The eyes are set well apart and are almond-shaped with colors ranging from golden brown to a brown so dark it's almost black. The tail of the Akbash is long and bushing, hanging down to the hock of the animal when relaxed. When walking, this breed has a springy gait that makes it appear excited to get to wherever it happens to be going. This dog is not recommended for apartment living since it's BIG. It weighs between 90 and 130 pounds and can be as tall as 32 inches at the shoulder.
The Akbash dog is an interesting combination of dominance and submission. The dogs must be submissive enough to not disturb the livestock they're expected to guard but dominant and aggressive enough to stand up to wolves and bears. This is a breed that must be given a job to do. Preferably the job they were bred for -- guarding livestock. If you want to make this dog a companion, you have to be willing to socialize with your dog all the time. You can't lock an Akbash up in a yard all by itself for 12 hours a day and expect to have a loving companion when you get home. The Akbash isn't a Poodle. It's just not wired the way a more social dog is. They're a working breed and need to be respected as such.
An Akbash is a guarding dog that both patrols and barks, so your dog will bark if left outside on its own. A lot. It's a bother-the-neighbors kind of bark. So don't think you can stick this dog in the backyard with nothing to do all night. It will not impress your neighbors. If, however, they are guarding a flock, they will bark only when necessary to protect their charges. They are very contentious guard dogs, but they tend to be dog-aggressive, so you probably don't want other dogs around.
This dog is not usually recommended in household with children under 8 or 10 years of age. All children in the household must be able to establish dominance over the dog. If this can be done, problems are relatively rare. Most of the problems that might crop up will do so during visits by friends and family. An Akbash will view visitors as intruders. As long as the alpha (usually the owner) is present, things tend to be fine. The dog will bow to the behavior displayed by its alpha. But leave the dog alone with the "intruders", especially if the "intruders" are children, and you're asking for trouble. So just don't. Take the dog with you when you go to get the snacks for the children. Of course, I usually tell people not to leave children unsupervised with dogs, especially dogs who don't know these particular children, but be extra careful with a dog like the Akbash.
Oddly enough, the Akbash might resent children, but is really good with infants. This is because this breed, both male and female, has a strong maternal instinct. They bond quickly to the livestock they guard, especially if introduced to this livestock before 6 months of age. They are so good with all manner of babies that sheep and cattle will often let the dog sniff and clean their own newborns. But don't be fooled. This dog will immediately react to any threat and will lay down its life to protect its flock.
These dogs definately have a mind of their own. They are trainable, but they are incredibly independent. This means that any Akbash will think twice about any command, even one given by someone considered the "alpha". It's just the nature of this particular breed. I do not recommend that the Akbash be anyone's first dog and it's not a dog for anyone who doesn't want a serious guard dog.
Most large breeds have health problems, and the Akbash is no exception. Thankfully, however, they seem to have fewer health problems than other large dog breeds. Hip dysplasia and OCD have occured, but they are still relatively rare. To decrease the chances of getting a dog with hip dysplasia, buy only from OFA hip certified stock. If your breeder doesn't know what this means, look for another breeder.
These dogs are great for what they are -- flock guard dogs. If you're looking for a breed to guard your sheep or cattle, the Akbash might be for you.
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