Breeds / Giant
Turkish Kangal Dog puppies
Steady and bold without aggression, naturally independent and highly intelligent. Loyal and affectionate at home, but reserved with strangers while it is on duty.
The facts
- Size class Giant
- Country of origin Turkey
- Adult weight 40 to 60 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 88 to 132 lb
- Adult height 65 to 78 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Medium double
- Typical lifespan 10 to 13 years
- Good with children Older children only
- Good with other dogs Careful introductions
Where these come from:
- fci.be for adult weight and height, coat type and country of origin
- purina.co.uk for life expectancy and health notes
- royalkennelclub.com for energy, grooming and the temperament ratings
About the Turkish Kangal Dog
The Kangal is Turkey's national dog, a livestock guardian from the steppes around the town of Kangal in Sivas province. It is large and upstanding, dun to wolf sable with a black mask, and the standard notes it is capable of great speed. Males stand 72 to 78 cm and weigh 48 to 60 kg. It was bred to live out with sheep in extremes of heat and cold, which is why it thinks for itself rather than waiting for instructions.
A Kangal needs land, high secure boundaries and an owner who has handled a big guarding breed before. Reckon on more than two hours a day, much of it patrolling rather than fetch. The 3 to 7 cm coat is easy, a brush every few days, though bathing a dog this size is a project in itself. The mistake people make is reading independence as disobedience: this breed was bred to make its own decisions and drilling will not remove that.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Turkish Kangal Dog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A giant breed puppy at eight weeks is already heavy and will keep growing for up to two years. Controlled growth matters more here than in any other size class, so a large breed specific puppy food and no overfeeding. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and it will need a job to do long before it needs long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed and scored for before a mating
- Loss of genetic diversity, which the Kennel Club asks breeders to consider since no breed specific DNA panel is yet available
- Joint strain and weight gain during growth, managed by controlled exercise and a lean body condition while the dog matures
From Turkish Kangal Dog breed information at https://www.purina.co.uk/find-a-pet/dog-breeds/turkish-kangal-dog. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Turkish Kangal Dog puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Giant for a Turkish Kangal Dog.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 40 to 60 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other giant breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.