Registration and Importing Kangal Dogs

If your Kangal Dog was bred from a UKC-registered Kangal Dog sire and dam, your breeder will register the litter and tell you how to transfer the registration papers to you as an owner (or co-owner). Please submit the registration changes promptly to avoid future questions or issues of ownership.

If your dog was not bred from UKC registered dogs, you can apply to the KDCA Single Registration committee for possible registration. The UKC will only accept single registration applications with the approval of the Single Registration Committee of the KDCA. You cannot apply directly to the UKC.

If you plan to single-register your dog, please read the following information carefully.

KDCA Policy Guideline

In general, the Single Registration Committee of the KDCA works with the UKC to register Kangal Dogs that are the offspring of non-UKC registered parents that are adequately documented. 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. (Policy adopted by the KDCA Board of directors 2/04)

Guidelines for Single Registration

You need to submit two forms and two, separate checks:

You must supply the following information at your own expense:

  1. Background on the dog (birthplace and current residence)
  2. Background on the dog’s parents
  3. Please indicate whether the dog’s parents have ever been registered with any organization. (for example, the AKC, CKC, FCI, British KC, German VDH, etc.) Attach copies.
  4. Copy of the dog’s official registration certificate from the organization where the dog is currently registered, if applicable. (AKC, CKC, FCI, British Kc, German VDH, etc)
  5. Copy of the dog’s shipping papers, if applicable
  6. Any proof of origin for this dog (including dog's place of birth, and the name and contact information of breeder/seller) and/or pedigree information tracing back to Turkey
  7. Applications must include a pedigree that is signed by the dog's breeder. If there are two breeders involved, applications must include a pedigree that is either co-signed by both breeders, or alternatively, identical pedigrees that have been signed by each breeder individually. The UKC and the KDCA will require you to fill out as much information as possible on a 5 generation pedigree form. Please be specific about dog and owner names.
  8. Any other supporting documentation
  9. Five color photos, showing front, rear, right and left sides of the dog in a standing position, plus a close-up of the dog’s head
  10. Other photos of your dog's relatives (indicate on the photos what they are)
  11. A list of any litters that this dog has produced, if applicable. Include the name and breed of sire/dam, and names and addresses of puppy owners

Please contact the committee if you have any questions about these requirements or difficulty in obtaining them.

In the interests of maintaining the integrity of the Kangal Dog registry, the KDCA Single Registration Committee may ask you further questions to clarify items, or may ask you to provide more information about certain items such a pedigree or breeder details. This is normal and to be expected.

The Committee reviews applications quarterly, with each member receiving copies of all information. Your application will be included in the next quarterly review, following the receipt of ALL applications, photos and documentation.

Guidelines for the import of Kangal Dogs

  1. Purchasing a dog direct from Turkey is a risky endeavor, whether you have a puppy shipped to you, or go to Turkey and pick one up personally. The result can be a wonderful puppy with the potential to be a great family or working dog, and potentially a valuable contributor to our growing gene pool, but the experience can also be fraught with danger, expense, anxiety, and misrepresentation.
  2. Know your source, and be sure about the sire and dam of your import puppy. Even people who thought they had excellent contacts in Turkey have been disappointed to find out later that the pup they bought and imported has disqualifying mismarks, lack of breed type, and/or lack of documentation to prove that the dog is a purebred Kangal Dog and cannot therefore be registered.
  3. Develop contacts and mentors. You might be convinced that you have a great connection, but rest assured: others have thought the same, and been sorely disappointed. Be very cautious of "middlemen" who take a fee and offer to get you a dog. You should make direct, independent contact with your dog's breeder(s) to confirm all details of the dog's ownership, background and pedigree. Get in touch with KDCA members who have “been there and done that.” Beware of those who disparage the KDCA or members of the KDCA; chances are, they are defensive because it discourages you from asking too many questions or by makes you feel like an 'insider'. It's an old and effective tactic.
  4. Do your homework. Read up on various breeders, their kennels, their dogs and find out if there are other imports already in this country from related lines - then check them out thoroughly. We are seeing many import dogs that are from the same litter, same parents or breeder.
  5. Check with the KDCA Single Registration Committee (KDCASR@gmail.com) to make sure you will be able to register the dog after it is imported. Individuals intending to import a Kangal dog that they would like to register with the UKC are advised to contact the KDCA Single Registration Committee prior to purchasing and importing the dog in order to obtain pre-approval. Many factors can affect the Single Registration Committee's ability to recommend approval for an applicant dog's registration as a Kangal dog, and pre-approval is the best and only guarantee that the considerable expense and effort to find and import a Kangal dog will result in registration with the UKC
  6. Read all the requirements for single registration. Be prepared to send in all documentation.
  7. All of the above guidelines should be applied to any import dog, not just those coming from Turkey.
  8. There currently are legal restrictions concerning the export of Kangal dogs from Turkey. People who are considering bringing Kangal dogs out of Turkey need to be aware of this, and check with local contacts to ensure that they will not run into problems at customs.

Important Considerations

The Kangal Dog Club of America stands with the United Kennel Club in a firm opposition to the cruel, illegal, and destructive practice of dog fighting. We believe that the breeding and use of dogs for fighting is not only inhumane, but also detrimental to the breed's characteristics. Dog fighting, and breeding for a fighting temperament, endangers the Kangal Dog's physical attributes, temperament and reputation, both locally and internationally. In particular, livestock guardian breeds are valued for their protective instinct towards their charges and a graduated response to perceived threats. In our continued efforts to protect the essential qualities of the Kangal Dog, the KDCA takes a strong stand against any breeders who produce dogs for use in fighting, and our own Single Registry committee will reject any dogs that come from a kennel known to breed fighting dogs. Breeders producing dogs for this purpose are likely to cross breeds to produce extreme physical characteristics and aggressiveness, and thus any dogs from these lines should not be allowed to enter the Kangal Dog gene pool as they threaten the integrity of the breed. Even if other breeds are not used, breeding dogs will be selected for characteristics that are inconsistent with the essential qualities of the livestock guardian dog, namely its effectiveness and safety as a protector with balanced temperament and physical conformation. Club members who wish to import breeding stock from other countries, including Turkey, must be careful to ensure that they are not buying dogs from any breeders involved in this inhumane activity.

Questions? Contact the Single Registration Committee of the Kangal Dog Club of America at KDCASR@gmail.com