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The Aksaray Malaklisi is a very rare dog breed that originates from Turkey. It is only bred across seven farms and just 100 of the breed are exported to other countries. Breeders ensure that puppies are breastfed for the first 2 months of their life before being given a special diet that consists of leftovers from the butchers, dog food, and a mashed mix of barley, eggs, and milk. Breeders claim that this diet ensures that the dog grows quickly and remains free from a variety of diseases.
Potential buyers are vetted by the breeders, and the best examples of the breed are sent abroad, making it very difficult for prospective buyers to acquire one of these dogs.
Breed Overview
Height:
29–31 inches
Weight:
110–265 pounds
Lifespan:
13–15 years
Colors:
Black, tan, red, white, brown
Suitable for:
Experienced owners looking for strong and skilled livestock guardians
Temperament:
Strong, brave, fierce, hardworking
The Aksaray Malaklisi is a livestock guardian dog that is really only bred to be used as a working dog and, although there are more breeders of this Turkish dog, it remains a very rare breed that is rarely seen outside the Aksaray region of Turkey. The breed is a giant breed. While it will learn to follow orders from its handler, it won’t generally listen to other people, and it can be aggressive with other dogs. It may also be aggressive with any people that it views as a threat.
The breed is not recognized by any kennel clubs, although breeders have a strict regime and diet that must be adhered to and that ensures the dog retains its huge form and good health. It has a lifespan of up to 15 years, which is longer than most giant breeds, and this is said to be because of the diet it is given when a puppy.
Below, you will find more information about this rare, intriguing breed, although it is not kept as a pet and it is so rare that you are unlikely to ever see one or have the opportunity to work with one.
Aksaray Malaklisi Puppies
The Aksaray Malaklisi is a working dog breed, primarily used as a livestock guardian to protect against predators and potential thieves. Puppies follow a very strict dietary regime to ensure that they grow to a very large size, and breeders claim that this diet also helps them become healthy and avoid contracting and developing a range of illnesses. The diet initially consists of mothers’ milk until they reach 2 months of age. At this stage, they are put on a diet consisting of a combination of dog food, leftovers from the butchers, and a mix of barley, eggs, and milk.
There are only seven farms in Aksaray that are officially allowed to breed the dogs, with most of the puppies being retained in the area. Approximately 100 puppies are exported, and the number has grown in recent years, but with just 100 puppies being exported to different countries, it is incredibly unlikely that you will be able to purchase one. Potential buyers are carefully vetted by the breeders and an appropriate puppy is chosen. The cost of the puppies is estimated to be as much as $4,000.
The puppies grow quickly, will become independent early on, and they need to be trained from a very young age.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Aksaray Malaklisi
The Aksaray Malaklisi is a working dog that is used specifically as a guard dog that protects livestock. It is not generally considered a pet dog because of its size and ferocity.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 
The breed is not considered a good pet for families and is not a good dog for families with children. Its size means that accidental injuries are highly likely, and the headstrong guardian will typically only take commands from its handler, which means that it isn’t really considered a family dog. It won’t do well at all in an apartment and the breed doesn’t tend to do well when kept indoors at all, preferring a life outdoors.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
As a livestock guardian, the Aksaray Malaklisi needs to be able to be kept around other animals without the fear of it attacking. As such, it can be kept around large animals, as long as they don’t pose a threat. It can be aggressive with other dogs, especially those of the same sex, and its size means that it will pose a threat to virtually any breed of dog, as well as cats.
Things to Know When Owning an Aksaray Malaklisi:
The Aksaray Malaklisi is a working dog, rather than a pet, and it is a very rare breed indeed. If you do take one on as a livestock guardian for your farm or ranch, you will need to ensure that it is well cared for and provided for.
Food & Diet Requirements
Once the dog reaches adulthood, it can be given a normal dog food diet, although its size means that it will need a considerable amount of food and this breed can do well on a raw food diet. If you feed dry food, expect to feed at least five cups of high-quality kibble per day. You should also ensure that the dog has ongoing access to fresh water, whenever it wants it.
Exercise
The Malaklisi is a physical dog, but its size means that it doesn’t actually require excessive amounts of energy. You should expect to provide at least an hour of exercise a day. The breed will enjoy general walks but can also do very well at jogging and will enjoy other forms of physical exercise and activity.
Training
Generally, the Aksaray Malaklisi is an independent dog. It knows its job and gets on with it, typically requiring very little human intervention. This independent streak makes it a difficult dog to train, although it can be trained by its handler and may listen to commands. You shouldn’t expect the breed to listen to other people and it is unlikely to take commands from other family members and certainly not from strangers. If you do intend to keep the breed as a pet, it will need to be heavily socialized from a very young age to ensure that it doesn’t view strangers or other animals as potential threats.
Grooming
The breed does not require a lot of grooming and is fairly self-sufficient. With that said, you can brush a couple of times a week to help remove dead and unwanted hair. Check inside the ears regularly. If the dog wanders on abrasive surfaces like concrete it shouldn’t need regular claw trimming, but this will be necessary if the claws get long and potentially uncomfortable.
Health & Conditions
The Aksaray Malaklisi is a healthy and hardy dog with a long lifespan, especially for a breed of this size. With that said, it is prone to some conditions, primarily because of its huge frame.
Male vs Female
The male Malaklisi will grow taller and heavier than the female. This doesn’t mean that the female is small, however, and one can easily weigh between 110 and 170 pounds.
3 Little-Known Facts About The Aksaray Malaklisi
1. it Is One of the Largest Breeds In the World
It is hardly surprising that the 200+ pound Aksaray Malaklisi is likely one of the biggest breeds in the world. The English Mastiff is often described as the heaviest dog breed, and it weighs around the same as the Malaklisi. The Malaklisi is bred specifically to be this big and through selective breeding it has retained its massive size.
2. It Is Rarely Kept as a Pet
The breed really is a working dog. It is a livestock guardian that will protect its animals from predators and would-be thieves. It can be aggressive with other dogs and potentially even with people, which means that it doesn’t make a suitable pet for most owners. And it certainly isn’t a suitable choice of dog breed for anybody but the most experienced handler.
3. It Is Not Officially Recognized by Kennel Clubs
There are so few examples of the breed outside the dog’s breeding program that it has not been officially recognized by any kennel club. This may change in the future, and it certainly hasn’t hampered the price of the Malaklisi, but for now, this means that it can’t be shown or exhibited in official shows.
Final Thoughts
The Aksaray Malaklisi is a very rare breed of dog that hails from an area of Turkey where it is bred and kept as a livestock guardian. It could potentially be the largest breed of dog in the world and is known for its exceptional guarding skills. It is not a pet breed so even if you could buy one, it should not be considered an addition to the family because it is independent, difficult to train, and has the potential to be aggressively protective.
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Featured Image Credit: Cynoclub, Shutterstock
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