The turkish Boz Shepherd dog - BREED STANDARD

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The Turkish Boz Shepherd Dog exemplifies an unparalleled versatility in function and devoted loyalty to its work and family.  Majestic in appearance, he is the embodiment of strength, giant size, keen intelligence, and confidence, as well as a gentle, perceptive family companion.  A powerful and athletic breed, he is well-muscled and agile, with tremendous endurance and speed.  His profile is square to slightly rectangular and lean; his proportions are always balanced so as not to appear excessive or extreme.  He has a heavy, balanced bone structure with a moderate-to-deep chest, a strong head, and large feet for his size.  Developed out of the necessity for healthy, sound, and effective livestock guardians, the Turkish Boz Shepherd moves with both purpose and fluidity and should always present as a bold and capable defender, submissive, calm, and loving to family and to others who do not pose a threat.

The body is balanced, functional, and proportioned, without appearing extreme or exaggerated.  The chest should be broad, moderately deep, and well-muscled.  The ribs are well sprung, with the abdomen tucked up, to exemplify the dog's ability to run at great speed and over long distances.  A narrow, shallow chest or barrel ribs are outside the standard.  All parts of the body are firm, well-muscled, and lean.  It is not uncommon to see the ribs defined, as the Turkish Boz Shepherd is a working breed and should carry minimal additional weight.

The tail reaches the hock and, at rest, falls straight downward, with a very slight up-curl at the end.  When alert or running, the tail is held upright in an accentuated, curled position over the back, parallel with the spine.  The hair on the tail is of roughly the same density and length as that on the body.  Tails resembling plumes (excessively long hair) or sparse hair density, as well as a straight, or excessively long or short tail, are outside the breed standard.

SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE

The balance of size, power, function, and overall appearance of the Turkish Boz Shepherd is of primary importance.  

Size:  All Turkish Boz Shepherds should exhibit the giant and impressive size of the breed.  The height at the withers averages 32" to 40 inches for dogs and 29 to 35 inches for bitches.  Weighs average 140-250 plus pounds for dogs and 100-170 pounds for bitches.  The largest we are aware of was Minik, a 42-inch male that was a lean 275# 

Proportion: The Turkish Boz Shepherd dog is more massive and powerful, both physically and in appearance, than the bitch.  The height-to-length ratio in males is 1:1 to 1:1.2, while a slightly higher ratio is acceptable for bitches, provided she remains proportionate and balanced.  

Substance: the Turkish Boz Shepherd should appear lean and agile yet solid.  He is a medium- to slightly heavy-boned dog whose muscling and bone structure should be balanced with the frame.  Dogs too heavily or too lightly boned to be in balance with their frame are considered undesirable.  Bitches should retain a sense of femininity independent of size.    

HEAD

Correct head and expression are essential to the breed.  The head of the Turkish Boz Shepherd should always be in balance with his size and bone structure, and the cranial notch to the nose should be approximately 35-40% of his shoulder height.  The head is noble, strong without coarseness, and slightly rectangular, but above all, not fine or blocky; an overly delicate bone structure and an overly broad mastiff-like head with a strongly pronounced stop are outside the standard.  The expression should be intelligent and confident, yet kind and soulful toward his family.  

Eyes are medium in size, non-protruding, range in color from honey yellow to dark brown, and are almond-shaped.  Eyes are set at an angle of 45 degrees to the plane of the head on profile.  Eye rims and lids are tight; loose eyelids/rims or protruding eyes are highly discouraged.  

Ears are V-shaped, rounded at the apex, and set no higher than the plane of the head.  Ears are medium in size, carried flat to the head and wide at the base, with a length sufficient to cover the eye if pulled forward.  The historical practice has been to crop the ears to a medium, rounded, bear- or lion-like appearance to prevent them from posing a safety or health risk in confrontations with predators.  It is still encouraged that Turkish Boz Shepherds used as livestock guardians in large-prey areas have their ears cropped for the dog's safety.  Ears overly cropped to produce an intimidating, harsh appearance are outside breed standards and highly discouraged.  Both cropped and natural ears are accepted.  

The muzzle is long, proportionate to the head in structure, and strong.  The muzzle is "squared" in both profile and front views, creating a slightly blocky, substantial appearance.  

The nose is typically solid black and standard, although solid liver noses are also accepted.  

The jaws are robust and powerful, yet narrow in width with 42 teeth, 20 upper and 22 lower, which are strongly developed and meet in a scissors bite with little space.  Any variance from a scissors bite is undesired.  Lips are pendulous and fully cover teeth, but should not hang excessively; the Turkish Boz Shepherd is generally considered a dry-mouth dog, and excessive lip or jowl is outside the breed standard.  

NECK, TOPLINE, BODY

The neck should be of proportionate length to the body, slightly arched, well-muscled, and powerful.  The underline should be clean with minimal dewlap.  Weak or delicate necks are undesired.  The top line will appear level when gaiting.  

FOREQUARTERS

The forequarters, when viewed in profile, should be strong, muscular, and well-developed.  The shoulder should be broad and sloping.  Right angles are formed by both the shoulder blade in its articulation with the upper foreleg and by the line formed from the upper tip of the shoulder to the back of the elbow joint.  The ligaments and muscles attaching the shoulder blade to the rib cage must be well-developed for function and speed.  The Turkish Boz Shepherd possesses an unnatural flexibility in his shoulders.  

The forelegs are relatively long, well-boned, well-muscled, parallel,  and proportionate to the frame.  When viewed in profile, the forelegs are directly under the withers, straight, and vertical to the ground.  

Elbows are set in a straight line from the point of the shoulder to the wrist, pointing directly to the rear,  neither being turned in nor turned out.  The feet are very large, with strongly webbed toes and well-arched. The pads are thick, dark in color, and firm, with stout, short nails.

HINDQUARTERS

The hindquarters should be strong, broad, muscular, and well-angled. Viewed from the rear, the hocks are parallel and straight to the ground, and the hind legs are relatively long, well-boned, well-muscled, and proportionate to both the forelegs and the overall frame.  Hind legs are powerful with a moderate stifle angulation.  Double dew claws may exist.

COAT

The coat is short to medium in length, dense, and has a seasonal distinction.  In warmer temperatures or seasons, the coat is short and coarse with less density.  In the winter, a soft, very dense undercoat with longer, softer guard hair will grow.  Hairs on the ears, face, and head are very short, whereas hairs on the neck and mane, especially in males, are thicker and longer.  The Turkish Boz Shepherd will shed heavily at least twice a year. 

COLOR

The acceptable color ranges for the Turkish Boz Shepherd include white, red, and grey, with fawn and cream being more easily recognized.  Brindle and Black Boz are found but are much less common.  Irish or Pinto can be in any color.  All acceptable colors may be combined, but coat color is typically a gradient blend based on a single predominant color, with fawn and cream being the most common.  The presence of a black mask and ears is common, but a red mask and ears, or no mask at all, are also accepted in the standard.  White color markings should be limited to the muzzle close to the nose or chin, feet, and forelegs, with white spots limited to the chest only.  A reverse facial coloring mask may also be present without fault. 

Below is a gallery of Turkish Boz Shepherds that exemplifies the breed's diversity.

GAIT AND FUNCTION

The Turkish Boz Shepherd should exemplify the optimal balance of speed, agility, and power, reacting instantly to a threat with both speed and ferocity for defense.  The gait of the Turkish Boz Shepherd is one of strength and power and should carry a natural fluidity and springiness.  Pacing is not considered normal or desirable in the breed.  The Turkish Boz Shepherd can reach speeds of 27–35 miles per hour on average, with some reaching as fast as 40 miles per hour, and can run great distances, some employing a double-suspension gallop.  His agility is surprising for his size, allowing him to pivot and change direction at rapid intervals across a range of speeds.  The backline should remain nearly level with little rise or fall except at very high speeds (double suspension gallop).   

TEMPERAMENT

The Turkish Boz Shepherd is foremost a guardian dog: calm, intelligent, and observant, yet alert and perceptive.  He is highly adaptable to varied climates and changes in settings.  Ever aware of his surroundings, even when seemingly asleep,  the Turkish Boz Shepherd will instinctively and promptly defend his family, property, or livestock.  His power, independence, and intelligence must be recognized and respected; proper socialization is essential.  Fundamentally, he is a very sensitive dog that requires a loving owner and family.  A soft hand in correction is essential, as harsh treatment or correction can create long-term insecurity and behavioral issues.  Personal and purposeful relationships are necessary, whether human or animal; isolation for long periods is not well tolerated by this breed.  He will remain devoted, loyal, and submissive to his owner and family, and will accept strangers with proper introduction.  The Turkish Boz Shepherd is intelligent and has a keen ability to evaluate a situation and respond with a measured response; his perception of his owner's level of comfort contributes to his reactions in given situations.  Calm and seldom nervous, the Turkish Boz Shepherd is serious and clever, comfortably tolerating boisterous activity and exuberance from children and livestock. The Turkish Boz Shepherd is extremely versatile in function, working in both rural and suburban settings across a range of performance expectations. His intelligence, calm and alert demeanor, and perceptiveness make him extremely effective in a multitude of environments.

LIFESPAN AND HEALTH

The Turkish Boz Shepherd has an average lifespan of 10-15 years.  Although health diseases and conditions are limited in breed, incidences of elbow and hip dysplasia have been reported.  The Turkish Boz Shepherd does not suffer from the most common health conditions known to plague giant breeds.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

• Overly aggressive temperament; aggression or predation with livestock.

  • Lack of function with regard to speed of running and agility.

  • Disproportionate head to body; overly delicate or blocky head.

  • Overly cropped ears or cropped tails.

  • Extreme overshot or undershot bite; excessive lips or jowls.

  • Bone structure is overly fine or overly heavy, negatively affecting overall balance and/or function.

  • Narrow or shallow chest; barrel ribs.

This Breed Standard is an original work developed through experience, research, and selective breeding practices. It is considered proprietary intellectual property.

Any attempt to copy, imitate, adapt, or publish these standards—whether identical or modified—without permission will be treated as infringement.

For further questions, please get in touch with Jesika VanFossen at 785-640-9199