Turkish Akbash dog breed

Akbash. Video

Akbash is a Turkish Shepherd. This is a magnificent dog: white as the snow on the mountain tops, brave and loyal, like an experienced warrior, free as the wind. The Akbash breed is ancient, but now very few in number.

More than three thousand years ago, shepherds tamed large dogs to guard their flocks and homes. Turkish Shepherds have served people faithfully for many years. But with the reduction of cattle breeding, there are fewer snow-white dogs. Now Akbashi are a rarity even in Turkey. The breed is best preserved in mountainous areas. These dogs are accepted into service in the army and rescue units.

If you want to get to know the Turkish Shepherd better, find out the pros and cons of the breed, and how much Akbash puppies cost, read on.

History of the Akbash breed (Turkish Shepherd)

The Akbash Turkish Shepherd is one of the oldest breeds. But there is no reliable information about its origin. It is only known that in the west of modern Turkey there were tribes that raised goats and sheep. To protect their herds from wild animals, people used large white dogs. They were very strong and could make their own decisions. Akbashs looked for lost livestock, and most importantly, provided protection from wolves, leopards and even large feathered predators that hunted lambs.

The closest relatives of the Turkish Shepherd are the Hungarian, Italian and Pyrenean herding dogs, from which they inherited the protective instinct and courage. According to dog experts, Akbashs contain the blood of greyhounds. Their heritage is a lean, slender body and long legs, as well as ease and speed of movement. It was no coincidence that shepherds selected dogs with a white color; in the dark, they could easily distinguish their helpers from wolves.

This breed is sometimes called the Turkish Wolfhound. And the expression “Ak bash” in Turkish means “white head”.

For a long time, dogs were almost never exported from Turkey, so they were not common in other countries. In the 80s of the last century, American cattle breeders became interested in the herding breed.

Akbash began to be used not only to protect ordinary domestic animals, they successfully herded herds of llamas, alpacas, emus and other birds. This breed has been recognized as one of the best for protecting livestock. Farmers from the USA also appreciated the Akbash as a vigilant guard for the home. Later, these snow-white dogs began to be adopted as companions.

However, in most countries, including Russia, these dogs are little known. This circumstance also affected the recognition of the breed. The United Kennel Club legalized the Akbash (or Turkish Shepherd) in 1999. But the breed standard has not yet been recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI).

Description of the Akbash dog: appearance

Akbash is a very large dog, but it cannot be called heavy and powerful, like a Caucasian Shepherd Dog. Her height reaches 80 cm, and her average weight is 50 kg. The Turkish Shepherd has a light, toned body with high legs. Thanks to this, she has considerable strength and can develop great speed. Overall, the Akbash gives the impression of elegance and balance. Individuals with long hair, compared to short-haired ones, appear larger.

The dog's head with a wide skull and a voluminous muzzle is shaped like a wedge. The jaws are strong, without fleshy cheeks, with a level or scissor bite. Triangular, drooping ears with a rounded tip are set high. The eyes are widely spaced and slanted with an almond-shaped slant. The color of the iris ranges from golden yellow to chocolate brown. Blue eyes are a vice. Lips, nose, edges of the eyelids with dark (black or brown) pigment; its complete absence leads to disqualification, partial – a disadvantage.

The Akbash has a strong neck of medium length. Body with deep chest, ribs not round. The back is straight and long, slightly arched at the lower back. The croup is rather narrow, the stomach is moderately lean. The tail is set low and may curl slightly at the end. When running, it is raised to the level of the back or slightly higher. The legs are muscular and strong, the paws are collected with elastic pads and dark claws.

Akbash moves confidently and springily. He has a free and sweeping step, good coordination. The dog easily picks up speed and maneuvers.

Turkish Shepherds should only be white in color. The yellowish or cream color may subtly highlight the ears and spine. The coat is double, the density of the undercoat depends on the conditions in which the dog is kept. There are two varieties of the breed based on hair type. Long hair can be not only straight, but also wavy. Short-haired dogs are allowed to have feathering on their legs and tail.

Brief description and breed standard

Since the dog is not recognized by the FCI, the Akbash breed standard simply does not exist. The characteristic features of the breed include an exclusively white color, a shaggy tail, long and straight legs, and the skin has dark spots all over the body. For exhibitions, dogs with black edging on the eyes, lips and nose are used, but dogs with lighter edging are also widespread.

The length of the coat varies from short to medium. In terms of physique, the breed is very similar to the Anatolian Shepherd, although according to some versions it was Akbash who appeared first, and then the Anatolian Shepherd. The Turkish Akbash is not recognized by international dog breeding organizations, but most importantly it is recognized in its homeland.

In the province of the same name in western Turkey, a sculpture of the Akbash breed was installed

Character of the Turkish Shepherd Akbash

Each Akbash is a unique personality. These dogs are distinguished by their nobility and self-esteem. They will not humiliate themselves and obey unquestioningly. The owner for them is not a master, but a leader and partner. Therefore, a weak-willed, cowardly person will not be able to cope with this dog. But if a person managed to prove the strength of his will, and without pressure, rudeness and violence, the Turkish Shepherd will be his loyal and fearless friend.

Akbash has a balanced character. Dogs that are active at a young age become sedate and even leisurely over the years. When there is no threat, they will prefer to lie quietly in an observer's position. But even with external relaxation they do not lose vigilance. If danger arises, the Akbash will easily take off and intervene.

This is a working dog, she will gladly guard the house and garden area. It will bark to warn of the arrival of strangers. If the owner receives guests well, then the Akbash will show loyalty to them. However, it will be wary to keep outsiders in sight.

Akbash loves company, which reminds him of a flock. Therefore, he will get along with other pets, especially if he grew up with them. But the dog will try to take the place of leader when living with other dogs. And he will strive to “shepherd” his household, look after and protect them.

These dogs have a developed parental instinct. The shepherds allow them to freely communicate with kids and lambs; they are not afraid that the huge dog will harm the weak. Akbash also treats children with care. This dog can look after a child like a nanny. But still, it is better not to leave the dog alone with an unintelligent baby. But she will play with teenagers to everyone’s pleasure.

In many ways, the character of the Akbash is determined by the owner. It depends on him whether the dog will grow up to be a harsh savage or be the life of the party. The sooner you start socialization, the friendlier the puppy will grow up.

Character

Despite its menacing appearance, the Akbash is a calm and very balanced dog. Representatives of this breed cannot be called timid, but aggressiveness is not inherent in them either.

With proper upbringing, the Akbash gets along well with other domestic animals, since the habit of protecting defenseless goats and sheep is in his blood.

Akbashi are attentive and faithful defenders of home and family; they love children very much, play with them with pleasure and steadfastly endure rudeness and pain that a child may accidentally cause. But only an adult dog can do everything to protect a child.

Children should not be allowed to play with an Akbash puppy without adult supervision - the puppy may bite the child or accidentally knock him down and cause injury.

In the first year of its life, a pet may be rude towards small children, as it has a natural desire to “herd” the herd and show its leadership qualities. Therefore, dog experts recommend leaving children alone with such a pet no earlier than after two to three years of active training.

A dog of the Akbash breed is very attentive and wary of unfamiliar people and strangers on its territory; it can growl or bark, but it attacks and pursues an ill-wisher only when it sees a real threat.

Akbash loves and protects all family members, but recognizes only one person as the owner, to whom he will obey unquestioningly.

Another feature of the character of this breed is that the Akbash is very restrained in expressing its emotions, so it is unlikely that it will jump on its owner, joyfully wagging its tail.

He has an excellent memory, the Akbash quickly remembers commands and then carries them out with joy, but the dog is also good at remembering insults and undeserved punishments, for which he will certainly take revenge later.

A dog that thinks and makes decisions on its own is unlikely to entertain its owner and bring him a ball. He needs a lot of space to train, so an Akbash living in an apartment will run away from his owner on walks, and at home his behavior becomes completely destructive.

Representatives of the Akbash breed are able to think independently and therefore, in a critical situation, they are able to attack an attacker without the owner’s command.

Akbash is not an energetic and very active dog; he is an attentive observer who constantly patrols his territory, sniffs and listens to what is happening outside it.

But in case of danger, to protect its charges, the Akbash shows all its power and endurance.

Pros and cons of the Akbash breed

The Turkish Shepherd has many advantages. The advantages of this dog breed include:

• Original appearance
• Balanced character
• Good security qualities
• Developed intelligence
• Easy care
• Endurance
• Good health.

The disadvantages of the Akbash breed are:

• Extra large size
• Requires special conditions for maintenance
• Independent temperament
• Socialization and training required.

Raising and training a dog

Akbash is a dog prone to dominance and deliberation. The owner must be prepared for the dog to test his patience and fortitude. The shepherd must make sure that the person is the real leader of the pack. This will have to be proven more than once.

It is very important to show maximum calm and self-confidence from the very first days of communication with the puppy. You cannot give in and show weakness. Don't let your cute plush kitten do things that you'll have to wean him off of later. For example, never take a puppy to bed. If you allow it today, you won’t be able to prohibit it tomorrow. Therefore, the rules for the dog need to be established once and adhered to constantly. Otherwise, a person’s authority will fall. First of all, the puppy must learn to respect the entire family.

It is unacceptable to use violence or shout at the puppy. Perhaps by doing this you will achieve obedience only for a short time, but you will lose the dog's respect. She will remember the bad attitude, become withdrawn, become embittered and begin to act contrary to prohibitions.

Early socialization is very important for the Akbash. Walk with him in a large group of other dogs and people, allow him to pet him, offer to play with him. Then the young dog will quickly learn the rules of communication.

Do not punish your puppy for an offense if he committed it some time ago. He has already forgotten about it and will not understand. Therefore, there will be no educational effect.

The most difficult period in upbringing and training is from six months to a year. A teenage puppy will be stubborn and try to dominate. The owner needs to be especially patient, but firm. Raising a dog begins from the first days of its appearance in the house and continues throughout its life. But a large and strong Akbash also needs training. Without special training, the dog will be uncontrollable. Ideally, you need to engage in training under the guidance of a dog trainer. But you can learn commands without the help of a professional.

It has been noticed that Akbashi are very sensitive to verbal praise and reprimand, to this you can add affection and tasty encouragement. Training should begin with the simplest commands: place, walk, no. Then more complex ones: sit, next to me, next to me, and so on. Be sure to take breaks between lessons so that your pet does not get tired. But ensure that the command is carried out if you give it.

Care and maintenance of an Akbash dog

The ideal place to keep an Akbash is a house with a large garden plot. It’s a little worse if the dog is kept in an enclosure. She can live in the fresh air all year round and will happily guard her master’s property. But just don't try to make her a watchdog. This breed has a very freedom-loving disposition. Existence on a leash will make the shepherd angry and sullen.

The area where the Akbash roams must be securely fenced. Moreover, the fence needs to be at least 2 meters high; a shorter dog can jump over.

It is extremely difficult to keep such a dog in a city apartment. She will need a lot of space, as well as long walks and exercise.

The main care activity is taking care of the coat. It must be combed at least twice a week. During shedding it is better to brush daily. You won’t have to wash your dog often, even though it’s white. Akbash are quite clean. About once a week you need to carry out preventative cleaning of your ears and teeth. The claws are usually not trimmed; they are worn down when running.

It is not difficult to organize feeding of Akbash. These dogs are completely picky. In the natural environment, they can find food themselves. You can give your dog dry food for large breeds or create a natural diet. To avoid digestive problems, it is better not to mix the two types of food. When feeding natural food, give preference to lean types of meat (except pork), fermented milk products and vegetables. Food from the master's table, sweets, and smoked foods are harmful to the dog. In addition, Akbash should not be overfed. This dog must maintain a lean figure.

Content

Adult dogs are not very active, but puppies are very alert and need space to play and run around. These dogs are best suited for private homes, with a large yard and a high fence, and not for apartments! This is a territorial dog and must know the boundaries of its territory.

Puppies love to chew on objects, and given their large size, they can cause a lot of destruction. Keep them in sight until they become manageable enough. And remember that a bored Akbash puppy is a destructive puppy.

These dogs have a gorgeous white coat that requires little grooming. Comb out dead hairs once a week to prevent them from getting tangled, and that’s pretty much all you need to do.

They should only be bathed if they are really dirty, as they do not have a characteristic odor. Nails need to be trimmed and ears cleaned regularly; in this they are no different from other dog breeds.

How to choose a Turkish Shepherd puppy

Before choosing an Akbash puppy, evaluate your capabilities as an owner. You will need to spend a lot of time raising, socializing and training this dog. In addition, it takes strength to provide a large dog with sufficient physical activity. And most importantly, it will take a lot of patience and firmness to become the leader of the pack.

If you have everything listed in stock, then look for a Turkish Shepherd breeder and establish contact with him. Check the documents, meet his pets. Adopting a large breed puppy from unknown parents is dangerous. You can get a dog with a crippled psyche and problematic health.

Maintenance and care

In urban conditions it is better not to start one - mental disorders are inevitable, expressed in an aggressive attitude towards others. It is best to keep Akbash in suburban conditions - in an enclosure.

This is a serious guard dog; you should not keep him on a chain, otherwise the Akbash will become aggressive and uncontrollable. If the Akbash lives outside the city, make him a securely fenced area and give him complete freedom of action in this territory.

They are not sensitive to both cold and heat, are unpretentious to food, and know how to save energy.

Akbash is a beautiful noble dog, which is still better suited for protection than for the role of an ordinary family pet.