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Kurdish Mastiff

Kurdish Mastiff

The Kurdish Mastiff, Assyrian Shepherd, or Pişder dog (Kurdish: سەگی پشدەری, romanized: Segî Pişderî) is a dog landrace native to the mountainous Kurdistan Region in Iraq, especially the Pişder region in Sulaymaniyah Governorate. This dog is often used as a livestock guardian against predators and number around a few thousand heads. They have been compared to the Kangal Dog and the Akbash.

Life Span 10-14 years
Weight 10-30 kg

What to Know Before Buying a Kurdish Mastiff

Finding a responsible Kurdish Mastiff breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells dogs commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.

Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Kurdish Mastiff. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.

Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Kurdish Mastiffs appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.

Looking for a Kurdish Mastiff breeder?

Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.

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