Turkish Kangal Dog puppies

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. They are large and upstanding, dun to wolf sable with a black mask, and the standard notes they are capable of great speed. Males stand 72 to 78 cm and weigh 48 to 60 kg. They were bred to live out with sheep in extremes of heat and cold, which is why they think for themselves 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. Their independence is no sign of disobedience: these dogs were bred to make their 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 they will need a job to do long before they need 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 they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their 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

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.

Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 60 kg, the largest size in the chart, which tops out at 49.9 kg, so measure the dog before you buy; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other giant breeds

More on the Turkish Kangal Dog

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Sources

• 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
• Health notes 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.

Photo: Canarian, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.