ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD DOG
APPEARANCE
The Anatolian Shepherd Dog has a steady and sturdy build, and sports a serious yet alert expression. The Anatolian Shepherd has two basic coat types: short and rough. The short coat is approximately one inch in length; the rough coat is approximately four inches in length. The coloring of the coat can vary, and includes fawn, red, white, sable, and brindle, sometimes with black mask and ears. The Anatolian Shepherd Dog can stand at 28-32 inches, and can weigh in at between 90-145 pounds.
PERSONALITY
This breed possesses great endurance and is extremely agile. They are confident, reliable, proud, and hard-working. This is a dog that likes to make up his own mind everything, and rather than being an interactive, playful dog he likes to play more of a supervisory and protective role. These dogs are naturally calm, brave, watchful, independent, and self-assured; they are not aggressive, but can be suspicious of strangers
TRAINING
It is very important to begin training and socializing them while they are still young. Although quick to learn and easy to train he can be stubborn and dominant, so is not a dog for beginners. They will not respond to harshness or heavy-handed methods. Training must be done with respect, firmness, fairness, patience, consistency, and love.
EXERCISE
Anatolian Shepherds need a lot of exercise and they will perform at their best when they can run free in the yard. If they are not outside enough, they can become restless and destructive. They tend to enjoy running alongside with you in parks and beaches, or playing with a Frisbee. They are excellent with ‘fetch’ games and can become very efficient. Ideally, two walks per day are sufficient for them to meet their daily exercise needs.
SOCIALIZATION
This breed will get along well with children that are older and more considerate, and those from his own family, but when it comes to other children proper introduction will be required. They will generally get along with dogs and other household pets they have been raised with. They are wary and suspicious of strangers.
LIVING CONDITIONS
The Anatolian shepherd dog can live outdoors in moderate to cool climates, while it is not suited for staying in an apartment. This breed is not recommended for apartment, condominium, or city dwelling. They do best in a rural farm setting where they can romp and roam; or in a home with a large securely fenced yard.
GROOMING
The Anatolian Shepherd requires very little grooming and the coat simply needs to be brushed out during shedding seasons. These dogs shed heavily, but the shedding period is relatively short and once the hair has been removed, they will not need extensive grooming. It’s important to check for ticks during tick season, and a regular checkup with the Vet.
HEALTH ISSUES
The life expectancy of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog is around 12-15 years. This breed may be subject to hip dysplasia (but is not as common as some other large breeds), eyelid entropies, hypothyroidism, they are also sensitive to anesthesia and highly susceptible to fleas, ticks, and fly bites.
HISTORY
The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a breed developed from Turkish “guard” dogs called chomar kopegi in Turkish. These dogs were used to guard flocks, and still have that protective, guarding instinct about them. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1999.
