Temperament:
The Akbash Dog is a primitive guard dog breed, requiring owners who understand canine behavior. The dogs are a combination of: submissive posturing to livestock, and dominance aggression - to stand up against bears and wolves. They require owners dedicated to constant socialization if it is kept as a companion. They are naturaly dog aggressive. In town with sights and sounds everywhere, barrier frustration-aggression is common. This is a serious working breed and is best placed where it can have a job to do. They are opportunists for taking over control so they are best placed with children over eight years of age, when the child can participate in submission exercises, with an adult, on the dog. Barking and patrolling is their primary means of defense and so they will bark if out at night. Trouble usually occurs when friends come over and aren't supervised by someone the dog knows. As a guardian/guard dog breed, the trained and socialized dog will defer to the owner when the owner is present and will be friendly and happy to visit visitors, however they consider unsupervised people as suspicious. This is an intelligent, courageous, and loyal dog. Completely dedicated and devoted to their owner and any livestock in its charge. Independent with strong protective instincts. The Akbash is a natural guardian that even at a very young age will bond strongly with the livestock it is protecting. It has such strong maternal instincts, that sheep will often allow this dog to sniff and clean their newborn lambs and will flock behind their guardian when threatened. Because of their strong maternal instincts, they are usually good with infants. The dog's independent nature allows it to respond swiftly and without guidance in an emergency. There is no difference in guarding ability between the male and female. Once bonded, these dogs will not hesitate to risk their own lives to protect their charges. Because of its strong independent nature, it thinks twice upon receiving commands. Not recommended for first time dog owners, or people who do not wish to have a serious guard dog. Companion dog owners should be prepared to spend a fair amount of money on good fencing and a lot of time on socialization.

Grooming:
The hard coat is clean, non-smelling and non-matting but does require brushing to help the shedding process. They are above average shedders.

Exercise:
They are a low activity level dog, but also an extremely athletic dog requiring a long daily walk, and lot of space to run around off it's lead.

Living Condition:
Akbash Dogs are not recommended for apartment life, regardless of the amount of on-leash exercise provided. They are relatively inactive indoors and do best with a minimum of a 1/4-acre and at least a 5' tall fence. They should live in a semi-rural or rural settings. This breed is quiet and clean in the house.

Origin:
Also called the Coban Kopegi and the Akbas, the Akbash Dog is an elegant, rare breed from the area we now call Western Turkey. It was developed 3000 years ago, by shepherds who selectively bred for white-colored guarding sheepdogs, perhaps to differentiate them from predators. The Akbash is a probable relative of the other great white herd guarders of Europe such as the Komondor, Kuvasz, Tatra Mountain Sheepdog, and even distant Pyrenean Mountain Dog. The name Akbash come from the Turkish word "akbas" meaning "white head."