All About The Kangal Dog

The Kangal Dog is well known and  very popular on the internet for being a fighting dog. The reality is that the breed has developed over hundreds of years as a Livestock Guardian Dog. While the occasional honor fight may have occurred amongst shepherd, the breed's primary purpose was to defend and if necessary fight of large predators like wolves and bears, in it's home region of Sivas, Turkey.  For hundreds of years the Kangal Dogs have fought deadly battles with large predators. Well on Evans Mill Cattle Ranch, the work may not be as deadly but the name of the game is still protection. Elisabeth Jensen and Marc Guilfoil employ six Kangals, to protect their cattle and keep the grounds of their ninety acre ranch in order.  On their ranch the biggest villians are Black Vultures and the always pesky Coyote.   A working Kangal on duty will station itself on a high vantage point overlooking its flock. On hot days, the dog will dig itself a hollow in the ground to keep cool. Novices learn by staying close to older dogs. The dogs will work in pairs or teams depending on the size of the flock, taking up positions around the sheep and changing their positions as needed. The intensity of their patrols around the sheep increases at nightfall.