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An Anatolian Shepherd Dog, also called a Kangal Dog, is a very large breed of dog that originally came from Turkey. The breed is one of the world's largest dog breeds and can even be taller than a Grand Dane. Despite its name, an Anatolian Shepherd Dog is not a shepherd dog in the traditional sense, but was instead used as the shepherd's guard and protection dog against e.g. wolves.
The breed originates from Turkey, specifically Anatolia, which is a region in Southwest Asia and part of Turkey. Here, it was originally used to guard and protect sheep from wolves, but also to protect the shepherd himself from wolves. The dog was not used to herder the sheep, like a traditional shepherd dog, but solely for protection. The dog has been nicknamed the "wolf killer".
It is believed that the Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a descendant of the more than 1000 year old guard and war dogs of Mesopotamia. This was an area in ancient Greece between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, and it is believed that the breed came to Turkey via nomadic tribes from here. It was not until the 1970s that Western breeders' associations and dog breeders began to take an interest in Turkey's local dog breeds. They began to develop breed standards for the country's local breeds, including the Anatolian Shepherd Dog. Before that, the breed was called "Karabash" by the local Turks. Later, the breed was imported to Britain and then to the rest of the world.
However, the breed is still relatively rare outside Turkey, but in connection with the wolf's entry into Denmark, several Jutland sheep breeders have become interested in importing the Anatolian Shepherd Dog to protect their sheeps.
An Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a very large breed of dog and typically weighs between 45 and 68 kg with a height of between 71 and 76 cm. However, they can be even larger and, in some cases, larger than a Grand Dane, thereby making it one of the largest dog breeds in the world. The Anatolian Shepherd Dog appears muscular, massive and robust.
The dog's coat consists of a short and smooth upper coat, and a medium and very dense lower coat. The coat color is solid, typically sandy or white with mottled spots. It may also have black markings.
The Anatolian Shepherd Dog was bred specifically to protect and guard large herds of sheeps - often alone. It is therefore a dog that is very independent, persistent, fearless and strong. It can also be an excellent guard and protection dog. It will protect everything and everyone in its territory and is instinctively distrustful of strangers. Early socialization with other people and animals is therefore a really good idea.
Given that it is bred to protect the shepherd, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog is very devoted to its owner and its family that it wants to protect with its life. This breed is not suitable to be a family dog exclusively, as the dog is too independent. It should preferably have a "job" on which it can spend a good deal of its time and energy.
Furthermore, the breed is definitely not suitable for an inexperienced dog owner, as it is a dog that requires a firm and determined owner who knows how to raise it. An untrained Anatolian Shepherd Dog with an indecisive and inexperienced owner can be dangerous. Finally, due to its enormous size, the dog must have plenty of space to romp around. Therefore, it is not suitable for an apartment or for a smaller house in a residential area. A larger property, preferably in the countryside, is better suited to an Anatolian Shepherd Dog.
Unlike other very large dog breeds, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog can get quite old. The average life expectancy is between 10 and 13 years.
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