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Rescue an
Akbash Dog
Akbash Dog
Puppies for Sale
Akbash Dog
Kuzco, the Akbash - His family states, "He loves to herd the whole family, and we love to be herded
by him!"
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Akbash Dog
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Description |
This solid white flock guard dog is equipped with
keen hearing and superior strength. Their white, weather resistant, double,
short to medium length coats are coarse and non-matting, with very little doggy
odor. The Akbash has a massive head and powerful jaws. The v-shaped ears are set
high with the tips slightly rounded, flat to the skull, and are carried pendant.
Imported Turkish dogs may have cropped ears. Their almond shaped eyes are set
well apart and distinctly oblique. Eye color varies from light golden brown to
very dark brown. The neck is strong and muscular, medium in length and arches at
the crest. It has strong, large, well-arched toes. The nails are blunt and
either gray, brown or white. The pads are thick, hard, elastic and normally
dark. The tail is long, reaching to the hocks. There is an elastic, springy
nature to the gait. |
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Temperament |
The Akbash Dog is a primitive guard dog breed,
requiring owners who understand canine behavior. The dogs are a combination of:
submissive posturing to livestock, and dominance aggression - to stand up
against bears and wolves. They require owners dedicated to constant
socialization if it is kept as a companion. They are naturally dog aggressive. In
town with sights and sounds everywhere, barrier frustration-aggression is
common. This is a serious working breed and is best placed where it can have a
job to do. They are opportunists for taking over control so they are best placed
with children over eight years of age, when the child can participate in
submission exercises, with an adult, on the dog. Barking and patrolling is their
primary means of defense and so they will bark if out at night. Trouble usually
occurs when friends come over and aren't supervised by someone the dog knows. As
a guardian/guard dog breed, the trained and socialized dog will defer to the
owner when the owner is present and will be friendly and happy to visit
visitors, however they consider unsupervised people as suspicious. This is an
intelligent, courageous, and loyal dog. Completely dedicated and devoted to
their owner and any livestock in its charge. Independent with strong protective
instincts. The Akbash is a natural guardian that even at a very young age will
bond strongly with the livestock it is protecting. It has such strong maternal
instincts, that sheep will often allow this dog to sniff and clean their newborn
lambs and will flock behind their guardian when threatened. Because of their
strong maternal instincts, they are usually good with infants. The dog's
independent nature allows it to respond swiftly and without guidance in an
emergency. There is no difference in guarding ability between the male and
female. Some of the animals the Akbash Dog has guarded include sheep, goats,
cattle, horses, poultry and exotic birds, deer, alpacas and llamas. Once
bonded, these dogs will not hesitate to risk their own lives to protect their
charges. The Akbash Dog has even been used by American ranchers to ward off
bears and coyotes. Because of its strong independent nature, it thinks twice
upon receiving commands. Not recommended for first time dog owners, or
people who do not wish to have a serious guard dog. Companion dog owners should
be prepared to spend a fair amount of money on good fencing and a lot of time on
socialization and maintaining the humans pack leader status over the dog. The Akbash dog needs a firm, but calm, confident, consistent owner. |
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Height, Weight |
Height- 28-32 inches (71-81 cm.)
Weight- 90-130 pounds (41-59 kg.) |
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Health Problems |
Although cases of hip dysplasia and OCD have
occurred, as with any large, rapidly growing breed, the breed as a whole does
not seem to be afflicted with these conditions to anywhere near the degree of
many other large breeds. Buy only from OFA hip certified stock. |
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Living Conditions |
Akbash Dogs are not recommended for apartment
life, regardless of the amount of on-leash exercise provided. They are
relatively inactive indoors and do best with a minimum of a 1/4-acre and at
least a 5' tall fence. They should live in a semi-rural or rural settings. This
breed is quiet and clean in the house. |
Exercise |
They are a low activity level dog, but also an
extremely athletic dog requiring a
long daily walk, and lot of space to run around off it's lead. |
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Life Expectancy |
About 10-11 years |
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Litter Size |
Average of 7 - 9 puppies |
Grooming |
The hard coat is clean, non-smelling and
non-matting but does require brushing to help the shedding process. They are
above average shedders. |
Origin |
Also called the Coban Kopegi and the Akbas, the
Akbash Dog is an elegant, rare breed from the area we now call Western Turkey.
It was developed 3000 years ago, by shepherds who selectively bred for
white-colored guarding sheepdogs, perhaps to differentiate them from predators.
The Akbash is a probable relative of the other great white herd guarders of
Europe such as the Komondor, Kuvasz,
Tatra Mountain Sheepdog, and even distant Pyrenean
Mountain Dog. The name Akbash come from the Turkish word "akbas"
meaning "white head." |
Group |
Flock Guard |
Recognition |
NKC, UKC,CKC, ADI, ARPI, ACR, DRA (Akbash Dogs International)
Akbash Dogs International requires OFA hip certification on all breeding stock
thus having a much lower incidence of hip dysplasia than dogs from the general
population. |
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NKC = National
Kennel Club
UKC = United Kennel
Club
CKC = Continental
Kennel Club
ADI = Akbash
Dogs International
APRI = American Pet Registry Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry
DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc. |
"This is our Akbash dog, "Bear". He is 1 1/2 years old. We just got him from a rescue. This picture was taken when he first met his new owner."
Photo courtesy of Sheepfields Akbash Dogs
Photo courtesy of Sheepfields Akbash
Dogs
Photo courtesy of Sheepfields Akbash
Dogs
Photo courtesy of Sheepfields Akbash
Dogs
Teddy, the
Akbash Dog, at 7 months old
Teddy, the
Akbash Dog, at 7 months old
Teddy, the
Akbash Dog, at 7 months old
11 months old Akbash Dog
Ivory, the Akbash Dog. His owners says "he's a
grrrreat dog! He was 4 months old when I got him and he was
unsocialized, thanx to my pitbull Ebony (his girlfriend), she helped
me train him. When I first got him he would not come to me. It took
about a month for him to even come close to me, but these days he's
doing his job witch is to watch over the house and all my other
pets."
Akbash Dog Pictures 1
Understanding Dog Behavior
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