Akbash - description and characteristics of the breed

Origin

About 3 centuries ago, shepherds in western Turkey began to breed a breed that was characterized by a massive, muscular physique, the ability to protect itself, the owner and other domestic animals. There is an opinion that this color allowed the dogs to camouflage themselves and blend in with the surrounding area. Such tactical skills provided her with an undeniable advantage in the fight against predators, and the owner - an excellent opportunity to distinguish a pet from wolves.

Akbash is a Turkish herding dog. This also includes Anatolian and Kangal karabash, kars. The breed was not known until recently. In 1970, Judy and David Nelson became interested in her. It was they who began to import representatives of the species to the United States of America. In the country, the agricultural department became interested in dogs. Thanks to its endurance and strength, the Akbash was used as a herding dog.

Unfortunately, the breed has not yet been classified by the FCI. But in 1988 the International Canine Union and 1999 the United Kennel Club recognized this beautiful snow-white animal.

Dogs from the same category

Large size and strong-willed character require the owner to take the pet's upbringing seriously. Leadership qualities strongly prevail in the character of the Akbash; he strives to be the leader not only among his pack, but also suppresses other animals. If a puppy is not raised, the owner will not become the main thing for him.

The Turkish Akbash will not tolerate foreign dogs on its territory; it will quickly show who is boss. However, if the puppy grew up surrounded by other dogs and interacted with them a lot in childhood, then in the future his behavior will be less aggressive. It will scare away a stranger by growling or barking, but will not immediately attack; it will “ask” permission from the owner. Possessing extraordinary intelligence, the dog skillfully calculates the situation and sensitively reacts to the mood of the owner.

Anatolian Shepherds are patient with children, but you should not expect the dog to become a fun play partner for your child. After all, even at an early age, this breed is not prone to games and pranks like other puppies.

For Kangal, a child is an object of protection

For an Anatolian, a child is an object of protection and the baby can be safely left under the supervision of such a vigilant protector. The dog will not let anyone near the child and will not let him out of the protected area.

Description

The Turkish breed has a luxurious, memorable exterior, proud posture and independent character. The animal is very courageous and strong. Representatives of the species have the following appearance parameters:

The four-legged pets of this breed are strong and flexible. Their endurance and power allow them to efficiently perform herding and guard functions.

Choosing a Turkish Akbash puppy

Dogs of this breed are not easy to purchase outside of Turkey and are therefore expensive. You should carefully select an animal before purchasing. The future owner must check the puppy with the description of the breed and make sure that it is an Akbash. A photo alone is not enough here - you need to make sure for yourself that this is a Turkish Akbash. Many scammers try to pass off a Central Asian or Caucasian Shepherd as an Akbash. A distinctive feature of this breed is its white coat color without any impurities.

If a suitable breeder has been found, we can talk about price. Akbashi cost from 12 to 25 thousand rubles. But the price can rise to 50-60 thousand rubles. depending on the breeder and the eliteness of the dog. Here you should decide what the dog is for. As a watchman, companion, for breeding or for exhibitions.

Pros and cons of the breed

• smart;
• high intellectual abilities;
• excellent guards and companions;
• devotees;
• independent;
• ability to make decisions quickly and clearly;
• responsible;
• hardy;
• do not require special care.

• difficulties in training and education;
• dominant;
• need vocational training;
• ruthlessness towards opponents.

Care and maintenance of the Anatolian Shepherd

Nature has taken care of the safety of the animal, which often has to deal with wild predators: on the neck of the Akbash there is an elastic strip of skin that protects it from fatal bites. Parameters of dogs according to accepted standards:

• height: males –76-86 cm; females – 71-81;
• weight: males – 54-59 kg; females – 41-50 kg.

In urban conditions it is better not to start one - mental disorders are inevitable, expressed in an aggressive attitude towards others. It is best to keep Akbash in suburban conditions - in an enclosure.

This is a serious guard dog; you should not keep him on a chain, otherwise the Akbash will become aggressive and uncontrollable. If the Akbash lives outside the city, make him a securely fenced area and give him complete freedom of action in this territory.

They are not sensitive to both cold and heat, are unpretentious to food, and know how to save energy.

Akbash is a beautiful noble dog, which is still better suited for protection than for the role of an ordinary family pet.

It is worth noting that these dogs are an impressive sight. This is not surprising, because shepherd dogs take their roots from Middle Eastern mastiffs, which are famous for their large size. Male Anatolian Shepherds reach a height of 79 centimeters at the withers and a weight of 68 kilograms. Females are slightly smaller in size, with a maximum height at the withers of 76 centimeters and a weight of 59 kilograms. Such shepherd dogs are very powerful animals, however, despite their external heaviness and impudence, they are quite calm and confident.

You can recognize dogs of this breed by the following description of appearance:

1. Anatolian Shepherds have a large and fairly wide head. Between the ears it has a flat shape, between the eyes there is an indistinct furrow. In a healthy animal, the skull has dimensions proportional to the body.
2. The muzzle of the animal has a shape close to square. Jaw with strong teeth, scissor bite. The lips are usually black.

1. The nose is mostly dark in color: black or dark brown, pronounced.
2. The animal's eyes are not too large; on such a large face they even look small. However, such a watchful gaze creates the impression of an attentive and responsible guard. The eyes are almond-shaped, the color is deep brown or amber. The eyes are usually deep-set and widely spaced.
3. Anatolian Shepherds have triangular, drooping ears that fall to the front of the muzzle. The length of the animal's ears is average.
4. The dog's neck has a somewhat arched shape, very powerful and weighty.
5. The shepherd's body is proportional and somewhat square in shape. Animals have a toned abdomen and deep chest. Anatolian Shepherds also have a strong, muscular back.
6. The tail of representatives of this breed is long and high, however, it is most often curled into a ring.
7. The front paws of shepherd dogs are straight and stable. The hind legs are also well developed and have great strength.
8. The paws themselves of the representatives of the breed are oval in shape. They have strong claws and curved, stable fingers.
9. The coat of Anatolian Shepherds can be of different lengths. There are representatives of the breed with short hair from 2.5 centimeters, and there are also long-haired animals with hair up to 10.5 cm. The hair of shepherd dogs is straight and not curled, there is a good undercoat.
10. The color of animals of this breed can be varied. However, the most preferred options are a solid solid color with tan or fawn with a dark mask and ears.

The Anatolian Shepherd does not require special care - you just need to feed it well, walk it, provide it with physical exercise and brush it, especially when shedding. However, keeping such dogs requires free time, strong passion, patience and great love for animals. Like any shepherd, the Anatolian needs training; classes can be anything, the animal will equally respond positively to them. The bottom line is that the shepherd's mind is very inquisitive; representatives of these breeds love to learn, be useful and perform any duties.

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Just like that, lying on the sofa, an Anatolian Shepherd puppy will not grow into an ideal nanny for children, a watchman for the house, a bodyguard for the family and just a companion - you need to work with this dog. Because of this peculiarity in the content, it is often not recommended to have a Kangal for people who do not have experience in dog breeding; however, having experience is more likely to harm than to help, because experience is, first of all, stereotypes in perception.

If a person has raised many German Shepherds, then the acquired skills will interfere with him, and the Kangal will completely disappoint, for example, because he is inclined to make decisions on his own and does not demonstrate “robot-like” behavior. In particular, this dog makes the decision about whether to let someone into the house or not, and the owner can only come to terms with its opinion.

Breed Features

At home, the flexible Akbashi gets along well with other pets. The animal treats strangers with caution, so you should not allow even strangers to appear on its territory. During a walk, representatives of the breed are neutral towards other dogs and cats, provided they do not pose a danger to the owner.

Akbash will not show aggression towards a stranger; they are used to keeping any situation under control. If the owner is friendly towards guests, the pet will retreat, but not far. This will allow you to protect your person in a timely manner in case of danger.

Another important advantage of this shepherd breed is its loyal attitude towards children. Representatives of the species never express aggression or anger at the child; they will tolerate pranks and will not allow themselves to offend the baby. This is not a natural character trait of the dog, but a consequence of proper training and socialization.

Raising and training a dog

Akbash is a dog prone to dominance and deliberation. The owner must be prepared for the dog to test his patience and fortitude. The shepherd must make sure that the person is the real leader of the pack. This will have to be proven more than once.

It is very important to show maximum calm and self-confidence from the very first days of communication with the puppy. You cannot give in and show weakness. Don't let your cute plush kitten do things that you'll have to wean him off of later. For example, never take a puppy to bed. If you allow it today, you won’t be able to prohibit it tomorrow. Therefore, the rules for the dog need to be established once and adhered to constantly. Otherwise, a person’s authority will fall. First of all, the puppy must learn to respect the entire family.

It is unacceptable to use violence or shout at the puppy. Perhaps by doing this you will achieve obedience only for a short time, but you will lose the dog's respect. She will remember the bad attitude, become withdrawn, become embittered and begin to act contrary to prohibitions.

Early socialization is very important for the Akbash. Walk with him in a large group of other dogs and people, allow him to pet him, offer to play with him. Then the young dog will quickly learn the rules of communication.

Do not punish your puppy for an offense if he committed it some time ago. He has already forgotten about it and will not understand. Therefore, there will be no educational effect.

The most difficult period in upbringing and training is from six months to a year. A teenage puppy will be stubborn and try to dominate. The owner needs to be especially patient, but firm. Raising a dog begins from the first days of its appearance in the house and continues throughout its life. But a large and strong Akbash also needs training. Without special training, the dog will be uncontrollable. Ideally, you need to engage in training under the guidance of a dog trainer. But you can learn commands without the help of a professional.

It has been noticed that Akbashi are very sensitive to verbal praise and reprimand, to this you can add affection and tasty encouragement. Training should begin with the simplest commands: place, walk, no. Then more complex ones: sit, next to me, next to me, and so on. Be sure to take breaks between lessons so that your pet does not get tired. But ensure that the command is carried out if you give it.

Nutrition

Basically, the diet for representatives of the breed does not differ from the nutrition program for other large dogs. Akbash can be fed natural food or balanced dry food. It is permissible to feed the animal:

• meat (raw or slightly boiled);
• porridge (oatmeal, buckwheat, rice);
• vegetables;
• fruits;
• low-fat fermented milk products;
• sea ​​fish;
• vitamin and mineral complexes;
• bone meal;
• fish oil.

Prohibited products:

• milk;
• sweets;
• flour products;
• smoked dishes;
• confectionery;
• pickles.

Veterinarians do not recommend a combination diet. The combination of feed and natural food can lead to gastrointestinal imbalance.

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Experts strongly do not recommend keeping an Akbash dog. We have already said that these dogs can show aggression towards strangers; in the city this can become a real problem for you. And the dog’s size is such that it will obviously be cramped and hot for him in our apartments. Therefore, it is best to keep the Akbash in a country house, with or without an enclosure. These dogs can easily tolerate heat and cold, so the dog will not freeze in winter. A person who decides to get an Akbash should remember that putting this dog on a chain is strictly prohibited. When chained, these dogs become irritable and aggressive, and then even their owner may be subject to their aggression.

If you decide to get yourself this dog, then fence your area with a reliable high fence and give the dog all the full responsibility for protecting your yard and home. Then the dog will be absolutely happy and his psyche will not be disturbed. If you decide to make your pet an enclosure with a booth, then be sure to choose the right location and size of the enclosure before building this home for your pet.

The place should be well protected from the wind in winter and from the sun in summer. From his enclosure, the dog must see everything that happens in the house and yard. Therefore, it is best to place the booth or enclosure with an exit to the house, so the dog will see who has entered or left the house and decide what actions to take.

Remember that there must be a sign on your gate warning that the yard is guarded by a dog. We are not immune from fools who can walk into a completely stranger’s yard, just to ask what time it is or to find out if you sell scrap metal. The result of such curiosity can be serious injuries after an encounter with an Akbash. And then unpleasant conversations with law enforcement officers, but if you have a sign, then the person is to blame himself, he was warned.

Akbash dogs are very picky when it comes to food; they can eat almost anything. The health of these dogs is also excellent, and with proper nutrition and maintenance, the dog can live up to 13 years.

Frequent diseases and problems

Although this breed is considered strong, hardy and healthy, they are prone to a number of difficult diseases. These include:

• obsessive-compulsive disorder;
• ulcerative colitis;
• epilepsy;
• renal failure;
• umbilical hernia;
• hip dysplasia;
• cardiomyopathy;
• atopy;
• gastric volvulus;
• hypothyroidism;
• lymphoma, osteosarcoma;
• seborrhea;
• joint inflammation.

Despite the fact that the Akbash is classified as dangerous in many countries, four-legged pets are infinitely affectionate towards household members and family friends. They will never show aggression towards children, elderly people and their own owners. Of course, to get an obedient and devoted friend, you will need to make a lot of effort, gain trust and prove your love to the animal. But in the end, the Turkish Akbash will be a devoted, faithful companion and protector.

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Raising Akbash

It is necessary to train an adopted puppy from the very first months when he first came into the house. From the very beginning, you should accustom the dog to his name. He is immediately taught not to jump on the bed or sofa. The puppy should be toilet trained. The pet is not taught commands right away; it is recommended to wait a little until the dog grows up. Despite this, you should teach your dog good manners. To properly train your Akbash, it is recommended to hire a professional. The dog learns quickly and remembers commands. Even hard work does not discourage devotion to the owner.

From the first days the puppy comes into the house, the owner must be patient, but slightly suppress him. He must get used to obeying his owner, to his new home, his place. Start training: nine to ten weeks of age. A professional will be able not only to correctly teach your pet commands, but also to develop protective qualities. Dogs enjoy learning and remember well. They should be educated throughout their lives.

Prices for puppies

It is difficult to find a real purebred puppy of this breed in our country. Moreover, officially since 2021 the breed is considered dangerous. The main Akbash nurseries are located in America and Turkey. There are few of them in Russia. The average price for a purebred puppy is from 200 to 400 dollars.

But the future owner should carefully read the pedigree and additional documents. Sometimes scammers offer to purchase alabai under the guise of an akbash. People who don’t know the breed well often make mistakes and buy the wrong puppies. Beginners need to look at the color of the breed. The fur is only white. A true purebred animal has no spots on its paws or sides. If they are, then it means the dog differs from the breed standard.

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Breed diseases

Anatolian Shepherds inherited good health from their ancestors, and they do not suffer from most of the canine diseases that affect representatives of large and giant breeds. They are not afraid of temperature changes, changes in environment or intense physical activity.

But still, some individuals develop the following pathologies:

• diseases of the organs of vision - most often it is entropion (turning of the eyelids);
• joint pathologies (associated with the animal’s heavy weight and long limbs) or dysplasia caused by calcium deficiency.

If you give your dog vaccinations on time and visit the veterinarian for routine examinations, then practically no problems will arise. With good care, the life expectancy of Turkish Shepherds is 10-12 years.

Character

These formidable giants are distinguished by their devotion to one owner. They usually simply tolerate his household members, although they will also protect and protect them. By the way, Akbash women make excellent nannies. The ability to “shepherd” the master’s children has also been cultivated in them for centuries.

But as soon as danger appears or a hint of it, the dog is transformed. And since she can consider any other person or animal “dangerous,” the owners are obliged to prevent trouble. Akbash dogs should be trained from puppyhood, developing unconditional obedience.