Anatolian Shepherd Dog
Narrated from: Dog Breeds
The Anatolian Shepherd Dog looks like a mix of a German Shepherd and a Yellow Labrador. He is a rugged and powerful dog with a solid bone structure. He is usually slender, but is muscular and agile. He can have a short or rough double coat. You will usually see him with a fawn colored body and a black mask on his face. They are available in many different coat colors including pinto, brindle or white. He was bred to guard his flock even though today he can use his human family as his flock. Anatolian Shepherd Dogs possess superior sight and hearing ability as well as tremendous speed and endurance. You will find him to be very intelligent, alert and loyal. He is easy to train, but he will need a calm, confident, strong trainer and not a novice. He needs to be reminded regularly that he is not the alpha; his human guide is the alpha and the position is not to be debated.
If he is not properly socialized as a puppy the Anatolian Shepherd will develop issues with his behavior. He will bark all night and he can become possessive. He needs a strong leader to keep these behavior problems in check. He has a strong instinct to guard and protect but without proper guidance this can become a problem. With correct training and exercise he will welcome family and friends but will still be on guard for strangers. As you can see, things can get out of your control and he can take charge and run the house for you. Or at least that is what he thinks. Early, consistent training is required and reward based training works best. He is a very proud dog and will need a calm, confident leader to become a well-rounded house pet.
The Anatolian Shepherd is patient and protective of children. They are large dogs and may knock smaller children down, but never intentionally. As long as he is well socialized as a very young pup he will be a great family dog. If he is socialized with other animals when he is young he will get along very well with them as he ages. They can be dominant when it comes to other dogs unless he is socialized with dogs when he is young. Try to expose him to all kinds of sights, sounds and smells when he is very young to ensure a well-rounded pet. If you adopt the breed to work as flock guards he may not be able to double as a family pet along with that job. Pet or guard dog, he will walk around his area every couple of hours all night long. No one will intrude with him on the job!
Your Anatolian Shepherd will stand between 26 and 28 inches tall and should weigh between 90 and 100 pounds. As with any large breed they can develop hip dysplasia but it is not as common as it is in most large breeds. You must be aware that the Anatolian Shepherd is usually very sensitive to anesthesia and can have life-threatening reactions to it if an emergency should occur. When they are young they should receive extra vaccinations for Parvo-Virus because their immune systems develop more slowly than other dogs. When fed right and exercised properly you can expect your Anatolian Shepherd to live about 15 years. Make sure he does not become overweight. Adding more weight to his joints is never a good idea.
Very long daily walks are necessary to this breed and apartment life is not very suitable for them. They really need room to run so a securely fenced yard is always best.
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