The Akbash, which has its roots in Turkey, is a massive and ferocious livestock guardian dog. These dogs are very well suited to working.
Despite their massive stature, Akbash are surprisingly mild-mannered canines who make quiet, loving pets.
They are great pets for families with children. However, they are wary of new dog visitors and may even become aggressive if they feel threatened.
Let’s know more about this breed! Common!
About The Breed
Looking for your next furry friend❓
How about a rare 3,000-year-old guardian dog❓
Introducing the Akbash, Turkey’s national dog and born protector. This dog is calm, brave, and independent.
First bred to protect flocks of sheep, they are alert and carry their guard instincts even today. A white coat of joy and tenderness— the Akbash is perfect for a gentle family looking for a companion.
Let us explore this stunning breed further❗
Akbash Dog Breed History
The national dog of Turkey the Akbash, is believed to have been first bred almost 3,000 years ago to protect shepherds’ flocks from predators.
Akbash is derived from the Turkish word meaning “white head,” which indicates the importance of their white coat as a technique to blend in with flocks of sheep.
This rare breed was first introduced to North America in the 1970s by Judith and David Nelson, who were researching the Akbash in Western Turkey.
The United States Department of Agriculture employs this breed in its predator control program.
Akbash Dog Breed Job Card/Overview
| Breed Name | Akbash |
| Other Name(s) of Akbash Dogs | Coban Kopegi, the Akbas, Aky |
| Type of Dog Breed | Guardian dog |
| Origin | Turkey |
| Born of | – |
| Height | 27 – 34 inches |
| Weight | 75 – 140 pounds |
| Life Expectancy | 10 – 12 years |
| Coat Type | Medium to long double coat |
| Coat Colors | White |
| Level of Shedding | Moderate (Regular brushing) |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
| Persona | Alert, independent, courageous, calm, protective |
| Apartment Living | Not ideal for Apartment Living |
| Friendly to other pets | Low |
| Health Concerns | Hip Dysplasia, Hypothyroidism, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Gastric Torsion (Bloating) |
| Health Expectancy | Good |
| Ability to reason and understand | High |
| Ease of Training | Low |
| Level of Vitality | Moderate |
| Level of exercise ideally required | Low |
| Puppies | 8 |
What to know
• As family pets, the Akbash are independent but loving.
• They are comfortable being left alone and don’t develop separation anxiety.
• It is vital to give this breed its space while also making sure to take care of it.
• Due to their large size, they are adept at handling hyper children. However, they prefer being around adults, given their low energy, and enjoy playing gently with older kids.
Characteristics
Adaptability
Dogs of the Akbash breed are noted for their extraordinary adaptability. These dogs have their roots in Turkey, where they were developed to protect livestock in both harsh mountainous regions and wide open plains.
They can thrive in a variety of environments due to their remarkable adaptability.
Adaptability
Adapts Well to Apartment Living
Good for Beginner Owners
Level of Sensitivity
Tolerates Being Alone
Tolerant of Cold Weather
Tolerant of Hot Weather
Friendliness
The Akbash dog breed is popular due to its friendly nature. These dogs have a pleasant attitude and are friendly and affectionate with their human companions♥️.
They are just as flexible in their interactions with people, as they can be quickly and readily socialized and trained to become trustworthy and devoted pets.
Friendliness
Loves to Be Around Family
Friendly with Kids
Amicable Toward Dogs
Friendly Towards Strangers
Personality
With a gentle soul, the Akbash are fiercely protective of their family. They enjoy their individual space and value independence.
Owing to their origin to protect flocks, their guard instincts run strong even today.
The Akbash is highly intelligent, agile, and quick on its paws. They may not have powerful energy, but they’re quite strong once they sense danger.
The Akbash is perfect for people who want a watchdog and a guardian who will alarm them in case of any security threats.
However, this dog needs a firm and consistent owner who is also loving and compassionate.
They are swiftly trained; however, they aren’t inherently sociable with dogs or pets, so it is better to bring a social aspect into their training early on.
Temperament
The Akbash dog breed has a reputation for having a quiet attitude. They make wonderful security dogs because they are patient, devoted, and watchful.
Because of their intelligence and independence, training an Akbash dog can be a tad bit difficult.
They have an innate need to defend their loved ones and their area, making them suspicious of strangers.
Even though they can be obedient and friendly pets with the right amount of socialization and training, their natural protective instincts should be respected at all times.
Friendly with kids
The Akbash is as obedient to and protective of children as it is of animals, given early exposure to socialization.
It counts kids as members of the flock. Affectionate and devoted to its loved ones, it is, nonetheless, wary of and cautious around strangers.
This breed is suitable for households with children because of its moderate level of playfulness.
Amicable to other pets
When introduced and socialized appropriately, Akbash dogs can be amicable toward other animals.
They can become more sociable if exposed to pleasant situations and people at a young age. Careful introductions and supervision are necessary to establish a peaceful coexistence, but individual temperament and training also play a crucial influence.
Barking tendencies
The Akbash dog breed is well-known for its alertness and fierce protective instincts. When they see danger or something out of the ordinary, they often react by barking.
While their barking might serve as a useful deterrent, it’s necessary to train and socialize them to reduce their barking behavior.
Possibilities of staying alone
The Akbash dog breed is well-known for its self-sufficiency and ability to spend long amounts of time on its own.
They can adjust well to living alone if you train them, introduce them to new people, and keep their minds and bodies active.
However, every dog is an individual with its personality and set of requirements.
Pros and Cons of the Akbash Dog Breed
Pros
- It can fight coyotes, wolves, and bears, but it protects livestock best with another canine. It protects children, farmers, and houses.
- Its independence and stubbornness require early training.
- It lacks an innate hostility.
Cons
- It needs work. This working breed has tasks, therefore, first-time dog owners should avoid it.
- This breed is very big for compact settings. It wanders and escapes.
- Because of its double coat, it requires special care while shedding or changing its coat in addition to regular maintenance.
Male vs Female Attitude
Male♂️ and female♀️ Akbash dogs tend autonomy, self-assurance, and loyalty to their families.
They are territorially protective and may be shy☺️ or wary around new people. Gender does not play a major influence in establishing the general temperament or attitude of an Akbash dog, though individual personalities do matter.
Appearance
The Akbash dog is a large and majestic breed known for its distinctive appearance and powerful physique. Everywhere the Akbash goes, it attracts a lot of attention.
General Appearance
The Akbash dog breed is massive and strong, with a sturdy physique. Their thick, double-layered, white or cream-colored coat serves as insulation in a wide range of temperatures.
Their eyes are almond-shaped, and their ears can either hang down or stand up somewhat. They have an air of power and grace about them.
Coat Color
The Akbash is only found in white. Their snow coat is meant for them to blend in with the sheep. There are no other color variations for a pure Akbash.
They have a medium-length double coat. They shed moderately, so brushing is recommended once or twice a week to remove debris. The Akbash’s coat is fairly easy to groom if kept up with their daily needs.
Due to their tendency to have longer coats, the Akbash isn’t adaptable in extreme weather conditions. They tend to shed a lot during hot summers.
Therefore, it is recommended to prepare for such seasons accordingly.
Shedding
The Akbash dog breed is notorious? for its tendency to shed, especially when the seasons change.
They need to be groomed frequently to control the shedding and maintain healthy fur on their thick double coat.
Owners should expect moderate shedding and be willing to devote time to grooming their pet’s coats properly.
Size
The Akbash is a large purebred dog. They weigh in the range of 75 to 140 pounds, and their height goes from 27 to 34 inches on average.
The regular male Akbash weighs around 100 to 140 pounds, while females are usually 75 to 120 pounds.
The height of males goes up to 34 inches while females reach about 29 inches. However, sizes can vary for this breed, and some may be smaller or larger than average.
Health
The Akbash is an overall healthy breed. However, as it is with most cases, some dogs, regardless of the breed, may be more susceptible to health issues.
Thus, it is always highly recommended to keep up regular checks with your veterinarian.
| Health Problems |
|---|
| Hip Dysplasia |
| Hypothyroidism |
| Dilated Cardiomyopathy |
| Gastric Torsion (Bloating) |
| Elbow Dysplasia |
| Gastric Dilation Volvulus |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy |
| Hypothyroidism |
| Health Test |
|---|
| Hip Evaluation |
| Elbow Evaluation |
| Ophthalmologic Examination |
| Genetic Testing |
| Cardiac Evaluation |
| Thyroid Function Testing |
Health and Grooming
Amount of Shedding
Potential to drool
Overall/General Health
Overall/general Health
Potential to Gain Weight
Size
Maintenance and Care
Along with keeping up regular checkups at the veterinary, it is essential to build a care routine to keep your dog happy and healthy.
Akbashes gain weight easily. It is important to make sure they are eating well, along with engaging in some physical activity.
Akbash’s oral health is another aspect that needs to be maintained. According to directions from your vet, their teeth should be brushed as dental issues are common.
Their ears should be checked for debris and pests, along with trimming the breed’s names regularly.
Moreover, they should not be found clicking against the floor. It is good to seek guidance from your groomer regarding the same.
Grooming
The Akbash is a low-maintenance breed when it comes to grooming. Their double coat needs to be brushed frequently, especially during shedding seasons, to remove stray hair and prevent matting.
Keeping their coat clean requires regular bathing. It’s also important to keep up with routine checkups of their ears, teeth, and nails.
Proper grooming helps keep the Akbash dog looking like a dog and keeps the coat healthy.
Food and Nutrition
The Akbash is a large dog with low energy therefore, its diet should be constructed in accordance.
Owing to their low energy, they are prone to weight gain. and must therefore be never overfed.
It is good to instead stick to a regular feeding schedule and not miss any meals. The number of treats given can be slightly curbed as well.
As mentioned before, all dietary changes should be ideally discussed with your veterinarian.
Food Cost
On average, high-quality dog food for an Akbash will cost between $40 and $60 per month. Also, costs may go up if you decide to include treats, vitamins, or food for pets with special needs. You should talk to a doctor to find out what your Akbash needs to eat.
Exercise and Activity Level
As mentioned before, the Akbash is a dog with low energy. However, they still must be engaging in some form of physical exercise daily.
From regular walks to active play sessions— this dog also needs its workout fulfilled.
Physical Requirements
Energy Level
Strength/intensity
Exercise Needs
Potential for Playfulness
Trainability
The Akbash breed of dog is known for being easy to train. With the right direction and regular training, Akbash dogs can learn commands quickly and obey them well.
The fact that they are smart and have a natural desire to guard and protect makes them easy to train.
Trainability
Easy to Train
Level of intellect
Potential for Mouthiness
Drive Towards Prey
Tendency to Bark or Howl
The Potential to Want to Travel
Conclusion
In conclusion, Akbash is a unique breed of dog with a long and interesting history and wonderful traits that make it a very useful dog and a loving friend.
What makes them different from other dog breeds is that they have instincts to guard, are smart, and are loyal. But if you want to own one, you need to understand, train, and care for it carefully.
The Akbash dog can do well and bring people a lot of happiness and friendship if they are lucky enough to have one.
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FAQs For Akbash Dog Breed…
Is the Akbash hard to train?
The Akbash were bred to be independent and to protect livestock. Therefore, initially, there may be some difficulty in training. However, with consistent effort, this breed can be trained very well.
How long does the Akbash live?
Their life expectancy ranges from 10-12 years on average.
Do Akbash shed a lot?
The Akbash sheds moderately. Their coats require weekly brushing, at least. During summer, their fur should be brushed more often in a week.
I am a passionate animal lover with a lifelong commitment to pet care. With over a decade of experience as a pet owner, I’ve nurtured a variety of furry and feathered friends, from cats and dogs to birds and reptiles. I possess a deep understanding of their unique needs, behavior, and health. My mission is to share my knowledge and insights to help fellow pet enthusiasts provide the best possible care for their beloved companions.