Cattle guard dogs reproduce Turkish pride

SIVAS, Turkey (AP) – For 30 years, Huseyin Yildiz has raised powerful shepherd dogs in the Anatolian province of Sivas, Turkey, home to Kangal canines, which protect livestock, which are a source of pride for the country.

Still, the animal breed that Turkey regards as the national dog is fighting for international recognition. The Kennel Club of the United Kingdom lists Kangal Turkish dogs as a different breed identified by snout and dark ears. Elsewhere in the Western world, Kangals are still listed in similar breeds in the region as Anatolian shepherd dogs.

Its origins in the Kangal district of Sivas are reportedly dating back thousands of years, although concrete evidence is scarce. Yildiz, 50, describes herd offerings as “anatomical lions.”

“The Kangal dog is the ancient legacy of Anatolia,” he told The Associated Press. “He is fast, quick, agile, agile, strong and intelligent. At the same time, it has a wolf-like appearance that sets it apart from other dog breeds ”.

Although short-haired, large-skulled creatures are used primarily to protect herds of cattle, 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 Ankara, the capital of Turkey, Yildiz says he keeps male dogs separate at all times because they will fight each other to the death.

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