About
the Anatolian Shepherd: information for a new owner
by Holly Ballester
The Anatolian Shepherd is a calm, loving,
loyal, extremely intelligent breed that will be a wonderful protector, guardian
and companion for you, your family and/or stock. To ensure a lifelong,
satisfying relationship with your dog, you need to understand the nature of this
ancient working breed and anticipate and plan ahead as to how you will handle
some of their unique characteristics should they present themselves.
Temperament:
Anatolians are first and foremost flock
guardians. They are a true working breed not only in their homeland of
"The Anatolian
is loyal and can be fiercely possessive and protective of his family, stock and
territory. He tends to be aloof and suspicious of anything or anyone new that
enters his domain. Anatolians are not outgoing dogs that want to make friends
with everyone. They often do not want to be boldly approached and usually
dislike being touched or stroked on the tip of their heads when greeted by a
stranger. This is not because of shyness, but because they prefer to be
approached on their own terms. This is what people mean when they say that the
Anatolian seems to expect a formal introduction. They dislike strangers who are
too forward. When greeting a new Anatolian, one may stroke the dog's chin after
the dog has initially sniffed the hand.
The Anatolian is bold
and confident without aggression. They will determine on their own whether
aggression is warranted and will use a graduated display of increasingly
assertive behaviors to control a given situation.
The reliability of a
working livestock guardian depends on the strong inclination for independent judgment.
An Anatolian will evaluate a situation to assess its potential threat and act
accordingly. If the predator will leave the domain when the Anatolian rises from
a reclining position and perhaps gives a warning bark, that will be the end of
the display."
(From
The Temperament of the Anatolian, www. anatoliandog.org/history.htm)
Formal Introduction:
When it comes to strangers, most Anatolians
are suspicious and need a "formal introduction". Anatolians are great
protectors and defenders of their charges whether their charges are you and your
family or your stock. An Anatolian will remain on guard while any stranger is on
his territory. You must be very aware of this when unfamiliar guests or workers
arrive or when unfamiliar animals enter your home and property. You need to know
your dog and anticipate his reaction. You might want to educate your neighbors
about the breed so that they understand the history of and reasons for their
independent guarding temperament.
Socialization and Obedience:
Most breeders will require you to do a certain
amount of obedience training with your puppy so that you establish control and
maintain it throughout your large dog's life. This training also provides
socialization, a must with an Anatolian shepherd dog pup. Even with obedience
training, Anatolians will remain fairly independent and think for themselves. An
Anatolian is a livestock guardian dog who may seem stubborn, but is truly
independent. Anatolians have been bred to determine for themselves when their
attention is needed and to act on their own to keep their charges safe. This is
the temperament they need to do their job successfully.
Your Anatolian and Livestock:
Although the Anatolian is a livestock
guardian, it is not necessarily true that you can put your pup or older dog
directly with your stock and they will automatically behave as a seasoned
working veteran. They most likely will need some supervision and training.
Puppies like to chase, to play and to chew, so you need to plan on giving your
dog some guidance until you know all is well. Anatolians mature at about age 3,
so puppy hood for them lasts longer than most other breeds.
Also be aware that your anatolian my not
immediately accept a different type of stock introduced after puppy hood. For
example, if you have goats and you introduce hogs, you will need to supervise
your dog until you know all is well.
Off Leash or Tethered/Tied in Your Yard:
Anatolians cannot typically be taken outdoors
off leash and they should NEVER be tied. You must remember that first and
foremost they are guardians and they will protect you and your family wherever
you may be. You cannot know if something in the area will be perceived as a
threat by your Anatolian. Your dog will not overlook situations he perceives to
be threatening, such as another dog off leash.
They are also a breed that may not always obey
your commands. This is because for hundreds of years, they have been bred for
self-reliance, to think independently and to protect their charges without
assistance.
Fencing:
Anatolians must have strong, secure fencing,
as they will expand their territory. They can be diggers and jumpers and may
quickly dig under a fence or jump over it. Most all require good perimeter
fencing with electric hot-wire. If you don't hot-wire initially, then you need
to plan that it may be necessary to do so at some point.
Most likely an invisible fence will not
contain your dog. Our dogs had 23 acres perimetered by invisible fence as well
as various other fencing (horse wire, barbed wire, etc). Over time several of
our Anatolians stopped respecting the invisible fence. We have had to put up
horse fence on all borders as well as hot wire. The invisible fence may work for
your young dog, but you need to plan that at some point other types of fencing
with hot-wire will most likely be needed.
An Anatolian can easily move at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. What may seem like lots of acreage can be easily and quickly traversed by an Anatolian.
Also please realize that without perimeter
fencing unfamiliar people such as acquaintances and package carriers coming onto
your property will assume it is okay, since the dog appears to them not to be
contained. A regular, *visible* fence also warns such people that they need
permission to enter if you are not there.
Digging
Anatolians are great diggers. When determined, they can dig under a fence in a relatively short period of time. However, most digging is done to rough up the earth for a soft, cool resting place. An intact, unspayed female may also dig large dens, big enough to accommodate herself and her pups. These large dens may also be used to keep cool in the summer.
Growth:
Anatolians are very slow to mature (about 3
years old) and exhibit puppy behaviors until at least age 2. They are also a
'giant' breed. Their fast growing bones need protection. Feed foods that are
lower in protein, calcium and phosphorus (there are foods on the market made
especially for large breeds) and keep an eye on physical stress. Curtail
activities such as racing up and down stairs and long jogs until your puppy is
more mature. You don't want to stress the joints early on, which may lead to
injuries.
Make sure your breeder also supplies you with copies of
your pups parents hip ratings, typically from OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for
Animals). This is necessary in order to rule out hip dysplasia in your dog.
Again, the Anatolian Shepherd is a calm, loving, loyal, extremely intelligent breed that will be a wonderful protector, guardian and companion for you, your family and/or stock.
Holly Ballester
