KANGAL DOG

COUNTRY: Turkey
WEIGHT: 75-150 pounds
HEIGHT: 28-34 inches
COAT: Short, smooth
COLOR: Chamois, dun or grayish dun; with a black mask; white chest blaze and feet characteristic; never white
OTHER NAMES: Karabash
GROUP: Flock Guard








These ancient guardians have served the shepherds of the mountains and plains in the Kangal district of eastern Turkey for thousands of years. In the Sivas area, the family headed by the Aga of Kangal has produced illustrious leaders in central Turkey since their ancestors, the Turkoman Beys, invaded Asia Minor around 1000 AD. They were a great land-owning family of the 16th through 19th centuries. These people were—and still remain—renowned breeders of beautiful animals: the Arabian horse, sheep and the Kangal Dog. The dogs were also owned by others in the area, but both the dogs and the region are named for the family.

Turkish natives all know and identify the Kangal Dog. When a traveler mentions Kangal, Turks answer, "big, thick head, black-masked dog." Their pride is such that the Kangal Dog is depicted on a national stamp. Yet, they are not found as pets in their homeland. As Moslems, most Turks do not allow dogs in their homes, and the majority of pets are owned by Europeans or Americans living in Turkey. Work is the only reason for the KangaTs existence, and to find a specimen, the shepherds and the flocks must be sought. Like other flock guards, the dogs are easy keepers and fierce, awesome guards. Nevertheless, children of the shepherd families can play with the dogs, with the little ones sometimes riding on the huge animals' backs.



The old term karabash means black head, and was sometimes used to describe this type. But the name Kangal is more accurate, both historically and geographically.
The nobility of the old Ottoman Empire strongly fostered the maintenance of purebred types. The sultanates and landed aristocracy fell in the 20th century, however, and this last vestige of support for pure dogs was lost. Despite the lack of regulatory groups, the dogs remain pure to type in the Kangal area. A recent non-doggy tourist to Turkey reported seeing the great dun-colored dogs among the flocks in the mountains north and east of Sivas.

Because there is no Turkish registry body nor dog shows, the dog remains a working animal in its native country. Ears are cropped or, more accurately, "chopped" by shepherds in Turkey. Kangals are now trickling into the United States and other countries, where they are used for guardians and livestock protection, in addition to being exhibited at rare breed shows.