WORLD OF DOGS

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about 

Kangal Dogs 

The Turkish Shepherd Dog originates from the East Anatolian Plateau of Turkey at the beginning of the 12th century.

It is thought the Kangal is related to early mastiffs, they have been categorized into the molosser family alongside the American Mastiff and Bullmastiff.

The purpose of Kangal Shepherd is to protect flocks of sheep and in more recent times herds of cattle.He is adaptable to guarding different livestock (i.e. birds), however, they must be trained and managed. They first came to the UK in 1965 and the US in 1985 and around six to ten dogs are imported each year to the US.

Breed Personality, Temperament and Behavior

Turkish Shepherds ensured their dogs did not display aggression towards humans or sheep (i.e. stock or cattle). This behaviour would not be accepted, as the shepherds couldn’t afford to lose sheep, and consequently isn’t present in the breed. A Kangal dog is recognized for its predictable and reliable temperament.

For this reason, despite their size, they are very gentle dogs, calm and peaceful with children and family pets whilst being protective of sheep and cattle.

If your dog doesn’t have a herd or flock to guard, don’t be surprised to find them guarding family pets or your children.

They will display independence, typically around two years old, which is the age they typically start guardianship. She will be bold and fearlessly loyal to their owner being very trustworthy with known humans or animals. She is always alert and territorial with their family, flock or herd and will find ways to protect them.

Because of their origins, Turkish kangal dogs need a job to prevent boredom and unwanted behaviours. Because they are working dogs, kangal dogs are not typically recommended for new dog owners or small family homes.

If considering kangal dogs for a residential or city environment consider these two important factors:

You will need a safe, closed area to train your dog, specifically 6-foot fences with deep foundations; to prevent digging and jumping. Like other shepherd dogs, they bark an awful lot.

Guardianship and Behavior to Predators

A Kangal dog has incredible instinct and the ability to sense a predator.

Typically, two or three dogs are able to protect a flock of anywhere from 150 to 250 sheep. The best combination is two neuter males and a single female.

This enables active patrolling and guardianship.

If a Turkish Kangal hears or senses predators, he has a three-phase approach to protecting his herd:

• Their primary defence is to intimidate a predator and bark
• If the predator is not deterred and continues to approach he will roar
• If the predator is still not deterred he will attack

He has speed, power and agility reaching a speed of over 30 miles per hour (50 kilometers per hour) and a bite force of over 700 psi; three times that of a Pitbull.

Placing themselves between the flock and predator he will attack by throwing their shoulder to knock down a predator before attacking hind legs and throats.

A Turkish Kangal can successfully guard against raccoons, coyotes, hawks, foxes, wolves and bears.

How to Care for Kangal Dogs

Kangal dogs

This is not the easiest of breeds to handle; people have historically used this breed for the wrong purpose. They have wonderful and intelligent personalities in a working scenario.A Kangal dog will reach maturity after two years.

A puppy will mature slowly, compared to other guard dogs, and can be very cumbersome; they are notoriously powerful chewers and diggers; they especially like digging under fences!

These dogs grow up slowly, even compared to other shehperd dogs. They can be goofy and adorable as puppies but they are also famous as powerful chewers and diggers.

Food and Diet Requirements

Historically these Sivas Kangals would eat scraps from villages; including water, goat’s milk, yoghurt and bred.This was known colloquially as yal.

This guardians historical diet probably isn’t nutritionally complete, as it lacks protein in high amounts, so you should look towards a high-quality kibble; feel free to add raw meat occasionally.

However, this breed does eat less than you would imagine for such a giant breed. For simplicity and ease of care the majority of these dogs are fed with a high quality kibble; especially formulated for large-breed and active dogs.

However, some ranches opt to feed a raw diet.The dog will thrive on both diet types, however, in cities or suburban areas it’s best to avoid a raw diet with this dog due to the logistical requirements of preparing, buying and freezing the feed.

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking