 Barked: Mon Jun 14, '10 4:19pm PST |
 | |  | | Tyson, Kangal Dogs aren't illegal outside of Turkey per se (though some are included in some pieces of BSL); Turkey does, however, have very strict regulations as regards exporting Kangals out of their country -- from my understanding you actually have to have government permission to do so if you're not a Turkish national, otherwise it is illegal. Makes sense though, Kangals are Turkey's national dog and they absolutely want to protect and preserve this amazing breed.
Anatolian Shepherds are absolutely not the same breed as Kangal Dogs. Certain people claim that Turkey's livestock-guardian breeds are all the same breed, and that breed is the Anatolian Shepherd; if, however, one were to read up on the different Turkish breeds one would see this is not true -- not to mention, last I knew, a large number of Turks have never even heard of the Anatolian Shepherd.
My understanding of the history of Anatolian Shepherds is that they are the result of someone bringing two pups from Turkey and breeding from there, but those pups were not Kangals, or at least certainly not purebreds -- odds are they were simply street dogs brought over. Technically they're an ancient Turkish breed in the sense that we know street dogs have been a fact of civilization from the start, but beyond that...
Kangals only come in tan with a black mask or a sort of sable, but the black mask is integral to the breed (it's the source for one of their nicknames, Karabaş ). On the other hand, Anatolian Shepherds can come in any color or patterning, so long as they fit a basic "type."
As many have said, a Kangal Dog is really best suited for the purpose they were bred: guarding livestock. I've heard of very few who have successfully kept a Kangal outside of that role, and I hugely admire the fact they can. I, however, will be waiting to look into this breed until I have my ranch (probably in the Midwest) so I can have a flock for the dog to guard.
Again, I haven't researched the Akbash enough to give a great deal of information on them, but I do know (and Cain's stories really contest to this) that the Turkish-bred Akbash and the American-bred Akbash one is likely to see can be two completely different animals temperament-wise. I had a neighbor who apparently owned an Akbash and I still kind of wonder how true that is...easily nowhere in the same world as Maximum Max!!
For anyone who is curious, here is the site which, when I was researching them, was the source of most of my knowledge. If you scroll down there is a bulleted section titled "Kangal or Anatolian?" which gives several sources for information. |  |  | |  |
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. SUCH a hard working dog... They aren't bred as companion animals, and unless they have a serious bit of space to roam/guard I think they would likely become destructive and very aggressive. Not a dog to keep in a small home and walk to the dog park everyday, that's for sure. The very same goes for the Akbash. Not to say that people haven't owned these dogs in neighborhoods with great success...I just wouldn't do it myself, that's for sure. Not when there are other breeds who are far more fitting to a companion/family lifestyle. Now, if I ever end up on some acres and decide to keep some sheep.. I'll be looking into one then! 
