I beg to differ. The U.S. Department of Agriculture brought in a variety of Lives Stock Guard Dogs for testing in the north west for wolves. The Pyrenees, Akbash, Kuvas and others. The Turkish Akbash dog was by far the most effective. Yes, includng bears. I owned an Akbash, “Jack”, as a pet. I also have a good Border Collie for her chores. The Akbash, about 100 pounds, sheds like crazy. White fur balls everywhere. They are great with kids, like Boxers. They are very protective as you are their herd. Never had a problem. But their courage is is unmatched. Never get between them and a bad guy. They are easily socialized whether it be just people or goats, chickens, cattle. They are the most stoic animal I know. If you want them to stay with the herd they will ignore weather, rain, snow, minus 10 degrees. They Stand Guard, all night.
There are many links on the web for this dog. You have to know how to handle large dogs, have some space, and let them do their perimeter guarding thing that is totally genetic. No training necessary, the same as Borer Collies and herding instinct. The Akbash has a dog IQ of about 77 as opposed to a Border Collie of 180+. The Akbash is not an obedience champion. Come, Sit, Stay are it. Maybe.
BTW, in some photos of the Akbash you will see them wearing a nasty spiked collar. This has the purpose of protecting them when wolves or other predators go for the throat. It is a real good thing, not cruel to them.
I loved that dog Jack. As with all good dogs they show you unconditional love.
There are at least 5 breeds of “Great White Dogs” I like the Turkish Abash, the Italian Maremma/Abruzzi or for a smaller one the Polish Tatra. Skip the Hungarian Kuvas, AKC approved,local breeder are too inbred.
I think I need to convince my wife we need a third dog to guard the chickens.. What a pal.
Bill in NW Montana
I did a Google search, expecting to find something big and brutish looking, but those things are seriously cute! BIG, and cute!
Good, informative posting! Thanks.
I have a Pyrenees mix and all you said about big white flock dogs is true.
He’s not a smart dog, at but he is at his happiest protecting the cats, wife, or my kid, just hanging out 20 feet away, watching and adoring.
He wants nothing more than to protect others and make as little effort as possible. He doesn’t burn a lot of calories, and eats the same amount as his half sister (a terrier mix) who weighs half as much.
My next dog will definitely be some kind of big white flock guardian dog!