Aksaray Malaklisi

The Aksaray Malaklısı is the heaviest of the Turkish shepherd dogs — a massive, loose-lipped guardian from central Anatolia.

History

It comes from Aksaray province and its name refers to the pendulous lips that distinguish it from the Kangal and the Akbash. It has guarded flocks against wolves on the Anatolian steppe for centuries, and Turkish authorities have run conservation and registration programmes for it since numbers fell in the late twentieth century.

Temperament

The breed is known for being calm, deliberate and immensely protective, devoted to its flock and household and unwelcoming to strangers. Like every guardian it works unsupervised.

Care and training

It needs space, serious containment, early and sustained socialising and an experienced owner. The short coat is easy; the size is not.

Health

Known tendencies are those of very large breeds: hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat, and heart conditions. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.