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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Turkish kangal

93 replies

Adviceneeeeded · 01/07/2024 09:23

Hello all!

Looking for some dog advice please!

We are moving to a farm house (potentially) so won't actually be looking to get a dog for at least 6 months. But looking for advice now before even considering it

I have done my research, but would like some personal opinions and experience please.

There are about 8 acres of land so space isn't an issue. And there is a room that he would have to him/herself. I'm going to revert to him as ideally we would like a male.

There is potential for him to be a working dog, as in sheep. But we are still in talks with the land owner etc.

My husband is adamant he wants a kangal. I don't mind as I love all animals etc.

But looking for those who have or had them the pros and cons please!

There will be horses on the property too. But they are on the neighbouring field and will sometimes have access to one of our gardens for the grass! Just wanted to check if they would best kept away from each other entirely as in out of sight.

Thank you!

Not sure if this is an unusual breed here...

OP posts:

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Original poster

Adviceneeeeded · 01/07/2024 12:35

Thank you @Abc1weabc1 yes. I would love a good companion but obviously a safe one! I will be showing dh this thread. Especially as it will mainly be me looking after it.

There may or may not be sheep. So we might not even need a working dog. It's all very much the behining and only talks at the moment

OP posts:

littlefox90 · 01/07/2024 12:45

Killingoffmyflowersonebyone · 01/07/2024 11:12

No one said you were an idiot, we said that Kangals were not family pets and not suitable. You asked for advice and it was given. Kangals are not suitable family pets. They do not belong in family homes. They are (literally) a ticking time bomb in these situations.

The behaviour that a PP with a cross described is NOT because the dog was on the streets. It is inherent in the dogs genetics - they are aggressive to everyone except their family, they tear apart other animals with ease, they were made to live outside and roam for hundreds of miles. They are not family pets. I was not joking in my original post when I said worst case scenario you need to run fast.

Edited

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I do agree that some of his issues could be breed rather then experience and he has taken a lot of work to get him into a family home. We had a dog trainer and I wouldn't suggest getting another. However, ours is crossed so may be more docile and we don't have 8 acres for him.
Basically he's my mum and dads, they fell in love with him in Turkey and they all said how wonderful he would be out there so he was brought here. They didn't really research and he was a handful at first when establishing his pack. He wouldn't tolerate a stranger coming into the house without us there. They are also very stubborn.
He has both a harness and collar lead due to attacking a dog when his lead broke once. (both dogs where fine but shows that they are strong even half sized)

Definitely a dog to research before owning but I feel the OP would have more of an ideal environment for theirs than we do/did.

However I feel that it isn't impossible to own one with the right training and environment but not being a full breed and also not being 70kg of dog means my experience is a bit different.

Maybe OP it's worth seeing if there is any kangal UK pages on Facebook to ask other owners of full breed dogs.

littlefox90 · 01/07/2024 12:48

Filamumof9 · 01/07/2024 12:02

As owner of another livestock guardian breed and owner of a mixed fila/kangal, note that Kangals are directly independent in making their decisions. I find fila brasileiro's actually easier to handle as they are more obedient to their owners. I have a pack of 12 of these dogs and we have put in a lot of training, so we can visit the vet etc without issues. They are intimidating sizewise.They are bred by us to be less agressieve than the standard of their breed. However, a Kangal or any other big livestock guardian breed needs a different type of handling. You need to have secure fencing, you need to ensure that nobody can enter your property without your permission and if they do enter with permission, either ensure that the dog is fully properly trained or have a safe place to go, as many people can be afraid of them. Also when you want to go on holiday etc, not everyone can take care of your dog then. There are more limitations in having such a dog than fe a labrador. Also please note that the Vet is very expensive as due to its size the amount of medicine is sometimes ridiculous.

This is a good point, it took outs a while to learn the boundaries of fencing and me and my partner are the only other ones who can walk him and care for him while my parents are on holiday. He's also 8 ish now so had probably calmed some with age, routine and training

Branster · 01/07/2024 13:16

OP I can see why your DH would like such a dog.
I come from a different country with very large native live stock guardian dog breeds (I've never seen these in the UK ever). I admire those dogs, I am a very experienced dog owner of large dogs, I have the land and house for a large active dog. Never in a million years would I want to keep such a dog as a pet. And they are slightly less aggressive than Kangals.
Absolutely not.
A kangal would 100% catch and kill any wildlife in the UK, you cannot train them as you would other dogs because they have been bred to think for themselves. Amazing dogs but they need a lot of freedom and open spaces and a protection job to do. Up a mountain with livestock. That's how they would be at their happiest, full-fill their purpose and not become frustrated.
I hope you'll find the right dog breed that you will all enjoy, safely, as a family.

WetBandits · 01/07/2024 13:22

Oooh don’t think I’d get one of those unless I had a HUGE farm that I needed a HUGE dog to guard.

Have you ever seen one in the flesh? They are BIG bastards. Beautiful bastards but big bastards all the same! They resource guard and can be pretty aloof/mean to strangers. Not the most controllable dog should you ever need to quickly get a handle on one.

I think you need a border collie

NoraLuka · 01/07/2024 13:39

Nothing to add but if anyone is interested in this type of dog there’s quite a nice account on Instagram www.instagram.com/raventreeranch?igsh=MTNrMnFhY2hpODRzdQ== where they have Anatolian shepherds and they look lovely - so gentle with the cat and farm animals BUT they are absolutely massive, and they live on a ranch in the US where their main job is to protect the herd from coyotes. The owners also seem very experienced and get help from professional trainers sometimes. I can’t imagine one of these dogs in the UK, even with a lot of land.

3kids3dogs · 01/07/2024 13:57

So many big lovely breeds out there that would love pottering about on a farm all day without being aggressive, if that’s the type of thing you want. Leonberger, Newfoundland, wolfhounds, Bernese, Saint, old English sheepdogs… the list is endless!

Perhaps a GSD or collie if you want something a bit more active.

Don't make your life so much harder than it needs to be!

fieldsofbutterflies · 01/07/2024 14:44

Adviceneeeeded · 01/07/2024 12:10

@fieldsofbutterflies exactly that's why I'm asking. Thank you for your help

Ask him how he thinks you'd hold a Kangal back from someone in your home or on your property - a delivery driver, for example, or a workman.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 01/07/2024 14:47

littlefox90 · 01/07/2024 10:25

Just to show the soppy sod. Like I said he is a mix, looks like a kangal but is definitely too small to be pure bred

He's gorgeous!

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 01/07/2024 14:52

I can second the thing about getting a collie (sheep herding) rather than a sheep guarding dog. We have a Bulgarian shepherd - as in the description above, loyal to her pack (DH) but reactive to other dogs, and other men. She's fine with women though.

littlefox90 · 01/07/2024 15:42

3kids3dogs · 01/07/2024 13:57

Perhaps a GSD or collie if you want something a bit more active.

Don't make your life so much harder than it needs to be!

I met a Leonberger at the dog park when walking next doors dog. Was absolutely gorgeous and more then happy for head fusses from me as a complete stranger. Was absolutely giant too!

Branster · 01/07/2024 20:28

Awww @littlefox90 what a lovely dog!!! Such Beautiful face too!

I think a mix of Anatolian sheepdogs, saw quite a few street dogs when on holiday in Turkey looking exactly the same. They were very friendly, well looked after by the locals but I would imagine they could hold their own if need be. They looked quite big from what I remember, not scrawny little shy things.
I've never seen a Kangal in the UK but I'm pretty sure there would be breeders somewhere. Can't imagine who would need them. But talking to an owner would probably be the best starting point OP. They must have a Facebook group or similar. Go meet one and you'll see exactly what everyone here is saying.
A German Shepherd might be a better choice in your circumstances.

abracadabra1980 · 01/07/2024 21:44

Have a chat with Kelly (if I remember rightly) of Sunlions Anatolian Shepherds. She's in a Scotland and is a very responsible breeder who will not sell you a dog unless you have the right setup. As PP have said, it's a high risk dog in the wrong hands, and not really for a novice owner who has no experience of the breed. A German Shepherd would probably be a better choice. I have fostered an Anatolian rescue and he resource guarded from being a puppy. He absolutely destroyed my home and could scale a 10ft fence at 20 weeks old. He was reactive towards other dogs and then towards my son - who is the epitome of a sensible, gentle child. I couldn't risk keeping him so eventually found him a home on a farm with a pack of bigger dogs he could bond with and live out, as that was what he was used to. Again, as PP mentioned, as a rescue and a cross, these were all factors that would have shaped his behaviour, albeit his back story was that he hadn't been badly treated. They are extremely challenging.
Good luck with with your dream - sounds amazing.

abracadabra1980 · 01/07/2024 21:47

Sorry I meant to add that whilst Kangals and Anatolian Shepherds are very similar they are not exactly the same breed but share many similar traits.

Wolfiefan · 01/07/2024 21:52

@Filamumof9 filas are banned in the U.K.

ReachedEndofTether · 01/07/2024 21:56

A friend had one, in Turkey. It killed her other dog in a 'row' over food.

I don't think it's fair on a Kangal to keep one in the UK either. As everyone says, they're livestock guardians. Shepherds in the Anatolian mountains keep them. That's where the dogs are meant to be.

Filamumof9 · 01/07/2024 22:24

Wolfiefan · 01/07/2024 21:52

@Filamumof9 filas are banned in the U.K.

Correct, but I do not live in the UK. They are not banned where I live. Nor have there been any accidents with them where I live.

Filamumof9 · 01/07/2024 22:28

Personally, I see people recommend GSD. those dogs terrify me tremendously. I know of multiple people being bitten by their GSD. They can be very stubborn dogs. Loved the bordercollie we had when growing up. very energetic dogs and could use a big plot of land to exercise.

Wolfiefan · 01/07/2024 22:29

Sorry @Filamumof9 . I wasn’t accusing you of owning a banned breed here! I thought you were suggesting to OP they were an easier option so a better breed.
(FWIW I don’t think banning breeds makes sense. But I do think people need to be sure that they can meet the needs of the dogs they take on and they they understand breed traits.)

abracadabra1980 · 01/07/2024 22:35

"I met a Leonberger at the dog park when walking next doors dog. Was absolutely gorgeous and more then happy for head fusses from me as a complete stranger. Was absolutely giant too!"

@littlefox90

Leonbergers are absolutely wonderful dogs, but are SO different in nature to what the OP was looking at in the Kangal. They are gentle giants-with a coat that is not for a novice!

Filamumof9 · 01/07/2024 22:39

Wolfiefan · 01/07/2024 22:29

then I misunderstood you. I know it is a banned breed in the UK and although my pack of fila's are rather easy going, that has taking a lot of time, effort and selective breeding. Most vets here are surprised that they can treat my dogs without them becoming aggressive. one of my older dogs even falls asleep during tests 😂. I wanted to point out that a Kangal is quite stubborn and in comparison to a banned breed in the UK can be even more aggressive. i used them as an example for what you have to sacrifice yourself if you have such a powerful dog as I have first hand experience for so many years. They can be lovely dogs for the family, but it means limits on visitors, holidays, extra costs for food and vets etcetc. In the UK I would probably choose a Great Dane or a bordercollie or a bloodhound.

emilyelf · 01/07/2024 22:45

My Cypriot neighbours had a Kangal when i was kid and it scared the shit out of me. Very territorial. Not sure what happed after but this was 35 years ago.

Wolfiefan · 01/07/2024 22:51

@Filamumof9 I have wolfhounds so I understand a little. My life revolves around them and it’s certainly not like owning a Labrador!! 🥴

Nellieinthebarn · 01/07/2024 22:54

TBH I think they are bred to be more like offensive weapons than pets. I wouldn't want to be the postman that comes to your house.

Filamumof9 · 01/07/2024 23:10

Wolfiefan · 01/07/2024 22:51

@Filamumof9 I have wolfhounds so I understand a little. My life revolves around them and it’s certainly not like owning a Labrador!! 🥴

Lovely dogs! Quite a dense coat I assume, so you cannot find them on the Caribbean island where I live, or at least have not seen them here. Giant dogs do require extra attention, not like taking a labrador to the city. Almost everyone is intimidated by the sheer size of these giants, gentle or not.

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