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Akbash Dog

by Petside Team

Courtesy of Tamara Taylor

The Akbash is large, strong and fast, as befits a dog whose job it is to guard valuable flocks of sheep. When he’s not taking on wolves, he is a calm, quiet and steady dog with an independent frame of mind and the ability to think for himself in different circumstances. He is accustomed to working with people as a partner, not as a subordinate.

In the United States, there are fewer jobs guarding flocks for the Akbash, so he has moved on to become a family companion and property protector. With his family he is gentle and affectionate, but intruders, including other dogs, will be sorry to meet up with him.

While his protective nature is attractive, the Akbash is not the best choice for a novice dog owner. He needs someone who can guide him with kind, firm, consistent training, never force or cruelty.

Like most dogs of this type, the Akbash matures slowly. Give him plenty of time to grow up. He won’t reach his full size or achieve his full mental abilities until he is two to three years old.

Chaining an Akbash out in the yard and giving him little or no attention is not only cruel, it can also lead to aggression and destructive behavior. The Akbash can live outdoors, but he should spend plenty of time indoors with his family.

Other Quick Facts

  • To be able to effectively fight off wolves, the Akbash must be large but not so massive that he can’t move with speed and agility.
  • The coat of the Akbash is always white, but he sometimes has biscuit-colored or gray shading around the ears.
  • The Akbash coat can be short to medium-length or long. Dogs with a long coat have a ruff around the neck and feathering on the legs and tail. Dogs with the short or medium-length coat have less of a ruff and little feathering.

Learn More About the Akbash Dog on Vetstreet.com:

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Petside Team

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Comments (6)

Anonymous (Unverified)
Added 04-15-2013 11:37am
We have had an Akbash for 10 years and they are wonderful dogs but require a strong hand. They are breed to go out in the backcountry to guard sheep from wolves and other preditors. They are very selfsuffient and can find their own food. They can stay out all summer with the herd in the back country. They are attached to their flock. The flock can be your family in their mind. They want to be with their flock at all times. Our Winnie likes to be where she can hear or see us. She likes to be outside only if we leave the door open so she can guard us. She sleeps in the hall so she can watch all 3 bedroom doors. Do not get this breed if you don't have alot of time to give. They will stick to you like glue. You find alot of them in shelters because people ignore them and they go completely out of control if not allowed to do their job of guarding you. They generally think of other large breed dogs as wolves. We also have another hard to control breed, a little Sheba Inu. Winnie doesn't think he's a dog, just part of her flock. We got our, Winnie, from Great Pyrenees rescue of Montana.
ward633 (Unverified)
Added 01-07-2013 09:42pm
great site.
KatWrangler (Unverified)
Added 01-07-2013 07:24pm
He's beautiful! I wonder if this breed would get along with cats?
Pakalani (Unverified)
Added 01-07-2013 02:33pm
I'm always interested in reading about different breeds of dogs, especially ones like the Akbash which is a new breed for me. However, I'm sure these articles enhance the idea of buying a pure breed dog, rather than going to a shelter or applying to a special breed rescue society to adopt a dog. For each dog that is purchased through a breeder, puppy mill or 'pet store' scores more are euthanized every day simply because the shelters don't have enough room for all the dogs that are dumped because owners got tired of them or didn't know they would grow up to be big responsibilities. This breed is a perfect example of a dog that should not be advertised as a good family dog. These are animals that must have a job to do, not loll around on a couch all day. I think you should end all your descriptions of dogs with a paragraph stating that while all of these exotic breeds are great dogs, shelters are packed with pure breeds just waiting to go home to a good, forever home. You are promoting the exact opposite idea of what Freekibble seems to want to accomplish: feed and save dogs from shelters.
Anonymous (Unverified)
Added 01-07-2013 12:00pm
The comment in this article about these dogs needing plenty of time indoors with their family is total crap. I dont know where the article's author got that idea. My sister has had pure bred Akbash for many years and they never come indoors, in fact they dont like to come indoors. They are working dogs that like to be outdoors to roam their property. That doesnt mean they dont get attention, they do need attention, but they do not belong indoors.
Anonymous (Unverified)
Added 01-07-2013 10:52am
Does this breed have double dew claws on the hind legs like the Pyrenees?
Vetstreet

Akbash Dog Quick Facts

Did You Know. . . The Akbash takes his name from a Turkish word meaning “white head.” He still works as a livestock guardian in rural Turkey, protecting sheep from wolves and other predators.

Size:Large
Origin:Turkey
Color:White
Grooming Difficutly:
 
Activity Level:
 
Training Difficulty:
 
Housetraining: