Turkish Akbash Dog. Any info?

My husband and I are thinking about getting an Akbash. I have met a few and love their personalities. I have read info about them and done research but I was wondering if anyone has any info from experience with these dogs. Thanks!

nvr heard of it

I have never heard of it but heres some information on the breed:The Akbash is not shy. When used as a guard dog, it is not extremely personable with humans, although the breed is not by nature hostile. The Akbash can be used as a companion dog as well as a working breed, and if trained appropriately can be extremely personable with any creature no matter the size or age. The Akbash has been bred to be independent and dogs of this breed might think that they know better than their owners during training. The Akbash is a relatively low-energy breed. Because it is in their nature to lie with the flocks they guard most of the day, they do not possess tremendous endurance or energy. That does not mean, however, that they can be happily confined to small spaces. It is still very much a working breed and is happiest when given a task to complete. These dogs are known for their intelligence, bravery, independence and loyalty.[edit] HealthAn 11 year-old AkbashAn 11 year-old AkbashCases of hip dysplasia and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) have occurred with this dog; however, the breed as a whole does not seem to be afflicted with these conditions nearly as often as many other large, rapidly growing breeds. Akbash dogs, like many large breeds, can be expected to live 10 to 11 years. However, Saygi, an Akbash dog living in Toronto, Canada, died in June 2007 at 17 years 7 months.[edit] HistoryThe origins of the breed are not well understood but it is believed by some to be an ancient pure breed. The Akbash Dog is thought to be the Turkish equivalent of other white guardian breeds found in and around the northern Mediterranean Basin. Unlike those breeds, only the Akbash Dog has its unique combination of molosser and sighthound qualities. This breed was developed at least 3000 years ago, probably by shepherds who purposely bred for white-colored guarding sheepdogs, perhaps to tell them apart from predators. Archeological evidence suggests that the earliest civilizations arose in the parts of the world currently occupied by Syria, Iran and Turkey (the fertile crescent region). It is here that about 10,000 years ago enough people congrated to form a society or societies, which in turn began to domesticate animals and cultivate (or domesticate) plants. In short order there would have been a need for livestock protection dogs to care for the livestock. The white breeds of livestock protection dogs include the Great Pyrenees of the Pyrenees Mountain area in France and Spain, and the Maremma of the Maremma Mountains of Italy. A reasonable - but not in any way proven - hypothesis is that white (Akbash) dogs were developed in Turkey, and spread from there with the exploits of the Ottoman and earlier empires, to where they are found today.Pictures:http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/images15/AkbashDogKuzco.jpghttp://www.akbashdogs.net/3dogs%201.jpghttp://akbashclub.com/pamsightsm.jpghttp://www.mypets.net.au/template_images/akbash.jpghope i helped!

They make great pets! I love them. So beautiful. MMM, they are similar to a Great Pyrenees, and they are often used as a guardian lifestock dog-they live with the livestock.mmn there not much more that i can tell you because you have researched the breed and that is a very good thing! THe next step is to find a REPUTABLE breeder or find a Akbash rescue.

Ok, I think you'd be better off with a great pyrenees. They have had similar histories as the Akbash dogs and therefore are very similar in personality. The big difference is that Akbash dogs HAVE to have a flock to guard. They have not yet been bred as house dogs enough to have lost their functional needs. This dog needs a shepherding job!! They will not be satisfied living at home with people. Sorry, but I really think it's a bad idea. Their not like labs who still retrieve but have also been bred as house dogs, they have one love in life and that is white, wooly, fluffy sheep...