A Kangal Dog at work near the town of Kangal, Turkey,
showing the cropped ears and spiked iron collar of the working dog.
Photo by Tamara Taylor, Turkmen Kangal Dogs, 1996.
There is disagreement as to whether the Anatolian is one, two or three breeds. This page is about the breed recognized in its homeland Turkey as a separated breed, the Kangal.
If you want to know more about the Turkish Shepherd's Dog dispute you can visit
Tamara Taylor and Susan Kocher's sites who have pages about the "Turkish Dog Controversy" and I suggest that you visit their pages for more about the subject.
Kangals guarding sheeps in their native Turkey.
The one at left starting at a young age. Pictures by Rasaq Qadirie.
In Turkey, the Kangal is recognized as a separated breed. The Turkish government has built kennels and pays for the breeding of Kangal dogs.
The correct traditional name for the breed in Turkey is Kangal Köpegi or Sivas Kangal Köpegi.
It is also interesting that
one of the four main types of Caucasian Ovtcharka, a lighter variant, is
called Kanjal.
These dogs are identical to the Kangal. Both dogs, Kangal and Kanjal (which probably is
of Azerbaijan origin) can, according to their official history, trace their roots to the old wardogs of the Assyrians.
The Kangal Dog is a massive, black-faced, dun-colored dog of east-central Turkey, known as the "Kangal" - a name derived from the region where they are found, the Sivas-Kangal region.
Susan Kocher's dog, "Pasha". A classic Kangal, and as "mastiffy" as a Kangal gets.
The Kangal Dog is renowed for its size, courage, and Mastiff-like appearance. Typical speciments comes from the Sivas-Kangal region of central Turkey and they are
traditionally associated with the Kangal family of the Kangal district. They were probably bred by the Sultans of Turkey since at least the seventeenth century and were also known as Samsun dogs.
The Kangal is an active working breed used to guard sheep and livestock. Steady and bold without undue aggression, independant, hardy and very trainable. The Turkish shepherds frequently crop the ears close to the skull. When equipped with
the traditional spiked, iron collar around its neck, the Kangal Dog, in its native land, projects an intimidating and powerful image.
These three pictures are of a 3 years old, 90 kg. Old English Mastiff male and a 1 year old, 50 kg. Kangal bitch playing.
The dogs were never fighting, but enjoyed the play. I have to say that this was a very agile Mastiff, whom I have seen myself jumping easily out of the driver's side window of an 85 Chevrolet Blazer.
The Kangal took the Mastiff to the ground, time after time. Sometimes she wrestled him down, but she usually used her chest and jumped several meters, chest first, into the Mastiff.
A Kangal in its native Turkey.
85 cm. (33,5 Inch) & 68 kg. (150 lb). Picture by Gökhan Yavuz, Turkey.
The Kangal Dog possesses the classical livestock guardian dog temperament; a temperament characterized by a calm, alert, and independant demeanor. Possessing a natural protective
instinct, he is loyal, bold, and courageous. He is sensitiv and his responses to individual situations clearly demonstrate his intelligence and sensitivity.
The Kangal dog is alert to everything around him and will sound an alarm at unusual sounds and sights, following up with an investigation. The deep sound of his bark, which is reinforced by his powerful build and massive size, is usually enough
to deter any type of predators. In Turkey, many regard the Kangal Dog as the only breed capable of killing a wolf.
The Kangal is people oriented and only hostile to traditional predatores. Raised with children they are generally loving and gentle.
A headstudy of SVF Efe of Turkmen, one of the Turkish imports
at Turkmen Kangal Dogs in USA. This young male is classic in
his proportions with a small eye, pendant ear, broad skull,
square muzzle, and, of course, black mask and ears.
Photo by Tamara Taylor, Turkmen Kangal Dogs, 1996.
The colour of the Kangal Dog is always dun to steel grey with a black mask (Karabash) and always short coated, with a thick undercoat. Slightly longer at neck and shoulders.
The breed is more Mastiff-like in appearance than the other Turkish dogbreeds, they have a deeper jaw set, larger teeth, more flew development and more dewlap than the other Turkish breeds.
The Kangal male is 76-81 cm. (29,8-31,8 in) at the withers, the female 71-79 cm. (28-31 in). The weight of the male is 50-64 kg. (110-140 lbs) the female weights 41-59 kg. (90-130 lbs). It have been a tendency latly to breed larger dogs, and Kangals
far more than the given weight are known.
