About Kangal Dogs

The Kangal dog is a powerful and intelligent dog that has its origins in Turkey. In that country it is widely loved as the national dog and used as a trusted protector of sheep and goat herds. Around the world it has a strong following as an ideal family pet, but in Turkey it is still largely used as a working dog.

  1. Origin

    • The Kangal is thought to be descended from other mastiff-type dogs and commonly used by the Romans and Assyrians. It originated in the Kangal district of the Sivas province in central Turkey. For centuries it helped herders of this region and the wider Turkish area protect their flocks against roaming predators such as wolves. The isolation of the Sivas region means the Kangal is a pure breed. In 1985 the first Kangals were introduced to the United States, where they quickly gained a devoted following.

    Temperament

    • The Kangal dog is an independent-minded dog that likes to make its own decisions in keeping with its role as a guard animal. It will act as it sees fit according to its instincts and own judiciousness and therefore has not been a breed ideal for successful integration into military uses or the police. When confronted with a threat, it will generally only use the degree of force as necessary to repel it. While it can be reserved with strangers it will bond strongly with its human family and be a loyal and fiercely protective member.

    Physical

    • The Kangol dog has impressive physical characteristics that make it an ideal stock guard dog. Immensely strong and powerful they are also light, agile effective fighters and also possess an incredible speed -- up to 30 mph. The Kangal dog has mastiff breeding in its genetic makeup but is much lighter. It has a broad, powerful jaw and strong forequarters.

    Living

    • The Kangal dog is not ideal as an indoor dog, since they need a lot of exercise and large areas for living. Fencing is required for Kangals as they are roaming dogs and may be aggressive with other dog species although generally will not be aggressive toward other humans. The Kangal requires little grooming other than regular brushing. A Kangal is wolf-like in its social habits and very hierarchical; therefore, the owner of a Kangal should take a strong leadership role so the Kangal does not become the dominant leader of the pack.