Kangal Dog History, Characteristics And Temperaments

Kangal Dog History and Origin

The Kangal Dog was first bred in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey and is renowned for being a fierce guardian of livestock. The breed originated when it was crossed with the Shar-Pei, Chow Chow, Akbash Dog, Caucasian Shepherd and the Central Asian Ovtcharka by nomadic tribes who would migrate from their summer grazing grounds to the highlands.

A kangal dog is highly protective of its territory, its family and its flock (cows, sheep etc.); the dog can and will be very aggressive around strangers. The kangal dog is known to be friendly, calm and affectionate.

The kangal dog was originally bred to protect livestock. With its massive head, powerful jaw and wolf-proof collar, the kangal will be a formidable guardian of your flock or property. This fearless breed can easily handle wild animals and is an excellent hunter who’s been trained from their puppyhood to hunt small game like hares and rabbits.

The kangal is a huge, robust dog and can be a guardian for large flocks without any need for a security system. No other breed close to the kangal’s size and temperament would be an effective guardian of livestock. Many experts in dog training have said that the kangal is one of the most protective breeds of all time.

Kangal Dogs are highly intelligent and make great watchdogs. It is a very sociable and lovable dog that loves to play with children and other pets. However, it can also be confident and calm, depending on the owner’s control.

Kangal Dog Characteristics And Appearance

The kangal’s appearance is one that is instantly recognizable. With its large head and ears, thick coat, powerful jaw and wolf-proof collar, the dog may look as if it’s from another planet. The breed is black, white or brown in color with a short and dense coat. However, some kangals can have a long coat as well.

The kangal dog has a large skull with small ears that are kept erect during alertness and slightly folded forward when relaxed. Together, the skull and ears give the dog an intimidating appearance. The muzzle is made up of two tapers with a short stop and tends to be slightly longer than that of its counterparts.

The kangal dog has a well-developed chest, neck and back with strong shoulders and short legs. The front legs tend to be straight with powerful elbows that are used in tasks such as guarding livestock or pulling heavy loads. The hindquarters are powerfully built and the kangal dog can make fast and agile turns.

The tail tends to be coarse with a thick base, tapering to a fine point, measuring 15–20 cm long. It is carried horizontally when the dog is turned towards its herd or flock as an alert signal or is used as a gesture to invite play.

The breed has a long coat and tends to shed heavily twice per year. In the winter, the undercoat tends to grow heavily to give additional protection from the cold weather.

Kangal Dog Temperament

The kangal dog is a very large dog that has an intimidating appearance. It can be very aggressive around strangers and other unfamiliar animals, but the kangal dog is also known for being friendly, calm and affectionate.

The kangal is quick to learn new tasks and interactions with people of the family are encouraged from an early age. However, because of their immense size, they should always be supervised when around small children.

The kangal dog has a very high level of intelligence and is known to be both trainable and loyal to its owner. However, this doesn’t mean that the animal should be left unsupervised or away from its family for long periods of time. The kangal dog tends to be best when it’s working along with its human family or around the animals it was bred to protect.

Kangal Dogs can be excellent guard dogs and will alert family members when there is a potential threat. However, it is important that the dog is trained to distinguish between an intruder and a friend or family member.

The kangal dog needs to be socialized at an early age so that it can trust strangers, other animals and not become aggressive in unfamiliar environments.

Kangal Dog Health Issues

The most common health problems seen in Kangal dogs are entropion, hip dysplasia, and lipoma. These are all genetic conditions that cause the dog to be less able to engage in vigorous activity without pain or discomfort.

The kangal dog can suffer from entropion, which is when the dog’s eyelids roll in and inward causing the eyelashes to rub against the eyes. The kangal dog should be examined by a vet at an early age in order to prevent suffering from serious eye problems later on.

Kangals also have a tendency towards hip dysplasia, a common disease that affects large dogs. This condition causes them to be unable to back up without aching or pain in their hips and legs. This can cause serious issues when it comes to keeping the kangal dog healthy.

For adults, the average life span of the kangal dog is 12 to 15 years (the actual life span depends on the dog’s behavior) with around 20% of them dying from cancer and about 40% dying from heart disease.

Kangal Dog Breed Uses

The Kangal dog flock of sheep to actively fend off predators of all sizes and hunt them down. These cattle dogs are fierce guardians of the flock, some even being trained to carry a weapon while they are defending their flock. The Kangal dog breed has also been used to pull carts in addition to herding and guarding.

Kangal Dog Activities and Exercise

The Kangal dog breed is active in the daytime and will require plenty of exercise. They need at least 45 minutes of vigorous activity per day to stay healthy and are best suited to rural environments where there is space to run around freely.

The kangal dog is an excellent sport dog and has been used by many as a working animal in sports such as carting, sled pulling, skijoring, herding and weight pulling.

Because the breed is large, these dogs should never be left unsupervised with people or children. Kangals can be susceptible to aggression towards unfamiliar animals when not properly controlled.

Kangal Dog Care and Grooming

The kangal dog is generally healthy and has a long life expectancy when living in a loving home. However, these dogs are very large and need to be cared for by someone who can handle them properly.

Their coats tend to be thick and coarse, requiring plenty of grooming to keep their coat healthy and prevent tangles, especially in the winter when the undercoat grows very thick.

The Kangal dog breed has an extremely high amount of energy and needs plenty of vigorous activity to engage in every day. These dogs are best suited to rural living, where they can receive enough exercise to keep them happy and healthy.

If Kangal dogs are allowed to live in a household with other pets or small children, they will want to exert their dominance towards the other animals in the home. The kangal dog should not be trusted around small children unless it has been properly socialized and trained as an obedience dog so that it does not cause injury.

Because of the breed’s size, Kangal dogs should not be allowed to sleep inside a house if possible as they can become a danger if sleeping in the owners bed or, if this must take place, care should be taken to prevent them from causing damage by jumping.

Kangal Dog Exercise

The kangal dog breed has a high level of energy and needs to be kept very active in order to stay healthy. These dogs should always be exercised outdoors and never allow them to become sedentary.

Kangals are best suited for large open spaces where they can run around and play with other animals. Kangals are not recommended for indoor life as they can become very aggressive towards other animals in the house when left alone, especially cats or small dogs that they view as prey.

Because the kangal dog breed is so large, they can cause significant damage to furniture and to themselves if they sleep in one of the owners beds. This can be prevented by not allowing them to remain unsupervised inside the house, or by making sure that they are supervised at all times and not allowed to sleep in beds.

The Kangal Dog Breed requires proper exercise in order for their joints to function properly, especially their hips and elbows.

Kangal Dog Nutrition and Diet

The kangal dog breed is normally very healthy and tends to have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years old. They are a large breed, which means that they eat much more than small dogs. Kangal dogs need to be fed at least 4 cups of kibble per day and may require 4 meals if their appetite is not large enough for their diet.

Their diet should always be high in protein and fat. Kangal dogs need plenty of calcium in their diet to prevent serious bone problems later on in life.

As puppies, kangal dogs should be fed a puppy formula that is specifically designed for large breeds. These puppies should also be fed several times per day instead of just once to make sure that they receive enough nutrients and energy to develop as they grow into adulthood.

As adult kangals, they should still be fed 4 cups of high quality dog food per day and be given several smaller meals per day than the usual 1 large meal.

Kangal Dog Training and Socialization

Proper socialization and training are essential for the kangal dog breed. They will need to learn how to interact with and work with other dogs, especially if they are introduced to household pets or small children at an early age.

These dogs should be taught how to interact with people from the start so that they do not cause harm when interacting with people other than their owners.

These dogs should also be trained as companions for the elderly and disabled, especially if they live alone. These dogs are able to go outside in the wintertime and retrieve items for their owners when they cannot get out of their homes.

Kangal Dog Lifespan

The kangal dog breeds life expectancy is 12 to 15 years. Their lifespan is dependent on many factors such as their size, health, nutrition and care.

The kangal dog is a very large breed and will require daily exercise outdoors in a safe, open space to stay healthy and active. They will not do well indoors unless they receive lots of outdoor play time each day.

They are best suited for rural living where they can have the room to run around safely. Kangals need a large amount of exercise every day to keep them in shape and prevent joint problems later in life.

These dogs should never be allowed to become sedentary or they may develop hip and elbow problems later in life.