Old World Origins: Function

We have stated that we can gain insight into man’s relationship with early hunting dogs by looking at cultures where dogs maintain a similar function today. We can, likewise, see how early flockguards worked when we look at working livestock guard dogs today. This article draws on two Turkish breeds as examples. By looking particularly at the Akbash Dog and the Kangal Dog, we can see how several different regional breeds developed according to specific environmental, cultural, and historic factors.

For example, in the Sivas-Kangal region of Turkey , sheep, specifically Middle Eastern "fat-tailed" sheep, are still a mainstay of the local economies, providing the staple meat for the Turkish diet and wool for the famed carpets of Turkey. In addition, sheep serve as a "cash crop," with the sales of lambs and breeding stock providing additional family income.

Moving from the village to the higher mountain yaylas or pastures with the advent of warmer weather, the flocks graze the native grasses of the pastures and rugged mountainsides throughout the spring and summer, converting rough forage and terrain into needed products. In these pastures they also become prey for the wolf, fox, even wild boar. Stray dogs are another potential danger to the flock. In the evenings or in inclement weather, the flock may be gathered into the earthen walls of an agil, a corral that may include living quarters for the shepherds and any family members that might also spend time in the yayla.

While the sheep are away from the village, the fields are planted, crops raised, and after harvest, as the mountain temperatures have become cooler, the sheep, shepherds, and guarding dogs return to the village fields. There the flocks graze, utilizing what is left in the fields after harvest and storing fat which will be critical to their survival through the bitter Sivas winter.

This cycle or one very similar is seen wherever flockguardians originated or are still used. It is a cycle seen today on the Western ranges of North America, where the use of imported livestock guarding breeds has become more common in the last two decades. On Western ranges, sheep herds may be moved in different ways from winter to summer pasture and back. Herds, like the Owenby family’s, travel by truck from the Bitterroot Mountains near Yellowstone National Park in the summer to the pastures of eastern Washington in the winter. Some others, like the Allens’ in Colorado, are "trailed" by herders on horseback, from summer mountain pastures high up on rough mountain slopes in the Rockies to winter pastures "below," where snow does not cut off all roadways for weeks on end and water supplies do not freeze for the winter. The cycle for sheep, shepherd, and shepherd’s guarding dog is much the same – and has remained the same with minor changes from Old World to New, from generation to generation.

New World , New Role

In North America, however, the large native predators have not been driven to extinction in the wild. Here the livestock guarding dogs face predators worthy of their Old World ancestors, predators like wolf, bear, and even "lion" in the form of the mountain lion or cougar. However, they also protect livestock from the two North American predators responsible for most of the livestock losses – the coyote and the domestic dog. This has surely been a primary reason for the flock guardians’ increasing importance to U.S. agriculture.

There is another, critical difference between the role of the livestock guarding breeds in the Old World and in the New. In their native countries, the livestock guardians and the flock are typically accompanied by the shepherds, who are able to monitor the behavior of the dog. . This is important if the breeds have been used in any other role than livestock guardian. In countries like Turkey, where we find large numbers of generic "shepherd’s" type dogs (Çoban köpegi ), in and around semi-rural areas, the shepherd’s presence is important. The reality is that in these areas, the native "shepherd’s dogs" have been crossed (sometimes intentionally) with other breeds. The result is a broad spectrum of canines of more or less flockguardian "type" appearance, but with varied instincts and behavior. Near military bases, the imported, highly trainable, and greatly admired patrol dogs may have been included in the genetic mix. In areas where sheep are not of economic significance, these dogs may be used to guard property. They are seen in confined in factory yards and chained near houses. Where sheep are still a part the local economy, these dogs may accompany the flock to the yaylas, and there they serve as guard dogs under the watchful eye of the shepherd.

In the U.S., there is a smaller margin for error in the choice of a flockguardian because often the flockguardians are expected to function without the presence of a shepherd-master. This is true on small farms where the owners work away from the farm during the day, as well as in range operations where literally thousands of sheep grazing on high plains or in mountain forests may be seen only periodically by the herder. The protection of the livestock from predators is solely the responsibility of the guarding dog.

In these guarding situations, the size and the quiet disposition of the livestock guardian are important, but even more so, are the dog’s lack of "prey drive" and its unique ability to bond to the livestock, accepting the flock as its "pack." Because of this bond, the guard dog spends the day moving with the sheep as they graze, ever vigilant for hungry predators. At night the guard dog is found with the flock in the "bed" ground – usually a small, protected natural pasture central to the area the flock will graze for the next 7 to 10 days but removed from the herder’s camp. The herding dogs, on the other hand, are with the herder day and night. They trot along side his horse during the day and curl up in camp at night.

Factors Affecting Form

While in general the livestock guarding dogs are white, not all breeds are. The Sarplaninac of the former Yugoslavia and the Kangal Dog of Turkey are "colored" breeds as is the Caucasian Mountain Dog. Likewise, the Anatolian Shepherd, a breed whose ancestors are from Turkey, is of almost any color. The question of color and why white predominates has been much discussed.

The earliest sources on the livestock guarding dog, Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella (in writing Res Rustica, 65 CE) and Marcus Terentius Varro (in Res Rusticae, 36BCE) wrote that flockguarding dogs were preferably white because that color allowed the shepherd to distinguish them from wolves (or other predators). More modern authors have suggested that it is the body color of the sheep that has determined the color of the livestock guarding dog -- with colored sheep predating the modern availability of water for washing white wool and the ability to dye wool to obtain a variety of colors.
On the other hand, observation by livestock owners has lead to the conclusion that livestock accepts what it is accustomed to. White or light colored goats and sheep quickly accept another light colored animal that behaves in a quiet manner. How then can we explain the success of colored livestock guard dogs, notably the Kangal Dog from the Sivas region of Turkey, the same region noted for its high quality "Kangal" sheep, a sheep producing white wool?

Research in livestock behavior has lead to the discovery that the ewe, the mother sheep, initially identifies its young by smell; however, olfactory cues are quickly overridden by visual cues. Benjamin Hart (1985) cites repeated trials and observations that have lead to the discovery that appearance, particularly the color of the face and head, is a key means that sheep identify each other. A dark spot painted around one eye is enough to cause a white-faced lamb to be rejected by its mother.

The Sivas region of Turkey takes pride in its distinctive sheep, as well as in the dogs that guard them. The Kangal-Karaman, a breed of fat-tailed sheep larger than those seen in other parts of Turkey, is uniformly white with black markings on the head. The black-faced flocks of Kangal are guarded by black-faced dogs, the famed Kangal Dogs of Turkey.

Thus, it seems reasonable to assume that the flock has had a hand in shaping the dog that guards it. Just as Turkey, a country the size of Texas, has regional differences in climate and in breeds of livestock, those variations have also resulted in different breeds of livestock guard dogs.

In the west of Turkey near Eskishehir, the Akbash Dog is found guarding the flocks. Just as the color of the Sivas-Kangal sheep has apparently influenced the color of the renowned Kangal Dog, so it is with the Akbash Dog. Although the herds in the Eskishehir region are often mixed herds with both sheep and goats, the goats are white Angoras and the sheep, while not as large as the Kangal-Karaman, are predominantly white. Likewise, the Akbash Dog is solid white – sut beyaz or "milk white" in Turkish. In this region, the color of the Akbash Dog is as important to the shepherd as the color of the Kangal Dog is in its native Sivas region to indicate breed purity in the dogs. This is also true in the sheep. The color of the livestock guardians then may be related to the liveststock they originally protected.

Another trait that varies somewhat from breed to breed is overall conformation or body type. That too has also been strongly influenced by where the breed originates, following the general rule that colder climates favor animals with more body mass and warmer climates, animals with less body mass. To see illustrations of this principle, we can simply compare "mountain dog" (mastiff) breeds and the "desert dog" (gazehound or greyhound derived) breeds. While within the livestock guarding group, the variation is less pronounced than within the entire dog population, the principle can nonetheless be seen.

The Great Pyrenees and the Polish Owczarek Podalanski are both mountain type dogs. The first is named for its place of origin, the Pyrenees Mountain between Spain and France, and the second is also known as the "Tatra," the mountain range where the breed originated. In Turkey, with its varied climate and geography, we also see classic examples of how this principle has affected livestock guardian conformation. While the Kangal Dog shows a strong mastiff (or ancient molosser) influence in its larger bone, shorter muzzle, slightly more flew and dewlap, the Akbash Dog, from a more temperate area, shows gazehound influence. That influence might have come from the ancient white Kirghiz greyhound described by Robert Leighton (circa 1910) or from the native Turkish Tazi, a Saluki-like gazehound. Whatever the source, the result is a dog that is proportionally longer in pastern and in muzzle, shows more "tuck-up" in the flank, varies from moderately short to long coated, is narrower in chest, lighter weight than the Kangal Dog, and is typically more tolerant of summer heat and humidity. The Akbash Dog is valued for its fleetness of foot as well as its ferocity when pursuing predators.

Livestock Guardians: Out of the Pasture and Into the Home

While many livestock owners consider their livestock guarding dogs a necessary part of their livestock operations in North America, many other people are discovering that these large breeds make excellent family companions. These breeds bond just as easily to humans as to livestock. In addition, the best of the flockguardians display a tremendous tolerance for their charges and a real reluctance to show aggression toward them. In the herd, an alpha animal may butt or ram the guard dog. The dog’s reaction should be avoid confrontation rather than attack. This tolerance easily transfers to humans, to both children and adults. The Kangal Dog, famous in Turkey for both its ferocity toward predators and for its undying devotion and gentleness toward its master, is quickly establishing the same reputation here.

However, not every household is ready for a 100+lb. addition. Like all big dogs, they require exercise – preferably a large, secure (fenced) area for free exercise for much of the day, as opposed to a brief romp through a local park or a jog on the end of a leash. Like most large breeds, livestock guardians are considered to be "late maturers;" that is, they are still playful and developing at 1 ½ and even 2 yrs. of age.

Realizing that the flockguardians have survived and have been successful because they have learned to "think for themselves" in many situations, owners are wise to set up a routine which reinforces the humans as the "alpha members" of the family and develops a relationship of mutual respect. There may well be times when the dog will be confronted with new (and, therefore, suspicious) situations. At those times, reassurance from its owner will let the dog know that "It’s okay, it’s okay" and that he can relax.

It is important to realize that "posturing" – confrontation and warning off the intruder – rather than outright attack is an important part of a flockguardian’s behavior. The ultimate goal is to protect the flock, not necessarily kill predators. A popular joke warns us of one result of this instinct. Namely, the five reasons people give up their livestock guarding dog companions are: they bark too much, they seem pretty big, they bark too much, they might dig out of the fence, and they bark too much. This is particularly true of young flockguarding dogs. If that young dog is in a suburban backyard, problems arise. A potential owner must consider all of the characteristics of a breed before committing to ownership.

Considering a Livestock Guarding Dog?

If you are considering adding one of the livestock guarding breeds to your household, take the same steps that you would with any breed. First, learn something about the history of the breed. Some breeds are known to be aggressive to strange dogs; some are less tolerant of strange people than are others. Some breeds require grooming. Others have virtually "care-free" coats.

Talk to breeders and owners, and find out about the breed characteristics: potential health problems, typical disposition, routine required care. Take every opportunity to see the breed or breeds you are interested in in the flesh. Check the listings in Bloodlines for upcoming shows where the breeds might be exhibited. Contact the national breed clubs, and talk to breeders and owners. The one most important step you can take in becoming a livestock guard dog owner is choosing a responsible breeder when you get your dog. That may even be more important than choosing a breed to own because a responsible breeder will not sell you a dog that is not suited to your situation.

As one Akbash Dog owner said of her livestock guard dogs, "These dogs aren’t for everyone. I am one of the lucky ones. They are for me." There is no denying the fact that these Old World Guardians have become our valued partners in the New World.