The Akbash Dog is an elegant rare breed from Western Turkey. The name stems from the Turkish word "akbas" meaning "white head". Akbash Dogs are intelligent, emotionally sensitive flock guardians that were developed 3000 years ago to fend off wolves and bears which threatened flocks of sheep and goats in Turkey. Any dog not strong enough, cunning enough or aware enough of its surroundings did not survive in this harsh environment. Survival under such harsh and primitive conditions has created a tough, powerful breed capable of dominating an inexperienced owner or individual with little knowledge of canine behavior and the working dog mentality.

The Akbash Dog possesses the classic livestock guarding dog temperament; a temperament found in few domestic dog breeds. This temperament is typified by a calm, quiet, alert, courageous independence coupled with a natural protective instinct. The Akbash Dog has a guarding dog instinct without being tense, nervous or high-strung. The calm, quiet demeanor of the Akbash Dog is essential to their "bonding" with agricultural animals. ("Bonding" is a term used in reference to the relationship formed between the livestock guarding dog and the sheep or other animals it protects.) Sheep will disperse or move away from anything that moves too quickly, just as they move away from the herding dog.

The Akbash Dog is always white. Light biscuit or gray shading around the ears or in the undercoat should never be penalized as long as the dog's overall appearance is white. Gray or silver-blue skin pigmentation, either solid or in spots, is desirable but not required provided the individual dog shows ample black or dark brown pigmentation on the eyerims, nose, and lips.