Photo by: Safin Hamid

Iraqi Kurds hold a deep sense of pride in the Pishdar dog or Kurdish Mastiff, a remarkable breed that traces its roots to the rugged terrain of the Pishdar district near the Iranian border. 

Bearing a resemblance to the English Mastiff and the Turkish Kangal, the Pishdar is celebrated for its sheer size, extraordinary strength, and unmatched courage.

Males of this breed can tower up to 90 centimeters in height and tip the scales at a staggering 80 kilograms, boasting a life expectancy of 10 to 13 years.

Pishdars are valuable animals in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), particularly in mountainous areas, with prices for some exceeding $10,000. They are frequently used as livestock guardians and in combat sports.

Some historians refer to the Pishdar dog as the Assyrian Shepherd, tracing the breed back to the Assyrian Empire.

There are, after all, Assyrian inscriptions and clay tablets that depict a type of dog that resembles the Pishdar and describe it as the best friend of humans. Some of the inscriptions depict the dog fighting a lion. 

There is a strong belief among the people of Pishdar that if someone sells a Pishdar dog, something terrible will happen to that person. Nevertheless, the number of people selling them continues to increase.