It is my feeling, that in matters concerned with breeding, a knowledge of, and respect for the dogs' original habitats/heritage, and purpose needs to be present in order to maintain a healthy and dynamic genetic bloodline.
I have seen many examples of imported dog breeds in Europe, which, after 30 years of breeding to show standards, have lost their ability to move like their native counterparts. If we are to breed the types of dogs I am talking about (CAO, Koochee, Kangal, CO, or any other livestock dog), and also take pride in really keeping part of an old culture alive, then it is absolutely necessary to give these dogs a remotely similar context to operate in.
This means that, for example, the dogs need room to move for healthy bone and muscle development; that their basic temperament be respected and not broken or manipulated (i.e. using electric shocks to control barking for a dog whose natural instinct is to guard); and that they be allowed to do their job somehow and get respect for it. It must be remembered that the definition of a good, healthy dog includes intelligence and a balanced mental state just as much as it includes perfect size and angulation! Do we want to breed souvenirs of old breeds with neurotic behaviour or do we want to breed dogs that truly represent the old bloodlines? I maintain again that it is important for breeders to honestly ask a simple question: why am I breeding this dog?
If we are breeding good dogs simply for the show ring, and to show standards, then this, I feel, is really a shame and I fear that it will lead to the decline, rather than the preservation of any breed.
Koochedog.com
The purpose of this website is not necessarily to detail the history of Turkish dogs, or CAO, or Koochee dogs. Rather, it is my intent to document and highlight some of my observations over the years (in photographs) of certain types of shepherds, and to provide you with some sense of the context these dogs come from.
The effects of modernization and/or political upheaval are having great effects on the old cultures of the countries I speak of.
Today, as agriculture becomes more industrialized and as more rural land is swallowed up by urbanization, rural people lose their livelihoods and often migrate to the city in search of more lucrative lifestyles. Resultantly, flock numbers are dropping - cows replace sheep, barns replace fields, and shepherds (human and canine), sadly, lose their jobs and their status.
Though I can do little to change this, it is my hope that this website shall be a small testament of an old culture which I love.
Rasaq Qadirie
koocheedog.com