Anatolian Shepherd Dog Information

Breed Group: Livestock Guardian Dog
Weight: 150 and 200 pounds (70 to 90 kg)
Height: 30 to 40 inches (80 to 100 cm)
Color(s): White Cream

The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a breed of dog which originated in Anatolia central Turkey. The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is descended from ancient livestock guardian dog types that migrated with the transhumance, guarding flocks of sheep from wolves, bears, jackals, and even cheetahs.

The Anatolian was developed to be independent and forceful, responsible for guarding its master's flocks without human assistance or direction. These traits make it challenging as a pet; owners of dogs of this breed must socialize the dogs to turn them into appropriate companions. They are intelligent and can learn quickly but might choose not to obey; this is not a dog for a beginning or shy owner. They become very protective of other animals in the household, and will treat them as their "flock." They have also been known to chase bears to protect their charges. According to Turkish shepherds, three Anatolian Shepherd Dogs are capable of overcoming a pack of wolves and injuring one or two of them. These dogs like to roam, as they were bred to travel with their herd and to leave the herd to go hunt for predators before the predators could attack the flock. Therefore, they need lots of room to run. They will look for any opportunity to go exploring on their own, so a secure fence is needed to keep them home. If they do happen to escape, don't worry, they know their way back home. They will return home on their own almost 100% of the time. It is recommended to micro-chip and tag pets.

A six foot tall fence is necessary, as anything smaller could easily be jumped by the large breed. This breed is not recommended for living in small quarters. If left outside at night, the breed will bark and howl at any noise they hear, as they have excellent hearing capabilities. They do well with other animals, including cats if they are introduced while still a puppy and have their own space. It is not recommended to pin this type of dog in a small enclosure with another dog. Since they were bred for protection they can become territorial, especially in confined living areas. They are very loving and loyal animals who do well with children, except occasionally knocking over small children due to their large size. They are not overly hyper, or destructive, and they can become quite comfortable and lazy in a household setting. They mature between 18–30 months. Both puppies and adults seem to have little interest in fetching or chewing. Rather, they prefer to run and sometimes swim. While playing they are known to nip lightly at the heels of their owners as well as other animals in an effort to herd them. Overall this breed is very loyal, and protective of it's owner. They need around 30–60 minutes of moderate exercise per day. They do well on and off leash.

There appears to be only one health survey of Anatolian Shepherds, done in 2004 by the UK Kennel Club. The median life span for the 23 deceased dogs a small sample size in the survey was 10.75 years.However the average life span is actually between 12–15 years.