Akbash - Powerful & Impressive Dog Breed

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Although it is unpopular, the Akbash dog breed looks amazing and impressive. With his striking white coat and strong protective instincts, he is gaining more and more popularity among dog enthusiasts around the world. These dogs are mostly used as working dogs, but they can also be a great addition to your family, as Akbash dogs are excellent pets when properly trained and socialized. Continue reading to learn all the important information about this dog breed if you decide to get one for you and your family. We assure you you will not make a mistake if you go for one of these dogs.

History

Akbash dogs originally come from Turkey, more precisely from the western area. It is believed that they originated over 3000 years ago. If you were wondering, the name Akbash is a Turkish word that means "white head," and it is a term that describes the white coat of these beautiful dogs.

Their initial purpose was to be a livestock guardians and to protect sheep and goats from various predators that could be found in that area. Predators were mostly wolves and bears. Akbash dogs fit perfectly into this role, as they are big and have strong protective instincts.

We don't know what the ancestors of this impressive dog breed are, but many people think that many European and Asian breeds were served when creating Akbash dogs. Those breeds included various mastiffs and Molosser dogs.

Akbash dogs came to the US at the beginning of the 1970s, when they started to gain more and more popularity because of their beautiful appearance and striking working abilities.

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Personality

Akbash dogs are very loyal and protective towards their humans and family. They will create a strong bond, especially between two children, with everybody around them. Since they were bred for protection, they are excellent watchdogs for your house.

With all that, if you are thinking about getting one of these dogs, you must be very careful since they can be overprotective and first-time owners could have problems controlling them. They are best suited for experienced dog owners who will know how to work with such a powerful breed.

If you do all the things right, you don't have to worry that you will have a problem with your dog. Akbash will be a great and sweet addition to your family.

Socialization

As we said earlier, Akbash is a powerful dog breed that will need proper guidance from an early age. That said, early socialization is a must for these dogs. Socialization will help these dogs grow into well-adjusted and confided dogs that know how to react in many different situations.

Socialization will also help them distinguish potentially dangerous situations where they will need to react properly. To get the best out of socialization, you must expose your Akbash puppy to various environments, people, pets, and sounds from the start. Only that way you can be sure to get a well-adjusted dog breed in the future.

You can even enroll your Akbash puppy to puppy socialization classes, and that way, even help him to gain and develop proper social skills.

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Training

Akbash dogs are highly intelligent, and they will learn quickly. It is only important that you be consistent in training and that you reward all the good things your dog does. Since they can be independent, you can expect that these dogs will challenge you during training, but you must be firm and consistent.

This doesn't mean that you should punish your dog; it only means you should base training on positive reinforcements and not allow your dog to take control.

Once you establish yourself as a firm leader, your dog will follow all of your commands, and you don't have to worry about him not behaving.

If you are not sure how to do so, you can always enroll your puppy in obedience classes, where your puppy will learn all the important training foundations. Akbash dogs thrive on mental stimulation, and if you don't provide them with proper stimulation during the day, your dog could start to misbehave.

Exercise

Akbash dogs are bred to guard and protect and have massive energy levels. That means that you will have to find a proper way for your dog to spend his accumulated energy if you don't have behavior problems with your dog.

Your dog should get at least one hour of hard exercise during the day, including running walks or even playtime in your house or yard. If your dog is well-socialized, you can even take him to the dog park so he to spend his energy playing with other canines.

Since these are working dogs, you can take them to hiking, agility courses, or herding trials.

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Health problems

Akbash dogs are generally healthy and have a life expectancy of 10 -12 years. As with all dog breeds, they're prone to some health problems that you should be aware of.

The most common health problems that can bother Akbash dogs include

• Hip dysplasia
• Bloat
• hypothyroidism.

To ensure that your dog will not be affected by this problem or any other health issues, we suggest you to regularly visit your vet. Only that way you can be sure that your dog will be healthy, and even if you and your vet find some problem that is bothering your dog, you can act quickly, and your dog will have a better chance of recovery.

Grooming and care

Akbash dogs have a beautiful, dense double coat that is weather resistant. This coat will require regular weekly brushing and grooming to keep it clean and healthy. Regular bruising will secure that all the dead hair is removed from your dog's coat and that mats will not happen.

Since these are double-coated dogs, they will massively shed twice a year during the shedding season, and at this time, daily brushing will be required to keep the amount of hair under control.

The rest of Akbash's care includes Bathing every 2-3 months. You should never over bath your dog since bathing too frequently could potentially harm your dog's coat. Trim your dog's nails regularly and clean his ears. Brushing teeth are also required on a regular basis to keep his teeth and gums healthy.

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Where to find Akbash dogs?

If you are interested in getting one of these dogs, you must do the research and find good and reputable Akbash breeders. Good breeders will prioritize dogs' health and temperament and will be able to provide you with all the important information about this dog breed.

You can always consider adopting if you don't want to buy a dog. Find local rescue organizations or shelters where you could potentially find these dogs. Since Akbash are big dogs with a strong temperament, many of them will end up in shelters due to the lack of understanding of their specific needs and characteristics.

Conclusion

Akbash is a majestic, protective, and loyal dog breed that can be a great addition to your family. With his beautiful white coat, you can be sure that many people will want to pet him. These dogs require proper training and exercise from an early age, and only by providing them with all the necessary things can you be sure that your dog will develop into a well-rounded dog. The Akbash dog is ideal for experienced dog owners looking for a loyal and hardworking companion.

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World Dog Finder team