Kangal Dog vs Bohemian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

The magnificent looking Kangal Shepherd Dog, a purebred Mastiff type dog, is often referred to as a sheep dog and hails from the Sivas province of Turkey.

The Kangal Dog is a distinct breed and the National Dog of Turkey. These are working dogs who made their appearance in the UK in 1965.

It is interesting to note that in June 2018 the Turkish Kennel Club, Köpek Irklari ve Kinoloji Federasyonu, classifies Kangal Shepherd Dogs to be the same population as the Anatolian Shepherd dog.

Known as the Chodský pes or the Chodenhund, the Bohemian Shepherd is native to the Czech Republic and is a herding breed. Like many other old dog breeds, nothing is 100% certain about is history. This is thought to be because the breed was developed centuries before the keeping of records. It is certain however, that the breed developed in the south-western portion of the Kingdom of Bohemia, which is now part of the Czech Republic.

It is believed the Bohemian Shepherd came from herding dogs such as the Pinscher/Schnauzer, Spitzen or even a dog/wolf hybrid. It was in November 1991, that the Bohemian Shepherd Lover’s Club was founded. Many Bohemian Shepherd breeders have been registered and today the breed has earned the reputation for being a superb family dog. The dog has also been granted recognition with the Czech National Kennel Club.

This is a large, heavily boned dog with a big head with a black mask and medium sized floppy ears. Looking at him, he has a Mastiff-like appearance but isn't as heavy as some Mastiff breeds, allowing it more speed and agility.

He stands at roughly 72cm to 85cm male and female, and weighs about 50 to 63kg. He has a solid double coat of dense hair which is a pale tan color.The coat is short and dense. The Kangal Dog is powerful and when he is alert, the long tail is held over the back, otherwise he holds it down with a slight curl.

Temperament:

The Kangal is known for his good looks, but he is also alert, sharp, territorial and confident, while also being calm. These dogs have an instinctive wariness of strange dogs and they are also reserved with strangers but are loving, loyal and protective with their human family.

In fact, the Kangal Shepherd Dog is protective while being gentle with small children and animals. He is an intelligent breed too, and having him trained and socialized won’t be a problem.

It is always a wise move to have a big dog like this trained and socialized, making him obedient and even more amicable than he already is.

The medium sized Bohemian Shepherd looks much like a combination between the Collie and German Shepherd. He is 48-55 cm in height and weighs about 15-25 kg. The Bohemian Shepherd has a thick, long coat which is black and tan in color and with an undercoat, allowing him to cope in icy weather conditions. His well proportioned body is muscular and compact with a long bushy tail and erect ears.

Temperament

The Bohemian Shepherd makes a wonderful family pet, becoming very attached to his human family. He has a good reputation with children too and will get on well with other pets in the home. He is so amicable that he makes a good pet choice for those looking to own a dog for the first time.

He is intelligent and alert and also protective of his family, making him an excellent guard dog. He is easily trainable, and just like with any other dogs, will require training and socialization.

Your Kangal Dog is a big, powerful dog. His very size size won't suit him living in the city in small spaces and tiny gardens. He is far better suited to life in the suburbs or to country life where he can move around easily.

In spite of his size, he is a calm, balanced, independent, protective dog. He may well be aloof towards strangers, but a trained and well-socialized Kangal Dog is friendly, loving and loyal pet with his human family and with visitors to the house.

This is a beautiful dog and it will be an honor to have such a wonderful pet in your home. Treat him well and you're bound to have the most fantastic protector, guardian and friend.

Playful by nature, friendly, gentle and co-operative, your Bohemian Shepherd will make a wonderful pet and he is a real social character, loving to spend lots of time with his human family. With minimal health conditions and without requiring much maintenance, he is an adaptable dog and will easily settle into city- or country living, so long as he is given regular exercise and attention.

He is courageous and intelligent and also makes an excellent guard-dog. With so much going for this beautiful dog, he simply makes a loyal, loving and devoted family pet.

Spaying and Neutering:

This is most important if you don't intend your Kangal Dog becoming a parent, and is good for the health of your dog.

Vaccinations:

Your Kangal Dog puppy needs certain vaccinations at certain stages of his life to prevent him from getting some life threatening dog diseases. Keep a check on your dog's health and realize, that although the Kangal Dog is a healthy dog breed, he can develop canine illnesses such as eye diseases, ear infections, bloat, skin allergies and hip dysplasia among others.

Your dog may then require veterinary intervention to heal him of any of these.

General Hygiene:

To keep your pet happy and healthy, make sure to pick up your dog's faeces every day. This is for your own health's sake too.

Breeding organizations are continually trying to minimize the diseases within limited-gene-pool dog breeds. While the Bohemian Shepherd is a generally health breed, there are diseases that are more common with the Bohemian Shepherd and which you need to be aware of -

Hip Dysplasia

This is a painful disease – a problem with the formation of the hips – where the dog can develop arthritis and even become lame.

Bloat

This is a condition where gas gets trapped in the stomach of your pet, so that he swells up, sometimes causing the stomach to twist. This is an emergency for your pet and it is extremely painful. Nobody really knows the cause, but when the gas is trapped inside the stomach, the bloated stomach of your pet requires you getting to the vet as quickly as you can.

Eye Conditions

Look out for Progressive Retinal Atrophy known as PRA . This is a group of degenerative diseases that affect the photoreceptor cells where the cells deteriorate and can result in blindness with your pet. Fortunately it isn’t a painful condition.

The Kangal Dog can be a wonderful pet in your home, but because you’ve made the decision to bring him into your home, it becomes your responsibility to ensure his happiness and wellbeing.

These ‘care’ tips can help you, particularly if you’re a first time dog owner -

Diet:

Remember that a puppy will need 4 meals a day of soft, recommended puppy food. By the time your dog reaches his first birthday, one or two meals a day will be good.

There are some top quality commercial manufactured foods to choose from, and the packaging labeling will guide you to which one.

Adding in some home-made food such as nutritious cooked chicken, rice and vegetables will be a treat for your pet and don’t forget some raw meat occasionally too.

Fresh, cool water should be within reach of your pet around the clock.

Exercise:

Dogs need exercise to maintain their lean bodies but it will also stimulate their minds and keep them healthy. The exercise needs of your dog will depend on his size, age, health and breed type. Fun and games as well as daily walks will satisfy your Kangal Dog and keep him content.

Grooming:

Help keep your Kangal Dog looking groomed and cared for. He is a fairly heavy, seasonal shedder. Remove loose hairs with brushing the coat twice a week. Check for fleas and ticks at the same time and for any unusual lumps.

Housing:

Every dog needs a warm, dry, quiet place to rest and sleep, inside and outside. Make sure that when your dog is outside that he has a place to rest in the shade and sun, as he chooses.

Keep Him Exercised and Busy

The Bohemian Shepherd is an energetic breed and will need to be exercised regularly. He’ll love to run alongside your bike on your cycling trips or you can take him on a long walk. Having said that, he is an easy going dog and can adapt to city- and country life, but if it’s city life, you can’t leave him cooped up in a small yard and think that will suffice. He has a personality that longs to be part of the family.

Grooming

Your Bohemian Shepherd is a moderate shedder in spite of his thick beautiful coat. The coat will certainly need a good brushing at least twice a week to get rid of that loose hair. Not only that, your social Bohemian Shepherd will love the closeness to you that the brushing brings.

Keep his nails short and his teeth brushed at least 2 or 3 times a week to ensure there is no plaque build up. There are special toothbrushes and toothpastes made for dogs. Don’t use human toothpaste as the ingredients will be harmful to your pet.

Feeding Time

Your Bohemian Shepherd, after one year of age, will eat one or two bowls of food a day. You’ll be able to tell what suits your dog, because the amount will eat about 2 to 4 cups of a good quality dry dog food a day, split into at least two meals. The amount can vary depending on its health, build, age, activity level and metabolism. Make sure it has access to water at all times and that it is changed as often as possible.