The Akbash Dog

Akbash Dog Temperament

The livestock guarding dogs breeds, such as the Great Pyrenees, the Kuvasz, and the Tatra, are considered to be in the "mastiff" family. While the Akbash Dog shows signs of gazehound or perhaps even Turkish Tazi blood in its body proportions and its agility, the ancient pendant-eared mastiff has left its mark on the Akbash Dog in several ways. One of these ways is temperament. The Akbash Dog has no inbred desire to "eye" stock like a herding dog. Instead, a mature dog is calm and quiet, which is one reason livestock will accept the guard dog. He is not easily excited. While an Akbash Dog will bark and warn away nearby intruders, he will often be found lying, watching quietly, surveying his surroundings.

Many Akbash Dogs, depending upon how they are raised and how much they are socialized, are independent and somewhat aloof toward strangers. Those traits again are ones that serve him well as a livestock guardian and as a family companion.

A Unique Trait

In addition to a quiet disposition, the Akbash Dog does have another unique trait. This unique trait is his ability to bond with other animals. It is this trait that is shared by the other white livestock guarding breeds, and it is this trait that has made the Akbash Dog so popular with sheep, goat, and cattle ranchers. The ability to bond with -- literally, to adopt -- another kind of animal as his own "pack" has made the Akbash Dog sought after by emu, ostrich, and llama owners as well.Most dogs, from Aunt Sadie's Pekinese to the neighbor's Doberman develop a sense of territory and will protect that territory. A large number of breeds will become protective (and even jealous) of their owners. In fact, the overly protective dog can be a real danger to other people. Neither of these instincts is bonding.

Bonding

Bonding is the process by which a dog (or any animal) forms a social relationship with other animals. Bonding is partially a result of early exposure to other species, and partially a result of a breed's genetic makeup. Even non-livestock oriented mature Akbash Dogs have successfully been put into herds and flocks and have accepted these birds, sheep, goats, or llamas as their new "family," quickly becoming their protectors and seeking out their company.

What is amazing for owners of working Akbash Dogs is the dog's willingness to accept the livestock being guarded as equals. The dog, a potential predator, could inflict tremendous damage on the animals he protects. However, the Akbash Dog is willing to take a certain amount of "abuse" from his charges.

The Akbash Dog tolerates pecks and bites from his ostriches and potentially rib-cracking butts from irritable sheep and goats. Once a dog has bonded to livestock, he is unhappy if he is taken away from them just as a devoted family companion suffers when he is separated from his people.

Owners of companion Akbash Dogs see that same tolerance for the companion dog's family circle, which may include children and any number of other family pets.

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This page is copyrighted and maintained by Tamara Taylor.  If you wish to use any material from these pages, please request permission by email:  ttaylor7@gte.net.  This page was last updated July 14, 1998.