How to Buy an Akbash Puppy in the United States | PetzLover

How is an Akbash different from an Anatolian Shepherd or a Kangal?

The Akbash comes from the plains and mountains of western Turkey, where it was kept with flocks to protect them from predators. Its Turkish name means "white head," and a white coat, sometimes shading to biscuit, is its trademark. Americans David and Judy Nelson became interested in the breed in the 1970s and imported dogs, and the US Department of Agriculture used Akbash dogs in its predator control program, Vetstreet notes.

Three Turkish guardian names are easy to confuse, and they are not interchangeable:

The Kangal Dog is registered separately by the UKC and the Kangal Club of America, while the AKC lists Kangal as another name for the Anatolian Shepherd. Because the Anatolian standard accepts white, a white puppy is not proof of an Akbash: ask what the parents are registered as and see them.

Is an Akbash right for your farm or family?

• Temperament: Hill's says the breed was selected to be suspicious and protective. Vetstreet calls it gentle and affectionate with its family but suspicious of strangers, and says it can be aggressive toward dogs it does not know.
• Activity: Vetstreet describes the mature Akbash as low-energy, though puppies need safe room to run. Hill's suggests 20 to 40 minutes of exercise a day.
• Barking: Hill's warns of alarm barking, sometimes to excess, which matters if neighbors are close.
• Coat: a double coat that sheds heavily; brush at least once a week and more during a shed.
• Children: Vetstreet says an Akbash does not come ready-made to live nicely with children and that puppies are mouthy, so plan supervision.
• Experience: Vetstreet says it is not the best choice for a novice owner, and Hill's notes that its independence makes training harder.

Akbash Dog Rescue Inc., a nonprofit that places the breed, wrote in 2020 that these dogs belong in quiet settings on acreage with a guarding job, and that city life can make them anxious. If you live on a small suburban lot, think hard before you commit.

Which health tests should Akbash parents have?

The AKC does not register the breed, so there is no AKC parent-club health statement to rely on. Vetstreet advises asking for evidence that both parents have OFA or PennHIP hip clearances and OFA heart and thyroid clearances, and adds that "vet checked" is not a substitute for genetic health testing. OFA gives final hip ratings only to dogs aged 24 months or older, so a parent under two cannot have one.

• Hip dysplasia: the main joint concern named by Vetstreet and Embrace Pet Insurance; Embrace also lists a joint cartilage disorder.
• Heart and thyroid: Vetstreet names dilated cardiomyopathy and hypothyroidism.
• Bloat: gastric torsion is an emergency in any deep-chested giant; learn the signs before the puppy comes home.
• Epilepsy and umbilical hernias: also named by Vetstreet; ask whether either has appeared in the line.
• Lifespan: breed profiles give anything from about 9 to 14 years (Hill's, Embrace).

Look up each parent on the OFA website by registered name rather than trusting a photocopy. A breeder who has no results at all is breeding blind.

Where can you find Akbash puppies for sale?

• Breed association: Embrace Pet Insurance points buyers to the breeder list kept by the Akbash Dog Association of America. Ask whether the litter will be UKC registered.
• Working breeders: many litters are raised on farms; ask to watch the parents with their sheep or goats and with a stranger at the gate.
• Listings: browse Akbash puppies for sale by state and save the search so you get an alert when a litter is posted. If nothing suits you, post an Akbash wanted ad describing your stock and fencing.
• An adult instead: a grown dog whose temperament is already known can be a better fit; see how to take in a rehomed Akbash.

What should you ask an Akbash breeder?

1. Are both parents UKC registered, and what will this puppy's papers say?
2. Can I see OFA or PennHIP hip results, and heart and thyroid results, for both parents?
3. Do the parents work with livestock, and can I watch them with stock and with visitors?
4. Were the puppies raised with animals, and which kinds?
5. How do you decide which puppy suits a working home and which suits a family?
6. What fencing do you expect, and will you take the dog back at any age if I cannot keep it?
7. Can I read the contract before I pay a deposit?

Expect questions in return about your animals, acreage, predators, neighbors and fence. A breeder who asks nothing is not matching puppies to jobs.

How much does an Akbash puppy cost, and how do you avoid scams?

Adopt a Pet puts Akbash puppies from breeders at about $800 to $2,500, depending on the breeding, and rescue adoption fees are usually far lower. The purchase price is the small part of the bill:

• Fencing: a solid fence at least five to six feet high, built before the puppy arrives.
• Food and vet care: for a dog that may reach well over 100 pounds.
• Emergencies: Embrace Pet Insurance estimates treatment for bloat at $1,500 to $7,500.