Appearance

Adult males stand about 30-32 inches (75-80 cm) high at the shoulders and weigh about 110-145 lb (60-70 kg). Females are usually smaller in both weight and build. Puppies weigh nearly 2 lb (900 g) at birth and by about seven weeks they are likely to reach 20-22 lb (up to10 kg.) The Kangal Dog has a short, double layered coat made up of dense undercoat, and covered by longer and coarser hair, which is not wavy or fluffy. The under-layer provides insulation for extreme temperatures in both  winters and  summers, while the outer-layer repels water and snow. The outer coat is harsh and the undercoat is very soft, dense, and sometimes gray in color. It's not long and feathery. The hair on the neck, shoulders and tail is only slightly longer than the hair on the body. The hair on the tail is never plumed or feathered. The color and coat are the most visible traits that distinguish the Kangal from other Turkish livestock guardians  . It must be a pale fawn or tan color with varying amounts of sable guard hairs. Kangal Dogs have a black facial mask, and black or shaded ears. Some working Kangals may have their ears cropped at the age of a few weeks by shepherds. White color appears on the chest, chin and toes. Some heavily sabled Kangals also have darker legs and chests. The coat should not be broken, brindled, or spotted.

To protect and conserve the genetic purity of the Kangal Dog, the government of Turkey has established several state-sponsored breeding centers. Turkish government considers Kangal Dog a part of Turkey's national heritage, hence it is  illegal to export Turkish Kangals to non-Turkish owners. The Turks began to monitor Kangal dogs ‘development, keep their health records, document pedigrees, and issue certificates of origin to genuine Kangal Dog owners. In its home district of Kangal, in Sivas province of Turkey, the Kangal Dog is still primarily used as a livestock guardian. But, as the sheep industry continues to decline in eastern Turkey, purebred Kangals of the classic type are becoming increasingly prized. Many animals are brought from the villages to compete during the annual Kangal Festival.

Further Breed Description Information as per  United Kennel Club, Inc.

HEAD  

The head is large but in proportion to the size of the dog without appearing heavy or coarse. The female's head is
somewhat more refined than the male's head. Viewed from above, the broad skull tapers very slightly toward the place
where the muzzle joins it and then tapers slightly from the base of the muzzle toward the nose. When viewed from the
side, the length of the muzzle, measured from stop to the end of the nose, is slightly shorter than the length of the
skull, measured from occiput to stop, in an approximate ratio of 2:3.  
Faults: Narrow head.  

SKULL  
The skull is broad between the ears and slightly domed. The ratio of skull width in relation to total head length is
approximately 3:5. There is a slight central furrow which runs from the middle of the skull through the stop and
gradually broadens into the wide base of the muzzle. The cheeks are moderately well developed. The stop is
well-defined but not abrupt.  
Faults: Skull too flat; skull too narrow  

MUZZLE  
The muzzle is deep and moderately blunt due, in part to the development of the upper lips which are somewhat
padded, especially in mature males. When viewed from the side, the jaws are of equal length. The muzzle is blockier
and stronger in the male. The lips are fairly tight and always black.  
Faults: Snipey muzzle; over-developed flews.  

TEETH  
The Kangal Dog has a complete set of large, evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors or level bite. Broken
teeth resulting from field work are not to be penalized.  
Serious faults: Over or undershot bite; more than two teeth missing; wry mouth.  

NOSE  
The nose is large and solid black.  
Disqualification: Liver or chocolate-colored nose  

EYES  
The eyes are medium sized, somewhat round, set well apart and show no haw. Eye color ranges from deep brown to
amber. Eye rims are black.  
Serious faults: Pale yellow eyes; lack of solid black pigment on the eye rims; loose eye rims.  

EARS  
The ears are pendant, medium sized, triangular in shape and rounded at the tips. The ears are set even with the
outside corners of the skull. When alert, the ears may be carried slightly higher. The front edge of the ear is carried
close to the cheek and, when pulled forward, the ears should amply cover the dog's eyes. In puppies, the ears may
appear disproportionately large. In Turkey, the majority of Kangal Dogs have their ears cropped as puppies. Cropped
ears on a dog imported from Turkey should not be penalized, but cropped ears on a domestic-bred dog are a
disqualification.  
Faults: Any ear carriage other than pendant; ears set too high or too low; ears too large or too small.  
Disqualification: Cropped ears on a domestic-bred dog  

NECK  

The neck is powerful and muscular, moderate in length, slightly arched, and rather thick. Some dewlap is present.  
Faults: Short, heavy neck; overly long neck; exaggerated dewlap.  

FOREQUARTERS  

The shoulders are well-muscled and moderately angulated. The forelegs are long, well-boned, and set well apart, with
strong, slightly sloping pasterns. The elbows move freely and close to the sides. The front quarters are slightly heavier
in proportion to the hindquarters.  
Faults: Loose shoulders or elbows in mature dogs; bowed front legs; feet that turn in or out; chest too wide or too
narrow.  

BODY  

The body is powerful and muscular. The line of the back inclines very slightly downward from the withers, levels, and
then rises with a slight arch over the short, muscular loin which blends into a moderately short and slightly sloping
croup. The ribs are well sprung. The moderately wide chest is deep with the brisket extending down to the elbow.
Tuck-up is moderate. The Kangal Dog is a working dog and should always be presented in well-muscled condition.  
Faults: Narrow or poorly muscled chest; narrow rib cage; barrel chest; long back or long loin; steep croup; overweight
or lack of muscle.  

HINDQUARTERS  

The hindquarters are powerful and well-muscled although somewhat less substantial than the forequarters. The rear
legs are well-boned and moderately angulated at the stifle and hock joints. The hind legs are parallel when viewed
from the rear. The rear pasterns are moderate in length and slope slightly forward from the hock joint when the dog is
standing in a natural position.  
Faults: Poorly muscled thighs; insufficient or over-angulation at stifle or hock; rear feet turning in or out.  

FEET  

The feet are large with the front feet somewhat larger than the rear feet. They are either rounded or oval in shape with
well-cushioned pads and toes that may be webbed. Nails, which may be black, white, or mixed in color, should be kept
blunt. Rear dew claws may be absent, present, single, or double. Dew claws may be removed.  
Faults: Splayed feet.  

TAIL  

The tail, which is set at the end of the croup is uncut, thick at the base, and tapering to the tip. The hair is slightly
fuller on the tail than on the body. When the dog is in repose, the rather long tail reaches at least to the hock. When
the dog is alert, the tail is carried in a curl over the back. The curl may be tight or loose but when the tail is curled
tightly, the tip of the tail may fall off to one side of the back.  
Faults: Extensive tail feathering or plumed tail; tail too short or too long; tail carried off-center (to the side of one hip)
when curled; kinked tail.  

COAT  

The Kangal Dog has a short double coat, neither wavy nor fluffy. In cold weather, the coat is very dense, nearly uniform
in length. In warm weather, much of the undercoat is shed, leaving a short, flatter outer coat. The outer coat is harsh
and the undercoat is very soft, dense, and sometimes gray in color. The hair on the neck, shoulders and tail is only
slightly longer than the hair on the body. The hair on the tail is never plumed or feathered. Most Kangal Dogs have a
strip of flatter hair along the topline. The hair on the face, head, and ears is quite short.  
Faults: Feathering anywhere on the body or on the legs or tail; lack of undercoat; medium, long or shaggy coat.  

COLOR  

Color is an important characteristic of the Kangal Dog. In Turkey, non-standard colors or patterns are indicators that
the dog is not a purebred Kangal Dog. The true Kangal Dog color is always solid and ranges from a light dun or pale,
dull gold to a steel gray, depending on the amount of black or gray in the outer guard hairs and in the soft,
cashmere-like undercoat. This basic color is set off by a black mask which may completely cover the muzzle and even
extend over the top of the head. Ears are always black. White is only permitted on the feet, chest and chin. The white
on the feet may extend half way up the forearm. The white on the chest may range from a small spot to a blaze which
may extend in a narrow stripe under the chest. Such blazes are frequently outlined with dark hair. Only a small white
spot is allowed on the chin. The tip of the tail is usually black and a black spot in the middle of the tail is often
present.  
Disqualifications: Solid black, white, or chocolate colored dogs; dogs with piebald, brindle or other parti-colored
patterns; white markings on the face other than the small white spot on the chin.  
Faults: Poorly defined black mask.  

HEIGHT & WEIGHT  

Desirable height at maturity (minimum two years), measured at the withers, ranges from 30 to 32 inches for males and
28 to 30 inches for females. A male Kangal Dog in good condition should weigh between 110 and 145 pounds. A
female should weigh between 90 and 120 pounds. Height and weight in both sexes may exceed the foregoing and
should not be penalized as long as overall balance is maintained.  
Fault: Obese, soft condition.  

GAIT  

The Kangal Dog's movement reflects the breed's combination of strength and agility. Its natural gait is relaxed and
efficient with strides of moderate length. The back remains level, and the front and rear legs on each side move in a
parallel fashion. As speed increases, however, the width between the legs decreases and the tendency to single track
increases. Pacing at a slow gait is acceptable.  

DISQUALIFICATIONS  

Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness, marked shyness or cowardliness. Piebald, brindle, or partlially-colored coat
color patterns. White, black, chocolate or liver whole body color. Liver or chocolate color nose. Cropped ears on a
domestic-bred dog.  

Kangal Dog- a word of caution

The Kangal dog may not be an ideal choice for a novice and/or uneducated owner. They are an independent breed with a headstrong nature. Extra vigilance is required when the dogs are brought into urban settings. Experience has shown that some of them eventually get abandoned due to their size and unique needs. Kangals tend to be avid chewers and diggers. They need lengthy, daily walks as roaming large distances is in their nature. They also need a large yard, tall and secure fencing. Their extra-large size, strength and autonomous personality make Kangal a challenge, even for the experienced. Our hope is that potential buyers educate themselves about the breed, consider all aspects of caring for a Kangal dog, and access support from a responsible breeder, or local Kangal club.