Dog lover is championing rare breeds
Deely says unscrupulous breeders have made it harder to find homes for unique Kangal pups
Unscrupulous dog breeders offering pups for sale at premium prices was we l l - documented at the height of the pandemic, as people clambered to buy a pet to keep them company during lockdowns.
But now it seems things have gone the other way for genuine pedigree dogs.
The St rath’s Deely Cumming, who is passionate about rare breeds, is finding it hard to find homes for 10 unique Kangal pups and has had to drop their price by half.
The canine massage therapist also owns Tibetan Mastiffs and Bernese Mountain Dogs.
She told the Herald: “This is my first litter of Kangals in 18 years – and we have 10! I want good homes only for my pups but have had to drop the price by half because it seems unscrupulous breeders have usurped the interest in other litters that are available after lockdown.
“This is alien for me. Normally by four weeks my other breed puppies are spoken for.”
Turkish Kangals were first recognised by the Kennel Club in the UK in 2013.
One of Deely’s original Kangals, Freya, made history at the Welsh Kennel Club Show by becoming the first Kangal to win in the UK under the breed standard.
Her animals also won the Best of Breed at Crufts five times, from 2015 to 2019.
Deely continued: “The Kangal is a breed specific to Turkey’s Sivas Kangal region, where they live with and protect the Kangal Akkaraman sheep. They give a distinctive low call as an alert when something is threatening the flock.
“They are adorable but not a needy breed, and are great livestock guardians, which includes the home and the hearth, as that is what they have been bred to do.
“They are very versatile companions and nothing like the many ‘designer’ breeds out there that cost thousands of pounds. People actually think they have a Kennel Club- registered breed. Just because they have a fancy name like Cockapoo or Labradoodle, for example, doesn’t mean they have the pedigree accolade. These are crossbreeds.
“Kangals are absolutely stunning and I can’t understand why people don’t want them. People seem to be reluctant to learn about the ancient rare breeds that most dog breeds have evolved from.
“They are a very intelligent pastoral breed that needs a job to do and are great with horses, goats and alpacas and will protect poultry from predation. Basically, they will look after whatever they are put in with from a young age but, of course, they still need love and attention from their human companions.
“They are used in the cheetah conservation project in South Africa. The farmers are given a Kangal which goes to live with the cattle and villagers to protect them from the cheetahs by chasing them off.”
For more information, email Deely via clanquaichdogs@hotmail. co.uk.
She added: “You can also find out more about working breeds on Thursday, March 10, when its Working and Pastoral Day at Crufts, which I would encourage people to watch.”
They are adorable but not a needy breed, and are great livestock guardians, which includes home and hearth as that is what they have been bred to do Deely Cumming