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The Kangal Dog is a UKC registered dog in the USA!
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
forelegs are long, well-boned, and set well apart, with strong,
slightly sloping pasterns. The elbows move freely and close to
the sides. The front quarters are slightly heavier in proportion
to the hindquarters.
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. 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 dew claws may be absent, present, single, or
double. Dew claws 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.
Faults: Poorly defined black mask.
HEIGHT & 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. Cropped ears on a
domestic-bred dog.
And now to our KANGAL Dogs...
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
forelegs are long, well-boned, and set well apart, with strong,
slightly sloping pasterns. The elbows move freely and close to
the sides. The front quarters are slightly heavier in proportion
to the hindquarters.
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. 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 dew claws may be absent, present, single, or
double. Dew claws 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.
Faults: Poorly defined black mask.
HEIGHT & 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. Cropped ears on a
domestic-bred dog.
And now to our KANGAL Dogs...
| Crooker's KANGAL Dogs |
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