UKC Breed Standard
History
The Kangal Dog is an ancient flock-guarding breed, thought to be
related to the early mastiff-type dogs depicted in Assyrian art.
The breed is named for the Kangal District of Sivas Province in
Central Turkey where it probably originated. Although the breed
has long been associated with the family of the Aga of Kangal,
large landholders and chieftains, the majority are bred by
villagers who take great pride in the dogs' ability to guard
their flocks of sheep and goats from such traditional predators
as the wolf, bear, and jackal. The relative isolation of the
Sivas-Kangal region has kept the Kangal Dog free of
cross-breeding and has resulted in a natural breed of remarkable
uniformity in appearance, disposition, and behavior. Despite its
regional origin, many Turks consider the Kangal Dog as their
national dog. Turkish government and academic institutions
operate breeding kennels where Kangal Dogs are bred and
pedigrees are carefully maintained. The Kangal Dog has even
appeared on a Turkish postage stamp.
The Kangal Dog was first reported in European and North American
canine literature by David and Judith Nelson, Americans who
studied the dogs while resident in Turkey. The Nelsons imported
their first Kangal Dog to the United States in 1985. This dog,
and subsequent imports, provided the foundation for the Kangal
Dog in the United States.
The Kangal Dog was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1998.
General Appearance
The Kangal Dog is a large, powerful, heavy-boned dog, whose size
and proportions have developed naturally as a result of its
continued use in Turkey as a guardian against predators. The
head is large and moderately wide with drop ears. A properly
proportioned Kangal Dog is slightly longer (measured from
prosternum to point of buttocks) than tall (measured from the
withers to the ground), and length of the front leg (measured
from point of elbow to the ground) should equal slightly more
than one-half of the dog's height. The tail, which is typically
curled, completes the distinctive silhouette. The Kangal Dog has
a double coat that is moderately short and quite dense. The
Kangal Dog has a black mask and black velvety ears that contrast
with a whole body color which may range from light dun to gray.
Honorable scars or other evidences of injury resulting from
working in the field are not to be penalized.
Characteristics
The typical Kangal Dog is first and foremost a stock guardian
dog and possesses a temperament typical of such dogs-alert,
territorial, and defensive of the domestic animals or the human
family to which it has bonded. The Kangal Dog has the strength,
speed, and courage to intercept and confront threats to the
flocks of sheep and goats that it guards both in Turkey and the
New World. Kangal Dogs prefer to intimidate predators but will
take a physical stand and even attack if necessary. Kangal Dogs
have an instinctive wariness of strange dogs but are not
typically belligerent toward people. They are somewhat reserved
with strangers but loyal and affectionate with family.
Head
The head is large but in proportion to the size of the dog
without appearing heavy or coarse. The female's head is somewhat
more refined than the male's head. Viewed from above, the broad
skull tapers very slightly toward the place where the muzzle
joins it and then tapers slightly from the base of the muzzle
toward the nose. When viewed from the side, the length of the
muzzle, measured from stop to the end of the nose, is slightly
shorter than the length of the skull, measured from occiput to
stop, in an approximate ratio of 2:3.
Faults: Narrow head.
SKULL -- The skull is broad between the ears and slightly domed.
The ratio of skull width in relation to total head length is
approximately 3:5. There is a slight central furrow which runs
from the middle of the skull through the stop and gradually
broadens into the wide base of the muzzle. The cheeks are
moderately well developed. The stop is well-defined but not
abrupt.
Faults: Skull too flat; skull too narrow
MUZZLE -- The muzzle is deep and moderately blunt due, in part,
to the development of the upper lips which are somewhat padded,
especially in mature males. When viewed from the side, the jaws
are of equal length. The muzzle is blockier and stronger in the
male. The lips are fairly tight and always black.
Faults: Snipey muzzle; over-developed flews.
TEETH -- The Kangal Dog has a complete set of large, evenly
spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors or level bite. Broken
teeth resulting from field work are not to be penalized.
Serious faults: Over or undershot bite; more than two teeth
missing; wry mouth.
NOSE -- The nose is large and solid black.
Disqualification: Liver or chocolate-colored nose
EYES -- The eyes are medium sized, somewhat round, set well
apart and show no haw. Eye color ranges from deep brown to
amber. Eye rims are black.
Serious faults: Pale yellow eyes; lack of solid black pigment on
the eye rims; loose eye rims.
EARS -- The ears are pendant, medium sized, triangular in shape
and rounded at the tips. The ears are set even with the outside
corners of the skull. When alert, the ears may be carried
slightly higher. The front edge of the ear is carried close to
the cheek and, when pulled forward, the ears should amply cover
the dog's eyes. In puppies, the ears may appear
disproportionately large. In Turkey, the majority of Kangal Dogs
have their ears cropped as puppies. Cropped ears on a dog
imported from Turkey should not be penalized, but cropped ears
on a domestic-bred dog are a disqualification.
Faults: Any ear carriage other than pendant; ears set too high
or too low; ears too large or too small.
Disqualification: Cropped ears on a domestic-bred dog.
Neck
The neck is powerful and muscular, moderate in length, slightly
arched, and rather thick. Some dewlap is present.
Faults: Short, heavy neck; overly long neck; exaggerated dewlap.
Forequarters
The shoulders are well muscled and moderately angulated. The
front quarters are slightly heavier in proportion to the
hindquarters.
FORELEGS - The forelegs are long, well boned, and set well
apart, with strong, slightly sloping pasterns. The elbows move
freely and close to the sides.
Faults: Loose shoulders or elbows in mature dogs; bowed front
legs; feet that turn in or out; chest too wide or too narrow.
Body
The body is powerful and muscular. The line of the back inclines
very slightly downward from the withers, levels, and then rises
with a slight arch over the short, muscular loin which blends
into a moderately short and slightly sloping croup. The ribs are
well sprung. The moderately wide chest is deep with the brisket
extending down to the elbow. Tuck-up is moderate. The Kangal Dog
is a working dog and should always be presented in well-muscled
condition.
Faults: Narrow or poorly muscled chest; narrow rib cage; barrel
chest; long back or long loin; steep croup; overweight or lack
of muscle.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are powerful and well-muscled although somewhat
less substantial than the forequarters.
HIND LEGS - The rear legs are well-boned and moderately
angulated at the stifle and hock joints. The hind legs are
parallel when viewed from the rear. The rear pasterns are
moderate in length and slope slightly forward from the hock
joint when the dog is standing in a natural position.
Faults: Poorly muscled thighs; insufficient or over-angulation
at stifle or hock; rear feet turning in or out.
Feet
The feet are large with the front feet somewhat larger than the
rear feet. They are either rounded or oval in shape with
well-cushioned pads and toes that may be webbed. Nails, which
may be black, white, or mixed in color, should be kept blunt.
Rear dewclaws may be absent, present, single, or double.
Dewclaws may be removed.
Faults: Splayed feet.
Tail
The tail, which is set at the end of the croup is uncut, thick
at the base, and tapering to the tip. The hair is slightly
fuller on the tail than on the body. When the dog is in repose,
the rather long tail reaches at least to the hock. When the dog
is alert, the tail is carried in a curl over the back. The curl
may be tight or loose but when the tail is curled tightly, the
tip of the tail may fall off to one side of the back.
Faults: Extensive tail feathering or plumed tail; tail too short
or too long; tail carried off-center (to the side of one hip)
when curled; kinked tail.
Coat
The Kangal Dog has a short double coat, neither wavy nor fluffy.
In cold weather, the coat is very dense, nearly uniform in
length. In warm weather, much of the undercoat is shed, leaving
a short, flatter outer coat. The outer coat is harsh and the
undercoat is very soft, dense, and sometimes gray in color. The
hair on the neck, shoulders and tail is only slightly longer
than the hair on the body. The hair on the tail is never plumed
or feathered. Most Kangal Dogs have a strip of flatter hair
along the topline. The hair on the face, head, and ears is quite
short.
Faults: Feathering anywhere on the body or on the legs or tail;
lack of undercoat; medium, long or shaggy coat.
Color
Color is an important characteristic of the Kangal Dog. In
Turkey, non-standard colors or patterns are indicators that the
dog is not a purebred Kangal Dog. The true Kangal Dog color is
always solid and ranges from a light dun or pale, dull gold to a
steel gray, depending on the amount of black or gray in the
outer guard hairs and in the soft, cashmere-like undercoat. This
basic color is set off by a black mask which may completely
cover the muzzle and even extend over the top of the head. Ears
are always black. White is only permitted on the feet, chest and
chin. The white on the feet may extend half way up the forearm.
The white on the chest may range from a small spot to a blaze
which may extend in a narrow stripe under the chest. Such blazes
are frequently outlined with dark hair. Only a small white spot
is allowed on the chin. The tip of the tail is usually black and
a black spot in the middle of the tail is often present.
Disqualifications: Solid black, white, or chocolate colored
dogs; dogs with piebald, brindle or other parti-colored
patterns; white markings on the face other than the small white
spot on the chin; albinism.
Faults: Poorly defined black mask.
Height and Weight
Desirable height at maturity (minimum two years), measured at
the withers, ranges from 30 to 32 inches for males and 28 to 30
inches for females. A male Kangal Dog in good condition should
weigh between 110 and 145 pounds. A female should weigh between
90 and 120 pounds. Height and weight in both sexes may exceed
the foregoing and should not be penalized as long as overall
balance is maintained.
Fault: Obese, soft condition.
Gait
The Kangal Dog's movement reflects the breed's combination of
strength and agility. Its natural gait is relaxed and efficient
with strides of moderate length. The back remains level, and the
front and rear legs on each side move in a parallel fashion. As
speed increases, however, the width between the legs decreases
and the tendency to single track increases. Pacing at a slow
gait is acceptable.
Disqualifications
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness, marked shyness
or cowardliness. Piebald, brindle, or parti-colored coat color
patterns. White, black, chocolate, or liver whole body color.
Liver or chocolate color nose. Albinism. Cropped ears on a
domestic-bred dog.
Courtesy of the United Kennel Club, Inc.