2005 International Symposium for the Kangal Dog, and the Annual Kangal Dog Festival

I. Kangal Dog Standard Presented at Turkish Symposium

Held in Kangal District, Sivas Province, Turkey

by Margaret Mellor

The 2nd International Symposium on the Kangal Dog was held in central Turkey in July, in conjunction with the 7th Kangal Festival. The impressive setting, near the town of Sivas-Kangal, was the thirteenth-century Alacahan caravanseray, once a stopping place on the trade routes across the vast Anatolian plateau. This year people again converged on the Alacahan from many parts of the world, but with a different kind of exchange in mind: information about the famous Kangal Dog, Turkey's national breed.

Delegates from the USA, Canada, southern Africa and many European countries joined a large Turkish audience to hear 14 presentations by researchers and breeders. Academics reported on their studies of health and production aspects of the breed and, especially important for us in the West, there were two genetic studies, including an expanded account of the breed-specific characteristics of Kangals, Akbash and other Turkish dogs. Dr Laurie Marker of the Cheetah Conservation Fund described the work that shepherd dogs were doing in Namibia to protect livestock; presenting a broader picture, Robin Rigg of the Slovak Wildlife Society reported on the worldwide effort to reintroduce livestock guardians as a means of conserving wild animals such as bears and wolves. Sue Kocher of the Kangal Dog Club of America spoke forcefully on behalf of rare breed conservationists when she drew comparisons between the endangered status of the Kangal as a purebred animal and rarities of other species, which by contrast are recognized and protected at home and abroad.

Highlight of the day for those of us working to establish the Kangal outside Turkey was the first official presentation of the Turkish breed standard for the Kangal Dog, by Dr. Mustafa Ozcan of Istanbul University. This detailed standard had been debated over the past two years by Turkish experts including Dr. Ozcan, and has now been approved and adopted by the Turkish Kennel Club (TKC). Representing the TKC, Umit Ozkanal later outlined the functions of this relatively new national kennel club, its organization of multi-breed shows, the registration process and documentation, and its continuing good relationship with the FCI. The TKC operates in association with the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and is currently making great strides in the promotion of pedigree dogs of all breeds in Turkey.

II. More Observations on the Kangal Symposium and Festival

by Sue Kocher

The Symposium was indeed impressive this year, held in such an auspicious and historic setting, and with so many knowledgeable and devoted researchers and Kangal fanciers in attendance. This was the second time that I was able to attend the biannual Symposium and the annual Festival, and I was very grateful to be a part of it.

As a foreign presenter, and someone who is familiar with Turkish culture and the status of Kangal Dogs in Turkey, I am always mindful of the fact that most Turkish people have a very romanticized notion of their national breed, the Kangal Dog. It is not surprising that the breed is the object of sentimental and cultural value--that is to be expected, as they are truly a magnificent and important historical breed. However, it worries me that Turks in general do not have a sense of how endangered the breed is inside Turkey, and outside Turkey as well. There is a feeling in Turkey that because these dogs have existed "forever," they will always be there "forever", and that they are as solid and enduring as the numerous ancient towns and cities, and the archeological sites thousands of years old, that dot the Turkish landscape.

But there are forces inside Turkey and outside Turkey that threaten the future of the Kangal Dog breed, and I feel it is my obligation to try and make this situation clear, so that we may work together, all of us who love Kangal Dogs, to perpetuate the breed as a working dog for the foreseeable future. Wolves and jackals are being wiped out in Turkey; the sheep industry continues to decline as farmers switch to seemingly profitable cattle herds, and their children move to the cities looking for work. When the wolves and the sheep are gone, what job will there be for Kangal Dogs?

There are efforts being made by many Turkish university and government officials, as well as a few knowledgeable and dedicated breeders, to breed quality purebred Kangal Dogs, and this is most promising. Outside Turkey there is still a working role for these dogs, particularly in countries like the US and South Africa, which still have significant numbers of large predators, and environmental initiatives to protect them. In other countries, such as Great Britain and Germany, there are no longer wolves from which to protect the sheep, but there is a strong contingent of Kangal preservationists who do what they can to maintain the breed and its unique type and temperament.

None of us can do it alone, or in isolated groups. We need to work together. We have the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on our side, so to speak, with declarations of the importance of preserving indigenous domestic breeds--of whatever species that is useful to humans--and preserving them according to the descriptions and desires of the native human populations who developed the breeds. First and foremost, it is the right and the provenance of the Turkish people to name and describe their native breeds, and it is our privilege outside Turkey to be able to assist in the effort to keep the Kangal Dog, and its eastern cousin the Akbash Dog, alive and well. The Turkish Kennel club is actively seeking recognition of their native breeds with the FCI, and this should go a long way toward preserving the breed, and preventing erosion of the gene pool overseas that is occurring due to crossbreeding with the western-derived Anatolian shepherd. The Kangal Dog Club of America stands ready and willing to work with our colleagues in Turkey, England, Germany, and every other country, club, and individual who shares a commitment to these wonderful dogs.

<---Dogs and owners cluster around the walkway to the judging booth

The Symposium and Festival organizers--especially the Kangal Governor Yilmaz Doruk, Dr. Yusuf Ograk, and Dr. Hasan Polat, Governor of Sivas Province--are to be praised and supported for their positive accomplishments under trying circumstances and with limited funds. They endeavored to set up a show that would have as many "classes" with as many winners as possible, so that many villagers would get ribbons and a sense of pride from bringing their beautiful Kangal Dogs to display.

Certainly, the "western style" dog show formula does not transplant very well to rural Turkey just yet. There were a few hiccups, inevitable for an event of this size, but each year the Festival gets better and better--and this summer's event brought a huge turnout of truly beautiful Kangal Dogs that are a credit to Turkey and to the breed. For rural villagers, transporting dogs to an all-day festival many miles from home is a very big deal! Dog owners were encouraged to classify their dogs as either rural "sheep guardians" or "guard dogs" (of property etc.) so that hard-working rural dogs and the well-fed city or kennel dogs would be judged against their peers. Many proud owners took home ribbons that day.

It is difficult to explain to others the impressive effect of seeing so many spectacular Kangal Dogs all gathered together! Beyond a doubt, the Kangal Festival was exciting and uplifting for all of us who gathered there to admire the dogs. I hope that other KDCA members, and Kangal supporters from other countries, will join us next summer in Kangal for Festival 2006--it truly is a fun and fascinating cultural experience. Turkish hospitality is justly famous, and there is no end to the exciting touristic trips to take for a few days or weeks or months in Turkey. Oh, and Turkish food is terrific!

Sue Kocher has been a presenter at the International Symposium for the Kangal Dog in 2003 and 2005. She has served for 7 years on the Board of the Kangal Dog Club of America, and currently resides in North Carolina with her husband Cuneyt and their three Kangal Dogs, plus two Rat Terriers.

III. Turkish Breed Standard for the Kangal Dog (key points)