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The first clue is the name – it’s a brawny working dog that is the national breed of Turkey.
Resembling a mastiff, the Turkish Kangal Dog is revered in its native land. The breed has been featured on Turkish postage stamps and coins.
The breed comes from Central Turkey and serves as protector of livestock. The name derives from the town of Kangal in the Sivas Province, in what is now Central Anatolia. The generally accepted standard colors are fawn and sable.
It’s a very old breed that may be related to the Mastiffs featured in Ancient Assyrian art.
Kangal Dogs are big and muscular. Males can be 32 inches at the shoulder and weigh 145 pounds, while females are a bit smaller. Their impressive build allows them to fend off predators like bears, wolves and jackals. (Dogs that have been sent to Africa are used to protect herds from cheetah attacks. Wow!)
Don’t let the Kangal Dog’s size fool you. This breed has speed. It’s known to have reached 30 to 35 miles per hour!
The breed is probably not well-suited to be a pet. Kangal Dogs are workers. In Turkey the breed is almost exclusively used for livestock guarding.
You may not be able to get a Kangal Dog even if you wanted one. Exporting the breed is controlled by the Turkish Government and illegal. The Turkish people are very proud of the dog and want to preserve its pedigree. As a result, the Kangal Dogs that do reside in the United States are considered valuable.
You can view a photo collection of Kangal Dogs here. There are also many fascinating videos on YouTube.
We at Pugpalooza salute this brave, powerful dog. We hope to get the chance to see one in person some day!
Until next time,
Hugs and Pug Kisses,
Candy
Sources and Links:
Gallery | Kangal Dog Club of America
Kangal Shepherd Dog – Wikipedia
Kangal Dog: The Essential Breed Guide | Pets4You
https://www.kangaldogclubofamerica.com/
