Origin of the Turkish Kangal (Karabash) Shepherd Dog

Two widespread views

There are two widespread views about the origin of Kangal (Karabash) Dogs.

According to the first view, which is based on Anglo-American sources, the origin of Kangal (Karabash) dogs is geographically Mesopotamia and the civilizations of Babylon and Assyria. Past civilizations existed in Egypt, Syria, Persia and in Mesopotamia which is within the borders of present-day Iraq. As evidence of this, the holders of the first view cite reliefs remaining from that time containing the figures of dogs. However, those with this view cannot explain why reliefs with dogs are not found in Anatolia.

The best known of these dog reliefs are found in the ancient city of Ninevah, within the peresent day borders of Iraq. They are currently on display in the Assyrian section of the British Museum. (Kırmızı 1991).The dogs depicted in these reliefs have a mastiff-like appearance with massive heads and prominent rib cages. Unlike Kangal (Karabash) Dogs their ears are not triangular. Furthermore, their tails are straight, not curled. The features shown are all typical of mastiff (Molossus)-type dogs.

In southern Iran, populated by Persians and Arabs and in Mesoptamian Iraq, no Kangal (Karabash)-like, dun coloured dog breeds are found. Neither is any Kangal (Karabash)-like dog breed found in Syria or Egypt. However, in Anatolia, where dog reliefs are not found, these dogs exist. Moreover, in the northern parts of Iran, populated by Azeris and known as Southern Azebaijan, there are dun coloured dogs with curled tails and black masks like Kangal (Karabash) Dogs. These dogs cannot be found in the Persian and Arab areas of southern Iran. This strengthens the arguments of those holding the second view.

Civilizations lived in Anatolia

 
According to archeological information, the Luwi, Arzawi, Lukka, and Hatti civilizations lived in Anatolia before the Hittites. No significant remains in the form of writing or pictures exist from these civilizations. After the Hittites, who started the use of writing, came in order the civilizations of the Frigyans, Lidyans, Ionians, Urartians, Persians , the Hellenistic Period (established by Alexander the Great), Romans and Byzantines. In addition, there were a number of small states, such as the kingdoms of Bythinia, Pontus, Cappadocia and Pergamum, which ruled only limited areas of Anatolia (Kara 2005).

These civilizations have left archeological remains in the form of stones, pottery and metal artefacts. Pictures of wild animals such as snakes, deer, lions and eagles, and domestic animals such as horses, bulls and goats can be found on these artefacts, but not a single picture of a dog has been found. Furthermore, no pictures of sheep have been found. It is very interesting that among these numerous pictures of other domesticated and wild animals no pictures of the first animal to be domesticated i.e. the dog , or the second animal to be domesticated i.e. the sheep, have been found on these archeological remains.

Species in Anatolia

Before the arrival of the Turks in Anatolia approximately 1000 years ago, people in the region lived by agriculture and by trade. People living on the coasts of Asia Minor, which is surrounded by seas on three sides, lived by shipping and trade, while those living inland lived by agriculture, trade and craftsmanship. On the Aegean coasts goats, and in inland areas cattle, were raised on small family holdings to provide meat, milk, leather and hair and as draught animals. No information about sheep rearing has reached us from those times.

Importance of sheep and dog for ancient Turks

However, in Central Asia, which is the ancestral homeland of theTurks, sheep rearing was the most important form of animal husbandry. The lifestyle of the ancient Turks being predominantly migratory, sheep and dogs were and essential component of their lives. Ibn Fadlan states that among the Oguz Turks there were beyler (lords) who owned 100,000 head of sheep and 10,000 head of cattle. There is supporting evidence of this in the Dede Korkut stories. Salur Kazan, bey of the Üç Ok tribe, had 10,000 sheep at a place called Kaygulu Dere alone. Deli Karçar in the story of Bamsi Beyrek demanded 1000 camels, 1000 horses and 1000 sheep from a suitor of his sister as bride price (Perinçek 2003). In nomadic societies there is no private ownership of land. Ownership exists over the flocks. The wealth of the ancient Turks was based entirely on the ownership of flocks. Where very large flocks existed, dogs had a very important place.

Kubilay Khan, who lived in the 13th century, was a grandson of Cengiz Khan. He had two lieutenants, who each commanded divisions with10,000 soldiers. Each division had 5000 large dogs. Kubilay Khan used to hunt with these divisions. Advancing from the left and right in a pincer-like movement, the two divisions would join to form a circle. In this way with 1000 soldiers and 5000 dogs they surrounded an area within one day's travel. No wild animal trapped in this circle had any chance of survival. Kubilay Khan arranged these hunts frequently (Carım 1966).

The Migration

In the present day, too, sheep and dogs are very important in the Turkic republics of Central Asia. It is possible to come across flocks of sheep and sheep guarding dogs everywhere in those republics. In the capital cities and other major cities, sheep and dogs are brought for sale at theweekend markets (Bulut 2005).

The Turks migrated into Anatolia in waves in the 11th century and most probably brought with them three different kinds of animals: horses, sheep and dogs. Horses were used for riding and for pulling carts. Sheep supplied food during journeys. Dogs guarded possesions, people and animals.To the present day Kangal (Karabash)-like dogs can be encountered everywhere in the Central Asian Republics. More importantly, Kangal (Karabash)-like dogs exist on the migration routes of the Turks from Central Asia to Anatolia. However, in the southern part of Iran, populated by Persians and Arabs, no Kangal (Karabash)-like dun coloured dogs are found. But in those regions populated by Azeri Turks, on the migration routes of the Turks from Central Asia to Anatolia, numerous dogs exist which phenotypically resemble Kangal (Karabash) Dogs.