After several years of looking for new Kangal dog bloodlines to increase its breeding programme, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) recently welcomed two Kangal puppies donated by Anne Hupel from Bonnie Blue Flag Kangals in France.

The two puppies, Firat (male) and Feliz (female), were transported from France to Namibia by Patrick Couzinet, a French CCF supporter and an active member of Leadership for Conservation in Africa, of which CCF is also a member.

The puppies provide new bloodlines for CCF’s successful Livestock Guarding Dog Programme and will grow up in CCF’s goat kraal. The foundation is one of the few places in the world using this rare breed of dogs for what they were bred to do, for the past 5 000 years in Turkey protect livestock from predators, like the Anatolian Shepherd – a breed more commonly used in other countries for the same purpose and that has been a part of CCF’s programme for over 15 years.

“Kangals and Anatolians are very intelligent breeds of dogs; we are very excited that the recent puppy donations will give us a greater opportunity to work with even more Namibian farmers through our Livestock Guarding Dog Programme,” said CCF Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Laurie Marker.

The puppies have joined female Kangal Aleya, who arrived at CCF in September through the generosity of German breeder Kristina Peez of Sivas Guardian Angels and CCF’s resident breeding females, Cazgir from the SPOTS Foundation in the Netherlands and Hediye from Turkmen Kangal Dogs.

All four puppies will be used for breeding. Having Firat, the male, will allow CCF to use natural breeding with its Kangal females. Meanwhile CCF will continue to conduct artificial insemination (AI) to increase the bloodlines of this breed with sperm donated to CCF last year by Turkmen Kangal Dogs from the US. CCF’s first successful AI was performed on an Anatolian Shepherd with sperm donated by Rare Breeds Ranch and ICSB Grass Valley, also from the US. The three female puppies born in August will also be used for breeding.

The Livestock Guarding Dog Programme was developed in 1994, to breed livestock guarding dogs specifically for the protection of sheep and goat flocks when they are grazing out in the veld and vulnerable to predator attacks.

To date, CCF has placed more than 375 Livestock Guarding Dogs with commercial and communal farmers.

The programme is open to any Namibian farmer. From the initial application, CCF conducts farm visits and assesses the conditions that the dog will be living under. Once approved, the farmers are invited to Puppy Day at CCF, where they attend courses on caring for the dogs. CCF follows up with the farmers several times during the course of the first year and once a year after that, to make sure that the dog is in good health and behaving correctly and that the farmer is happy with the dog. In addition, during the visits CCF provides any necessary advice to the farmers, as well as basic medical care such as de-worming and vaccinations, free of charge.

To apply for one of CCF’s Livestock Guarding Dog, please contact CCF at (067) 306 225.

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