The Turkish Boz Shepherd exemplifies an unparalleled versatility in function and devoted loyalty to his 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 proportion always balanced so as to not appear excessive or extreme.  He has a heavy, balanced bone structure with a moderate to deep chest, strong head, and  feet large for his size.  Developed by 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 that is  submissive, calm, and loving to family and 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 up tucked to exemplify the dog’s ability to run great speeds and 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 definition of the ribs, as the Turkish Boz  Shepherd is a working breed he 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 of  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, is outside 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 withersaverages 31″ to 38.5 inches for dogs and 26.5 to 33 inches for bitches.  Weights average 140-200 plus pounds for dogs and100-170 pounds for bitches.  While dogs have been recorded at heights of 41 inches at the withers and 256 pounds, thisis considered extreme and should not be bred for.

Proportion – The Turkish Boz Shepherd dog is more massive andpowerful, both in physical size and appearance, than the bitch.  Height to length ratio in males is 1:1 to 1:1.2, while aslightly higher ratio is acceptable for bitches, providing she remains proportionate and balanced.

Substance –  TheTurkish Boz Shepherd should appear lean and agile, yet solid and substantial.  He is a dog of medium to slightly heavysubstance whose muscling and bone structure should be in balance with the frame.  Dogs too heavily or too lightly bonedto be in balance with their frame is considered undesirable.  Bitches should retain a sense of femininity, independent ofsize.

HEAD

Correct head and expression are essential to the breed.  The head of the Turkish Boz Shepherd should always be inbalance 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 structureor overly broad mastiff-like head with strongly pronounced stop are outside the standard.  Expression should be intelligent andconfident, yet kind and soulful toward his family.

Eyes are medium in size, non-protruding, range in color from honey yellow to dark brown, and 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 length sufficient to cover the eye if pulled forward.  The historical practice has been to  crop the ears to medium, rounded, bear or lion-like appearance to prevent the ears being 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 standard 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” both from the profile and front views, creating a slightly blocky, substantial appearance.

The nose typically is  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 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 topline 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  a flexibility in his shoulders that appears unnatural.

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 our 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 coatis short and coarse with less density.  In the winter, a soft, very dense undercoat with a softer and longer guard hair willgrow in.  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 ranges of acceptable color in the Turkish Boz Shepherd include white, red, grey, fawn, and cream.  All acceptablecolors may exist in any combination, but coat color is typically a gradient blend based in one predominant color, fawnand cream being the most common.  The presence of a black mask and ears is standard, but a red mask and ears or lack of mask altogether are also accepted.  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.

GAIT AND FUNCTION

The Turkish Boz Shepherd should exemplify the optimal balance of speed, agility, and power; instantaneously reactingto a threat with both speed and ferocity for the purpose of defense.  The gait of the Turkish Boz Shepherd is one ofstrength and power, and should carry a natural fluidity and springiness.  Pacing is not considered normal or desirable inthe breed.  The Turkish Boz Shepherd is able to obtain speeds of 27 – 35 miles per hour on average, 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, with the ability to pivot and changedirection at rapid intervals at various speeds.  The backline should remain nearly level with little rise or fall except at veryhigh 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 setting.  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 needs to be realized and respected; proper socialization is a must.  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 a necessary,  either human or animal; isolation for long periods is not tolerated well by this breed.  He will remain devoted, loyal, and  submissive to his owner and family and accept strangers with proper introduction.  The Turkish Boz Shepherd is  intelligent and has a keen ability to evaluate a situation and react with measured response; his perceptiveness to his  owner’s level of comfort contributes to his reaction 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.  Any tendency to dominate or control the family is seen as a serious fault.  The Turkish Boz Shepherd is extremely versatile in function, working in both  rural and suburban applications within a range of settings and 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 the breed, incidences of elbow and hip dysplasia have been reported.  The Turkish Boz Shepherd does not suffer from most of the common health conditions known to plague the 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 overly fine or heavy to negatively affect overall balance and/or function.
• • Narrow or shallow chest; barrel ribs.
• • Tail has excessively long hair (plume-like);  tail is excessively short or long to affect function.
• • Colors of solid black, brindle or pinto.