Akbash — breed guide
A Turkish flock guardian bred to live out with sheep and decide for itself when something is a threat. Needs land and a job, not a yard.
At a glance
- Group
- working
- Size
- Giant
- Weight
- 41–64 kg (90–141 lb)
- Life span
- 10–11 years
- Coat
- Short to medium white double coat
Living with a Akbash
- Moderate energy — a proper walk every day.
- Light grooming — a brush now and then.
- Moderate shedding.
- Can be stubborn.
- Barks readily.
- Can do well with children, with care — easier with older kids than toddlers.
- Usually fine with a familiar dog; strange dogs need managing.
- Can live with a cat, with a slow introduction and an escape route for the cat.
- Not well suited to a flat — space, exercise need or voice works against it.
- Better with previous experience behind you.
- Handles warm weather well.
- Built for cold weather.
Temperament
Independent · Watchful · Calm indoors · Territorial
Health to watch
- Hip dysplasia
- Bloat (GDV)
- Hypothyroidism
- Osteochondrosis
Owner-logged information shared via Leash Life is not veterinary advice; ask your vet about screening for these.
Questions people ask
Is a Akbash good with kids?
With care. Akbashs generally do well with older children who already know how to behave around a dog; with toddlers, supervise every interaction and give the animal somewhere it can retreat to.
Is a Akbash good with cats?
It can work, with management. Introduce them gradually, feed them apart, and make sure the cat has vertical space the dog cannot reach. Plan to manage it rather than assume it.
How much exercise does a Akbash need?
A real walk every day, around 30–60 minutes.
Can a Akbash handle hot weather?
It copes well with warm days.
Leash Life keeps a Akbash's day — walks, meals, meds, weight — in one shared feed for the whole household, and warns on the walk weather this breed can't take. Free to start.