Akbash Rescue

Biggs - needs foster

2012-01-15T20:46:00.000-08:00

Here is Biggs in a Texas shelter. Biggs is the typical Akbash dog that ends up in rescue. A young unneutered male that is wandering with no form of ID. Most likely from a ranch or farm. It is very hard to keep a young unneutered male from wandering. They usually remain unclaimed and then are often in danger of euthanasia in the nations overcrowded high kill shelters, especially in Texas!

Akbash Rescue busted out Biggs and he is in boarding awaiting foster care! He is having his health care tended to. Full set of shots, neuter, heartworm test (he is negative), getting on heartworm preventative. Ear cleaning and ointment, flea and tick prevention, microchipping...the works!

What does Biggs have to say about that.... "Yes it is expensive to take care of my neglected state, but I am soooo grateful Akbash Rescue!" All reports are that Biggs is a devoted and patient and compliant fellow. He is in urgent need of foster care while he awaits a new home!

If you can foster Biggs please contact Akbash Rescue person Janet Davis e-mail straughie@comcast.net or phone 510 523-6161

Hope-FOR ADOPTION

2012-01-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

HOPE

Hope is a gorgeous young (one year old) female Akbash dog. Both her parents are registered Akbash dogs. She was improperly placed by her breeder and ended up in rescue. Hope is in need of a permanent home.

click the "read more" link below to see the kind of home Hope will be placed in.....

Yes Hope is beautiful but she also displays the strong guard instinct of the breed and will be placed with someone that understands the breed characteristics. Like most Livestock Guardian Dogs she will be opposite sex paired. She gets along great and is playful with the male Akbash in her foster home, but not the female Akbash. Secure fencing is also a requirement.

Everything Hope's breeder and original owner failed to do in terms of vet care has been done for her by Akbash Rescue. Hope has been spayed, given all her shots, Dewormed, heartworm tested, is on heartworm, flea and tick preventatives, and microchipped.

This girl has a soft side and would love to find a fantastic home where she has room to run, play and patrol, and a patient kind owner. Hope will do best in a quiet rural setting.

Gracie -For Adoption

2012-01-10T12:22:00.000-08:00

Here are some great new pictures of Gracie. She is a lovely young Akbash dog in a sanctuary in Texas....she awaits a permanent home.

Gracie winks at the camera!

Gracie is a gorgeous young female Akbash dog. Queenly in her manner and lives up to her name, Grace would very much love a home of her own where she can have a human companion to watch over her. Not leave her unattended to wander...

She is an excellent watchful guardian true to her nature!

This elegant girl deserves the very best!

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GRACIE CONTACT AKBASH RESCUE COORDINATOR JANET DAVIS AT 510 410-0149 (PACIFIC TIME) E-MAIL straughie@comcast.net

Gracie is available for adoption

Otis-FOR ADOPTION

2012-01-09T14:24:00.000-08:00

Otis relaxes in his foster home. Finding places for this long tall and lean fellow to get comfy was a challenge!

Here he is trying to use a normal dog bed!

He seems to have figured it out now. Curl up tight within the borders.

Or hanging some feet and tail over the edge works for the most part too!

Otis is still a very large pup after all so enjoys his new toy

Also enjoys the new Colorado snow....

Otis is a young, one year old male Akbash/Anatolian Shepherd. This Turkish fellow is a very nice guy! He is dog and people friendly and is even learning the resident cat in his foster home is the boss!

He was rescued from a shelter and awaits a forever home. He came through his shelter stay, neuter and vet hospital stay with flying colors. He just needs to gain a bit of weight and this playful fellow is ready for a new home.

Otis quickly made friends with the kitty in his foster home! This big fellow is so sweet he just wants to be pals with everyone!

Otis is on the left hand side....

Otis hangs with the resident dogs...how nice of them to welcome a foster pal!

Here is Otis with the resident Goldens (after a summer shave)!

If you are interested in Otis please contact Akbash Rescue Coordinator Janet Davis by e-mail at straughie@comcast.net or call 510 523-6161 (Calif time)

DAVID-for adoption

2012-01-08T19:48:00.000-08:00

David is a magnificent young male Akbash dog. He is an excellent livestock guardian dog and available for adoption to a working home. He was raised with sheep and is good with all creatures.

David is a fantastic dog if you are interested please contact Akbash rescue coordinatorJanet Davis at 510 523-6161. E-mail straughie@comcast.net

David for adoption

Pirate-we miss you!

2011-12-05T20:13:00.000-08:00

Pirate was one of the first dogs I found a home for after just starting rescue a few years ago. I remember the day. I found her beautiful picture on Petfinder and called the shelter right away! They had just listed this beautiful girl in the Akbash section and were very happy to have rescue call to help find a good home. I remember searching the membership lists of the Akbash club and finding a member that lived relatively near the shelter.

She drove right to see this lovely girl, her Akbash had recently passed away she was ready for a new pal. Pirate hopped right in her car! Having had a previous owner that was none to kind....Pirate blossomed under the loving care of her new owners.

Pirate settled in to the comforts of home!

Here is Pirate settling in and claiming a quilt her owner had just made! Oh she is sooo lovely in pink!

Pirate's new mom does a lot of kitten fostering so Pirate had to learn how to be gentle with the kitties.

She obviously learned!

Pirate enjoys her comfy dog bed....

She accompanies her owner all over the place.....even takes her own pack....

Sadly I just received the note below from Pirate's person.....

So sick and still amazingly beautiful. Pirate died this morning.

We found out she had throat and stomach cancer on Tuesday.

Last night she was having such a difficult time breathing we took her the Emergency vet this morning.

She was lovingly put to sleep and is now in no pain.

Thank you Janet for giving her to me 2 years, 6 months ago.

Katrina Phipps

Katrina's Pirate approx 2005?-2011

Sweet Pirate passed too young of cancer last week. She is missed by all those who knew her! Also by some who only knew her in picture's, like me!

So glad this sweet girl had landed in her loving home!

Marley-ADOPTED!!!

2011-11-08T20:29:00.000-08:00

Marley is a gorgeous one year old Akbash gal. She lived on a farm in Texas and her owners moved across the country to North Carolina to an apt. They said Marley did not adjust well to apartment life so they dropped her off at a very overcrowded shelter. Marley was in danger of euthanasia so Akbash Rescue came to her rescue!

She was moved into boarding while a home is found. She is reported to be well behaved and a genial girl....more details to come. If you are interested in Marley contact the Akbash Rescue Coordinator Janet Davis
at e-mail straughie@comcast.net or 510 523-6161

Fantastic news for Marley! After being abandoned at an overcrowded shelter, and getting kennel cough, she was rescued by Akbash Rescue and has now been adopted by a loving family! They live on a farm and are home all day. This lucky girl has hit the jackpot! Looks like the kids have also.....

Wishing many happy years for Marley, (nicknamed MudPaws), and her new family!

MEMORIES OF SWEET MASON! GOOD BYE TOO SOON

2011-10-02T12:50:00.000-07:00

Little Doe eyed Mason was found wandering in the mountains of Montana, and taken to a shelter by a hiker. Here he is as a pup wagging his tail at the camera.

The shelter wanted him to go to rescue and lucky for Mason, local Akbash owner and fan Peggy was there to take him home for foster!

She took Mason to obedience class and in her excellent care he blossomed into a fantastic young fellow!

Here is the handsome guy, in an engaging pose captured by a professional photographer.

Mason caught the eye of Dale, who lives in Virginia, and who was searching for a rescued companion Akbash dog.

We all decided Mason would travel to Virginia, and be adopted by Dale. His transport was undertaken, in the middle of last winter, by a dedicated group of volunteer transporters, with Montana's Tina as coordinator.

Weather delays led to a few unexpected stop overs with transporters along the way from MT to Colorado. Everyone said Young Mason was a model house guest!

He rode well in the car also thanks to Peggy's having gotten him used to car rides.

Here he is in transporter Joy's car. Joy noticed Mason did not potty or drink water the whole way despite rest stops. He also caught site of the city and crowds in Denver and was barking and growling out the window. Ahhh typical Akbash type behavior, when you see something new that makes you nervous, you must bark and growl at it to let everyone else know there may be a problem! Also never do normal things like eat, drink, or go potty, when you are a bit unsettled. After the hand off to Dean in Colo, Mason had clearly recovered an appetite, Dean wrote to let everyone know Mason was doing well "A big baby, had a nice dinner, one cow, a gallon of water.. and off to bed..."

Mason had a bit of a weather delay stay with Dean, and he sent us the following observation after seeing the now very tall leggy Mason run.....

this kid has LEGS, let him run this morning in field, poor rabbit crawled under fence right next to him after i let him loose, big mistake, it is a 1 acre fenced field... he can get across it in about 8 seconds.. lucky for the rabbit it can do it in 7.9 seconds, never have seen a rabbit pray before...have seen dogs smile before but not that big a grin.."

Mason was Dean's first Akbash dog guest and he declared Dale a lucky adopter!

Here is Mason having been loaded up for the cross country portion of the journey with well known rescue transporter "Trucker Tom" .

All the dogs ride together in the cab with Tom.

I remember Tom telling me a funny little story about Mason. Mason was staring out the front window of the truck concentrating on the view when all of a sudden a big white dog came into view! Mason caught sight of him and jerked his head to the right, then left, Mason had the big guy covered! Whenever he moved, Mason traced him.... ready.... hee hee, It was his own reflection!

Mason rode all the way to virginia with Tom and was met by his new dad Dale for the final hand off!

Mason checks out his new yard and seems to like it, based on the huge smile!

Likes his new gigantic water bowl too!

Mason and Dale enjoyed hiking together and Mason learns to rock climb.....

And wade in the water

And of course enjoy the comforts of home...

   "Dale's Mason 2010- sept 24 2011"

Tragically young Mason was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia a month ago and passed last week.

Thank you to everyone that participated in Mason's rescue and travel to his home in Virginia. He got to see the world in his all too short time here on earth, and will be remembered always by those who new him! We love you young Mason!

   Mason's link can be found in the "In Memoriam section"

DART-Foster needed ASAP Northern California

2011-08-22T16:35:00.000-07:00

Dart is a beautiful healthy young Akbash dog with a great temperament. He is a neutered male, heartworm negative and up to date on shots, microchipped (the works). He needs foster ASAP as he is in boarding and lonely! If you can foster Dart for Akbash Rescue please contact Akbash Rescue Coordinator Janet Davis at e-mail straughie@comcast.net or phone 510 410-0149

Toby-ADOPTED!!!

2011-08-13T15:58:00.000-07:00

Hi my name is Toby! I am feeling rather blue in these pics! I was found wandering in TX and impounded in a very high kill shelter. My days were numbered as that crazy awful place will not allow any help for dogs like me. The sheriff that runs the place just does not care! He won't let the nice volunteers take pictures and send them to rescue groups to get help for us! They sneak and do it anyway though, so a nice kind soul sent my picture to the Akbash rescue lady and she decided to help me...yeah!

However, she has not much help, and tries to follow us Akbash dogs all over the country and save us any way she can! For me that meant over a month in a boarding kennel in 107 degree TX heat..ugh. They were very nice to me though and I got to do group play with the other dogs and I was safe. No nasty TX sheriff was going to put an end to me...hee hee, I made it!

The Akbash rescue lady got so desperate (after gigantic boarding bills), she contacted some professional photographers in Dallas TX to take pity on her and me, and take some great photos of me! Things happen for a dog like me, down on his luck, when great pics like these are taken! Thank Dog Photography in Dallas TX graciously offered to help us out, and go to the kennel to photograph me! She loves big dogs and that is good because I was so lonely for attention I crawled in her lap!

wow I look beautiful! I was much happier (see below) once I knew the world would see me so I had a chance of finding a new home! In fact I got on a rescue dog transport to Colo and I hear I will go into foster care soon....while the Akbash rescue lady finds me a home.

I am a sweet fellow and had my first trip to a pet store in Denver today! Another nice rescue lady with MT Dog Rescue in Colorado picked me up from the transport and took me to my first outing in a pet store. Wow that place was great, nice dogs to say hi to and lots of treats. I figured out quickly all I had to do was look at people and wag my big ole tail and people would just hand me nice things to eat! They say I am too skinny but that will change now that I will have good care!

If you are interested in sweet Toby contact the Akbash Rescue Coordinator Janet Davis at 510 410-0149 (Calif time), or e-mail her at straughie@comcast.net

Click the "read more" link below to see more pics, and read about Toby

Toby in his new home!

2011-08-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

Toby travelled to Colorado for a fantastic foster home. Thank you to Justin and family for fostering this young fellow!

Toby takes a nap in the back of the car after a long transport from Texas. He is finally on his was to foster care.

Toby meets the resident two male dogs. Experienced foster Justin negotiates the introduction and sharing of living space between the three, with patience and it pays off. Just a couple squabbles here and there and the two furry canine residents accept the new pal.

Justin provides the crucial step of foster while a forever home is searched for. Right from a shelter to boarding meant I did not know much about Toby! Justin house trained him, took him hiking, to the dog park, even cat tested him for his eventual adopter. Thank you Justin, you were a truly wonderful foster for this down on his luck Texan!!!

Here are the three pals at Halloween, Toby learned what that is all about in Justin's active neighborhood.

Toby enjoys the first snow of the season! Justin said Toby loved the snow and just wanted to stay out in it! After the long summer in boarding in the 107 degree Texas hot spell this summer, I bet he loved it!

Meanwhile Toby's listing for adoption caught the eye of a Colorado couple looking for a new dog!

They went to meet Toby, and adopted him!
Toby now lives on acreage with a lovely view of the Colorado mountains!
Here he is breaking in his new bed! What a great way to make the new dog feel welcome and let them know they are home...Toby obviously agrees!

Toby recently got to go on the Thanksgiving holiday trip. Looks like a happy ending to the Toby story!

Toby for adoption Colorado-Video!-ADOPTED!!!

2011-08-11T22:12:00.000-07:00

toby video! ADOPTED!!!

2011-08-10T19:59:00.000-07:00

Tess-BC CANADA

2011-08-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

Tess is a beautiful healthy young female Akbash dog that needs a home in Canada. Tess is a companion dog. She walks well on leash, likes other dogs, and sleeps in a crate at night. She loves to go for car rides also!

She is a typical pup, and would like to chase the cat. The cat runs, so perhaps a home with no cat, or a big dominant cat and a little training will cure her of wanting to chase!

She loves to play with her toys but leaves the furniture alone. This girl is in tip top shape, spayed, current on vaccinations and ready for a home that loves the independent minded Akbash breed.

Here is Tess as a puppy!

Here is Tess all grown up at 10 months old. She is long and lean and lovely!

If you are a patient, consistent dog owner and enamored of the unique Akbash dog personality and characteristics...please contact Akbash Rescue Coordinator Janet Davis at e-mail address straughie@comcast.net or phone (In California-USA) 510 410-0149 or 510 523-6161 for messages only.

Daisy-for adoption

2011-06-03T19:37:00.000-07:00

Miss Daisy is in Kansas in foster care and is in need of a permanent home!

   She yearns to be someone's special girl! She will be very devoted and loyal. She had an owner and lived with him and another dog, however, he moved and took both dogs to a shelter. Daisy was very upset and looked and looked for her old owner....staring intently at any man with a baseball hat on....hoping he had maybe come back for her!

   She is two years old and has been spayed, heartworm tested (neg), fully vaccinated and microchipped.
If you are interested in Daisy please contact Akbash Rescue Coordinator Janet Davis 510 523-6161 or e-mail straughie@comcast.net

   Daisy is in foster and awaits adoption!

Tia-Adopted

2011-05-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

Tia is a gorgeous One and a half year old female Akbash dog. Her parents are registered Akbash dogs.

   She is in Canada and needs a new home. Her owners do not have the time and energy a dog like Tia requires. They have cared for her well and she is spayed and up to date on her shots.

   If you have a well fenced property and are a suitable owner for an Akbash dog then click the "read more" link below for contact info for Tia

   If you are interested in adopting Tia contact the Akbash Rescue coordinator Janet Davis
at phone number 510 410-0149 (California USA cell number) or e-mail me at straughie@comcast.net

David and Goliath-Wyoming-ADOPTED!

2011-04-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

These two boys ended up in a shelter together. Working sheep guarding dogs they went off wandering together. They ended up getting trapped in a cemetery and were starving. The police were called. No form of ID and no microchip, meant they passed their stray hold and were soon property of the shelter. The shelter took great care of them until foster could be found! Akbash Rescue took them into the program and now look at them!
See below the boys in their fantastic foster home!

Here are the boys with the foster moms grandchildren!

This magnificent pair is learning the property line and have excellent leash manners!

David and Goliath have great temperaments! They are dog friendly, good with horses and sheep, like the kitty and of course love the kids!

Goliath takes a pensive pose!

What a big gorgeous fellow Goliath is!

Below is sweet David, look at his beautiful smile!

If you are interested in adopting David and Goliath or the pair, contact Akbash Rescue Coordinator Janet Davis 510 410-0149 or e-mail straughie@comcast.net

Three FABULOUS mini Akbash pups in Calif-ADOPTED!

2011-04-18T19:57:00.000-07:00

Some ghastly person threw these three winsome girls out of a car, in Northern CALIF! The sisters ended up in a shelter and Akbash Rescue came to their rescue! They are approx five-six month old Akbash mix puppies. I do not think they will grow into full size Akbash dogs. What they are mixed with is a mystery!?!

They look like full grown mini Akbash....hmmmmm is this a new trend in designer dogs? Mini Akbash purse puppies! Oh no!!!

The three are separately in foster care and await permanent homes.

1. First is sweet "Ankara". Named after the Turkish city, Ankara, is an absolutely lovely girl! She loves everyone in her foster home. The other dogs, the resident female German Shepherd has taken Ankara under her wing. Letting her know she is to come when called! Teaching her the ropes generally. Ankara has met the goats that live there and is quiet and content to be around them. She also loves the resident kitties. She has learned her house manners and potty training.
This is one all around excellent young lady!

2. Secondly, (below), is miss "Tara". This elegant leggy gal is such a mini Akbash! She swaggers around and waves her curled tail....even alerts to strange noises.

Tara will rest her chin on your chest and give you quite a greeting, crawling in your lap!

3. Below is little "Dara". She is the smallest of the bunch weighing just 37 lbs now.

Dara is so sweet you would just want to hug her little self and kiss her soft little head!!!

Any puppy trouble they cause will soon leave your mind as you stare into these brown eyes and little white eyelashes!

If you wish to inquire about any of the fabulous mini Akbash please contact Akbash Rescue Coordinator Janet Davis at 510 410-0149 or e-mail straughie@comcast.net

TWO CANADA AKBASH IN SAME SHELTER-ADOPTED!

2011-04-09T12:10:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone, I am feeling lonely at the shelter and really hope a patient and kind person comes to adopt me!!!

K C is a young male Akbash in need of a good permanent home. He is currently at the Canadian shelter below: If you are interested in K C please contact the shelter directly.

Email vancouver@spca.bc.ca
Phone 604-879-7721
Address 1205 East 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5T 1R1

I am Griff, a young male, and I am in the same shelter in Canada waiting for adoption and a lifelong permanent home!

Where can you find me?

I am at the South Okanagan/Similkameen location.
You can contact me by

Email penticton@spca.bc.ca
Phone 250-493-0136
Address 2200 Dartmouth Drive, V2A 7W7

If you have any problem finding the shelter where these dogs are located contact Akbash Rescue Coordinator-US Janet Davis 510 410-0149 (Calif USA time) or e-mail straughie@comcast.net

Three female Akbash pups in Calif need urgent foster! (ADOPTED!)

2011-04-03T07:56:00.000-07:00

These three four month old Akbash pups were dumped out of a car in Northern CA! Now they are at the shelter on a rescue hold for Akbash Rescue. Foster is needed immediately to get them out of the shelter next week. Foster has been found for one but foster for the other two is needed. If you can foster please contact Akbash Rescue coordinator Janet Davis 510 410-0149 e-mail is straughie@comcast.net

Emergency foster needed for Wyoming Akbash dogs!!!(ADOPTED)

2011-03-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

   These two young male Akbash dogs need emergency foster. They were brought to a shelter in Wyoming by animal control. They were on the run in an area outside of a town looking for food.

   They are depressed at the shelter but it is good for them to be getting regular meals. They will be neutered, vaccinated and dewormed.

   If I can get a foster I will do the rest.....finding homes and screening adopters etc.

   Probably were born on a big sheep ranch with working dogs, but no supervision so they have been on the run....

   Certainly are gorgeous dogs and very people friendly, just a bit unsettled in the shelter. They mostly want to sleep!!!

  If you can foster please contact The Akbash Rescue Coordinator-Janet Davis at CELL Phone # 510 410-0149 or E-MAIL her at straughie@comcast.net

   Thank you!

CUTTER-URGENT FOSTER NEEDED (ADOPTED)

2011-03-08T09:08:00.000-08:00

Cutter is a very handsome White Anatolian Shepherd dog. Akbash and Anatolians are the Turkish Livestock Guardian dogs.

Cutter was in a shelter in Texas. Rescued from the shelter and fully vetted he now desperately awaits a permanent home or foster!
He is being boarded at a vet hospital and is very lonely. Below is his pal that works at the vet hospital and walks him.

Cutter is very friendly and personable with people and loves to be pet and hugged as you can see!

Contact for Cutter is Janet Davis 510 410-0149 e-mail is straughie@comcast.net
Cutter is in Texas but transport can and will be arranged anywhere for foster or a home.
Please click the "read more" link below for more great pics of Cutter taken by a professional photographer.

Tala and Ruh-FOR ADOPTION

2011-02-13T13:41:00.000-08:00

"RUH"

This handsome and elegant young mama Akbash was found with her single pup in an area of Utah that uses working Livestock Guardian Dogs. Impounded she awaited almost certain euthanasia if rescue could not take her. Akbash rescue, with the help of local rescue groups, found out about her plight and got her into foster care. Her young pup was kept with her and they are now in foster together.

She has been named "Tala" and the male puppy is now "Ruh".

Nala has a lovely temperament and is calm and well mannered in the house.

For questions about adoption CONTACT THE RESCUE COORDINATOR JANET DAVIS VIA E-MAIL AT straughie@comcast.net

(PS) the comments section is for leaving comments only about the story, not for communicating with me, I cannot communicate in the comment section so PLEASE e-mail me if you are interested in adoption)

FOR MORE PICS AND INFO CLICK THE "read more"LINK BELOW

Below are the shelter pictures of mama and pup. Things are looking up for this pair! They have been vetted and are being well cared for and are awaiting their new permanent homes.

CALIFORNIA GIRL NEEDS FOSTER!!!-BLANCA ADOPTED

2010-12-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

This lovely Akbash/Great Pyrenees cross needs foster urgently. Blanca is looking for a home of her own and foster is urgently needed while an adopter is found. She is two to three years old, spayed healthy and up to date on all shots.

Click the "read more" link below to find out how Blanca came to be in need of a home!

   Someone noticed a Craig's list posting for a free dog. People that do rescue work and care about dogs often keep an eye out for these type of postings. If dogs are advertised as free, then no screening is often going on, and a dog can fall into very bad hands!
   The area where Blanca was being given away has a lot of dog-fighting. People like white dogs for the "bait dogs". The bait dog is the one used to train other dogs to fight. They like the white dogs so the blood shows up!

   This good doggie samaritan called the owner and told him he should not give her away as she could easily end up with the dog-fighters in the area. The owner suggested she take the dog then!
So she did....Blanca was kept in a kennel most of her life. Her owner bred her to a St. Bernard and since he had a new female St. Bernard pup, there was no need for Blanca any longer!

She was taken to temporary foster and taught how to walk on a leash, spayed, given vaccinations and had some time as a companion dog for the first time in her life.

Blanca is for adoption and needs a home. Right now she is in real need of a foster home until a permanent adopter is found.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FOSTERING OR ADOPTING BLANCA PLEASE CONTACT
Akbash rescue coordinator Janet Davis cell 510 410-0149 or e-mail straughie@comcast.net

TEXAS "PRINCESS"- HAS BEEN ADOPTED!!!

2010-11-28T15:31:00.000-08:00

This Pretty Texas Princess is for adoption! To hear how she got busted out of a nasty old Texas shelter and bathed up pretty, with the help of some guardian angels, click the "read more" link below.

Princess has been adopted! Here she is in her new home making friends with the resident kitty! We knew she had been great with the cats in her foster home so had high hopes they would get along!

Looks like all is well in this new relationship and Princess has even decided to share "guard" duties with her new kitty friend!

Her first home is a mystery but her foster mom thought she may indeed have been someone's Princess......she seemed to take quite naturally to the couch and there was a battle of wills to keep her off. This is ongoing a bit in her new home. Princess, being the super smart girl she is, has come up with a compromise position!?! Rear end on the couch and front legs on the floor. "Is this okay"? she seems to be saying!

"Is the chair okay"..."look how nicely I fit in it"!

  Princess was adopted by a wonderful dog owner that had not adopted an adult rescue dog before. It can be a worrisome idea to take a new dog one has not met before. This intrepid adopter decided to solve that problem by driving herself from Colorado to Texas to meet Princess in her foster home! The introduction went well and she brought Princess home with her.
  That is one way to solve the issue of transport, with a long distance adoption!

We are thrilled Princess has a wonderful new home and wish her and her new family the best.

   Below is the beginning of the Princess story...

   This young female Akbash showed up in Lubbock at an overcrowded shelter. Thankfully they kept her for long enough for a wonderful local rescue lady to find out about her. She went to visit Princess daily and put the word out for help. Myself and Texas Pyrenees rescue came up with a plan.
   I found a Guardian Angel to sponsor her. Meaning he would contribute the cost of her care, donating to 501c3 (tax deductible) Texas Pyr rescue, and they would foster her and provide spay, shots and whatever else she needed.
   With the plan set I told the local rescue person she could finally go get the girl out and take her to her foster mom!!! Here is what she wrote us later that day...

Hi guys,
Just an up-date on the young lady from LAS!! I picked her up from LAS yesterday morning for
our road trip to Seminole!! When I first got there, I went into her run to put on her new collar
and she just stood there licking my hand!! She knew that something good was about to happen!!
After we walked out of her run, and were walking past all the other barking dogs, she just
walked quietly past all of them with a look on her face that said, "Bye guys, I'm finally out of
here"!! It was the most amazing sight I have seen in a long time!
After a walk around the parking lot, she finally got into the truck. I went into the office to get
the final paperwork and looked outside to see what she was doing and here is this beautiful
white dog with her 2 front paws on the dash barking like crazy!!
So, off we went on her new adventure!! She rode most of the way with her head resting on
my leg, drool and all!! But, pants dry and it was all worth it to finally be able to get her out
of LAS!!! I had been working with different groups over the past several weeks to save this
beautiful girl and it finally happened!!! She is now with Mary Taylor in Odessa who gave her
a much needed bath yesterday afternoon!! She will be going to the Vet. today for all of her
shots and wellness check!! Since she is in heat, the spay will have to wait.
Janet Davis, who so generously helped with Dash, has once again offered to help with this girl.
So, to all of you that helped with prayers and good thoughts, thank you!!! Another one is
safely out of LAS!!!

   I sent this note to Princess's sponsor and he wrote back "Isn't this fun"!!!

Maybe you cannot foster or actively participate in rescue but you can save a dog just from your desk by offering the much needed financial support! Princess's donor did so from California!

What does Princess have to say about all this???

"The couch beats the noisy noisy shelter, I can finally take a much needed nap in peace....thank you thank you everyone!"
   PRINCESS


   This pretty girl is currently for ADOPTION

A great rescue story -Menky

2010-11-25T20:00:00.000-08:00

This beautiful young Akbash girl looks like life has always been this grand...not so as she was found wandering in the mountains in Wyoming......

To read this great rescue story click the "read more" link below

I got an e-mail one day from someone that had found what they thought was an Akbash dog.

Below is what he first wrote to me....

"last weekend I found a one year old, wild dog wandering and starving in the Wind River Mountains, Wyoming.She appears to have had very little to no human contact.

I have decided to at least foster her for the time being, and i hope that with some socialization and training she will turn into a dog that i am able to adopt."

He had spent a long time trying to catch the dog, and while many less determined would have given up, he persisted and eventually caught her. Below are the first pictures of her in not the greatest condition.

With a little time and patience and good care, she became a very wonderful and personable companion dog.

Menky took well to the resident cat. She loves to play with other dogs and appears to love her new life...her owners reported. Wherever she goes she gets many compliments on what a lovely dog she is.

Proving once again the most amazing dogs can come from the worst circumstances. To find your own dog to save, and watch them flourish under your care is a very special experience...sometimes a once in a lifetime one...

Looks like these two were in the right place at the right time to meet up.

Tribute to Hunter

2010-11-20T20:45:00.000-08:00

I was contacted recently by a woman whose best pal Hunter had recently passed. Below is her touching tribute to her wonderful companion...

Hunter came bounding into my life 9 years ago and it was love at first sight .

I learned of his story from the man who brought him to me. He was a pup on the eastern shore of Maryland and went back and forth from several homes to the kennel; eventually a friend rescued him from one of the homes. He was a small pup and was cruelly tied up on a leash outside all the time. The guy who rescued him was a surfer so he became a part of the “surfer guys” pack who had him pull them on skateboards! (It took a long time to get him to not pull on a leash!) He made his way to me around the age of 9 months, when one of the guys could not longer care for him and was going to return him to a kennel once again, and heard that I was looking for a dog. When he arrived at my home, he tore up the driveway fast as can be into my arms, as if to say, “I thought I’d never find you!”

I had no idea what breed hunter was; I said to my dad, “he is either this rare breed called an Akbash or a mutt”. We laughed, it turns out Hunter was a mix of some kind of terrier and an Akbash. He was tall and slender and FAST, the fastest dog I have ever seen! But he never weighed more then 60 pounds in his life, but there was that Akbash personality shining through and all the physical attributes :)

He was so handsome and anyone that saw him with me had to smile. He brought so much joy to the world, but especially to me. He got nicknames from all the people who knew him: “fur ejector”, “magic dog”, “spirit dog”, and “the white streak”. I sang him songs about what a wonderful dog he was, and over the years my husband and I built up quite a line up of Hunter songs. I loved every second I had with him and we were rarely apart. I even found jobs where I could take him to work with me.

He brought more joy, happiness and love then I thought was possible to have in this life. He was my best friend and soul mate. We walked, ran and hiked almost 10,000 miles together over the years. I traveled with him to 44 out of the lower 48 states. We hiked mountains, crossed deserts, and swam in the Pacific/Atlantic oceans, the Puget Sound, the Gulf of Mexico and countless rivers, lakes and streams and slept together almost every night. I can't really describe with words the love and bond that we shared. He was the most beautiful being I have known so far. He was magical- like a mix of Buddha & Dog & Best Friend & Soul mate. I suspect a lot of people feel this way about their furry ones, but with Hunter it was also the depth of our bond that made our relationship so unique, fulfilling and joyous.

Just before his 9^th birthday he was diagnosed with bone cancer. I found out this is common in larger breed dogs like the Akbash. They gave him only a few weeks to live, but we treated him with homeopathy, pain meds, diet and LOVE. We had a wonderful last 11 weeks together. If anyone else’s Akbash gets bone cancer, please contact me; I would be more then happy to be a sounding board or share helpful information- janegmiller@gmail.com

Thank you Hunter, for being my best friend for 9 years, you were the most loving, joyous, wise and wonderful friend and I will miss you forever.

TO SEE MORE PICS OF HUNTER CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK BELOW

What a wonderful life Hunter had...having found his friend Jane!

Joshua and new rescued pal Bella!

2010-11-15T20:23:00.000-08:00

Who is this magnificent fellow you might be thinking!?! This is Joshua.

   Joshua came to my attention, he was listed in the Akbash section and not far from me. He was going to be rehommed as a companion dog because he had a habit of chasing farm animals (not uncommon). Joshua loved people and was very dog friendly.

   I called to inquire about Joshua and the stars aligned perfectly! I had just received a call from a couple that had recently lost their beloved Akbash Guy! His rescue story is elsewhere on this website in the section titled "In Memoriam".

   As I was on the phone with them I got another call from Joshua's owner. In short order a match was made! I had the added pleasure of a visit from this delightful couple to learn about their treasured Akbash rescue, Guy, and see his pictures.
   They were able to go see Joshua and decided to adopt him!

Soon I received this beautiful picture of Joshua in his new home!

Then I was delighted to learn that these intrepid rescuers added a gorgeous new gal to their family, yes Joshus now had a fantastic gal pal named Bella!

CLICK THE "READ MORE"LINK BELOW TO SEE MORE PICTURES!

AWWWW!!!!!

Here is Joshua getting acquainted with his beautiful new yard...hmmm looks like he has found a truly wonderful home!!!

Maggie & Boy (Texas) - AKBASH PAIR-adopted

2010-11-13T13:12:00.000-08:00

Maggie and Boy are a bonded two year old pair of proven working Akbash dogs. They are currently guarding sheep on a 5,000 acre ranch. They have no known behavior problems, are up to date on vaccinations, spayed and neutered, Heartworm negative and on preventative, good with other dogs, and very friendly to people.
Once the baby lambs they guarded grew up they began to roam so their owner wishes to rehome them. They are tended to only every few days and their owner suspects they need more human contact.

Maggie and boy would be excellent smaller farm guardians where someone is home to tend to them. Livestock Guardian Dogs often stick around much better if they have a good relationship with their owners and a routine is established daily. Feeding time at the same time, walks around the perimeter. They look forward to this ritual and will not want to miss it!

If you are interested in this excellent pair of Akbash dogs please contact Akbash rescue coordinator Janet Davis cell# 510 410-0149 (CA time) or e-mail straughie@comcast.net

Boy with his sheep!

Maggie and boy, perfect pair!

Headed off to work with their Anatolian buddy...

Boy checking the flock.

Bonjo and the gang

2010-11-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

Bonjo in foster (top of stairs) with pals.

Bonjo in foster-pictures pictures!!!

2010-11-04T22:56:00.000-07:00

Bonjo is being fostered by a very experienced foster person that also takes fantastic pictures of her foster dogs! Bonjo enjoys the company of the resident Akbash dog Cheney and the other foster dogs.

Both one year old males, Bonjo and Cheney have become pals!

What is the cute little gremlin in the corner with Bonjo you may ask!?! Meet Armani! Armani is one of a whole brood of Malti-poo's (Maltese Poodle crosses). Bonjo's foster took them in after they were spotted being handed away free at a flea market.
Totally unsocialized and a completely wild bunch she has had her hands full potty training and trying to get them used to being handled. The resident Akbash dogs are slightly annoyed but Bonjo is very patient and tolerant as they zoom around, the little uncivilized bunch!
Maltipoo's are one of the "designer dogs", or Poodle crosses being puppy milled in many southern states. Sold in pet stores with names such as "maltipoo" (maltese poodle mix) "Cavapoo" (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Poodle mix), "cockapoo" (Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix).

"Odd little fella" Bonjo seems to be thinking!

"Ugh, he's trying to kiss me" Bonjo says to Cheney!

"Me too" Cheney says to Bonjo...."will someone pulease adopt him!

Bonjo and pal Armani

2010-11-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

Good News....little Armani got adopted! Yes he will miss his big pal Bonjo but he has another little dog friend going with him!

How to get a dog adopted?...good pictures!

2010-11-03T21:27:00.000-07:00

  Many rescue groups list dogs via the internet, on various websites. Anyone that contacts a rescue group with the hopes of getting help adopting a dog, must provide good pictures. Often people send a rescue group grainy dark cell phone pictures. The dog is dirty with gunk in the eyes (not kidding), and not even looking at the camera.

HERE IS HOW TO TAKE PICTURES:
   Take pictures outside in natural light. Late morning or late afternoon toward sunset is the best light.
   Take pictures of a clean and brushed dog, wipe the face! Have no clutter in the background. Only the dog should be the focus of the photo. Get a good face close up with expression showing and light in the eyes if possible. Also get a standing full body shot. Have a new or clean collar and leash on the dog.

If you cannot take photos like this put out an appeal to friends and family. This is a way someone can help a dog in rescue, without having to do the work of foster care. You will be surprised to find people are often happy to help in this way.

Below are examples of the photos a very experienced foster, and photographer, takes. She knows how important photos are to begin generating interest in a particular dog. Often black dogs have trouble being adopted. Not when she photographs them!!!

CLICK THE READ MORE LINK BELOW TO SEE MORE SPECTACULAR PICTURES OF DOGS IN RESCUE!

MASON GRADUATES FROM OBEDIENCE SCHOOL!!! ADOPTED!

2010-10-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

   MASON HAS BEEN ADOPTED!!!

   This one time temperament test flunkie just graduated from his first series of obedience classes!!! His foster mom said "he finished with a very nice performance, his recall was awesome"!
   How did they show up the rest of the crowd? "we'd been practicing in the alleyway between sheep pens, so he was straight"!!!
     "He was also FAST and finished with a beautiful sit in front..." his foster mom hopes his new adopter will continue his obedience as he really seems to enjoy the outing and the class. Upstaging the squirmy squirmy Labs and Goldens!

Click the "read more" link below to see more pictures and learn about Mason

Young Mason was found wandering and starving in the mountains in Montana. Most likely from a working ranch. It is not uncommon for young unneutered males to wander off. A concerned hiker took him home and then took him to a shelter. Like many young Livestock Guardian Dogs with no training, he flunked the food test. A hungry guy, he did not appreciate the plastic hand in his food bowl, can you blame him!?!
   Often food guarding is an innate behavior, how else is a fella to keep hundreds of sheep outta his food?
   Shelter temperament tests are often very strict as they are standardized for adopters that may have no doggie skills whatsoever. This is why rescue groups are so important. The shelter relies on a rescue group to find foster and a qualified adopter. The shelter neutered Mason to save the rescue fund money, thank you!

Here is Mason at the shelter. The first thing I thought was, he is just a puppy! He is wagging his tail in this picture!

   Enter local Montana Akbash owner, she has three, to Mason's rescue! Mason was taken home to a beautiful peaceful setting to begin some foster care.
   The food training he never got as a pup began immediately. He was fed a hard boiled egg, cut into pieces and a sit was required before he was hand fed a piece.
   Often dogs will not eat their food and then will guard it. It can be helpful to teach them to eat their food as soon as they are fed.   Now Mason finishes his food and does not feel the need to guard it.
   One can teach even a seemingly very food aggressive dog to see the person as the provider, not taker, of food. In temperament tests the dog is given the bowl of food, begins eating, and then an attempt to touch the dog or take the bowl elicits growls or posturing.
   To begin working with the dog on this issue, put the bowl down empty. Have the food in a container in your hand. Empty one mouthful at a time into the bowl. The dog will eat it and then naturally look at you for more. Just as food guarding is an innate behavior, so is soliciting food from humans, commonly called begging...HA! Once the dog looks up at you for more, soliciting the food, reward this calm behavior with another mouthful. The dog will soon learn these new behaviors around food get rewarded with more food..
      Just a bit of patience and teaching the dog the behaviors you want. Whether working or companion dogs, Livestock Guardian Breeds need human interaction and training to develop proper behaviors. They need to develop a trusting relationship with their owner. This relationship built on trust and mutual respect, is the foundation from which their behavior is guided and shaped through adolescence and on into adulthood.

Here is a friend coming to visit the resident very large male Akbash. Even though this neighbor tries to get him to jump up on her, he only offers a paw....having been trained to not jump up!
Wearing his traditional hand forged iron collar to protect his neck from the numerous wild critters, he fends them off just fine but is well socialized and mannerly!

For information about Mason please contact Akbash rescue coordinator Janet Davis 510 410-0149
e-mail is straughie@comcast.net

BONJO-ADOPTED!!!

2010-10-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

Bonjo has a young male Akbash pal in his foster home. The two youngsters have become buddies!

Bonjo awaits a new home, read about how Bonjo came to be in rescue by scrolling down.....

Two Southern boys on the run-FOR ADOPTION (Bonjo and Manny)

2010-10-05T09:50:00.000-07:00

MANNY

BONJO

These two young, (one year old), cuties were on the run in Arkansas! Leaving their old life behind and sticking together... everyone needs a buddy!

They were impounded in Arkansas and came to the attention of a wonderful Akbash rescue sponsor. He spotted their pictures on the shelter site and we worked out a plan to save them. Due to be euthanized in an overcrowded shelter, we got them saved in the nick of time! Their fantastic sponsor, (who helps us rescue folks save dogs from his desk in California), paid for the shelter to get them neutered and vaccinated. A Heartworm test also, they are both negative!

The shelter manager helped us out tremendously and arranged emergency foster care with a local rescue person. He wanted to save them so bad he was thinking of taking them home to his house! He had his own dogs and it was too hot to confine them in his garage, so he found emergency foster.

This gave me time to make contact with the fabulous Arkansas Great Pyrenees rescue coordinator and we worked together to get them into temporary boarding while foster was found.

She drove them to a wonderful rescue friendly boarding kennel near Little Rock called Heights Country Kennels. Kennel owner Jennifer is the best!!! She will take a dog in rescue, (many kennels will not), and fuss over them. When they leave Jennifer's, they are better off than when they arrived!

The Pyrenees rescue person asked an old friend if she would take some pictures of the boys. She donated their pictures and Bonjo and Manny were taken to her professional Photography studio called Strain Photography and these fantastic pictures were taken. Jennifer bathed and groomed them for their photo shoot!

See their individual listings titled "BONJO" and "MANNY" for the rest of their pics!

BONJO-ADOPTED!!!

2010-10-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

Bonjo is Manny's buddy. Bonjo, the akbash dog, went to foster in Tenn on a huge transport truck carrying lots of rescue dogs.
The great transport rigs take dogs from the overcrowded southern shelters, up to the north east for adoption. The rigs stop along particular points much like a bus would. Bonjo was scared, newly split from Manny, he had a long day! However once in Tenn, with his fantastic foster mom, he is doing wonderful. He has been running and playing with her young male Akbash dog and her other foster dogs.

Bonjo is a great young dog, all ready to go to his new forever home! He can be transported many places via rescue transport.

click the "read more" link below to see more pics of Bonjo!

Bonjo did not fit in the chair as well as Manny! He tried hard to figure out what these silly people were trying to get him to do!!!

If you can give Bonjo a forever home contact Akbash rescue coordinator Janet Davis 510 410-0149 or e-mail me at straughie@comcast.net

MANNY-ADOPTED!

2010-10-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

Little Manny always has a smile on his face reports his foster mom! We thought Manny and Bonjo might be brothers but they must just be great friends. Manny is much smaller, perhaps Pyrenees crossed with a smaller dog.

We worried about Manny because sadly the boys had to be split to go into separate foster homes. Little Manny cried and cried when the boys were split. However, he has many new friends in his foster home, including a gorgeous big female Pyr named Giselle. Manny is happy as can be and always smiling.

click the "read more" link below to see more pics of Manny

Manny is a joyous and happy young fellow now. If you want to give Manny a wonderful forever home of his own please contact Akbash rescue coordinator Janet Davis 510 410-0149 or e-mail straughie@comcast.net

GRACIE TEXAS-for ADOPTION

2010-10-02T21:02:00.000-07:00

My name is Gracie and I am a gorgeous girl in Texas waiting for adoption! I was found wandering on the road by a woman that knows Akbash.....she pulled over and made sure I was safe. Imagine what I will look like when I get a bath and grooming....ohh I am going to be soooo gorgeous!!!

I was adopted out once but when those people went to work and left me all alone in the yard, I got worried and took off. I was missing for two weeks! Now I am safe again and please when you adopt me keep me safe.... as I will take a little time to get adjusted!

I am quite young at a year and a half or so. Please contact the Akbash rescue lady to see about adopting me....

Lovely "Lily"-ADOPTED!!!

2010-09-21T19:34:00.000-07:00

   This lovely Akbash female needs a home! Her owner has medical issues and can no longer care for her so she is in foster care.
   As a pup she was with sheep until one of them stepped on her and broke her leg. Her first owner took her, with her broken leg, to be euthanized. The vet fixed her up instead and gave her to Anatolian Shepherd rescue! She has had a wonderful home until this latest sad news...
   Lily is six years old and is in Washington state.
Lily is sweet and gentle and friendly. She is with other dogs in her foster home and a cat. She has a big bark and loves to settle in and lay down to observe everything.

Marcus the mystery dog!-ADOPTED!

2010-08-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

THE CASE OF THE ONE EARED AKBASH DOG!

   This gorgeous young male Akbash dog was abandoned in the parking lot of a veterinary office, with a female herding dog and their three puppies in Winters CA. They were taken to the Yolo county animal shelter. This Daddy Akbash was rescued into foster care and now is in urgent need of a new foster home or permanent home!

   When "Marcus" (his fabulous foster mom named him), came to his foster home he would not walk! We thought possibly he was injured in some way. He had to be carried outside to potty! Marcus just wanted to lay quietly in the garage....he even crawled to his food bowl to eat!
   We thought it might be emotional, yet his temperament said otherwise. Marcus was extremely friendly to all, he especially lit up when the daughter came to see him. He wagged his tail and did not seem upset or shy, he just did not want to walk or be outside! At the shelter they said he had just lay quietly in his kennel run the week he was there also.

   We sent Marcus to the vet and he had a full work up. He was pronounced healthy and he was neutered. He is heartworm negative and has had all his shots. Marcus is a year and a half to two years old.
   What was wrong with Marcus and also why does he have only one ear!?!

Marcus has one ear that has been cleanly cut off! That cannot change the fact that this is one gorgeous Akbash dog! What would he tell us about how that came to be.......?

Now what am I doing in this silly hat!?! Everyone at the vet fell in love with Marcus and he was completely compliant....

Marcus was taken back to the vet to have another thorough check up, it was just emotional, there is nothing physically wrong with him!
   The next day Marcus started to show his emerging happy side! Well fed and cared for, now he is feeling good. He is no longer content to hang out in the garage.....he wants to get out and about and is showing that he is a normal young dog.
   The foster person's resident Akbash dog is non too happy about the addition, and Marcus is nervous about too much other dog contact. Perhaps he was picked on by other dogs in his previous life and that is how he lost an ear? He needs to be around gentle dogs that will not bombard him until he gets used to them.
   This fellow has been through a lot. We can tell he will make a wonderful dog for someone as even through all of this he is kind and gentle.

   Please help Marcus find a new foster or permanent home. He is near the Sacramento area in California!

Here is Marcus in the shelter before his bath! Easy to tell what a beautiful dog he is!

Male Female pair of Pups-Calif-FOR ADOPTION!

2010-08-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

This adorable pair of five month old Akbash pups in California need help fast! Their owner got them a few weeks ago and they are too much for her to handle, chasing her chickens and rabbits.
They are sweet and ready to begin training! Click the read more link below to see more pics!

The pups are cuddly and sweet but already barking when strangers come around...beginning to show Akbash characteristics.

This is the female pup

Here is the male

They are in urgent need of foster or a permanent home!

Langy-ADOPTED

2010-08-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

This beautiful male Akbash dog is currently in the Lewis and Clark Humane Society in Helena, Montana and in need of a home! His last owner took him to the shelter because he was not very good at guarding the poultry!
He is an amiable fellow and good with people. He is good with other dogs, if properly introduced, (like most Akbash). He ignores the cats at the shelter and is good at the vet and easy to handle. He sounds like a wonderful dog.
CLICK the read more link below to see a funny ad the shelter put in a Montana paper for Langy...

Pet of the week: Exotic beauty seeks long-term relationship

Dogs aren’t vegetarians, but that didn’t stop Langy from running afoul of his family when he ate a duck. And so, in June, this 5-year-old neutered male was surrendered to the shelter.

Maybe Langy should have eaten a turkey, because he is an akbash, which is breed of dog that originated in the country of Turkey at the eastern end of the Mediterranean. Since the Middle Ages, herders there have been using akbash to work with their sheep.

Langy, though, isn’t really a working dog. He’s a gentle giant who just wants to be a family friend. At 84 pounds, Langy is large, yet he is easygoing and even-tempered. He walks quite well on a leash, with just a slight tendency to pull. He knows many commands and would probably do well with some additional obedience training.

Langy’s needs are pretty basic. He’ll require exercise and would probably like to go hiking, running, or just walking. A large yard would be ideal, and a fence higher than 4 feet should keep him home. He gets along with other dogs when properly introduced, and he pretty much ignores the cats here at the shelter. He would be wonderful with older children who could, literally, stand up to his size, because Langy tends to lean on those he loves, and he is a big boy.

What does Langy offer in return? He’s handsome, smart, eager to please and very affectionate. With the proper yard and fencing, even a relatively inexperienced dog owner could share a great life with Langy.

Come meet Langy and some of his canine pals today, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., outside Starbucks, 608 N. Last Chance Gulch. Other adoptable dogs and cats are waiting for you at the Lewis & Clark Humane Society, 2112 E. Custer Ave., telephone 442-1660.

Breed Description

2010-07-27T21:05:00.000-07:00

http://web.me.com/martinedubuc/Akbash_Dogs_International_calendar/ADI_Rescue_files/rescue%20flyer.pdf

Please read this breed description carefully as most people have not actually met or handled an Akbash dog.

Prince Harry-Canada-ADOPTED

2010-07-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

Prince Harry or "Harry" for short...is looking for his permanent home. He is currently in foster in BC Canada. He is a good natured fellow...
to see more pics of Harry click the "read more" link below

Harry enjoys the other dogs and children at his foster home and he is undoubtedly grateful for his wonderful foster family!

If you are interested in adopting Harry please contact Akbash rescue coordinator Janet Davis

DAKOTA-ADOPTED!!!

2010-07-08T20:59:00.000-07:00

My name is Dakota and my Dad had to go off to the war! I am such a sweet and pretty girl and without a home now!!! Please click the read more link below to hear my harrowing story and see how I ended up homeless!

I got an e-mail one day from someone that had spotted this lovely white dog in a Tenn shelter, and thought she looked like an Akbash. I called to check on her and was told her owner had brought her in because he had been deployed to the Middle East. He thought hopefully that she may find a good home from the shelter. He filled out her paperwork: she was a three year old spayed female "Pyrenees Shepherd cross" he had gotten as a puppy from a Ranch litter.

She "loves kids" he wrote, and "needs room to run". Perhaps thinking hopefully....she would find a nice family to adopt her...a nice family with a big yard.

When I call a shelter to "check" on a dog I am trying to find out information such as 1. How much time does the dog have? Is there a time deadline I have to work with (before the dog is in danger of euthanasia). 2. does the shelter have a good adoption rate, and can they do any screening to make sure the dog does not end up in bad hands. 3. How is the dog doing, how is the dog's mood and health.

Sometimes, as was the case with this shelter, I can not find anyone to talk to that had actually even seen the dog. This was clearly a very overcrowded shelter. In addition, because of the current economic climate and the recent floods in Tenn, the prospect of all these dogs getting adopted was dismal. I decided I had better get Dakota out quickly. I searched around for foster but most foster people need to know something about the dog including how are they with other dogs? I had no idea since I could not find anyone that was handling her!

I found a nearby veterinary hospital and decided to get her there for boarding while I figured out what to do! This turned out to be a lifesaving decision! Dakota ended up getting Kennel Cough. A dog cold which is common in shelters and boarding kennels. Often mild it can sometimes turn into a more serious upper respiratory infection. I got a call from the veterinary hospital that Dakota's Kennel Cough had turned serious and she had a 104 temperature.... was listless, congested and not eating....this poor girl got down to 36 lbs! Often referred to as a dog flu, I heard some dogs in the south had passed away from it, this year.

The veterinarian asked permission to start lifesaving IV fluids and antibiotics. Despite the great expense I of course said yes. No way could I give up on a dog once I had begun to try and help her!

Some people may think taking a dog to a shelter is a way to find them a home when in reality they may just become sick depressed and die.

To add to this poor girls problems she got very stressed out during bad thunderstorms. Sad, stressed and depressed her whole world was upside down since being taken to the shelter. She had tried to escape her kennel run at the vet hospital one lonely night. She injured a paw overnight. It seemed things could not get any worse for this girl!

Over the weekend the vets called me a few times to let me know how she was doing, by Monday she was improving and her temp was headed back down!

Dakota was such a sweet and compliant girl and just wanted to do whatever was asked of her. The people that worked in the office began to let her lay up front with them during the day. She slept quietly, happy to be with someone.

One of the women that worked in the office brought her kids to work one day and it was true......Dakota loves kids...they said she really perked up!

Another woman that worked at the veterinary office told me she loved Dakota and were it not for all her other dogs she would take her......she decided to start taking Dakota home to her house at night to let Dakota have a break from the vet office. "Where did she sleep"? I asked...."On my bed" she laughed! Dakota followed her around and lay at her feet when she sat in a chair. She made me promise to please find this lovely girl a good home!

First I found a wonderful foster mom for Dakota! Dakota went to her foster home in Tenn via volunteer rescue transport. In her foster home she is gaining her weight back and resting in a peaceful happy setting.

Foster mom reports Dakota enjoys following them around the farm, playing with the other dogs and even playing ball. Looks like this happy girl has her happy back!

Dakota awaits the final step, a new wonderful home of her own!

She has one! Dakota has gone to a new home and is settling in nicely. She had a vet check up and has gained twenty pounds and EVERYONE loves her says her new owner!

Jinger-ADOPTED!

2010-06-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

Jinger is a lovely young, one year and nine months old, female Akbash in immediate need of foster or a permanent home. Her previous owner dumped her at an overcrowded kill shelter for "being too friendly and not guarding the sheep". Poor Jinger was nervous and shy having never been in a place such as a shelter! I got her out into a rescue friendly boarding kennel right away. She is doing very well and is happy to see everyone and wagging her tail. She has been spayed and fully vaccinated.
The kennel owner reports it was hard for her to get pictures of sweet Jinger as she wanted to be up close and personal with her face in the camera!

Click the read more link below to see more pictures of Jinger!

Working Dog Info

2010-06-15T21:35:00.000-07:00

Click the read more link below for an article on "introducing your new Akbash dog to livestock" by Diane Spisak

Introducing the new Akbash Dog

It is important to understand that most of the Akbash Dogs that come into rescue are dogs that were poorly placed by their breeders in homes not very well suited to the breed, and with people that had little idea of what an Akbash Dog is about. Thus, many of the dogs in rescue missed out on some important training and socialization early on and have some behavioral issues that need to be worked with.

Most of the dogs come with very little accurate history and most are unknowns as far as what livestock experience they have had.

Escaping, barking, livestock rough play behavior, and disrespect for humans are commonly seen in rescues.The good thing is that unless the dogs have developed strong chase behaviors, most dogs can, with a few months of supervision and training, become well mannered and good livestock guardians and companions if they get handled by people with good canine behavioral skills.

When the dog comes to your home: Akbash Dogs are highly intelligent and very emotionally sensitive and require a few weeks to feel comfortable in a new setting.

If you have other dogs it is important that the new and old dogs meet on neutral territory for both dogs. That means 2 people each walking a dog down the road , (neutral place), on loose leads and people keeping their energy low & happy, each walking a distance apart and as the dogs get used to one another gradually walking closer. Tight leads relay to the dog tension and will actually cause dogs to aggress, so loose leads and happy demeanor is important.

Always pair opposite sexed neutered/spayed dogs together. Akbash Dogs are generally dog aggressive to similar sized same sexed dogs as adults .

Keep in mind even if they were livestock safe on another farm, they may not necessarily be livestock safe on a different farm with different owners and livestock..

So most rescues require a period of introductions, shaping and training in their new home similar to what you would have to do with a puppy. Though the training period is usually accelerated due to the dog’s maturity.

If you are introducing your rescue dog to livestock, do it gradually. On a leash walk the dog up to the fence and get a feel for how the dog reacts to seeing and smelling the livestock . At first you will primarily use two commands to shape their behavior. You will give the dog a verbal “good dog” for all good responses, ( Good responses can be: casual interest, submitting with a lay down or roll over, or looking away, lowering the head or soft wagging of tail ). If the dog is unfamiliar with stock it may growl, but it is likely a worry based growl and not an aggressive growl. So neither reward or correct that behavior and remember we don’t say to dogs “Its Ok”to comfort them if its not Ok. They are not people and you saying its OK to comfort the dog is in reality agreeing with the dog. You don’t want to be saying it’s good to growl for instance.

Correct all undesirable behavior with a startle correction., The best startle correction being a gruff sounding “ Ehh”. (Undesirable behaviors may be things like : play bowing, lurching towards an animal, chasing, keen interest, head held high and tail stiff or aggressive barking). Correct those behaviors with a “Ehh” and as soon as the dog stops that behavior then be sure to reward the dogs response with a “ Good dog”.

( What you are doing in every experience is shaping its behavior in easy terms to the dog , basically saying Rover Yes and Rover No)

Ok, so the dog seems comfortable after a day or so near the livestock. Then repeat the same routine with the dog on a leash in the corral with the livestock. Only after you feel comfortable with the dog’s response to your praises and corrections ON leash do you progress to off leash. New dogs of any age should only be in with livestock only under your direct supervision until you absolute feel like the dog understands the farm rules. This may take a week, or a couple of months depending on your training skills and what bad habits the dog arrived with.

If the dog gets away with play chasing, shredding an ear or biting a leg once, its shame on the dog, if you allow it to happen a second time its shame on you. It takes around 6-8 weeks of consistent supervision to extinguish a bad habit . That can only happen if you can do “set ups” with the dog and consistently make effective corrections for that behavior over that entire period. Keep in mind that every time the dog gets away with an undesirable behavior that is not corrected you go back to day one in your training.

Timing is probably the thing people have most difficulty with. Unless you correct the dog when it’s thinking about acting or is actively doing the behavior, the dog won’t associate the behavior with the correction. So if you see the dog out in the field chasing a lamb, by the time you yell and run out to the dog the dog has stopped the behavior, a correction is worthless, and probably counter productive, as it will only confuse the dog and perhaps make it afraid of you.

So patience and consistency is what will make this rescue dog become a valued addition to your home and farm. If you have any questions please contact ADI rescue for advice.

Two valuable books to read are:

The livestock Guardians, Storey publication

Livestock Protection dogs, Alpine Publications

Marlow- ADOPTED!!!

2010-05-29T17:49:00.000-07:00

This magnificent young male Akbash dog named Marlow is in need of a wonderful permanent home. Read Marlow's story by clicking the read more link below.

Marlow's owner got him as a puppy to live with their livestock. However, they did not have a fenced property. This is a common mistake people make thinking they can just get a Livestock Guardian Breed such as an Akbash and just put them with the farm animals and they will stay put. Most Livestock Guardian breeds will wander if given a chance. There is a joke about the Great Pyrenees I recently heard from a Kentucky shelter worker dismayed by the number of working Pyrenees they get it. It goes like this... "if you don't have fences, your Pyrenees will become a disaPyrenees"! This applies to Akbash dogs as well. They can have a long adolescence in which much training needs to occur in order for them to understand their job and place. Marlow's owner would not get fencing or put in the time to work with him and instead just put him on a heavy 10 foot long chain!

Marlow was given an old freezer for shelter and did not get off his chain for the entire year from age one to age two! His owner passed away eventually and the spouse decided to give Marlow away. A neighbor became involved and after hearing he had not been off his chain for so long decided to unchain Marlow and take him home.......she said Marlow never looked back as he walked the half mile to her house.

Once safe in a horse stall at her house he laid down and slept for three days.......

Marlow is one of the largest Akbash dogs one could find and here he is coming out of the barn looking a bit like a horse headed out to pasture!
Marlow soon headed off to Foster via volunteer rescue transport

Everyone along the transport route fell in love with Marlow! At first hesitant having never ridden much in a car he soon figured out what was expected of him and began to hop into each new car. His transport included many car changes.

In his new foster home Marlow gets to stretch his legs and move about. His foster mom Dawn notices at first he halts after walking a few steps as if waiting for a chain to catch him up short and stop his movement.

Marlow and Dawn's rescued Akbash dog Nae Nae seem to be really wanting to play together...spending time running back and forth along the fence line. Eventually she lets Marlow in and the two communicate perfectly in their natural dog language with Nae giving all the correct "lets be friends" signals to the big handsome new dog.

Here are Koi and Nae Nae (Dawn's two rescued Akbash dogs) in with Marlow, and the Alpaca looking on.

Marlow travelled to another foster home where he continued to display his charming personality. Marlow has not met anyone he did not like yet!

Marlow had a series of baths which revealed what we new that underneath the accumulated dust of the past couple years there was a gorgeous white dog!!!

This magnificent dog deserves the very best of homes. Marlow is currently for adoption!

MARLOW UPDATE:

Marlow has been adopted.....below are some recent pictures of him in his new wonderful life!

Bear-ADOPTED

2010-05-17T12:03:00.000-07:00

After Bear's fabulous foster home he has been adopted! Here he is climbing onto the lap of his new Pal and adopter! I drove him to his new home and after a walk with the resident dog we went inside to sit and talk. MR Bear made us all laugh by becoming a giant lapdog....proving he is as smart as we all think he is!
click the read more link below to see more pics...

MR Bear gets a final weigh in before leaving his foster home for his travel to his new home! He gained a much needed twenty pounds in foster care!
Tears were shed all around as Bear left that day. Brilliant, fascinating and funny, MR Bear is a magnetic creature. His foster family cannot be thanked enough...making his transition from emaciated and filthy in a depressing dead end shelter... to his wonderful new life possible!

Here is Bear and my Tash. Bear spent one night at my house before I drove him to his new home.

Bear is a big fellow and Tash says hi nicely and wants to be on his good side!

Tails are wagging! I take my time when introducing two new dogs. Especially two big male Akbash dogs! On neutral territory both dogs on leash and under control. I allow no physical contact at first. Both dogs have elevated levels of adrenal hormones upon seeing another dog. I walk both dogs, helps to have two people. Allowing them to be near each other but not have contact, walking side by side with at least a ten foot distance between. Eventually, after about ten minutes, the adrenal level goes down. Both dogs know the situation is under control, and there is no reason for the fight or flight adrenal response.
When both dogs are calm and enjoying the walk and smells, other than each other, you can move the dogs closer and eventually allow some gentle sniffing. Both Bear and Tash were polite and showed no desire to bombard or crowd the other with invasive gestures. If either dog begins to show too much interest and one is becoming uncomfortable back off and go back to walking...even having one dog switch directions, walk the dogs in opposite directions and then back together. Do not allow the physical contact until both dogs are acting calm and respectful of each others personal space.

Here is Bear all tucked in for the night! Had to get a good nights sleep in preparation for his big day the following day!

Teddy-adopted

2010-05-16T21:47:00.000-07:00

An urgent message went out for someone to help this big guy in a tiny town in Texas!
click the read more link below to read about Teddy

Bob is the animal control officer and the only game in town for the animals in this small rural town in Texas. When he showed up in town there were no rules and no leashes and no shots etc.....he imposed some order and standards of care. He told me he drives around to check on all the animals to make sure they are not chained too long and are being cared for. Whoever neglects their dog around this town has to answer to Bob.
  When he finds dogs on the run he brings them in but has very little resources to help them. He gets on the internet and tries to help get the dogs into rescue groups and adoption centers elsewhere.
   He told me of a Great Dane he found that was so emaciated and thirsty he was afraid she would get sick eating and drinking too much. When he tried to take her water and food away she bit him hard twice! No unfair temperament tester is Bob, an animal advocate,he knew the poor girl was starving. He got her into Great Dane rescue and her foster mom ended up keeping her, she turned out to be one of the best dogs she had ever had!
   Bob asked for help with this Big White dog who he was calling Teddy Bear for his huggable demeanor. Nothing bothered Teddy, and he was as calm and easy going as they come.
   First I got Teddy an appointment at a local vet. Unfortunately he tested positive for heartworm, not unusual in the south. The vet donated his exam, shots and heartworm test! Many in town know and appreciates how hard Bob works for the animals.
   I found an adoption center to take him and and arranged volunteer transport with a Texas transport veteran.

Here is Teddy enjoying his car ride.
The adoption center was full, so I needed to board Teddy for awhile. There just happened to be a rescue friendly kennel near the adoption center and they had a "room available".

Teddy made friends on his transport and here he is getting a welcome hug upon arrival at the boarding facility.

Here is Teddy in his suite, he made a lot of friends while here. Good news came recently that Teddy has been adopted! Yeah!

Here is Teddy in his new home with new best pal Allie!!!

Getting Bear from a shelter-ADOPTED

2010-03-31T21:32:00.000-07:00

A rescue volunteer spotted this young male on PetHarbor, a website where shelters post pictures of the dogs they have taken in. She sent the picture to Great Pyrenees rescue and they sent it to me since he was an Akbash. I went to visit him at the overcrowded California shelter where he was....click the "read more" link below to read what happened next!

   I arrived at the shelter to see this big fellow on a Saturday, two days after he came in. I already had foster for him! I had a call from a man named George a few weeks earlier. He had five working dogs and had offered to foster a dog right from a shelter and evaluate the dog so I could determine how to place the dog.
   When a dog is in a shelter with an unknown history, the foster home provides crucial information as one tries to figure out proper placement for future adoption. People that have livestock are sometimes reluctant to take a dog not knowing how the dog will react to their livestock. Often companion, and many foster homes, have other dogs and children present and people are reluctant to take in an unknown dog. George had offered to take a dog straight from a shelter and evaluate him or her.
   The shelter was a shock to me and very unpleasant. This dog was being held on a "stray hold" for six days to give a possible owner time to come claim him. He was picked up wandering. There were many separate buildings with kennel upon kennel of dogs, often two or three to a kennel run. There were litters of puppies, some alone, some with mothers. As I wandered around the maze of buildings I came upon an area that was so disturbing. There was a cage of tiny dead kittens still with their umbilical cords on. As I tried to figure out what I was seeing I noticed a cage underneath with a raccoon cowering in the back of the cage. Above him was yet another cage of older dead kittens. I turned around so as not to look anymore only to see two kennel runs with big signs saying "bite hold area law enforcement only". There was a big black and white dog laying there and it appeared to be dead. There was a tourniquet and a bit of blood on the back leg. However when I looked closer I could see the dog was still breathing slowly! Later when I asked about this I was told "some of them take awhile to die". There was another dog next to that one that appeared to be in a catatonic state...shaking and staring straight ahead. Obviously having witnessed what happened in the cage next to his.
   I decided to take the big white dog outside. I went inside his small kennel run and began to handle him and he seemed to respond a bit, I even saw a tail wag. I put a harness and leash on him and another leash on his collar. Though he was very underweight, I wanted to make sure I had a good hold on him. He looked very frightened and once outside his run the deafening sound of all the row upon row of barking dogs caused him to put the brakes on. He began to drool with nervousness and refused to move. I started to talk to him and try to coax him forward. He tried to sniff the nose of a dog in the run next to his but the dog reacted aggressively and he became even more frightened. It became obvious he had never been in a place such as this!
   I wondered how I would get him outside when a shelter employee came into the building with someone to look at the dogs. I asked him if he could please hold the door open for a second so the dog could see the outside sunlight and hopefully head to the door. The man refused and after a brief conversation reluctantly agreed to be helpful. The dog headed for the outside and once out there found a tiny patch of grass and urinated for quite some time.
   This made me think about how I had been seeing e-mails lately about Pyrenees and Akbash dogs coming out of shelters with serious urinary tract and bladder infections. This because no one was walking them and they will not go potty in a tiny space! I found out later that my saturday visit was the only time this dog ever left his kennel run during his six day stray hold. The dogs are not walked or handled in any way during the stray hold at this shelter.
   Standing out in the yard with the dog I decided I could not take him back inside so I quickly called George and asked if he could take the dog immediately...he said yes. However, the shelter has a firm policy that dogs must stay for the six days. I had no choice but to take him back into the building or at least try to! He had other ideas and of course would not take one step inside the building!!! I wandered around trying to find someone to help me get him back in his run. I found an employee to help, he told me the dog was not eating, I was not surprised to hear that. He had to pull from the front and I had to push from the back and that is how we got the big dog back down the hallway of barking dogs and back into his kennel run.
   I went into his run for a few minutes to talk to him as he was quite depressed. He stood solemnly and I told him I would be back for him and just to hang on a few more days. When I first started doing rescue work a year ago the previous Akbash rescue coordinator forwarded a number of e-mails to me. One of them was from a shelter director in Utah. She was expressing her need to get the Livestock Guardian dogs such as Akbash dogs out of the shelter right away and into foster if at all possible. She said "they just do not do well here and often become sick and die quickly".
   As I told the big dog to hang in there and promised to be back for him, he stood perfectly still and quiet and then put a paw on my lap! I was so touched at this gesture I took a picture, here he is having given me a paw!

Bear goes to foster!

2010-03-30T21:53:00.000-07:00

After getting Bear out of the awful overcrowded shelter, in an industrial area, we headed to his foster home. The scenery began to change and I thought to myself it was going to be like dropping him off in heaven!
Click the "read more" link below to see Bear's foster home....

Bear had had a vet exam back in town near the shelter, and though 25 lbs underweight, he appeared to not have any serious health issues and was only approximately a year and a half old.

Things were looking up for "Bear", as I took to calling him. He was a perfect gentleman at the vet and was riding well in the car. Sometimes the dog may have never been inside a veterinary office or ridden in a car much. Bear seemed comfortable doing both.
Bear, George and I had introductions all around and we walked around and decided where to put Bear for the night.

There was a kennel run and dog bed all set up and we decided that would be the safest place to keep Bear. We had no idea if he was a digger or a fence jumper or a climber. Mr. Bear's view has really improved dramatically I thought to myself, looking around the beautiful peaceful scenery!

Bear gets a bath-ADOPTED!

2010-03-29T17:48:00.000-07:00

Here is Bear after his bath. What a magnificent fellow! He had of course arrived in his foster home in need of one! Afterwards he galloped and pranced around, obviously feeling great!
click the "read more" link below to see some of the other animals at Bear's foster home.

George, Bear's foster person, has a gorgeous property with five working dogs, and one retired Llama, protecting the sheep. The Llama was a bit bent out of shape when the dogs took over the job but they all get along fine now!

Bear's meets the working dogs

2010-03-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

Bear's foster person George, has five working dogs. A female Akbash, a male Akbash Great Pyrenees cross, a brother and sister pair of Pyrenees, and a male Anatolian shepherd Maremma sheepdog cross.
He has harmony with his dogs and very little in the way of problems. When I first talked to him I quickly realized he was a natural with the dogs! Click the "read more" link below to read about George's wonderful relationship with his dogs!

Kelly and Ryan goofing around.

  George's dogs are serious working dogs and keep the coyotes away, the coyote's can be heard at night but know to stay off George's property!
   His dogs are very friendly and I enjoyed meeting them all. I was a bit concerned though about their possible reaction to Bear. George waited a bit to introduce them but when he did, Bear was accepted. His relationship with his dogs meant they would accept him bringing a new dog in.
   I asked George how come he has so few problems or issues with his dogs. Many people with working dogs have problems with escaping, fighting, unwillingness to cooperate, chasing livestock and more. He explained that he spends a lot of time with his dogs and has developed a great relationship based on trust and mutual respect. He told me he could tell these independent minded dogs "would be through with him" if he was ever harsh with them. He knew he had to get their cooperation which would develop as a result of his good relationship with them.
  When he first gets a dog he spends a lot of time with the dog on leash teaching them the perimeter and introducing them to the other animals. Having a fencing business he has a very well fenced property. He lets them know fence jumping is not acceptable. No harsh punishment is needed with these intelligent dogs. Just taking them back to their proper place and them knowing you are displeased.
  He also gradually works up to the point where they can be trusted. Expecting the dog to be trustworthy too soon causes a lot of problems for people. Just as in companion dog training, it is best to set a dog up for success, not failure, by anticipating what the dog is not ready for. Moving slowly through the different levels of responsibility and obedience expected of the dog, prevents frustration for both human and dog!
   After work George walks the entire perimeter with the dogs each day. Spending time with them and checking how everything is going. At night the sheep and Llama are moved to a lower pasture near the house. He has some motion lights and covered areas. The dogs are all fed during this evening ritual. All the time he spends with them, and their consistent routine, means these dogs know this is their home and they have a real desire to stay put and protect and cooperate. His excellent relationship with them is reflected in their behavior. They are all so well cared for, and very well adjusted happy working dogs!

Kelly, the female Akbash dog, watches Bear taking a look around the main sheep pasture.

Ryan is fine with Bear in his pasture and welcomes him into the pack.

Bear is enjoying his exploration of this beautiful area. Hmmmm...I think it is far preferable to the shelter! Thank you Akbash rescue!!!!

Bear and Kelly (with George and his wife's yellow labrador).

Yes Bear needs to gain some weight, here he is looking quite thin next to George's well cared for dogs!

George's devoted dogs!

Ryan shows me one of two ancient rocks with Indian grinding holes in them! They make great water bowls with fresh rainwater!

Someone spotted a squirrel and now a group search and dig is on!

Explanation of the Adoption Fee

2010-03-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

First a word about the important role rescue groups play in the reduction of the euthanasia rate. Which, even though it has been reduced by the role of rescue groups and increased awareness of this societal issue, is still appallingly in the millions each year in the nations approx 5,000 shelters.

Rescue groups contribute to the reduction of the euthanasia rate in shelters in the following ways. Getting dogs out of shelters and into foster or rescue facilities to await adoption. This means the euthanasia rate can be lowered. Dogs come in daily, brought by animal control as strays, by owners that no longer want them, and by people who have found them. If there is no space, the existing dogs are euthanized for the ones coming in.

Another way, is that if someone finds a dog they may contact a rescue group in order to get help finding a home for the dog. This way they do not have to take the dog to the shelter. Owners often will contact a rescue group to rehome their dog so that they can avoid taking a dog to a shelter.

   Often people that are getting a rescue dog are surprised to learn there is an "adoption fee". Almost all rescue groups have an adoption fee. The adoption fee for Akbash Rescue is between $125.00-350.00.

   The following is an explanation of the adoption fee so that understanding of the process is increased.

   Some understanding of terms is needed. When one adopts a dog from a rescue group the dog has already been "rescued" by the group. Dedicated volunteer rescuers are hard at work all day every day rescuing dogs. They then are placed up for adoption so one is "adopting" the dog that has already been "rescued" by the rescuers.

   Often when one is buying a dog from a breeder or pet store, there is an understanding of the money required to obtain the dog. People often think if they are "rescuing" a dog there are no costs. This is the misunderstanding. The dog has already been "rescued" by the rescue group volunteers, one is "adopting" the dog, so there is an adoption fee.
   The dog is rescued by the group, fixed all up and made safe. Then listed on the internet where potential adopters find out about the dog. Then adopters are screened, and matched to a particular dog, and an adoption takes place.

   The crucial role the adopter is playing is adopting a dog and paying the adoption fee. This then allows the rescue group to go rescue another dog and the process starts all over again.

   The adoption fee goes 100% toward the rescue of the next dog and to recoup some of the costs involved in the rescue of a given dog. No one involved profits personally in any way. In fact just the opposite is true. Each dog that a group rescues often costs much more than the adoption fee. Here are some of the costs involved in a typical rescue.




   1. Boarding costs. Often there is no place to keep a dog at first. In order to get a dog safe quickly, while a place is found, boarding is the only option even though it is costly.
   2. Veterinary care. Dogs often have immediate veterinary needs, or just deferred maintenance. Often there are no shot records so all dog must be fully vaccinated. All dogs are of course spayed or neutered.
Often fecal tests and deworming is needed.Testing for Heartworm, and in areas where positive test results are common, often rescue groups treat the dog for Heartworms. This involves expensive medicine and care. It is not uncommon to need to treat a dog for minor ear infections or urinary tract infections or allergies....all common ailments dogs can have. Kennel cough is a dog version of the common cold that many dogs in shelters and boarding kennels get. This is treated with antibiotics a vet visit. Flea, heartworm, and tick prevention medicines are needed.
  3. Microchipping
  4. Supplies such as leashes, collars, harnesses and crates.
  5. Transportation costs including gas and overnight motel stays.
  6. Dog food

Another aspect of rescue is that sometimes huge unexpected costs are involved when a dog one has in rescue becomes ill. A litter of puppies can contract parvo or even distemper. Dogs often get a common respiratory infection called kennel cough from shelters or boarding facilities which can become serious. Accidents can occur including dogs needing treatment for being hit by a car or orthopedic issues.
   These dogs can really need a lot of financial resources to restore health. The people that are dedicated to this rescue group will help these dogs, even though they take a lot of available funds. The only people willing to do this volunteer work on a consistent basis, are exactly the people that cannot turn their back on a sick dog.

   To sum up rescue work takes money!!! They only way it can continue is donations and adoption fee's and the individual rescuers spending their own money on dogs they rescue.

Guy

2010-03-25T22:09:00.000-07:00

Guy lounging comfortably on his couch....click the read more link below to hear how Guy was found by a couple that transformed him into this gorgeous dog!
   One day a couple found a starving dog tied in front of a restaurant, and after learning he had been there all day, decided to take him home. Emaciated and weak, they had to carry him to their car to get him home. Once they got him home they saw that he had tiny bugs crawling on him and he was just in really bad shape. It was after hours so they had to wait until the next day to take him to a vet. Turns out he had dog lice which is rare and only prevalent on a weak and sick dog usually.
   It turns out this poor dog actually had an owner! He lived in an area known to have sheep guarding dogs and a woman had found him wandering and kept him. She insisted her kids liked the dog and she wanted him back. The couple convinced her to let them keep the dog as he so obviously was not getting any kind of normal care and nutrition!
   Named Guy, this dog now began to receive the care and attention he had never had in his young life. At around a year old this large dog only weighed 36 lbs! Here he is having a much needed first bath!

A few months later Guy was looking like a different dog. Such an unusual looking dog lead his new owners to search around for what type of dog he might be? Too fine boned to be a great Pyrenees, they found the Akbash dog and realized they had a beautiful Akbash dog!

Gaining weight and settling in, Guy took to the house just fine thank you!

Having such caring people to tend to his every need, was such perfect luck for Guy. He passed away tragically of cancer recently, at a very young age. Though he passed away too soon, all who knew him took comfort knowing what a wonderful life he came to have!

ARE AKBASH DOGS GOOD WITH CHILDREN?

2010-03-25T21:40:00.000-07:00

   Lately many people are contacting me saying they read on the internet Akbash dogs are "good with children". This information is coming from websites which cover many breeds and accumulate information from many unknown sources. There are even questionnaires that are matching people with breeds after the person answers a series of questions.

  Any website that is matching anyone unfamiliar with Akbash dogs, to an Akbash dog based on predictions of certain behavior, is doing a disservice to the Akbash dog and the person. Those that know and understand Akbash dogs are always hesitant to recommend Akbash dogs to those unfamiliar with them. They spend a lot of time discussing and informing people before ever recommending someone acquire an Akbash dog.

   Reputable Akbash dog breeders do not promote or advertise them as "good with children". Only inexperienced or unscrupulous breeders do so. They belong to a class of breeds called LGD's or Livestock Guard Dogs. These are dogs that are used as working guard dogs for livestock. Not "herding" dogs like Border Collies and Australian Shepherds, but "guardian" dogs. They hang out amongst the livestock and protect them against predation from animals such as coyotes, wolves, mountain lions and bears. They have unique characteristics which are very different from our common companion dog breeds.

   Two examples one with a very sad ending. I got a call last year to rehome a very young eight month old female Akbash dog that a family with four small children had bought as a puppy. The breeder advertises the pups as "good with children". The puppy buyer took the puppy to obedience classes and was raising the pup to the best of his ability. At a few months old the puppy began to show signs of food aggression. One day the young pup had a bowl of really good food, something extra special, and began growling and posturing aggressively to keep everyone away from her food. Unfortunately the owner did the exact opposite of what I would recommend, he got a rake and got in a big fight with the young dog over the food. She backed off the food but this only increased her aggressive behaviors. The young dog continued to be food aggressive and actually expanded this behavior to become territorial with the family and began not letting them into certain areas of the property. The owner gave the dog away and the dog was returned to him and euthanized.
   This was a dog that was most likely on the more difficult end of the range of temperament and would have required a more knowledgeable patient owner, without young children present, to work through these behaviors.

Akbash dogs often have issues with food aggression that need to be worked through. This is an innate behavior. Akbash dogs and other livestock guardian dogs use these behaviors to keep livestock out of their food often. This is typical of other dog breeds as well. Dogs are descended from wolves and if anyone has ever seen a wolf pack eating there is constant growling , snarling and teeth displays the entire time the pack is eating. While all our dog breeds are descended from wolves, many of those types of behaviors have been bred out of our dog breeds over many years. They have been bred for other behaviors. Certain dogs remain more true to their origin and have not been changed completely. Does a pug dog resemble a wolf? No, as the wolf has been largely bred out of a pug. Not so with some types of dogs. Breeds like the Alaskan Malamute or Siberian Husky come to mind. One can put Akbash dogs in the category with Malamute's and Huskies, as a dog that has not been changed completely by breeding.

   In the next case I was contacted by a woman that got an Akbash puppy on the premise that it would be "good with children". While this pup was in no way aggressive to the children, it was also a poor decision.
   Akbash dogs can be extremely mouthy. People often forget the puppy stage comes with very sharp little teeth and a big desire to bite. In a playful manner, but getting through the biting stage of puppyhood can be difficult and trying. A couple painful bites from a puppy is all it takes to get a child worked up into an upset, or fear of the puppy. The biting is combined with a very strong desire to play and run and jump and mouth the children.
   One child in the house had to be kept completely away from the puppy. The puppy owner expressed to me that even though she had a lot of experience with large breed dogs, including Rottweilers, she had never had such an aggressive strong willed puppy. Not in a mean way, but the pup had a very strong desire to play really rough. She was wondering how they could possibly keep the puppy as soon, at about 6-8 months old, the dog would be 70 lbs, and not a calm mature adult for a couple years! I helped her work out a plan of exercise, training and management that would allow her to keep the puppy. It was so much more work than she could have imagined and a less committed person could easily have decided to give up the puppy.
   If one does not put in the tremendous amount of time and energy needed the first year, one has a completely out of control, mouthy, aggressively playful 100 pound dog within six months.

   Our common companion dog breeds, suitable to the typical suburban lifestyle, have a high desire to please people. Livestock Guardian dogs are independent minded and do not have a high desire to please people. They can be wary of strangers and take a dislike to certain individuals. The opposite of Labradors or Golden Retrievers that most often like anyone they meet.

   The genetic, or natural characteristics of the breed include a strong guard instinct. A nervous system hard wired to alert to possible threats. The Akbash dog has an alertness and intensity which differentiates it from our common companion dog breeds such as Golden Retrievers and Labradors. Those breeds one could safely say are "good with children". Meaning they are, in the vast majority of cases, friendly to humans and other dogs and animals.

  In reality though, how could one really say any breed of dog is "good with children". Dogs have teeth and use teeth and growling and sometimes biting to communicate with each other and humans at times. They can be boisterous and knock children over and play too rough. Any breed of dog has individual temperaments and large differences in individuals. It is up to any dog owner to train and manage their dog and children to coexist within a set of rules and structure....to avoid problems. This fact cannot be avoided by getting a certain breed. This is just what is entailed in responsible dog ownership.

  When thinking of a dog that is "good with children" what does this mean? It means logically, a good companion for children to safely be around, in all circumstances. Sadly in most companion dog homes many dogs do not last and are given up if they are not "good with the children". The children are the priority, not the dog. Knowing this is the case, many rescue groups will not adopt dogs to homes with young children. This is true of the Great Pyrenees rescue groups. That is a similar breed.

   This is not to say any individual Akbash dog or Great Pyrenees dog is not good with children, upon meeting them, or in some homes. What it means is that given the appalling surrender rate of dogs in homes with children, the criteria of what "good with children means" must be examined more closely.

   I do not consider Akbash dogs "good with children" as an all encompassing phrase, for the following reasons. They often bark loudly at night, if alerting to a noise. If young children are present, sleep in the home for the children, and usually mother, is of utmost importance.

   Akbash dogs are sometimes bossy with other dogs in the house, and often dog aggressive to dogs they do not know. No one wants young children in the middle of a dog on dog conflict.

   Akbash dogs cannot be safely handled in public on a leash by a child. Or if they can, this is such a rare case it is not worth discussing. The vast majority of Akbash dogs will be dog aggressive in certain circumstances and often redirect aggression to the human handler. Redirected aggression is when a dog is frustrated by the leash or fence which is preventing them from getting to the focus of their aggression. Turning and snapping at the human holding the leash or another dog they are walking with or fenced with, is common.

   This bossy behavior can translate to young children. The Akbash dog may try to monitor or control the behavior of young children. People often mistake this for "herding". They are not a herding dog and are not trying to "herd" the children....they are attempting to monitor, and possibly correct behavior, such as loud screaming or fast running.

   They are not a dog for children to walk on a leash. They are large and powerful and it is difficult enough for adults to control an adult Akbash dog on leash, much less a child. They require leadership skills, and above average canine handling skills, which young children do not generally have.

   People often think they will "start with a puppy" and that will solve the problem. If that were the case then all the millions of dogs that were obtained as puppies should have life long homes. We know that is not true. While many people think they will "train and socialize" their pups, so that all will be well when the dog is grown, in reality they have no idea what that means. How they will go about "training and socializing" their Akbash dog so that it will be "good with children" and "walk well on leash etc". Ask yourself this question......do you know how to "train and socialize" an Akbash dog? In reality people that have never met an Akbash dog have no idea what that means or how to go about doing it, and getting a puppy will not help them. The "puppy" is quickly, in a matter of a couple months, a large dog. At a year old, one has a large powerful dog with sometimes a tremendous amount of energy and a strong guard instinct.

  This is not a childrens dog! This is a dog for an adult, under certain circumstances only. An adult that has above average dog handling skills. A knowledge of and ability to train a dog, and a safe well fenced secure property. In addition, a lifelong and unbreakable commitment to their dog. Also an ability, and desire, to manage any behavior issues that cannot be controlled through training.

Bella-ADOPTED!

2010-03-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

Lovely young long coated Bella is a 2-3 year old female Akbash in Canada needing a home. She is being kept at a veterinary hopital in Woodbridge Ontario Canada while she waits! Please contact Canada rescue contact Sunny Reuter 647-833-1464 or e-mail sunny.reuter@gmail.com

click the "read more" link below for more pictures of Bella!

puppies (Bahtiyar and Binbasi (now Lars)-adopted!

2010-03-20T20:43:00.000-07:00

This litter of Akbash Maremma puppies ended up in rescue. The rancher had a litter the year before from the same pair, half of that previous litter ended up in rescue as well. He promised to get the female spayed if rescue would take care of this litter as well. Unsocialized, he was having trouble catching the mother.
"Click the read more" below to read about the pups
I found foster for two of the pups and Anatolian Shepherd Rescue took three.

The foster mom took two brothers and gave them the proper Turkish names "Bahtiyar" and "Binbasi".

Binbasi

Bahtiyar

The boys foster mom was seeing two distinct personalities develop. Binbasi was eager to be with people while Bahtiyar was more interested in the resident working Akbash, a female named Yasmin. Binbasi was more active and came immediately when called, whereas Bahtiyar was more pensive and observant. Subsequent temperament tests confirmed this and we decided Binbasi would be better suited to a companion home with lots of activity and people around.
Binbasi was adopted out and we soon received these pictures of his first week in his new home.

Binbasi meeting the resident dogs

and cat! Binbasi has plenty of growing to do!
While undoubtedly the two brothers missed each other, it all turned out very well for both! Binbasi obviously had plenty to keep him busy as he grew accustomed to his new family.

Now named Lars, this pup has grown up and is obviously enjoying his wonderful home.

Lars tries to be a lap dog for a visiting relative!

Lars snuggles with the kitty on a cold day!

Here is Lars in a lovely black and white photo, striking a regal pose!

I think he can be called Lucky Lars!

Meanwhile the foster decided to keep Bahtiyar!

Bahtiyar's foster is an experienced Livestock Guardian Dog owner with one retired Akbash dog, a female named Melek

and a younger female named Yasmin.
Yasmin decided to take the young pup under her wing and the two became great friends. Bahtiyar
would get to stay in his lovely home with his buddy Yasmin. His foster mom said he and Yasmin were doing very well... "they spend all day together in the pasture and sleep together at night". She declared Bahtiyar "madly in love" with Yasmin and said Yasmin was "as happy as she had ever seen her!

AWWWW! Here is Bahtiyar after a muddy romp in the pasture with Yasmin!

Bahtiyar gets on great with the other resident critters....

Looks like all turned out great for these two!

Here is a lovely photo of Bahtiyar all grown up. He is an excellent working dog!

SKY-adopted

2010-02-28T21:01:00.000-08:00

This beautiful young female Akbash showed up on a farm in the mid-west. She had no ID and an owner was searched for far and wide but no one claimed her.
Click the read more link below to see what happened to her

She cavorted around the farm leading the resident dogs playfully away on wandering sessions. They owners of the farm found her difficult to contain or leash up and she would not cooperate with a vet visit. This wild child, she was only about 10 months old, loved her freedom so I named her Sky. I searched for a home for her with some land but nothing materialized. Time went on and everyone became worried her wandering would endanger her and the other dogs that followed her.

   There was one person that all along wanted Sky. She already had three female dogs and lived in the suburbs. I was worried Sky would not acclimate to life in a house and there would be problems with four female dogs. Sky's adopter agreed to drive a long distance to get her and provide any vet care she needed. Oh no sky arrived with many ticks!
   Not particularly fond of ticks, but a calm patient person with great humor... she just handled it for Sky's sake!
   Sky actually did remarkably well! All the other dogs took her under their wing and taught her the way living in a house works, and when and how to go out in the yard to potty! Very young and playful Sky now had constant company. She took to walking on a leash just fine and enjoyed her walks. Sky is reportedly doing great and well cared for in her new home!

AJ Training video

2010-02-26T15:16:00.000-08:00

click the READ MORE link below to read about AJ's foster home's training tips

AJ is fitting in well into his foster home because his foster Dad has had guidelines and rules for AJ from the start! He works with him every day and is consistent. Notice how calm AJ is even at his young age and with a cat and two other dogs present. This is because AJ realizes he is not the one in control, his foster Dad is. If one does not establish rules of behavior in the companion home the dog quickly takes over and his or her behavior is motivated by his or her own desires. In this scenario, this is how it would look. AJ would be jumping up to demand the food immediately, instead he calmly waits to be offered the food. AJ would be trying to take the other dogs food instead of waiting his turn. AJ would chase the kitty that comes into view, instead he pays no mind to the cat. He is a young and energetic dog and those would all be typical young dog behaviors. His calm mannerly behavior is a result of the guidelines he was given and the work his foster person has done with him. In just a short amount of time AJ has learned the rules of the home and fits in well.

Whoever adopts AJ must be prepared to continue his training and he will reward them with continued good behavior!

A very important part of the dog owner relationship must be establishing a bond of trust and respect. Humane, patient, and positive methods should be used to teach the new dog what you expect of them. Coming into a new situation means a period of adjustment for all. Beginning training right away, helps to create this bond and settle the dog more quickly into his or her new surroundings. The new dog knows what is expected and the structure you create in the house helps the dog relax. It eliminates the need for any upsetting stressful corrections for bad behavior.

You need to set the dog up for success and positive rewards. Do not leave the dog to his or her own behavior, often that will be at odds with the house rules.

Decide before the dog arrives what sort of behavior you want. Then start from the beginning guiding and teaching the dog what you expect.

AJ-Watch video!

2010-02-01T15:04:00.001-08:00

AJ (Ajax)-ADOPTED!!!

2010-01-28T19:00:00.000-08:00

AJ is a gorgeous healthy young (under one year) old male Akbash in foster care needing adoption! Watch his video! Click the "read more" link below to read all about him!

Here is what AJ's foster family has to say about him:


  Ajax ("AJ") is a magnificent male Akbash puppy approximately 11 months old, weighing 104 lbs. He was found in Grass Valley CA and rescued from a kill shelter in December. We are fostering him in Orange County, CALIF while he waits to find his forever home.

   He is a tall dog (28 inches at the shoulder) who is still growing (he’s gained 10 pounds in two months). When he reaches his full growth, if he conforms to the breed standard, he will likely weigh around130 pounds and stand 31-32 inches at the shoulder, just a little shorter than a Great Dane. Thankfully, despite his great size, he is a very sweet, calm dog who likes to snooze and loves to be petted.

  AJ is so gorgeous – we can’t count how many times people have stopped us to tell us what a beautiful dog he is! Of course, most people assume he is an overgrown white Lab or a Great Pyrenees with short hair and they are surprised to hear that he is a rare breed, the Akbash Dog. He has a wonderful personality – friendly to everyone, human, feline and canine. He is very good with little kids, who love to come up and pet him. Basically, anyone can come right up and pet him – we haven’t seen him growl at anyone or shy away in fear from a stranger. We walk him a lot in our neighborhood which has many dogs and he has not shown any signs of aggressiveness. We take him often to a big dog park, where he has been attacked several times by other dogs – a pit bull so mean his owner kept him on leash even in the dog park, a nasty Lab, a pit bull mix and (no joke) a vicious Chihuahua (big-dog owners have to worry about how their dogs will react to really nasty little dogs). In each case, AJ responded not with aggressiveness but with playfulness, without growling, barking or fighting or showing any signs of fear.

He is a real social butterfly that loves dog parks. He tries to greet every dog in the park (and in our favorite park, that usually means 50-60 dogs). He loves to play rough with big dogs at the park. He especially likes Mastiffs (if they are energetic), big Goldens, Rottweilers, German Shepherds and Weimaraners. His best friend is a Doberman bitch – they love to spend Saturday mornings trail running and playing.

  We have made sure to give him plenty of opportunity to socialize with other dogs – a necessity for young protector-breed dogs. AJ spends 8-9 hours a day on the weekdays at a dog play group with an ever-changing pack of 15-20 dogs. He gets plenty of socializing and play there. According to the people that run the group, AJ gets along with all the dogs, but especially like some energetic Boxers and Rottweilers that like rough

  AJ is very trainable. He loves training sessions- he is eager to please and learns quickly! He is very good on leash now and walks calmly without excessive pulling – a nice feature in such a large dog. Because he is so good on leash while jogging, he would be a great dog for a runner! He does pull a bit when he sees rabbits and when he sees other dogs because he wants to greet them and play, but we are working on this. He is housetrained. He has learned “sit”, “down”, “stay”, “shake”, “on your bed” (i.e., go to your dog bed an lie down) and “no”. He has also learned not to go through a door to the outside without permission, to ring a bell when he wants to go outside and to climb into his seat in the car to be strapped in.

  AJ loves to be outside. He is a good trail runner and can go off-leash for a ten-mile trail run in hilly terrain without a problem. He will come when called outside when off-leash, at least if he is not actively chasing a deer, rabbit or road runner. He is fine off-leash when he meets a human on the trail – he is so calm and tail-waggy that people to do not react with fear when he comes up.

He lives with us inside our house and that is working out well. We have three cats, a 50-pound Spanish Water Dog and a fifteen-pound ShiTzu – AJ gets along fine with all of them. Although we have some barking dogs living nearby, AJ is not a barker – when they start up, he’ll bark a couple of times to let them know he’s not intimidated, then he quiets down. He sleeps through the night on the floor next to my bed – I think that is his protective instinct coming into play!

He has been chipped, has had all his shots and has been neutered. We brought him to a vet for a checkup and she pronounced him to be perfect health. His coat is lovely and he is strong and muscular. He is surprisingly calm and relaxed about being touched – allowing us to examine his paws and teeth without any stress, in contrast to many dogs we have seen.

He has a relatively short coat that is easily kept in perfect shape with a couple of minutes brushing with a rubber brush 2-3 times a week. He is not a big shedder, though Akbashes shed once or twice a year for a week or two and then require daily brushing to avoid shedding issues.

We would advise that any prospective adopter either be experienced with large dogs (he is a big, strong boy) or an experienced dog owner with knowledge of dog training techniques.

With his great personality and physical beauty, AJ will make a great pet for someone!

AJ'S fabulous foster dad

2010-01-28T18:00:00.000-08:00

AJ's foster dad does a lot of rescue work and foster. How did he end up offering to foster an Akbash? Because of this guy here. This is a huge male Akbash that has been on the loose in his neighborhood in southern California for years. Nicknamed "Stoner", for the neighborhood he frequents, he has successfully evaded capture by animal control and concerned people for years.

He keeps to himself and never bothers anyone, or the other dogs. Everyone feeds him and he sleeps curled up in people's front or back yards. Everyone keeps an eye out for him and he even shows up often at AJ's new home, right in the same neighborhood.

Timber

2010-01-27T20:17:00.000-08:00

Timber is in foster care in Texas and needs a permanent home!
Timber is a 4-5 year old neutered male Akbash. His foster mom says he loves to go for walks, ride in the car, get a bath and lay on the picnic table overseeing everything!
He lives with a female Great Pyrenees and a small dog in his foster home. He also lives with a young boy that he really enjoys. Timber needs a forever home. Please contact Janet Davis straughie@comcast.net or phone 510 410-0149.

Maya has a new home!

2010-01-15T20:43:00.000-08:00

   Maya looks happy after her long ordeal! She came to my attention after she was thankfully spotted as the subject of a frantic post to a yahoo group. Seems her primary caretaker had passed away and his spouse could not care for Maya any longer.
   I began to communicate via e-mail with the very disabled woman that needed help, since her husband had passed. They had a number of animals that she was needing to place quickly. I had no picture of Maya and only a history I was able to piece together with a little research. Maya was adopted out from an Akbash rescue foster person a few years ago. She became a goat guardian, she however had other ideas and did not care to stay with the goats. A friend of the goat herder decided to then keep Maya. She remained with that owner until his recent passing.
   Still no picture of Maya and the e-mails becoming more frantic that I do something, I sent animal control to their place in the country. They brought Maya to a shelter and gave me the bad news that she was heartworm positive! The county where she lived had some of the highest rates in the state. Even though I did not know what to do now, I knew I would find a way to treat her. The shelter said they euthanize the heartworm positive dogs!
   Here is the first picture I received of Maya! I thought to myself she is orange!?! I knew the area where she lived had reddish dirt so I thought maybe........

sure enough after a bath she was white, and so lovely!!!

As I began to work on what to do next, the shelter staff let me know how wonderful she was. She was a sweet mellow girl that did not trouble anyone. She quickly became a favorite. Good thing for her, she appeared to have a large measure of Great Pyrenees to go along with some Akbash. I was able to get help for her from Pyrenees rescue. She was treated for her heartworm and cared for during her treatment by the very dedicated Pyrenees volunteers. She had a long wait for a new home during her two month treatment but is finally with her new family!

Seeing these pictures of her looking so happy and healthy are what motivates everyone to do rescue work!

Maya has two new dog friends in her new home including this happy golden Retriever to play with.

Maya has some kitty pals also in her new home as well as a much appreciated soft bed!

Casper-ADOPTED!

2010-01-10T21:07:00.000-08:00

Casper is a one and a half year old male Akbash in Georgia. He is in need of a permanent home. Casper has been with goats as a livestock guardian dog.
Casper is a friendly guy and is currently in foster care. He prefers to be out in the country and finds the city too busy and noisy. He is used to the countryside.

Casper can afford to put on some weight. He is a long and lean Akbash dog. He captured the attention of a couple in a nearby state that decided to drive to meet him. His "Akbash charm" won them over quickly and they took him home the following morning. the first e-mail I got from them was titled "The Akbash of our dreams"! Guess things are going well I thought!!!

He certainly seems to be enjoying his new life in the country....what more could an akbash want, a peaceful nap after a romp in the mud! This is a happy dog!

Oso- adopted!

2010-01-05T15:17:00.000-08:00

Oso is a gorgeous one year old male Akbash dog. He was turned into a small shelter in Colusa, CA. Click the "read more" link below to read Oso's story!

   I got an e-mail one day from Great Pyrenees rescue that there was a young male Akbash dog at a very small shelter. This Pyrenees rescue was too full to take him but agreed to list him on their website with myself as the contact. He was adopted but returned within a few weeks because the resident male Jack Russell Terrier was not pleased with this addition to the family!
   His adopter had gotten him neutered and all his shots. That was very helpful as I started to work on him once again. They had also taken a video which showed how friendly he was. I had saved an e-mail list of about fifty California rescue groups and decided to send this video around in hopes it would lead to a foster home for Oso. About ten minutes after sending the mass e-mail I got a call from a woman in San Francisco that ran a local rescue group. She offered to foster Oso and thought she may even have an adopter. I could not believe my luck and prepared to go pick him up and take him to S.F.
   When I arrived on the side street looking for the shelter I saw what I figured must be him.

The nice women running the shelter told me they had given him the big outdoor pen. When I called his name from the road he waved his tail back and forth slowly and then turned his gaze toward the office, as if checking with the people working there. The day I arrived they had a kennel worker not show so they were short staffed and very busy. However, they asked me to please let them know when Oso found a good home!

Oso was a busy guy in the back of my car, here is a water bottle I gave him to try and keep him busy!

This gorgeous fellow was attracting much attention on the streets of San Francisco as I spent time walking him around. In fact a policeman pulled over to let me know Oso was the most beautiful dog he had ever seen! He had just lost his big dog due to old age and could not resist a visit with Oso!

Tennis courts made a nice contained place for me to catch my breath after trying to hang onto this exuberant young dog. It was obvious he had not been leash trained! I quickly realized he would be much better suited to some acreage in the county.
As I stood there wondering how I would find a suitable adopter, my phone rang. It was a woman from Oregon that had a country home and was interested in Oso! As we talked I began to be very excited as I could see a great match forming here!

Konya

2009-12-04T16:45:00.000-08:00

Konya is a one year old Akbash that is in need of a permanent home.

She was placed by her breeder with an inexperienced dog owner. Konya lived in a condo with no yard and received no training. Konya is an athletic intense Akbash dog in need of an owner with experience. She is sweet to those she knows and needs someone who can appreciate her unique Akbash characteristics and finish her training and channel her energy appropriately.

Medo-adopted!

2009-12-01T22:20:00.000-08:00

Medo is a three year old Male Akbash at the Burlington Animal shelter in Ontario, Canada. I noticed him one day on the Petfinder.com website on page two of the Akbash section. Often there are no dogs on the second page, I am glad I looked because there was Medo (pronounced Meadow).

      Here shelter staff have dressed him for christmas and say he is a "big mellow guy". He is recently neutered and ready for adoption. Shelter contact is Burllington Animal Shelter, 2424 Industrial Street, Burlington, ON L7R1A5 phone number is 1 905 335-3030 ext 12 e-mail is animalshelter@burlingon.ca

   UPDATE on Medo 12-28-2009. I just called the shelter to check on Medo and he has been adopted out as a family pet by the shelter to a nearby resident. Good luck to Medo in his new home!