Furry Diary

Rize Koyun

Also called Rize Koyun dog, Rize Koyan

Rare breedShort profile

From Turkey, on the Black Sea coast in Rize and Ordu provinces, including the Canik Mountains.1

At a glance the quick version

Height, male70 cm1
Height, female68 cm1
Sizelarge
protective of home and flock
confident
sure-footed in the mountains
1

Coat and looks how to spot one

A big, solidly built guardian with strong legs made for mountain terrain. When alert it stands tall with its tail raised and curled.1

Coloursgrey (most common)various coloursbi-colour1

Personality what they are like

A working guardian kept to watch over households, property and livestock, giving a warning bark when something is amiss. It is traditionally a working dog rather than a house pet.1

The story where it all began

Local people in the Black Sea mountains bred these dogs to protect their families, homes and livestock. It remains a regional working type rather than a show breed.1

Fun facts for the dinner table

  1. 1

    It looks rather like the Kars dog of north-eastern Turkey.1

  2. 2

    Its build is suited to steep, mountainous ground.1

Recognised by the official bits

None (major kennel clubs)
Not recognised by any major kennel club.1

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Rize Koyun. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

  1. Rize Koyun - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for all fields

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.