Kangal x Boerboel
Livestock Guardian X Family/Farm Guardian
AKA
The Olympic Farm dog
Ghengis Afrikracker: my Kangal x Boerboel keeper from Oz and Tallwater
click the link above to see an example of this cross in Ghengis.
This is a cross I expect to be a regular on the Olympicdogs Menu. A pure livestock guardian may be best for some applications involving vast expanses of terrain, bitter cold, huge flocks, long periods of isolation; and not subject to such concerns as, neighbors, imperfect fences, etc. But the need for a more versatile, less independent, more obedient, stock guardian is an obvious one on many a smaller Ranch or Farm.
This cross is meant to be an all purpose guardian, as good with children as livestock, as inclined to obey as to protect; as suited to being in the home as out. And equally inclined to stick with livestock or children as the moment may require. A dog with enough coat to be comfortable outside in winter, enough sense to be welcome indoors with guests, and enough smarts and spine to meet challenges in a variety of circumstance.
That would be pretty ideal for me. It is meant to be the type of dog I would have, if I could only have one; that is what I’m shooting for. And having done it already I now also have the ability to go back either direction, as opposed to just splitting the difference.
The limiting factor in the usefulness and flexibility of a Kangal, as with most livestock guardian dogs, is that they are incurably and genetically independent. Independent thinkers, independent operators. Consider them the opposite of biddable. They don’t need your affection, nor are they inclined to jump through hoops or become annoying trying to get it. But they are also more inclined to roam, to ” expand the territory” they call home, and to simply disobey, than many who traffic in them are want to admit. Wicked smart dogs mind you, just not yes men.
The boerboel is very nearly exactly the opposite in several key aspects. A good Boerboel is extremely biddable. And everyone I’ve come across is as devoid of roam, as inclined to stick by its people, as any example of any breed I’ve known. Personally, I find they can be almost annoying in their desire to please and have one’s attention, needy really, under your feet, perpetually waiting or positioning themselves for the next command or pat on the head.
And this worship of owner is also their limiting factor as livestock guardians, as they are unlikely to follow herbivores if it takes them farther away from their people ( might not be a problem if they can see everything they need to guard from your porch ) So on those temperamental scores we split the difference in a Kangal x Boerboel cross.
Physically I believe they complement one another as well. The Boerboel, like most mastiffs, suffers from eye problems ( entropion and ectropion ) And, having observed so many fail to differentiate humans at relatively close range without a cooperative wind, I believe many do not see particularly well even when they don’t have extreme eye problems.
Anyone that’s had the pleasure to travel Turkey will agree the rolling vistas in the herding country are vast and the flock guardians vary vigilant in their scanning. I’m amazed at what my kangal can see! His vision is clearly superior to any of the other dogs. So that is an area that the Kangal can help the Boerboel.
The mean Penn hip scores on the Kangal ( .45 ) suggest better hips than that of the boerboel mean ( .59 roughly the same as all mastiffs ) another area the Kangal might improve the Boerboel. And my Kangal male has .28 .28 which would help most any mastiff.
But they also share common ground. The Boerboel literally translated from the Afrikaans means “big farm dog” and I believe they have been not only to tolerate, but guard livestock. Conditioned properly they can be left alone with stock. All of mine can be trusted left alone with goats, not to mention newborn goat kids,
And let there be no doubt a boerboel will defend against any predator foolish enough to trespass, much less threaten stock in their presence. In fact the only shortcoming they have as livestock guardians, in my eyes, is that their want and need to please and be with their humans ( that which makes them biddable ) also renders it unlikely they will ever choose to accompany livestock if it takes them farther away from their humans.
What I have observed in an f1 Kangal x Boerboel cross, unsurprisingly enough, is a dog that splits these differences. My keepers from the first Kangal x Boerboel litter; GHENGIS AFRIKRACKER and SINEAD, seem equally inclined to stay with stock or wait by the door. It really just depends what inclosure they are in. Both are very good with stock. Neither as needy as a Boerboel, nor as independent as a Kangal. Beyond that it’s a bit early to speak to their adult temperaments yet as they are both just over a year as I type.
In any event, as with any f1 cross, there is always the possibility of breeding back to one breed or the other until one gets the desired result. If I was a betting man, I’d anticipate a 3/4 quarter boerboel, 1/4 Kangal would be about perfect as and all around farm and livestock guardian for me. But no two farms are alike, no two owners have the same ideal dog in mind, and THAT is the beauty of crossing the lines and breeding to suit.
