Livestock guarding behaviour of Kangal dogs in their native habitat

Abstract

Kangal Shepherd Dog is one of the endemic large dog breeds in Anatolia, Turkey. It is bred in different regions of Turkey as well as in different countries as a livestock guarding dog (LGD). Being one of the most popular and common LGD breeds, basic behavioural traits and the effectiveness of Kangals have been subjected to several studies. However, most of the behavioural data originate from surveys conducted with LGD users and there is a lack in the literature of studies which focus on direct observation and recording of guarding behaviours of Kangals.