Single Registration of Kangal Dogs
We have received several questions about dogs that the UKC accepts for single registration. Because we are concerned about genetic conservation, the fact that the UKC does accept dogs for single registration is very important. Without this provision, we would be limited to only the offspring of dogs already in the registry. That is known as a closed registry and the resulting narrow gene pool has caused many problems for established breeds.
KDCA and UKC Policy
In general, the Single Registration Committee of the KDCA works with the UKC to register Kangal Dogs that are the offspring of adequately documented but non-UKC registered parents. Usually these dogs are imported directly from Turkey, or are the progeny of Turkish imports. In a few cases, dogs presented for registration may be the offspring of purebred Kangal Dogs that were previously registered as Anatolian Shepherd Dogs (ASDs) with registries other than the UKC. Those offspring may be processed through Single Registration and will be fully registered with the UKC provided that they meet all the requirements of Single Registration for Kangal Dogs. However, dogs that meet the usual requirements of Single Registration for the Kangal Dog breed but which are registered as another breed in the United States, cannot themselves be registered as Kangal Dogs. We will work with the UKC to register documented Kangal Dogs in Europe as Kangal Dogs in the UKC registry, including those registered as Anatolians, in recognition of the fact that Europe currently has no registry for Kangal Dogs.
Background to the Situation
As we know, the various Anatolian registries in the U.S. and Europe have a broad view of their breed which includes any and all of the shepherd dogs in Turkey. They include not only the classic Kangal Dog of the Sivas-Kangal region, but also Kangal colored dogs (fawn with a black mask), the white Akbash, pintos, brindles and other colors from various regions which do not have a breed designation in Turkey. Both short and rough coated dogs are permitted and region of origin is not considered. We know that a number of purebred Kangal Dogs, obtained from government kennels or private breeders, have been registered as ASDs despite their official papers, pedigrees or descriptions designating them as a Kangal Dogs.
Our view is simple. If a dog can be proven to be a Kangal Dog then we would like very much to register it and include it in our genetic pool. Our only exception is a dog that has already been registered as an Anatolian here in the U. S., for the simple reason that the UKC and the AKC will not allow dogs to be in two separate breed registries at the same time. However, we have registered puppies of Kangal Dogs that were originally registered as ASDs. Some of these owners did not know there was a Kangal Dog registry and were told that Kangals and Anatolians are the ‘same breed.’ Some have tried to remove their Kangal Dog from an ASD registry when they discovered they could register their dog according to its correct Turkish breed designation.
In Europe, the situation is slightly different from that in the U.S. As of now, although it may change, there is no option to register a Kangal Dog as a Kangal Dog. Although some breeders registered their Kangal Dogs as Anatolians in order to show them or because of a perceived need for kennel club ‘papers,’ they have also kept their Kangal Dog lines pure. We have registered puppies from these dogs since they have Kangal documentation. These same breeders are also working towards FCI (the International Canine Federation) recognition of the Kangal Dog as a breed separate from the ASD in both Turkey and Europe.
At times, folks have moved to North America with their Kangal Dog. Although their dog may have been previously registered as an ASD in Europe, they are relieved and happy to find out that here they can register that dog according to his historical name: as a Kangal Dog.
The Kangal Dog has been recognized by the Australian National Kennel Council since 1997, when a number of Kangal Dogs there were given the option of splitting away from the Anatolian registry, providing their Kangal heritage could be demonstrated and they fit the breed standard. We can and we have shared bloodlines with our fellow Kangal fanciers in Australia.
A Turkish Kennel Club has been formed for the registration of indigenous Kangal and Akbash Dogs as well as foreign breeds, and the TKC is pursuing the recognition of their native breeds by the FCI and FCI member countries. We applaud this effort, and we are likewise pursuing recognition of the Kangal Dog by the AKC, in order to protect the name and standard of the Kangal Dog in the US. In this way, we can cooperate internationally to preserve the Kangal Dog breed for future generations.
Documentation of Imported Kangal Dogs in the U.S.
Of course, not all fawn, black-masked livestock guardian dogs are purebred Kangal Dogs. This coat pattern is commonly found in dogs of varied type throughout Turkey, so color alone does not justify the breed designation ‘Kangal Dog.’ The Kangal Dog is a regional, historical breed that originated in the area of Sivas province in northeastern Turkey. Dogs that lack documentation of their heritage are not accepted for registration by the KDCA.
We look for several types of information when documenting the origin of a Kangal Dog such as: Turkish pedigrees, breeding certificates, veterinary records, shipping papers, statements from breeders or sellers and their contact information, supporting photos taken in Turkey, documents about the dam and sire of the dog, and other letters or documents supporting the dog’s place of origin. Fortunately we have club members who can also translate any documents supplied in Turkish.
The view of the KDCA is that Kangal Dogs are Kangal Dogs, whatever the name given on a piece of paper. We seek to protect and promote healthy, purebred Kangal Dogs, and to build our gene pool in the U.S., by approving the registration of as many qualified Kangal Dogs as possible.
