THE KANGAL DOG: A GUARDIAN
The Kangal Dog is one of those breeds called Livestock Guarding Dogs. These breeds
could be called "sheep in wolves' clothing," for, while they are canids, by
nature predatory creatures, the livestock guardians choose to protect rather than attack
animals that are typically considered to be "prey" animals, such as sheep,
goats, and cattle.
The Kangal Dog is the guardian par excellence. They assume guardianship over all
their master's possessions. When they are raised with livestock, they learn that their
responsibility is to protect those animals. However, the Kangal Dog combines this ability
to bond with other species with a deep devotion to its human master(s). Thus, it was not
surprising when a female Kangal Dog, hearing her owner scream at an intruding Rottweiler,
leapt a five foot fence and immediately pinned the surprised stray. No fight ensued. The
stranger, realizing he was on another, bigger dog's territory was happy to flee once the
owner grabbed her guardian by the collar and told her it was "Okay, Okay -- leave
it!"
 One trait which seems to
separate them from other livestock guarding dogs is their devotion to their
"humans." In North America, livestock guardians are left on range with herds of
sheep, goats, or cattle. While there is usually a shepherd with the herd, in the mountains
ranges like those of Colorado or Montant, the dogs are virtually on their own for long
periods of time. However, in Turkey, the flocks of sheep are always accompanied by
shepherds and their guard dogs. rarely are dog and sheep out of sight of the herder due to
the sparse vegetation and the topography of the land. In the fall, these flocks are
brought near to the village to graze after harvest. In winter, dogs and sheep live in the
village, in sheds very near their masters and their families. A visitor to the Kangal
region in the fall of the year cannot help but be struck by the close relationship of
livestock guard dogs and the shepherds (and their families).
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Livestock Guarding Dogs Index | Native Dogs
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Copyright, 1997;Tamara Taylor, Turkmen Kangal Dogs,
Rt. 2 Box 2100, Sanger Texas USA 76266. E-mail: Ttaylor7@gte.net
. Last revision: December 2000.
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