Akbash: features, advantages and disadvantages, temperament and care basics

Akbash is a unique herding dog, and in its working qualities it stands out significantly against the background of other breeds used to guard the herd. Being an excellent guard with a well-developed sense of duty, Akbash will under no circumstances abandon not only a flock, but also a lamb or a weakened individual that has fallen behind her.

The history of the creation of the Turkish Akbash breed goes back to the distant past. According to some sources, their closest relatives are the Anatolian Shepherd Dog, the Kangal Karabash, the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, the Hungarian Komondor and the Podgalyan Shepherd Dog. The main purpose of the breed since ancient times was the protection and grazing of livestock, with which the Akbashs coped much better than other herding dogs living at that time in Turkey. The large male was able to withstand several wolves on equal terms and reflect the attacks of a bear, which other breeds, of course, could not boast of.

For a long time, dogs of this breed were bred exclusively in Turkey., and they became more widespread only in the second half of the 70s of the last century, when they were brought to the United States of America. The Americans really liked the breed they had never known before, and they began to actively breed this noble and fearless dog. However, in America, the animal was no longer used for its intended purpose - as a shepherd, but more as a guard and companion.

Due to the non-recognition of the International Cynological Federation by the International Cynological Federation, the official standard for the Akbash breed simply does not exist. However, based on the results of the selection work of specialists from large nurseries in Turkey and the United States, it is possible to draw up a fairly clear description of the breed. So, its representatives are large dogs of white color, with long and straight paws and a shaggy tail. It is the color that the breed owes its name to, since in translation from Turkish the word "akbash" means "white-headed". A distinctive feature of the dogs is the well-developed muscles of the back and legs, as well as the head of impressive size.

As for the coat, there is no clear standard here, and dogs within the breed may have several coat options.

In both cases, the color remains invariably white, and the undercoat, consisting of soft, tight-fitting hair, reliably protects the dog from temperature extremes. Akbash is a rather tall breed, and if the growth of bitches varies from 69 to 75 cm at the withers, then in some males it reaches 86-87 cm. The weight of animals ranges from 40 kg in bitches and up to 60 kg in large males. The life expectancy of representatives of this breed is 10-12 years.

Describing the Akbash, one cannot fail to mention the fact that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation at the beginning of 2019 released an updated version of the list of dogs of especially dangerous breeds.

For a number of reasons, Akbash is also on this list, and therefore needs special rules of maintenance, which must be followed. However, with proper education and use of the dog for its intended purpose, the Akbash can turn out to be an excellent shepherd, a reliable guardian of property and a fearless defender.

Demand for Akbash among livestock owners and genuine interest in the breed among the inhabitants due to a number of indisputable advantages of this unique breed.

• Dogs are distinguished by high intelligence and quick wits, which is why they can increasingly be found in the role of a guard and companion.
• Devotion and independence of Akbash is well known to dog handlers. The dog will never give offense to the owner, and will itself determine the degree and reality of the threat emanating from the offender.
• Representatives of the breed are distinguished by an enviable responsibility and under no circumstances leave their post. In this they differ from many herding breeds, for example, from the kangal, which, without hesitation, will abandon the herd and run after a wolf or any other predatory animal. Akbash will either deal with the predator on the spot, or simply scare him away from the flock, but he will never rush after.
• High endurance and unpretentiousness to the conditions of keeping allow the dog to be used to guard nomadic herds, which constantly move long distances in search of a better pasture. The dog will tirelessly help the shepherd and keep the flock under complete control.

The disadvantages of the breed include difficulties in upbringing, which are especially felt at the initial stage of training. During this period, a young animal tries to dominate the owner or members of his family, requires iron restraint and perseverance from the owner. However, with a professional approach and following the recommendations of experienced dog handlers, the dog's irrepressible energy can be quickly directed in the right direction, after which such problems, as a rule, do not arise. It should also be said about the mercilessness towards the offender, whom the Akbash is unlikely to let go of his teeth on his own initiative.

It is because of the excessive aggressiveness towards violators of the territory or intruders, the dog was ranked as dangerous. For the sake of justice, it is worth noting that Akbash dearly loves his household members, as well as friends of the family and will never allow himself aggression towards them. However, with such a guard, the owner should be treated quite respectfully, and not even jokingly raise your voice or raise your hand. Otherwise, the Akbash will not really understand the playfulness of attacks, answering the alleged "offender" in all seriousness.

Despite the fact that in Turkey Akbash are ranked among wolfhounds, outside of work in the herd and in a calm home environment, they are absolutely not cocky and get along well with all the pets living with them in the same house. Akbashi are very wary of outsiders, so any territorial invasions of neighboring cats and dogs can end very sadly. It should be noted that in neutral territory the dog will not pay any attention to strangers, unless they pose a threat to the owner. However, visitors who come to the house for the first time, the dog will not bite right away, but first analyze the purpose of the visit and look at the owner's reaction.

If the akbash sees the owner's friendliness to the newcomer, he will step aside and settle down with an independent look. However, indifference will only be ostentatious: in fact, the dog will closely monitor the situation and keep it under control. According to this character trait, many breeders compare Akbash with a German shepherd, well known for its high intelligence, "worldly" wisdom and ability to make independent decisions.

Another important advantage of the Akbash's character is his ability to get along with children, which cannot be said about most other herding breeds, which, at best, simply ignore babies. Akbash, in relation to the child, will show some dominance, but absolutely without anger and aggression. Even if the child begins to annoy the Akbash too much with his games, the dog will tolerate his liberties for a long time, and then he will simply leave for a secluded place.

However, due to the too large dimensions of the dog, it is impossible to leave very young children alone with it. The animal, unwittingly, can crush or drop the child to the ground, which will greatly frighten or even injure him.

Keeping a dog of the Akbash breed must be free. If the dog is taken not as a shepherd, but for personal protection and protection of property, then a large personal plot will be the best option. Due to the presence of a place for games and walks, the animal will fully satisfy the requirements for physical activity and develop correctly. And on the contrary, individuals who are kept in apartments and walk little look rather passive and depressed. Therefore, housing maintenance is permissible as a temporary measure and only in exceptional cases, for example, when an animal is sick or under other force majeure circumstances. At any other time, dogs of this breed should live outdoors and be able to run and play a lot.

Considering the conditions of keeping the breed, it is necessary to touch upon another important topic - landing on a chain. In no case should this be done, since shepherd dogs cannot be in such a position, and this is especially true for the Turkish Akbash. The chained animal quickly loses working qualities and sociability, becomes uncontrollable and overly aggressive.

As an option, you can consider the construction of a spacious aviary, but it is strictly forbidden to put on a chain.If it is not possible to organize a large personal space for the dog and engage in its upbringing, then it is better to take a closer look at some other breed, since the Akbash needs to create special conditions of detention and the attentive attitude of the owner.

Another important aspect of keeping Akbash is to ensure the safety of others. In this regard, the owners of dogs living in society must undergo a training course without fail, protect the territory of their home ownership with a strong fence and hang a sign on the gate and gate warning of the presence of an angry dog.

The diet of Akbash dogs is no different from that of other large dogs and may include natural food or feed. The menu for an adult dog consuming regular foods should consist of half raw or lightly cooked meat, buckwheat, rice or oatmeal, as well as a small amount of vegetables and fruits. Whole milk is not given to dogs, but fermented milk products are very useful for them, like sea fish, offered to animals in small quantities. And also natural-fed dogs are given vitamin and mineral complexes, bone meal and fish oil.

It is strictly forbidden to feed the dog with sweets, flour and confectionery products, smoked meats and pickles: such food can cause an allergic reaction and negatively affect the functioning of the pancreas. You should not also combine food, that is, mix specialized feed and regular food. Such a diet will lead to an unbalanced diet and cause an excess of some micronutrients against the background of a lack of others.

As for the feeding regimen, puppies are usually fed from 3 to 5 times a day, and an adult animal - 1-2 times, depending on the conditions of detention and the time of year. When working to protect the herd, the dog is usually fed once a day, but very abundantly, while for domestic Akbash, the daily ration is allowed to be divided by 2 times, feed the animal in the morning and in the evening. During extreme cold weather, the dog is also fed twice a day, thus replenishing the calories spent on heating the body.

When choosing feeds, preference should be given to formulations with a high content of substances necessary for the normal functioning of the musculoskeletal system. This is due to the fact that a lack of them can lead to arthritis and hip dysplasia, which are a problem area in most large breeds.

Representatives of the Akbash breed are very clean animals and do not smell like a dog. In order for the dog to always look neat and well-groomed, it must be thoroughly combed at least twice a week. This will help to remove lost hair in a timely manner and prevent them from tangling and knocking down in a tow... During shedding, the combing procedure is recommended to be carried out daily, and in case of intensive hair loss - twice a day. In addition to combing out, you should regularly trim the animal's claws and clean the ears. The dog should be bathed as needed, but not more often than once a month.

This aspect of keeping a dog of the Akbash breed is very important, and sometimes, precisely because of the need for regular training and training, many dog ​​breeders opt for simpler breeds in terms of education. The main key to raising a mentally balanced and obedient dog is perseverance and patience. It is better not to delay the training of Akbash puppies, starting it immediately, as soon as the baby reaches the age of 9-10 weeks.If there is no experience in raising herding dogs, then it is better to entrust training to professional canine handlers, who correctly organize the processes of forming guard and guard qualities and curb the excessive aggression of young males.

By nature, Akbash is a very quick-witted and quick-witted dog., which literally grasps everything new on the fly and assimilates the information received with interest. When choosing the correct technique, animals very quickly and well remember commands, obediently execute them. Experienced dog handlers are confident that the foundations of education are laid up to 6 months of age, therefore, it is the first six months that are decisive in the formation of the dog's character, and mistakes made during this period can turn into big troubles in the future. For example, the development of exclusively protective and sentry qualities will result in excessive aggressiveness and distrust of the animal, and therefore, along with exercises to protect, the dog needs additional socialization.

Without this, the dog will rush at everyone he meets and cause its owner a lot of problems. In addition, like many herding dogs, Akbash takes not only a flock for a herd, but also a large company of people. He does not allow anyone to separate from the "herd", and begins to guard and graze it in all seriousness. In order to prevent this from happening, you should take the puppy to places with a large crowd of people as often as possible, not forgetting to accustom him to a short leash and a muzzle.

Like any shepherd dog, Akbash is obedient and executable, however, it requires quite solid communication. It is important from the first days to show the puppy that the main thing in the house is not he, but the owner, and it is the dog's direct duty to carry out his commands. The training is carried out by the classical method with the help of "carrot and stick", without using physical force.

However, not everything is so smooth in the upbringing of the Turkish Akbash, and the main thing is the ability to find a common language with the dog. This is due to an innate restraint and a developed sense of self-esteem, which requires appropriate communication and respect for the dog. Due to this character trait, experienced dog handlers do not recommend starting a Turkish Akbash as the first dog. But people who have experience in training herding dogs will be able to educate themselves from the Akbash as an excellent guard, a reliable watchman and a spiritual companion.

In the next video you can get acquainted with the amazing breed of Akbash dogs.