Kaikadi vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

The Central Anatolian Shepherd’s lineage is ancient, with the large dog originating from the Anatolia region of central Turkey. He has been used for guarding flocks against predatory wolves and has adapted to living in extreme weather conditions.

The Turkish shepherds would put a spiked collar on the dog to protect him against predators going for the neck of the dog. Today the dog is still being used as a sheep dog and it is closely related to the Kangal Dog.

In 1965 the first pair of Anatolian Shepherds arrived in the UK. A pair were also provided by the Turkish prime minister to the United States government. Today he is a majestic dog still serving man. He is an Anatolian Shepherd Dog, a working dog breed, recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The Kaikadi or Kai Kadi is a terrier dog, hailing from India. Not much is available on the history of the dog, but today you won't easily find original Kai Kadi in India. This is because they have essentially been mixed with stray dogs of India as well as Pariah.

It is for this reason that the dog isn't recognized as a standardized breed by any of the leading kennel clubs.

The Central Anatolian Shepherd is a large,impressive looking dog that possesses great strength, endurance and agility. He is beautiful to look at and is well muscled and strong.

He stands at roughly 66-76 cm and weighs 40 to 70kg. The head is large and strong, but in good proportion with the rest of the dog’s body. He has brown eyes and his ears are floppy. The tail is long and set high and when the dog is alert, the tail is carried high, making a wheel shape, otherwise the tail is held low, curling up at the tip.

The short to medium length coarse coat is essentially fawn colored and the dog has a black mask. With the dog, early training and socialization will be needed as he is a strong, stubborn, dominant breed who will require firm leadership from his human owners.

Temperament:

The Central Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a loyal guard dog that becomes possessive over his flock, his human family and anything that he regards as his property. He is aloof around strangers, being suspicious of them.

He will require a firm, positive owner who provides training and socialization. He is an affectionate family pet and gets on well with children who have been taught how to treat dogs and other animals with care and respect. This is a bold, confident dog without aggression who is intelligent, proud and independent.

These dog have always been used for hunting, guarding and herding in India and today he makes a good watchdog, watching over his human family.

It's not a large dog though and he stands at roughly 35 to 45cm in height and weighs 17 to 21kg. He is lean and muscular, looking similar to the Italian Greyhound or Whippet.

He has a short smooth coat and the color can be patterned white, tan and black. The head is long and thin, as are the legs, and his tail is long and thin too. The floppy ears stand erect when alert.

Temperament:

The Kaikadi is an affectionate, alert, energetic dog. He won't do well in a city environment with a tiny garden as he requires a large garden to run in.

He is a dog that will need to be trained and socialized if you want him to be obedient and to get on well with children in the home as well as pets.

He can be a fairly quiet, docile dog inside but outside when there is a game to be had, he becomes lively and animated. They are quite sensitive, so while they get on well with children in the home, he won’t respond well to large families with lots of rowdy, undisciplined children as it makes him anxious.

The large, rugged Anatolian Shepherd is a dog that has been developed essentially to work as a guardian of livestock. He is a dignified, calm kind of dog who is fiercely possessive of those he guards. He is independent and will require a firm, assertive owner.

He won’t enjoy lying around the home with nothing to do. These are dogs who like to be busy, and therefore he is more a country-life dog than being found in the city on a small property. Make sure that if your pet hasn’t got a working role, that he is provided with exercise, although as a large dog, he isn’t particularly playful and doesn’t require loads of exercise.

Provide him with a caring, loving home and this large, beautiful dog will become your loyal and devoted friend who will guard you with his life.

Your Kai Kadi loves running and playing outside, after all he has always been a hunting dog. He will love to spend time with you outside playing.

The Kaikadi is a low maintenance dog too. Provide your Kaikadi with everything that makes a dog happy and in exchange you’ll get yourself a loyal, loving pet who wants to be your friend.

The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a hardy, healthy dog who isn’t likely to get sick easily. The dog can live to be 11, 12, 13 years of age when he receives excellent care. Like any pure breed though, he is susceptible to hereditary disorders and some of the other common health issues.

Hip Dysplasia:

This condition is always a problem with a big dog. It’s an abnormal development of the hip joint and it can cause lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. It is brought about by a combination of environmental- as well as genetic factors.

Lymphosarcoma:

This is a common type of blood cell cancer diagnosed in dogs. Lymphoid tissue is present in quite a few places in the body including lymph nodes, liver and spleen, and dogs of any age can be affected.

When you’ve got a Kai Kadi, make sure you understand some of the health risks that come along. This is a healthy dog breed so you’re not likely to have much going wrong with him, but you need to know that he can get sick and then you need to have the name of a good vet for medical treatment -

Hypoglycemia:

A sudden drop in blood sugar, which is many times brought on by stress, can make your dog lethargic and even have slight tremors in the face. It could be a hypoglycemic attack. See the vet immediately.

Pancreatitis:

The pancreatitis can become inflamed and your dog could be vomiting, have diarrhea and have abdominal pain. There are quite a few things that can cause pancreatitis such as obesity, infection as well as stress.

The Central Anatolian Shepherd sheds fairly heavily so he will require brushing at least twice a week. Grooming is important and won’t only include brushing, but ear cleaning and nail trimming too as well as proper dental hygiene.

A dog such as the Anatolian Shepherd, with his floppy ears, will also need to have his ears checked and cleaned to avoid ear infections. There are some of these dogs where the hair needs to be plucked from the ear canal to ensure proper air circulation.

It is important that you are skilled to clean the ears properly, and if in any doubt, to avoid damage to the ear, consult your vet for sound advice.

Owning a dog is a responsibility, requiring you to look after a living being just like you would any family member of yours, otherwise why get a dog in the first place?

You may want a dog for watchdog purposes, but as a living creature, it is important to develop a relationship with your pet and to show him that you love and appreciate him.

There are many things to do to ensure you have a healthy, happy 4-legged canine member in your household

Make sure he has fresh, cool water available to him around the clock.

Provide him with a warm, dry place to sleep.

Provide him with wholesome food to maintain health. There are many excellent commercially manufactured foods on the market. Buy one according to the size and energy levels of your pet. Try to sometimes add cooked home-made food into his kibble such as cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables as well as some raw meat from time to time. This diet is guaranteed to keep your pet mentally and physically well.

Check your pets nails, ears and eyes regularly. He should be checked for fleas and ticks when you brush him twice a week. Have him examined by a veterinarian as soon as you suspect something is amiss with him. Keep him up to date with his vaccinations.

The Kaikadi is an energetic dog so make sure that you provide him with the opportunity to be exercised. Take him on walks or hikes, play ball and rope games with him and go swimming with him to ensure he remains lean and muscular.

Have him trained and socialized as it takes off the rough-edges of a dog.