Face Value : 20 YTL
Metal : 925 Silver proof
Diameter : 38.61 mm, 1.52 inches
Weight : 23.33 grams, 0.82 oz
Type of Mintage : Proof
Mintage :1128 pcs + 878 (in sets)
Artist :Nesrin Eksi
Circulation Period :2005
The coin is sold within its plastic capsule and with certificate of authenticity.
The Kangal or, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog, is unique to Turkey and the country’s only recognised dog breed. It is also one of the rare dogs in the world whose genetic structure is not mixed with the genes of any other breed.
The dog is known to be the descendent of wolves and jackals and the first animal domesticated by man ten thousand years ago. So man’s relationship with the dog goes back far earlier than either writing or the invention of the wheel.
For thousands of years the Kangal has lived on the steppes of Anatolia herding flocks of animals. At some point the wolf and Kangal went their separate ways, to the point of becoming arch-enemies. No doubt man had a finger in this, breeding the dog to protect livestock from predatory wolves. Wolves should keep away from the Kangal in general, and from the province of Sivas in particular. Because the tranquil, good natured Kangal is metamorphosed into a creature of formidable ferocity at the sight or smell of a wolf. The powerful dog (50-70 kilograms) and the lighter but more agile bitch (40-60 kilograms) battle together against the wolf. While the bitch distracts the attacker, her mate slinks to its rear and springs on its backbone, which is the wolf’s most vulnerable part. Having broken or at least damaged the backbone, it is time to put to wolf out of its misery. The male does this by biting the wolf in the neck. The large head, broad chest, strong neck and front legs of the kangal all come into play when getting the better of the wolf. Yet although the Kangal can be such a ruthless warrior when circumstance demands, it has a calm and docile disposition and is never aggressive towards people. The Kangal’s short coat ranges from off-white through sandy, grey and brown tones. Depending on whether the black patches around the mouth and ears are less or more extensive, the Kangal is known as akbas (white-head) or karabas (black-head).
Like other shepherd dogs, the Kangal has a highly developed sense of smell. It can recognise each one of a herd of 300 sheep, so there is no chance of any animals going astary or any strange animals mingling with the herd. The intelligence of the Kangal is legendary. One Kangal breeder explained that in Sivas local people believe the dogs recognise 200-250 words, and that even allowing for an element of hearsay, this is not far short of the truth. He says that the dogs are capable of performing a wide range of complex tasks, and that they can detect many emontions and read the thoughts of their owners from the tone of voice or facial expression.
When it comes to food the Kangal is not a fussy eather by any standards. Harsh living conditions in Central Anatolia have accustomed the dogs to making do with an absolute minimum, and their usual diet is a bowl of cereal moistened with water. If a sheep dies, the dogs might get the carcass as a treat, but when no meat is offered they are perfectly content and would never dream of complaining. The life expectancy of a Kangal is 12 to 13 years, and the first three months are vital for its healthy physical development. Training continues for the first year of its life. Some author-ities attribute the purity of the Kangal to careful breeding during earlier centuries, but the evidence for such deliberate conservation of the Kangal is thin. It seems far more likely that the topography of the region protected the dogs from mongrelisation. Cut of from the coasts by mountains and economically self-sufficient, the Central Anatolian region was not a likely place for other breeds to stray into. Secondly, of course, the local people cherished their dogs for the qualities of strength, courage, and intelligence which made them so indispensable, and in a rough and ready way perhaps avoided crossbreeding. What matters is that the kangal is recognised as a pure breed by the American Kennel Club, the British Kennel Club and other smilar organisations. Fuelled by this international recognition, the value of the Kangal has soared, and numerous breeders are now in business. Locally Sivas Ulaş Tarım İşletmesi and Il Özel Idaresi have both set up small breeding units. Can animals accustomed to withstand extremes of temperature in the harsh climate of the steppes adapt to urban life? Source : Skylife, Jan. 1993
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Sure they can adapt to urban life! My pure-bred Kangal is a family pet in the Houston area. :D He has four other dogs as pack mates and his only real need is a really long walk and/or run every day. He is a great guardian dog for the house.
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