Akbash
{{Short description|Turkish breed of dog}}
{{for|the village in Iran|Akbash, Iran}}
{{Infobox dog breed
| name = Akbash
| image = Akbaş cinsi köpek.jpg
| image_alt = a large white dog sitting
| altname = Akbaş Çoban Köpeği
| country = Turkey
| weight =
| height =
| maleweight = {{convert|45|–|65|kg|abbr=on}}{{r|bitlis|p=7}}
| femaleweight = {{convert|35|–|55|kg|abbr=on}}{{r|bitlis|p=7}}
| maleheight = {{convert|60|–|85|cm|abbr=on}}{{r|bitlis|p=7}}
| femaleheight = {{convert|50|–|75|cm|abbr=on}}{{r|bitlis|p=7}}
| coat = double coat{{r|tam|p=90}}
| colour = white{{r|tam|p=90}}
| litter_size =
| life_span = 10–12 years{{r|tam|p=90}}
| kc_name =
| kc_std =
| kc2_name =
| kc2_std =
| fcistd =
| note = recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Turkey
}}
File:Akbash dog on guard.jpg]]
The Akbash ({{langx|tr|Akbaş}}) is a traditional Turkish breed or type of flock guardian dog from western Anatolia.{{r|kif}} The word {{Lang|tr|akbaş}} means 'white head', and thus distinguishes this dog from the Karabaş, or 'black head'.{{r|dic|hancock|p=33}} It was recognised by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2006; it is under the tutelage of the {{lang|tr|italic=no|Köpek Irkları ve Kinoloji Federasyonu}}, the Turkish dog breed society, but is not recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.{{r|kif|fci}}
Main origin and Real hometown of Akbash is Sivrihisar town near Eskişehir province of Turkiye
History
The Akbash is a traditional breed of livestock guardian dog, used to protect flocks from predators in the rugged terrain of western Anatolia.{{r|tam|p=90}} It is distributed mainly in the provinces of Afyon, Ankara, Eskişehir and Manisa; some are present in the provinces of Ağrı, Konya, Sivas and Tunceli.{{r|bitlis|p=7|eaap|p2=5}}
A standard was published by the Turkish Standards Institution in 2002, and in 2006 the Akbash was recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; it was added to the list of recognised native breeds and types, and the breed standard was published in the Resmi Gazete, the official government gazette.{{r|eaap|p=5|tsi|agr|p3=8|gaz}}
Characteristics
The Akbash is a flock guardian dog, providing protection from predators to shepherds and to their sheep; it does not have any herding ability.{{r|bitlis|p=7}} It is a large and powerful dog:{{r|mini|p=406}} mean body weight is approximately {{Convert|45|kg|abbr=on}}, and mean height at the withers just over {{Convert|75|cm|abbr=on}}.{{r|bitlis|p=6}}
The coat may be either long or of medium length; it is always double, and is usually white, though there may be some shading towards a biscuit colour.{{r|dk|p=70|mini|p2=406}} As with other white-coated flock guardian dogs, the white coat makes it easy for the shepherd to distinguish between the dog and a predator, even in the dark.{{r|mini|p=406}} There is considerable feathering behind the legs, and the tail is heavily feathered.{{r|dk|p=70}}
References
{{commons category}}
{{Reflist|45em|refs=
Turkish Language Association - TDK Online Dictionary. [http://www.tdk.gov.tr/TR/SozBul.aspx?F6E10F8892433CFFAAF6AA849816B2EF4376734BED947CDE&Kelime=ak ak]{{dead link|date=September 2017 | bot=InternetArchiveBot | fix-attempted=yes }} , [http://www.tdk.gov.tr/TR/SozBul.aspx?F6E10F8892433CFFAAF6AA849816B2EF4376734BED947CDE&Kelime=ba%C5%9F baş] {{dead link|date=August 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
Tamsin Pickeral (2014). Dogs Unleashed. San Diego: Thunder Bay Press. {{isbn|9781626860681}}.
}}
{{Turkish dogs}}
{{Livestock guardians}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akbash}}