Anatolian Shepherd Dog Breed (Complete Guide)

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Overview

The Anatolian is developed to be tough in order to execute a demanding task.

This is a huge, muscular, rough dog with exceptional agility and stamina. The Anatolian has a strong bone structure and a large head and a robust, smooth, and fluid gait.

The coat of this breed is made up of a dense undercoat and an outer coat that ranges in length from short (approximately 1 inch) to rough (about 4 inches), with the outer hair being slightly longer around the neck and mane.

The look is astute, and the overall impression is of a fearless yet composed defender.

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Highlights

Recommended Posts:
  • It is vital that the Anatolian Shepherd is properly socialized and trained so that they can understand what is natural and what is a danger. Anatolian Shepherds that are not trained and socialized might become overly protective, hostile, and unmanageable.
  • Anatolian Shepherds are less eager to impress than other breeds and are more independent. They will not always wait for orders, but will act if they believe their “flock” is in danger.
  • Fencing that is secure is an absolute essential.
  • Some Anatolians are world-class diggers.
  • Some dogs, as protectors of their area, can be barkers, particularly at night.
  • Some Anatolians can be hostile toward dogs.
  • They have a lot of shedding, especially in the spring.
  • With the Anatolian Shepherd, expect a leadership contest at some point. Homeowners must be willing to apply pack authority in a consistent and courteous manner.
  • Because they are so massive, expect to pay a lot for boarding, prescriptions, and food; you’ll also need a big vehicle to transport them.
  • Shepherd of Anatolia Anesthesia affects dogs differently than humans. Before undergoing any surgical procedures, consult with your veterinarian.

Anatolian Shepherd Dog  Breed Features & Ratings:

Rated base on a 5 Star Scale
ENERGY LEVEL:                                2 Star
EXERCISE REQUIREMENTS:           3 Star
PLAYFULNESS:                                  3 Star
AFFECTION LEVEL:                           3 Star
FRIENDLINESS TO DOGS:                1 Star
FRIENDLINESS TO OTHER PETS:    3 Star
FRIENDLINESS TO STRANGERS:     1 Star
WATCHFULNESS:                               5 Star
EASE OF TRAINING:                           3 Star
GROOMING REQUIREMENTS:          2 Star
HEAT SENSITIVITY:                          3 Star
VOCALITY                                           5 Star

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Characteristics:

  • Dog Breed Group:  Working Dogs
  • Height:  At the shoulder, they range in height from 2 feet, 3 inches to 2 feet, 5 inches.
  • Weight:  80 to 150 pounds
  • Life Span: 11 to 13 years
  • Type: Purebred
  • AREA OF ORIGIN:  Turkey
  • DATE OF ORIGIN: Ancient Times
  • OTHER NAMES:  Coban Kopegi, Karabash Dog, Kara Bas, Kangal Dog, Kham Kepiji Dogs, Scandinavian Nygaard Dogs
  • Temperament: Bold, Confident, Independent, Intelligent, Proud, Steady
  • Activities: Conformation, Herding
  • Color: Fawn with black mask, pinto, white or brindle
  • Litter Size: 5 to 10 puppies
  • Puppy Prices: $800 – $1200 USD on average

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Health:

Overall, Anatolian is a healthy and resilient breed. Bloat, a potentially fatal twisting and inversion of the stomach, is also uncommon in Anatolians.

However, owners should be aware of the indications of bloat so that they may intervene immediately if it occurs.

The breed can be susceptible to anesthesia; therefore, owners should make sure their veterinarian is informed of this before undergoing any treatments.

Entropion, a condition wherein the eyelids invert and can be surgically rectified, will be screened for by good breeders.

Anatolian ears should be examined for symptoms of infection on a regular basis, and the dog’s mouth should be brushed on a regular basis.

The National Breed Club recommends the following health tests:

  • Hip Evaluation
  • Elbow Evaluation

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Grooming:

The coat of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog is short (approximately an inch long) and has a dense undercoat. Feathers can be found on the ears, legs, and tail.

Their coat varies in a variety of hues, encompassing pinto, white, and brindle, but the most frequent is fawn with a black mask.

The Anatolian Shepherd is typically clean; therefore, grooming isn’t a significant deal for them. The breed of dog short coat demands little brushing but expects a lot of shedding throughout the year.

Extra brushing during those times aids in the removal of dead hair. All that is essential is three to four baths every year.

Clean your Anatolian Shepherd’s teeth at least twice a week to remove tartar and the bacteria that live within them. Brushing twice a day is even preferable if you want to avoid gum disease and foul breath.

To avoid painful tearing and other complications, rim your dog’s nails either once-twice a month if he really does not wear them away gradually. They’re too lengthy if you can hear them clicking on the floor.

Dog toenails include blood veins, so cutting too far can result in bleeding, and your dog may refuse to comply the next time the nail clippers come out. So, if you’re not used to clipping dog nails, get advice from a vet or groomer.

The ears should be examined every week for redness or odor, which can suggest an infection. To avoid infections, wipe your dog’s ears with a cotton ball dampened with a mild, pH-balanced ear cleanser. 

When your Anatolian Shepherd is a puppy, start accustoming them to being groomed and examined. Massage their paws regularly, are sensitive about their feet—and inspect their mouths.

Make grooming a pleasurable process full of praise and prizes, and you’ll build the framework for smooth veterinarian tests and other treatment when they grow into adults.

Check for sores, rashes, or symptoms of illness such as redness, tenderness, or inflammation on the skin, nose, mouth, and eyes, and feet while you groom.

In the eyes, there must be no redness or discharge. Your thorough weekly assessment will help you spot potential health problems early on.

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Exercise:

An Anatolian will be content with time in the yard make sure it has a tall, sturdy fence and a locked gate and a nice walk once or twice a day because he just needs a reasonable amount of exercise.

Keep in mind, however, that an Anatolian should be maintained on a leash if he is carried out of the house.

Don’t expect your pups will be dependable off leash, one breeder advises. Insufficient protection on your part can lead to disaster.

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Training:

An Anatolian dog must be socialized because the breed is suspicious of others and instinctively protective. With this breed, obedience training is essential.

The Anatolian was meant to operate independently, make his own decisions, and guard his flock from intruders, thus training the animal to react to directions can be difficult.

Security or guard-dog training should never be given to an Anatolian.

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Food and  Nutrition:

A diet for an Anatolian Shepherd Dog should be designed for a large to giant-sized breed with medium energy and exercise requirements.

For suggestions on what to serve for your Anatolian Shepherd and the proper portion amounts, ask your veterinarian or a professional nutritionist.

Their food requirements will fluctuate as they progress through puppyhood, adulthood, and senior hood. Keep track of your nutritional needs.

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Temperament and Personality:

It is a responsible dog who is dedicated to his people and his role as a family defender.

Simultaneously, Anatolians are relaxed and easygoing, never looking for trouble. They seem to be wary of strangers and fiercely protective of their territory.

While they are good with kids, they may not be active enough to meet the desires of youngsters. As a dedicated watchdog, this dog tends to bark a much when his doubts are aroused.

The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a very clever, self-sufficient, and domineering breed. They can think for themselves, which is essential for a livestock protector.

They are very watchful of their families and flock, and they regard themselves as being continuously on duty. The Anatolian Shepherd is peaceful, pleasant, and affectionate with its immediate family, despite its protective nature.

They are not nice to strangers and are very reserved about people who are not members of their family, even if they are friends or relatives of yours.

A variety of factors influence temperaments, such as inheritance, training, and socialization. Puppies with good temperaments are interested and playful, eager to approach and be held by people.

If you wish to adopt, you might choose the middle-of-the-road dog over the one who is beating up their littermates or hiding in the corner.

Meeting the parents’ siblings or other relatives is also beneficial in determining what a dog will be like when they reach adulthood, however, this may not be available if you are getting from a shelters or rescues.

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Care/Upkeep:

Anatolian Shepherds do not even have a lot of energy, but it is critical that their carers give them daily walks (once to twice a day) and lots of access to the outdoors.

The breed does not fare well in small living quarters such as apartments and requires enough freedom to wander.

They are frequently uninterested in retrieving but will joyfully walk alongside their caretaker and roam around their yard. It is critical that their yard is enclosed (ideally at six feet), and also that they do not have accessibility to interact with dogs or people they do not know.

Anatolian Shepherds require a lot of socialization when they’re little. A dog of this breed that has not been well-socialized is prone to be hostile toward other animals and even humans.

This is consistent with their basic characteristics, as Anatolian Shepherds have been raised to be highly protective of their territory and possessions. 

Most Anatolian Shepherds are willing to learn basic obedience, but they can be stubborn and may be resistant to more professional training, including agility or nose work.

Because of their proclivity for uncontrollable violence, Anatolian Shepherds must never be taught as guard dogs.

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Relationship with Children and Other Pets

The Anatolian Shepherd is devoted to his family, especially his children, who are calm and protective. However, due to their huge size, they are most likely best suited to households with older kids.

Because they are unlikely to regard young kids as leaders, all contact between Anatolians and kids should be controlled by competent people.

As with any breed, educate kids on engaging and touching dogs to avoid biting or ear or tail tugging on either party’s behalf.

Teach your youngster never to approach a dog eating or sleeping or start taking the dog’s food. No dog, regardless of how nice, should be left alone with a youngster.

The most significant way to increase the Anatolian Shepherds acceptance of other dogs and pets is to nurture them from puppyhood.

They will automatically embrace them as members of their “flock” as they mature.

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Names 

RankBoy NamesGirl Names
01RockyLucy
02JackDaisy
03TobyMolly
04OliverRuby
05FinnLuna
06RileyEllie
07DukeStella
08RoccoRoxy
09HenryCoco
10GusRosie

All About Anatolian Shepherd Dog

The Anatolian Shepherd is a big dog recognized for its ancient pedigree, strong independence, and preference for the working lifestyle.

Anatolian Shepherds can be fairly introverted, preferring to work without human supervision or intervention.

They can be excellent family pets; however, it is recommended that socialization with humans and other animals begin at a young age. 

Without adequate socialization, Anatolian Shepherds can easily become violent, posing a risk to humans and animals.

They may be tough to train due to their intellect, but they are frequently docile dogs who are loyal to the demands of their guardians.

Anatolian Shepherd Dog History:

The Anatolian Shepherd Dog breed is named after their homeland of Anatolia in central Turkey, where they are still revered (and have even been honored on a national postage stamp).

The breed’s working forebears are supposed to trace back 6,000 years. Wandering tribes from Central Asia brought the first mastiff-type dogs into Turkey, and southern sighthound breeds added to the Anatolian’s speed, long legs, and aloof personality.

Because of the temperature and terrain of the area, the indigenous population established a nomadic lifestyle based on flocks of sheep and goats.

The huge dogs who rode with them were responsible for the safety of those flocks, as well as the shepherds themselves.

The dogs were dubbed Coban kopegi, which translates to “shepherd dog” in Turkish.

The dogs remained with the animals at all hours of the day and night, and they had to be quick enough to move from one end of a large flock to the other. They also needed to be huge and able to withstand predators.

Dogs were frequently not nourished once they had beyond puppyhood. They made a living by capturing gophers and other tiny creatures while never harming their flock.

To safeguard their throats against assaults, they wore iron collars with large spikes. These collars are still worn by working dogs in Turkey today.

Anatolian Shepherds received their most enthusiastic introduction in the United States in the 1970s, but the Turkish government had previously provided Anatolians to the United States Department of Agriculture as a grant for experimental employment as flock guardians.

However, an Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America was founded in 1970 at the insistence of Robert Ballard, a U.S. naval officer who became enamored by the dogs while in Turkey and began breeding them once he returned to California.

In 1996, the breed was admitted to the American Kennel Club’s Miscellaneous Class. In August 1998, it was transferred to the Working Group.

Where to Adopt Anatolian Shepherd Dog:

Check with your local animal shelters and rescue organizations to see if any American English Coonhounds are in need of a forever home.

National rescue organizations, such as the Anatolian Shepherd Dog Association, can provide valuable information that can assist you in finding your new best buddy.

More Dog Breeds and Further Research:

Before adding a new pet into your life, always conduct thorough study.

It’s a good idea to chat to current breed owners as well as breed groups, especially for species like the Anatolian Shepherd, which require a bit more training and attention.

If you’re looking for comparable breeds, take a look at:

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Fun Facts:

  • They were bred to guard flocks from predators. 
  • This Is an ancient breed. 
  • They know how to survive on their own. 
  • The Turks kept the breed all to themselves. 
  • They came to the U.S. for a secret government program.
  • They protect endangered species in America.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

How intelligent is an Anatolian shepherd?

Anatolia’s Shepherd The dog is highly clever, self-sufficient, and domineering. They think for themselves, which is a crucial quality for a livestock protector. 

How ferocious are Anatolian shepherds?

The Anatolian Shepherd could be violent toward strangers and dogs, especially if they are not socialized properly when they are young. They have a strong will and often believe they are correct. They have a proclivity for tunneling under fences. They are inclined to barking as a warning to potential invaders.

What is the speed of Anatolian shepherds?

28 miles per hour

Recommended Posts: