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The Anatolian Shepherd Dog

Either lump them all or let them go

If you have already visited my quiz page you should have an general picture of the working and non-working dogs in Turkey.

Relatively sizeable dogs of mixed breeding can be found in the towns and cities throughout Turkey. These dogs are naturally social with other animals, and more importantly very territorial. When they decide an area is theirs, they fiercely defend the area against other animals, especially other dogs, who would compete for safety and food the area provides. These dogs are raised in the streets so most of them start life as furry toys of children. This way they get the premliminary socialisation to be a well balanced dog. Their low prey drive and being aware of their manners around other domestic animals make them great candidates as working dogs who alarm and ward off any intruders without any direction of their human masters. They do not crave affection much since they are taught to be out of the way most of the time. They are content to have a share of the table scrabs of their humans. They breed as they like.

These dogs can be found all over Turkey. If they are in rural areas, around the sheep they are called çoban köpeği (shepherd's dog), köy köpeği (village dog) or just "it" which is now considered despising way to call a dog. (there is no corresponding word in English, although the word "mutt" has a negative meaning) If they are city dwellers they are just sokak köpeği (street dogs).

We know that such dogs do exist all over the world, mostly in countries where working dogs have similar history as in Turkey. I am definetly not talking about the western pedigree dogs. I know the Eastern European countries have similar dogs roaming in the streets of rural towns and villages. But you can find such dogs in great numbers serving in almost the same way in Middle East and Middle Asia. These dogs have similar phenotype with non-exaggerated features to survive and work into the conditions they are born.

Pendant ears, an average bulk (55-75 cm at withers) and any colour and coat combination with mostly tails carried in wheel when alert, are common traits in such dogs. These dogs can sometimes make great companions and protector of the home and family. But how many generations would be needed to set a reliable temperemant and working ability, not to mention good conformation?

If these dogs are collectively to be considered a breed, then the whole livestock guardian dogs registered in the international canine organisations should have accepted as the one and the same dog. That would be the logical approach to pursue if one accepts the assetions of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog (ASD) breeders. Since dogs cannot read maps how on earth we choose to isolate them from one another. Let cross a Pyrenean with an Owcharka then try an Akbas. But according to the ASD theory they had selected the çoban köpegi which is claimed to be found in any colour and coat all over Turkey, and called them Anatolian due to the geographical region they come from. Had they stabilised the breed before they decided to promote it in Kangal phenotype, then? Where is the ancient and majestic çoban köpeği bred by villagers for thousand of years in the Anatolian Penisula, in any colour and coat? Who has made the international canine bodies believe that these dogs, asserted to be found in all varying colours and coat in the mentioned penisula, are different from the ones in Iran, Iraq or other close neighbour countries of Turkey?

We, Turks, have been accused of breeding for astethic feature of the same dogs (colour and coat length). So, what then justifies the breeding and selection philosophy behind the ASD, which is claimed to be found only in the Anatolian penisula-- while you can find the same motley dogs in surrounding countries in all their variety? Will choosing and mixing dogs from a large geographical part of the world do? I don't think so.

Either lump them all together and erase all those seperate LGD breeds, or let large and homogenous populations of great dogs such Kangals reach the respect and breed recognition that they deserve. To claim that they are 'ALL THE SAME' and then go about trying to reproduce only dogs that look like Kangal Dogs --That is hypocrisy, and worse, it goes aggainst our KANGAL BREED CONSERVATION efforts that have been going on more than 30 years in Turkey.

İlker Ünlü/April 2002

Other less-known LSD Breed of the Old World

Part II

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e-mail me at bullterrierturk@yahoo.com

All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduce without permission in writing from Ilker Ünlü. April 2002/ Bu site Ilker Ünlü tarafindan hazirlanmistir ve izin alinmadan içerigi kopya edilemez. Nisan 2002