Anatolian Shepard – Self reliant livestock guardian

Featured image by © bigstockphoto.com / Infosam

What is an Anatolian Shepherd?

The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is described as a loyal, reserved, independent, indigenous livestock guardian from the vast regions of Turkey. It is an ancient breed, bred for thousands of years to guard flocks travelling on the Anatolian Plateau.  These powerful, large, upstanding dogs are capable of great speed and strength and stamina. They are extremely hardy creatures, capable of withstanding extremes in climate and terrain. Nowadays the Anatolians are widely used in a working capacity to guard sheep, goats, chickens, alpacas and horses. Anatolians are smart, devoted, responsive, and adaptable. They will protect their flock and act as a family guardian and companion. They are renowned for their dedication and loyalty.

Pros and Cons

Appearance and Size

Height:   26 – 30 inches
Weight:  90 – 150 pounds

The Anatolian Shepherd is a tall, rugged and powerful working guard dog, with a dense double coat, broad strong head with pendant shaped ears. He possesses size, good bone and well-muscled torso, a strong head and well-developed muscular shoulders and hindquarters. The predominant color is that of a fawn dog with a black mask.

Portrait Of An Anatolian Shepherd © bigstockphoto.com / Infosam
Portrait Of An Anatolian Shepherd © bigstockphoto.com / Infosam

Temperament

The Anatolians are immense in size and possess a strong and willful nature and require a home where owners will give the young Anatolian the obedience and socialization training necessary. he is a working guard dog, with a unique ability to protect livestock. The Anatolian is bold but calm, unless challenged that is.

Grooming

The Anatolian has a thick undercoat that protects him from the elements and requires minimal grooming. The Anatolian’s coat really only requires a thorough brushing-out during the twice a year shedding season, otherwise for the rest of the year, it only requires minimal grooming to keep it looking great. As with all breeds, the Anatolian’s nails should be trimmed regularly.

Health

Although the Anatolian Shepherd is a large dog, they are typically not plagued by some of the health problems which can affect many other large breeds. Hip Dysplasia may occur as a result of poor diet and over exercising a young growing dog. To ensure a healthy happy dog feed your dog with a good quality dog food. It is worth noting that the breed can be sensitive to anesthesia.

Portrait Of An Anatolian Shepherd © bigstockphoto.com / Infosam
Portrait Of An Anatolian Shepherd © bigstockphoto.com / Infosam

Life Expectancy

The Anatolian Shepherd typically lives around 12-15 Years

5 Fun Facts About Anatolian Shepherd

Environment

The Anatolian Shepherd is a large breed and is not recommended for apartment living. The breed can become quite inactive indoors and will do best in a large, securely enclosed yard where they can run and patrol. The Anatolian Shepherd requires lots of exercise and needs long daily walks to keep it satisfied. These dogs are quite suspicious of strangers, so early socialization is a must.

If you’re looking to add an Anatolian to your family, consider adopting one instead. Rescuing an animal is a win-win for all, and you save a life.

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