---
title: "Kangal - temperament, price, health, breeders | Pedibase"
description: "Everything to know about the Kangal (Turkey): temperament, size, health, lifespan of 12-15 years, feeding, price, and verified breeders."
canonical_url: "https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/kangal"
meta:
"og:description": "Everything to know about the Kangal (Turkey): temperament, size, health, lifespan of 12-15 years, feeding, price, and verified breeders."
"og:image": "https://www.pedibase.com/_img/rs:fill:1200:630/el:1/q:80/f:jpg/plain/s3://media-pedibase/public/8348/kangal-2.jpg"
"og:image:alt": "Dog and cat breeders near you"
"og:image:height": "630"
"og:image:width": "1200"
"og:title": "Kangal - temperament, price, health, breeders"
"twitter:description": "Everything to know about the Kangal (Turkey): temperament, size, health, lifespan of 12-15 years, feeding, price, and verified breeders."
"twitter:image": "https://www.pedibase.com/_img/rs:fill:1200:630/el:1/q:80/f:jpg/plain/s3://media-pedibase/public/8348/kangal-2.jpg"
"twitter:title": "Kangal - temperament, price, health, breeders"
---
> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://www.pedibase.com/llms.txt)
+8
Dogs
# The Kangal: temperament, price, health, and breeders
Turkey
The great protector of Sivas: calm, territorial and independent, distinct from the Anatolian Shepherd.
Size GiantLife expectancy 12–15 yearsBudget ≈ €170/monthPuppy €1,000 – €2,000
[Find a breeder 10](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-kangal) [ Compare with other breeds](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare-dog-breeds?races=kangal)
The right choice?
## Is this breed right for you?
[Find your ideal breed with our online quiz!](https://www.pedibase.com/en/choose-your-dog)
Families and children Good
Daily exercise needs Moderate
Apartment living Limited
First-time owners Limited
Other pets Good
Tolerance of being alone Good
Guarding instinct Excellent
Strengths and weaknesses
- Natural deterrent power: Its calm presence is often enough to protect a territory.
- Hardiness: It is made to live outdoors with a shelter, near a herd or a property.
- Stability when it is well raised: A good Kangal is steady, not explosive.
- Independence: He does not obey like a sport herding dog.
- Need for space: Without land, he becomes a problem.
- Power: A training mistake has serious consequences.
- Unsuitable for novices: It is never a first dog.
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- Rural properties: It is suitable for farms, herds and large enclosed plots of land.
- Experienced owners: It needs people who understand protection dogs.
- Contrasting climates: It tolerates cold and dry summers better than urban humidity.
Not recommended for
- Apartment or dense housing estate: Its territory and its voice are incompatible there.
- First-time owners: The power and autonomy are beyond a novice.
- Looking for a very obedient sport dog: It is not a Malinois.
Meet the breed
## What does it look like?
1,75 mHuman
78 cmKangal
- Height at the withers
- 70–85 cm
- Weight
- 40–65 kg
- Coat
- Short to medium-long, dense, insulating undercoat
- FCI group
- 2
- Origin
- Turkey
- Grooming
- Easy to care for
## Photos and videos
See the Kangal in photos and videos: coat colors, size, and distinctive expressions.
Origins
## Where does it come from?
The Kangal is the livestock guardian dog of the Sivas region, in Anatolia. Selected by Turkish breeders to deter wolves and predators, it has developed a calm temperament, great autonomy and a massive but agile morphology. In Turkey, it is a national heritage, distinct from the more variable Anatolian Shepherd. In Europe, it is bred as a guardian of property and livestock, sometimes as a dog for an experienced family. It must not be confused with fighting molossers.
Appearance
## What does it look like?
It is a giant, powerful and rectangular dog, with a supple appearance despite its mass. The head is broad, the muzzle slightly shorter than the skull, the characteristic black mask. The ears are drooping, the tail long and slightly curved. The coat is short to medium-long, fawn to sandy grey, with a dense undercoat. Females are clearly less heavy than males.
Temperament
## Temperament and personality
Calm, confident and very territorial, the Kangal often decides for himself. He becomes attached to his family but is not a dog for constant contact. With the children of the household, he can be protective if he was raised with them; he is not an automatic nanny. Strangers are assessed from a distance. Broad socialization is essential.
Intelligent Protective
Living together
## Living with children and other pets
He needs space, a clear territory and outings, but not an intensive daily jog. Apartment living is unsuitable for him. He patrols, observes and barks to signal. A fenced, high and solid garden is a minimum. Boredom plus isolation produce an uncontrollable guard.
Training
## Training and socialization
Training starts very early and aims at control, recall, inhibition and getting used to visitors. Calm firmness is better than confrontation. A poorly socialized Kangal becomes a safety problem. Bite sports are not recommended: its function is deterrence, not trained attack.
Budget
## Price and budget for the Kangal
A companion or working Kangal from a well-monitored breeding program is often between 1 000 and 2 000 euros. The real cost is that of space, fencing and suitable insurance.
[See cost breakdown](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/kangal/price)
Health
## Health at a glance
A rustic breed, the Kangal mainly suffers from the ailments of very large dogs: growth, stomach, joints. A diet adapted to the giant-breed puppy and measured exercise up to 18-24 months are essential. Serious breeding avoids subjects that are too heavy and too soft.
[Prevention and things to watch for](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/kangal/health)
Nutrition
## Feeding your pet well
The Kangal needs a complete, digestible diet adjusted to its age, activity and body condition. Protein quality and control of energy intake matter as much as the volume of the ration.
[Our feeding advice](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/kangal/food)
Did you know?
## Fun facts and popularity
In Turkey, the Kangal is a regional emblem, featured on statues and local festivals. Its black mask and fawn coat distinguish it at first glance. Some individuals still wear spiked collars inherited from protection against wolves.
FAQ
## Frequently asked questions about the Kangal
Answers to common questions from future owners before their new companion arrives.
### Is the Kangal the same dog as the Anatolian Shepherd?
No. They share an Anatolian origin, but the Kangal of Sivas is a more fixed type, generally fawn with a black mask, distinct from the more variable Anatolian Shepherd.
### Can it live with a family in France?
Yes, only with experienced owners, with a large enclosed space, exemplary socialization and early training.
## Find a Kangal breeder
The areas where Pedibase lists the most Kangal breeders, along with their litters and typical prices.
[Kangal breeders in Centre-Val de Loire4](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-kangal/centre-val-de-loire)
### Kangal breeders by country
[10 breeders of Kangal in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-kangal) [6 breeders of Kangal in Italy](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-kangal/italy) [5 breeders of Kangal in Germany](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-kangal/germany) [1 breeder of Kangal in Belgium](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-kangal/belgium)
[All breeders of Kangal in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-kangal)
## Ready to welcome a Kangal?
Find a registered, verified breeder near you and meet your future companion with confidence.
[View breeders](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-kangal)
## Discover other breeds
[Anatolian Shepherd Dog
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/anatolian-shepherd-dog)
[Central Asian Shepherd Dog
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/central-asian-shepherd-dog)
[Caucasian Shepherd Dog
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/caucasian-shepherd-dog)
[Pyrenean Mountain Dog
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/pyrenean-mountain-dog)
[Spanish Mastiff
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/spanish-mastiff)
```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#website","@type":"WebSite","description":"Find dog and cat breeders near you. France's leading breeder directory, with an interactive map, breed information, and verified reviews.","inLanguage":"en","name":"Pedibase","url":"https://www.pedibase.com","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/search?q={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#identity"},"translationOfWork":{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#website"}},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/kangal#webpage","description":"Everything to know about the Kangal (Turkey): temperament, size, health, lifespan of 12-15 years, feeding, price, and verified breeders.","name":"Kangal - temperament, price, health, breeders","url":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/kangal","@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/kangal#breadcrumb"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en#website"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/kangal#/schema/question/1"},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/kangal#/schema/question/2"}],"potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/kangal"]}],"primaryImageOfPage":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.pedibase.com/_img/rs:fill:1200:630/el:1/q:80/f:jpg/plain/s3://media-pedibase/public/8348/kangal-2.jpg","width":1200,"height":630,"inLanguage":"en","contentUrl":"https://www.pedibase.com/_img/rs:fill:1200:630/el:1/q:80/f:jpg/plain/s3://media-pedibase/public/8348/kangal-2.jpg"}},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#identity","@type":"Organization","description":"Pedibase is a free directory of dog and cat breeders that helps prospective owners find a registered breeder near them.","email":"contact@pedibase.com","name":"Pedibase","url":"https://www.pedibase.com/","contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer support","email":"contact@pedibase.com"},"logo":{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#logo"},"parentOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Aurion","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"1 rue Pasteur","postalCode":"72000","addressLocality":"Le Mans","addressCountry":"FR"}},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/pedibase","https://www.instagram.com/pedibase_app"]},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/kangal#breadcrumb","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Home","item":"https://www.pedibase.com/en","position":1},{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Dogs","item":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breeds","position":2},{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Kangal","position":3}]},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/kangal#/schema/question/1","@type":"Question","inLanguage":"en","name":"Is the Kangal the same dog as the Anatolian Shepherd?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. They share an Anatolian origin, but the Kangal of Sivas is a more fixed type, generally fawn with a black mask, distinct from the more variable Anatolian Shepherd."}},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/kangal#/schema/question/2","@type":"Question","inLanguage":"en","name":"Can it live with a family in France?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, only with experienced owners, with a large enclosed space, exemplary socialization and early training."}},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#logo","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Pedibase","contentUrl":"https://www.pedibase.com/logo.svg","inLanguage":"en","url":"https://www.pedibase.com/logo.svg"}]}
```