Appearance The all white Akbash Dog is a large and ancient guard dog breed from Turkey. The body is muscular, long-legged and slightly longer than tall. They are capable of running at great speed, have stamina, and a gazelle-like grace. In addition, Akbash Dogs have acute senses of sight and hearing. Males and females can look strikingly different; males grow faster and larger and take longer to mature, whereas females are more refined in appearance
Temperament The Akbash Dog is completely dedicated and devoted to its owners and any animals in its charge. These dogs possess intelligence and courage, making them natural guardians. Their independent nature allows them to respond swiftly and without guidance in an emergency. Their loyalty and protective instinct make them ideal home and estate guardians in addition to their more traditional role of guarding livestock. There is no difference in guarding ability between the male and female.
Because it is in their nature to lie with the flocks they guard most of the day, they do not possess tremendous endurance or energy. That does not mean, however, that they can be happily confined to small spaces. It is still very much a working breed and is happiest when given a task to complete. These dogs are known for their intelligence, bravery, independence and loyalty.
History The Akbash Dogs of Turkey leading into the 1960s were mainly confined to the western half of the country, in regions where sheep flocks were common. As the movement of people and sheep increased following the introduction of motor vehicles, we may surmise that interbreeding of LPDs happened more often, producing the variations of coat color that are currently embraced within the Anatolian Shepherd Dog approach to defining a breed. Whether you happen to own an Akbash Dog, an Anatolian Shepherd Dog or a Kangal Dog, its safe to say you are preserving an old line of dog breed
Health Cases of hip dysplasia and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) have occurred with this dog; however, the breed as a whole does not seem to be afflicted with these conditions nearly as often as many other large, rapidly growing breeds. Akbash dogs, like many large breeds, can be expected to live 10 to 11 years. However, Saygi, an Akbash dog living in Toronto, Canada, died in June 2007 at 17 years 7 months.
Akbash Dog Breed Clubs/Associatons
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Registered Breed Clubs
None Registered at This Time..
Other Breed Clubs
Akbash Dog Association of America
Akbash Dogs International
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Guard Dog?
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Watch Dog?
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Shedding?
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Good with children?
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Akbash Dog Breeders
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