor and manage the territory, the Anatolian Shepherd will occasionally ascend to the top of the enclosure or even the kennel’s roof. The enclosure needs to have a clear view of the surrounding area for this reason.

History of the origin of the Kangal breed

The Anatolian Shepherd came from rural Turkey, where it was a man’s friend and livestock guardian. The oldest domestic dog, known as Koban Kopegi ("shepherd dog"), is the distant ancestor of the Kangal. Kangals are guard dogs, though, and do not fit into the shepherd dog breed.

There have been written accounts of a big, powerful dog with a "heavy head" dating back to the Babylonian era. Dogs were reportedly employed as both combat and wild animal protection by the Babylonians and Assyrians.

Well-preserved Assyrian wooden bas-reliefs from the second century BC, depicting recognizable Anatolian Shepherd dogs, are on display at the British Museum in London. It was claimed in a 2003 international symposium that dogs originated in Turkmenistan and made their way to Turkey. There are references to dogs resembling kangals in Ottoman Empire documents!

Natural selection left the most resilient and adaptable dogs intact, with no significant selection applied to the others. A contemporary Anatolian Shepherd gives the impression that time has stopped. Because of its isolated existence, the Anatolian Shepherd has remained largely unchanged to this day. This is the exact appearance of a dog that coexisted with humans some 3,000 years ago.

The Turks relied on the land that gave them their means of subsistence for centuries. Domesticated animals have always been a part of human life and a constant companion. Known as the dog of Turkish shepherds, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a human’s most valuable herding companion throughout the region extending from Turkey to Afghanistan.

The high plains of Central Anatolia are the Kangal’s typical habitat. The region is known for its hot, dry summers and frequent snowfall and extremely cold winters. The body of the Kangal is suited to this environment and the wandering way of life of the shepherds of Anatolia.

As a herd guardian, the Turkish Shepherd Dog instinctively defends sheep or goats from untamed animals. The Kangal’s strength, agility, and remarkable speed enable it to fend off predators.

Regularly, Kangals have to battle dangerous wild animals in order to protect the herd. An special collar with iron spikes is placed around the neck of the Anatolian Shepherd by shepherds prior to hunting, as many predators attempt to bite the dog by the throat during the "neutralization" phase.

Today, Anatolian shepherds aid farmers in South Africa by defending their flocks against cheetahs and lions.

Description of the Kangal breed

2018 saw the official Kangal breed standard adopted by the FCI. The ideal temperament and physical cues that ensure the dog’s purity are described in the manual.

The Turkish Kangal breed description suggests that overall balance matters more than absolute size indicators. The dog’s length to height ratio is slightly elongated in silhouette (10:9). Women appear more feminine. Anatolian Shepherds are lightweight and nimble in the air. able to reach top speeds of more than 50 km/h. According to breed experts, a Kangal will undoubtedly catch up with someone if it decides it needs to.

One noteworthy characteristic of the Anatolian Shepherd is that, although it stands with its head held high, it instantly lowers and forms a single line with its back when it moves, whether it is walking or running. It appears as though the dog is sneaking from the outside. When a dog moves, its head’s position in relation to its body is typically used to identify its purebred status.

• The body is proportional, with good muscles, but the dog does not seem fat.
• The head is strong, large, but proportional to the body.
• Reasonable facial expression, a black mask on the muzzle is considered mandatory.

It’s worth noting that Akkarman sheep, whose flocks were watched over by Kangals in Eastern Turkey, share a black mask on their muzzles similar to that of dogs, set against a gray-brown wool background.

• The skull is wide, slightly rounded, a weak transition between the forehead and the muzzle, in males the skull looks wider than in females.
• The jaws are strong, the upper teeth tightly overlap the lower ones, the teeth and gums are strong, healthy, a "scissor" bite is preferred.
• The eyes are medium in size, almond-shaped, with dark brown or black rims.
• The color of the eyes is from light amber to brown, preference is for a darker eye color, different colors or blue eyes are considered a serious drawback.
• The lips are black, slightly pendulous, which makes the dog"s profile look slightly square, the teeth are large.
• The nose is strictly black, large, with well-opened nostrils, the sense of smell is acute.
• The ears are medium-sized, triangular, rounded at the tips, located slightly below the top of the skull, when alert they "hang" right to the cheeks, the ears are dark, they look like an addition to the breed"s black mask on the muzzle.

The physical ability to focus on the task at hand is a prerequisite for the Kangal to effectively guard the flocks. Minimize any distractions as much as possible. When they are puppies, most Kangals have their ears cropped. This is done due to the dog’s propensity for ear infections as well as the likelihood that they may sustain ear trauma in a fight with wolves or other predators.

• The neck is slightly arched, muscular, moderate in length, with a lot of skin and hair.
• The back is straight and strong.
• The chest is deep, well and tightly covered with skin, Kangals have an elongated chest, outwardly this makes the dog more "stately".
• The ribs are rounded, if the muscles are toned, the ribs are clearly visible.
• The limbs are long and strong, the dog should not look squat, the hind limbs are slightly longer than the front ones.
• The paw pads are oval, the claws are strong and hard.

Experts determine the purity of a breed based on the existence of puppies in the litter who have an extra toe; these dogs occasionally have one and do not need to be removed.

• The tail is straight, if the dog is calm, the tail is slightly curved, when tense – it is raised high, the hair on the tail is slightly longer than the hair on the body.
• The movements are confident, sweeping, the gait can look relaxed, but with a feeling of hidden strength, when moving, the dog does not lift its paws high, does not move in jerks.

It is acknowledged that the Turkish Kangal is the breed with the strongest bite. Some data indicates that their bite is unmatched by members of other breeds. If the bite forces of wolves and Kangals are compared, the ratio is 1:0.8, meaning that the dog has the upper hand.

The Anatolian Shepherd breed is comparable to certain other breeds based on breed characteristics. As in the case of the Pyrenean Mountain Dog or Kuvasz. The "fleshed" body, increased activity, and quickness that set Kangals apart.

The Turkish shepherd dog breeds from Western Anatolia known as the Akbash and Kangal are recognized by the American Kennel Club as identical. Turkish cynologists, however, disagree with their American colleagues’ theory.

It’s possible that the Caucasian Shepherd, Kangal, and Alabai share ancestral ties. According to DNA tests, dogs from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan share genetic similarities with Kangals, suggesting that nomadic Turks may have introduced them to these areas.

Since Kangal and Alabai share many characteristics, they are frequently compared. Dogs are recognized for their loyalty to their owners, and both breeds have Turkish ancestry and the ability to "protect from a wolf." Alabai possess greater strength and vitality. Thick skin, well-developed muscles, and climate adaptability characterize both breeds. It should be mentioned that kangals prefer cold climates and find it more challenging to survive in hot climates. While Alabai can be either black or brindle, Kangals are typically lighter in color.

The Bully Kutta is another dog that is frequently contrasted with Kangals. The dogs are equal in terms of endurance, but the Bully Kutta is bigger than the Kangal. The Bully Kutta’s progenitors are native Indian canines crossed with mastiffs and bulldogs.

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion comparing the Gampr and Kangal breeds. The Caucasus, Central Asia, and Turkey are the ancestors of the Armenian Gampr dog breed. Though the Armenian Gampr and Kangal share a lot of physical similarities, the Gampr shares many characteristics with the Central Asian Shepherd Dog.

Characteristic	Description
Breed Name	Kangal (Anatolian Shepherd)
Origin	Turkey
Size	Large, muscular
Weight	Male: 50-65 kg, Female: 40-55 kg
Coat	Short, dense
Color	Light tan with a black mask
Temperament	Loyal, protective, calm
Life Expectancy	12-15 years
Best Suited For	Farms, rural areas, guard work

The Anatolian Shepherd, or Kangal, is a magnificent breed renowned for its strength, loyalty, and protective tendencies. For centuries, especially in its native Turkey, this large and powerful dog has been a dependable guardian of livestock.

The Kangal is fiercely devoted to its family despite being an independent and independent animal. This breed can be a devoted companion in addition to a dependable working dog with the right training and socialization.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that Kangals require regular training, lots of room to roam, and a firm yet gentle touch if you’re thinking about getting one. They can flourish as family members and protectors in the correct setting.

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