TURKISH SHEPHERD DOG KANGAL IN SIVAS FOLKLORE

As one of animals to which are approached with great sympathy by Turkishpeople, Kangal dogs are among the animals accepted sacred in Turkish folklore.Kangals as shepherd dogs were brought into Anatolia along with herds owned byOghuz clans the traditional livelihood of which depends on sheep herds. Being theoldest and most common race of natural shepherd dog, Turkish shepherd dog,Kangal, has survived with all characteristics of it mostly thanks to the matchlessprotection of local people of the town Kangal.Throughout the study, the main objective is to determine the folkloricknowledge related with Kangal raising within folklore of Sivas and to make somecontribution to Turkish world of culture.The research material has consisted of folkloric knowledge obtained between9th April-10th July, 2012 with “information review forms” applied to peopleassociated with folkloric veterinary medicine and animal husbandry in Sivas (e.g.medicine practitioners, animal owners, other resource persons, etc.)In the study, it has been determined that raisers in Sivas folklore classify theKangals according to general racial characteristics, color of their pelt and tails ofthem. They are grouped as “kurtçul”, “saf”, “kırma”; and “alası-boz”, “karayaka”,“sarı yaka”, “boz yaka”, “kıllı”, “kırçıl”; and “kılıç kuyruk”, “kuyruğu eğri”, “kıvrakkuyruk”, based on racial characteristics, color of pelt and tails respectively. Also, ithas been gathered significant data on diseases and treatments on Kangals, generalracial standards (structure of the body, head and skull, etc.), care and nutrition,estrus, delivery information, wolf choking incident, ear cut, stories, beliefs andidioms.Consequently, it can be suggested that one of reasons why Kangals havemanaged to keep its generation must be original stories and beliefs in Sivas, whichcover the Kangal`s wolf choke, intelligence, courage and loyalty; that lack ofknowledge and mistakes in folkloric veterinary medicine and breeding applicationsbe eliminated in animal rights and welfare terms.