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Height:
29+ inches (male); 27+ inches (female).
Size:
Very Large.
Weight:
110 to 150 pounds (male); 80 to 120 (female).
Availability:
Very difficult to find.
History:
The noble Anatolian Shepherd Dog comes from rural Turkey, where
he protects flocks and serves as a shepherd’s companion. On
the high Anatolian Plateau, where summers are hot and very dry,
and winters cold, the Anatolian Shepherd Dogs live outside all
year round. The first Anatolian Shepherd Dogs were imported
to the United States in the 1950’s, though the first successful
breeding program did not get underway until 1970. The Anatolian
Shepherd Dog is recognized by the FCI, CKC, UKC and SKC, and,
since 1995, by the AKC. Currently, there are over 3000 Anatolian
Shepherds registered in the United States. Anatolians can be
registered with the Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America,
Anatolian Shepherd Dog International, or with the AKC.
Description:
The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a large, majestic and powerful
livestock guardian. He is capable of great speed, endurance
and agility. The head is large, but in good proportion with
the rest of the body. The skull is wide and slightly rounded,
with a slight stop. The rectangular muzzle should be a bit shorter
than the skull, with a blunt profile. The lips are edged in
black, and hang down slightly, however the upper lip should
not hang down lower than the bottom jaw’s lower edge. The teeth
should meet in a scissors bite. The V-shaped ears are pendant,
rather small, and have rounded tips. In Turkey, the ears are
often cropped very short. The small, deep-set eyes range from
gold to brown in color. Nose and eye rims must be either black
or brown. The thick, muscular neck has a slight dewlap. The
topline is mainly level, though slightly rounded at the loin.
The back is short relative to leg length. The chest reaches
to the elbows. The front legs are straight and set well apart.
The tail is set high and reaches to the hock. When the dog is
alert, the tail is carried curled over the back, otherwise,
it hangs low with a slight upward curl. The double coat is generally
fawn with a black mask, though any color is acceptable. Other
frequently seen colors include pinto, white and brindle. Coat
length may vary greatly depending on the season and the dog’s
lineage. There are two basic coat types, Short (one inch minimum)
and Rough (about four inches). There may be some feathering
on the ears, legs, and tail. All coats have a thick undercoat.
Notes:
Anatolian Shepherd Dogs mature quite slowly, reaching full adulthood
at approximately 4 years of age. Hip dysplasia is not a serious
problem in the Anatolian Shepherd, though responsible breeders
should still x-ray all breeding stock as a precaution. Anatolian
Shepherd Dogs are sensitive to anesthesia. Young Anatolians
should be given extra vaccinations against parvo-virus, as their
immunity often takes longer to develop than with many other
breeds. Some lines are prone to eyelid entropion or to hypothyroidism.
Ear infections are fairly common. Some Anatolians tend to bark
at night. Some like to dig. Anatolian Shepherds tend to be pretty
mellow with children, however, since they are quite large, they
can accidentally knock children over during play. Proper training
of both dog and child is the key to success. The Anatolian Shepherd
Dog does not drool, unlike many other giant breeds. The coat
needs thorough brushing out during the twice-a-year shedding
periods, but little attention during the rest of the year. The
Anatolian does not eat much for his size, and does best on a
low-protein, lamb/rice diet. Though well-raised and protected
Anatolians can live 14–16 years or more, working livestock guardians
have a high mortality rate. Livestock guard dogs live their
entire lives with their flock. Even so, they should be properly
socialized with people (out in the fields) and accustomed to
grooming procedures when they are puppies to make veterinary
care possible later in life. Dogs who are destined to become
flock guardians should not be made into family pets, or they
will prefer the family’s company to that of the sheep! Anatolian
Shepherd Dogs guard, but do not herd, livestock. They often
patrol the outer perimeter of their territory, then find a high
place from which to watch over their charges. Anatolians possess
excellent senses of sight and hearing to help them in this work.
They check their "protective zone" around the flock every few
hours to be sure nothing ominous is brewing. If danger approaches,
the Anatolian will first bark a warning, then accelerate and
raise the volume of the barking if the danger persists, signaling
the sheep to crowd in behind him for protection. The dog will
attempt to drive the danger away and will only attack as a last
resort. In Turkey, the Anatolian Shepherd Dogs wear spiked collars
to protect their throats in battles with predators.
Personality:
Very loyal, alert and possessive. Calm, steadfast and brave,
but not aggressive. Independent, proud and self-assured. Affectionate
with his own family, but suspicious of strangers, especially
after reaching adulthood. Strangers should be formally introduced
before the mature dog is asked to accept any familiarities.
The Anatolian Shepherd Dog will not allow anyone onto the family
property if the owner is not home, unless he has had frequent
contact with the person, but he is fairly friendly with those
people the family accepts. He enjoys well-behaved children,
especially if raised with them from puppyhood, but should always
be supervised and properly introduced. May be protective of
the family children. Extensive early socialization, obedience
training and consistent dominant leadership are essential for
this breed. Because of his independant temperament, the Anatolian
Shepherd responds best to motivational training methods. This
dog has his own ideas and will not cater to the owner’s every
whim. The Anatolian Shepherd Dog has strong protective instincts
and will guard and protect without any additional "protection"
training. Protective instincts grow as the dog matures, often
coming suddenly to the fore at around one and a half years of
age.
Behavior:
Children: Good only when raised with children from puppyhood.
Friendliness: Fairly friendly with strangers.
Trainability: Somewhat difficult to train.
Independence: Very independent.
Dominance: Very high.
Other Pets: Good with other pets if raised with them from puppyhood.
Combativeness: Tends to be fairly dog-aggressive.
Noise: Average bark.
Grooming and Physical Needs:
Grooming: A little grooming needed.
Trimming & Stripping: No trimming or stripping needed.
Coat: Medium coat.
Shedding: Seasonally heavy shedder.
Exercise: Moderate exercise needed.
Jogging: A fair jogging companion.
Indoors: Relatively inactive indoors.
Apartments: Not recommended for apartments.
Outdoor Space: Best with a large yard.
Climate: Does well in most climates.
Owner: Not recommended for novice owners.
Longevity: Moderately long lived (12 to 15 years).
Talents:
Watchdog, and guarding.
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