Cattle guard dogs breed Turkish pride

SIVAS, Turkey (AP) – Huseyin Yildiz has been breeding powerful sheepdogs for 30 years in the central Anatolian province of Sivas, Turkey, home to the Kangal hounds guarding livestock and a source of pride to the country.

Still, the animal breed that Turkey considers the national dog is fighting for international recognition. The United Kingdom Kennel Club calls Turkish Kangal dogs a distinct breed identified by its dark muzzle and ears. Elsewhere in the Western world, Kangals are still listed with similar breeds from the region as Anatolian Sheepdogs.

Their origins in the Kangal district of Sivas are said to date back thousands of years, although concrete evidence is scarce. Yildiz, 50, describes the herd tenders as ‘Anatolian lions’.

“The Kangal dog is Anatolia’s ancient legacy,” he told The Associated Press. “It’s fast, fast, nimble, nimble, strong and smart. At the same time, it has a wolf-like appearance that sets it apart from other dog breeds. “

While the large, short-haired creatures are primarily used to protect herds of livestock, Yildiz says they are also used for personal protection – Kangals are known to have one of the strongest bites of any dog.

On his farm 450 kilometers (280 miles) east of Turkey’s capital, Ankara, Yildiz says he keeps the males separated at all times because they will fight each other to the death.

He currently has 67 purebred Kangal sheepdogs on the farm, but Yildiz says he has bred more than 500 dogs in three decades and sold most of them. He has also donated dogs to the Turkish police and armed forces.