Are kangals good LGDs?

[AGeese]

It seems breeders don't crop ears in the states. Do people here still crop or is that discouraged?

 

[TinyRaptorDodos]

It seems breeders don't crop ears in the states. Do people here still crop or is that discouraged?

Some breeders do. At least for bully breeds. I’m not against it, it all depends I guess? It’s 50/50, some people discourage some people are all for it.
If I live somewhere with coyotes/wolves when I get one I will find a breeder who does it. If there are no coyotes/wolves then I wouldn’t bother.

 

[Penpal]

Their ears are not cropped. Wolves go for hind legs or the throat. With kangals, they run away.

The Whole Dog Journal had an article on dogs with hip dysplasia and vitamin C. Although dogs make their own vitamin C, they don't always make enough. It is recommended with a breed that may get bone problems to supplement them with vitamin C when they are puppies. You use buffered vitamin C powder. Solaray makes this, but there is another brand I don't remember. They like the taste, so just put it on their food. One pinch per day up to 20 pounds, 1/8 tsp up to 40 pounds, and just go from there.

 

[TinyRaptorDodos]

Their ears are not cropped. Wolves go for hind legs or the throat. With kangals, they run away.

The Whole Dog Journal had an article on dogs with hip dysplasia and vitamin C. Although dogs make their own vitamin C, they don't always make enough. It is recommended with a breed that may get bone problems to supplement them with vitamin C when they are puppies. You use buffered vitamin C powder. Solaray makes this, but there is another brand I don't remember. They like the taste, so just put it on their food. One pinch per day up to 20 pounds, 1/8 tsp up to 40 pounds, and just go from there.

Would a tumeric supplement also help? I already have my service and pet dogs on it

 

[AGeese]

I read they cropped for frost bite in Turkey. Which sounds reasonable where I'm from because there's at least 2 to 4 weeks off and on of that kind of weather during winter here. That said our family Irish terrier got his ear severed in a fight with an Afghan hound so cropping seems reasonable for a guardian dog.

Aside from the stray Huskey that tried to kill Lady, there's definitely coyotes here. There's a pack that comes through every spring and fall. Also bald eagles, and a number of other raptors, raccoons, and I've heard badgers for top end of the list.

 

[Penpal]

Coyotes and wolves kill for lunch. Dogs tend to fight over territory or females so they aren't usually trying to kill the other dog. Besides, they can get frostbite where the cut is made. And, studies have shown that dogs with cropped ears and/or tails are more likely to get into fights because the other dogs can't read ear (tail) signals.

German Shepherds have big, easy to latch onto, ears. You don't find them with injured ears.

TinyRaptorDodos, turmeric kills certain internal parasites. Tumeric does not help calcium and phosphate turn into bone.

 

[AGeese]

Coyotes and wolves kill for lunch. Dogs tend to fight over territory or females so they aren't usually trying to kill the other dog. Besides, they can get frostbite where the cut is made. And, studies have shown that dogs with cropped ears and/or tails are more likely to get into fights because the other dogs can't read ear (tail) signals.

German Shepherds have big, easy to latch onto, ears. You don't find them with injured ears.

That's interesting. That LSG dog down in Georgia that took on a pack of coyotes comes to mind. Not that it would ever happen. But yeah I can see both sides of the argument. I suppose what they do in Turkey is geared more towards dealing with bears.