Kurdish Mastiff Dog Breed - Facts and Information

Appearance
This is a giant and powerful dog, with average height between 77-95 cm, which is 30-37 inch and weight typically between 50-90 kg, which is 110-200 pounds. But it is not uncommon for Kurdish Mastiffs to weigh over 100 kg.

With their powerful built they are just made for protection work and indeed, this dog is mostly used as livestock protector. The Kurdish Mastiff has deep chest, curled tail, loose skin around its neck, flopped large ears and massive head.

Kurdish Mastiff has a fish like body – which means their, which means that their chest is wide and waist narrow. You can find them in several colors, most commonly in white, yellow, red, black or blue.


Temperament
This is a very loyal and independent dog breed. As i already mentioned in the video, they were bred for work and even today, they are still actively working as livestock and property guards. Sadly, they are also still sometimes used for illegal dog fights.

If you are thinking about getting a Kurdish Mastiff, prepare for a very energetic dog. This is not a typical giant mastiff type of a dog which tend to be lets say pretty lazy. No, not at all. The Kurdish Mastiff has very high stamina and endurance, actually it is believed that they have one of the largest stamina of all giant dog breeds. You should be prepared for that, because they need to vent off the energy every day, otherwise, they might become bored and they might develop some problematic behaviour.

The Kurdish Mastiff is very intelligent dog, but because of their independent personality, they are not total pushovers to train. They were bred to work independently, so its no wonder they like to have their opinions. They need a firm, consistant and patient trainer to become obedient. And they also need good early socialization.

This is definitely not a dog for novices, because if you fail the training and socialization with dog this powerful, you can have a big problem, because they can become extremely territorial and agressive. On the other hand, with proper socialization, you will have amazing loyal companion by your side.


Interesting fact
You can read online that it is the Kangal Shepherd who has the strongest bite force in the dog world, but according to some Kurdish Mastiff breeders it is not true, and it is the Kurdish Mastiff, who should be marked as the strongest dog in the world.


History
This is very ancient Middle easter dog breed developed in Kurdistan region. It is believed that their history traces back 5 or 6 thousands years and that their ancestors are large mollosers used by Assyrians as protectors against wild animals.

They did not change much over the centuries and they are still used for similar purposes as their ancestors. And even today, you can find this breed mostly in Kurdistan region, mostly in Iran, but if you are lucky, you can find some of them in Iraq as well.


Health and grooming
This is generally very healthy dog breed with great lifespan between 10-13 years. This is really good lifespan for a dog of this size.

If you want to have happy and healthy dog, daily proper exercise is a must. If you are using your Kurdish Mastiff for working purposes, no additional exercise is needed, but if you have him as lets say companion, than regular daily long walks or hikes are just must. This dog has extremely high stamina and they just need the exercise.

Other than that, not much other maintenance is needed. Of course, just like all dogs, you should make regular checks at veterinarian and regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeths and clean them or clip them when needed.