Bred over 6,000 years ago in Turkey, the Anatolian Shepherd was originally intended to guard both the owner’s property and his livestock. This breed gained fame for its ability to make decisions on its own, as well as withstand harsh climatic conditions. It is not without reason that the Anatolian Shepherd Dog became the national emblem of Turkey.
Characteristic
Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a large and courageous dog, very agile, quick-witted and hardy. It is a confident, reliable, proud and hardworking animal with greatness and nobility. This dog performs equally well as a companion or guard and in the show ring.
Character
Loyal, deeply devoted, and highly intelligent, the Anatolian Shepherd is calm, affectionate, and courageous. She jealously guards the peace of her family, home and territory. Due to the oversized size of dogs of this breed, it is not recommended to keep in houses where there are small children. And although they are quite friendly towards dogs and other pets they have grown up with, they welcome any stranger with wary and suspicion. Dogs of this breed can bark loudly for quite some time, and they also like to dig holes. The Anatolian Shepherd is a stubborn animal that wants to take a dominant position, so they should not be started by inexperienced or apathetic people, as well as people leading a sedentary lifestyle.
Wool and care
The Anatolian Shepherd is covered in two types of coats: a short undercoat and a tough, coarse coat. The undercoat is about an inch long; the coat itself is approximately four inches long. The dog’s neck is covered with longer and thicker hair than the rest of the body. In fact, there are two whole rows of wool here, with a thick and thick undercoat. The color is usually light brown with a black mask. Other colors are possible – striped brown, piebald or white. Molting is seasonal and quite strong. Anatolian Shepherd Dog should be thoroughly brushed weekly, taking special care during the seasonal molts. You can only bathe the animal if it is really necessary. This breed is highly susceptible to fleas, ticks and fly bites. Hip dysplasia, volvulus, hypothyroidism, and a particular sensitivity to anesthesia are also common.
Training
Dogs of this breed require early socialization and obedience training. They do not respond to harsh or oppressive parenting methods. Training should be based on respect for the dog, firmness, fairness, patience, consistency and, of course, love. The Anatolian Shepherd requires the owner to dominate it.
Activity
The Anatolian Shepherd requires a lot of physical activity and only does well when it has the necessary work to do. This breed is absolutely not suitable for keeping in a city apartment or city townhouse. You need to understand that these dogs are created for farm work in rural areas, where they have enough space to move, even a large paddock or yard.
