How do Kangals Protect the Flock?

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The Kangals are also known as the Kangal Shepherd, Kurdish Kangal, or Turkish Kangal and these dogs can be seriously intimidating, thanks to their huge, strong and muscular body.

There’s a lot more to this dog breed than just their appearance. Let’s look closer at the working history of this often misunderstood breed.

Kangal vs. Wolf

Wolves are known to be the ultimate nuisance of many farmers in Turkey and they have become this breed’s Nr.1 enemy.

Wolves have a bite force of 400 psi and some of the biggest of them can have as high as 1200 psi. You can imagine how the Kangal’s bite force (743 psi) can match that of the wolves.

Many Turkish farmers have their dogs wearing spiked or thorny collars as an effective way of preventing any damage from a wolf’s bite.

Kangal vs. Cheetah

The cheetah has a weaker average bite force than the wolf, around 475 psi, so these big African cats are no match for the strong and powerful Kangal.

Did you know that these dogs helped with the preservation of Cheetahs in Africa? In Namibia, the Cheetah Conservation Fund gave farmers around 500 Kangals to train. They did it with a clear cause -  so farmers can stop hunting cheetahs that feed on their livestock – they simply let these dogs protect the livestock and drive cheetahs away.

This proves that these dogs, even though they are superior and stronger than the cheetahs, know when to attack and when to kill. They really are the ultimate guard dog.

Kangal vs. Lion

There aren’t many animals that are a match for the King of the Jungle. We shouldn’t underestimate this big predator.

Lions may have a weaker bite force than the Kangals, but, unlike these dogs, these ferocious cats are hunters. These dogs may have been trained and bred to protect livestock from wild animals, but we aren’t really sure if these animals included the mighty lion.

It is interesting to know that this dog used to have a nickname the ‘Anatolian Lion’.

Are these dogs dangerous?

In short - they can be, and that’s what their original purpose was and that is what makes them excellent at their jobs. When they’re not working, you’ll see their softer side and that they have a calm temperament.

Here are some positive characteristics you should focus on when thinking about this dog.

These dogs are loyal and extremely devoted to their owner, and they will obey the owner’s orders. This is one of the reasons this breed is the best at what it does.

When properly trained, these dogs are able to control their instinct to attack. This is a remarkable ability, especially for a dog that is as powerful as the Kangal.

Even as early as 2 years old, these dogs start to develop independence. They think and solve problems independently, without the help or commands from their owner.

It is important to remember that this is a working breed and it should be treated as such. In order to get a better understanding of this breed, make sure to read the article about Kangal history. If you are looking for a big dog to have as a pet, there are other options too. This is a breed that is a guardian and they are bred and born to guard livestock.

World Dog Finder team