Anatolian shepherd | Facts & Information

Temperament: bold, proud, independent, intelligent

Origin

The anatolian Shepherd is considered by many to be the best guard dog in the whole world, especially with regard to cattle.

With Ancient Origins in Turkey, this breed is meant to withstand harsh climates and nomadic life.

For this reason, the anatolian Shepherd prefers to live in the open air. On the anatolian plateau, when summers are hot and winters are cool, the anatolian Shepherd lives outdoors all year round.

Feed Anatolian Shepherd

The food of an Anatolian Shepherd is different from individual to individual. Anatolian Shepherd needs minerals and vitamins both as a puppy and as an adult. Protein should not be missing from the menu; the most affordable food is meat. In addition to protein, the dog also needs calcium.

Unlike other breeds Anatolian Shepherd very easily assimilates calcium.

A breeder describes in his book over 170 foods that can be fed to give your dog calcium. Food can also be bought at the store, I personally recommend home-cooked food that has all the nutritional elements that the animal needs, even if it takes a little more time to prepare.

Two or three daily meals are enough. Pay attention to the amount of food because it can be prone to obesity. Water must be constantly present somewhere within reach and changed to be fresh.

Read more about ... dog food

Appearance Anatolian Shepherd

The coat is thick and short, generally around 2-2.5 cm long. The hair at the neck is longer, forming a mane.

The most common color is Fawn, but other colors such as brown, red, burgundy and vargat on an ashy background are also observed.

Anatolian Shepherd requires brushing once a week with special attention paid to the coat during the moulting period. It should only be washed when absolutely necessary.

This breed is very sensitive to fleas, ticks and stings.They may also be prone to hip dysplasia, sensitivity to anesthesia and hypothyroidism.

Behavior Anatolian Shepherd

The anatolian Shepherd is an extremely loyal dog. Incredibly intelligent, he needs mental stimulation to prevent boredom. This Shepherd is extremely territorial and not too friendly with strangers, but in general it is not aggressive.

The anatolian Shepherd is possessive of his home and property and will not allow anyone to enter his family property if his owner is not at home, except for people with whom he has had frequent contact, being extremely friendly with those he knows.

The anatolian Shepherd is patient and protective of his family's children, but can accidentally slam them to the ground from play. He will always be supervised when he is around children and especially around the little ones.

He is also tolerant of other pets, especially if he grows with them, but has a tendency to be dominant with other dogs. The breed is well known for being strong and Unbreakable, having unparalleled protective qualities, especially in terms of guarding and protecting herds of cattle.

He guards and protects, but does not shepherd sheep and cattle. They are dogs that benefit from a very fine sense of smell and hearing, qualities that help them in their activities.

Anatolian Shepherd

The anatolian Shepherd is an independent breed that does not need much training to be a guard dog. In other areas of training, the anatolian Shepherd responds more slowly to commands.

Early socialization and obedience training are absolutely necessary to reduce potential aggressive behavior the anatolian Shepherd is a loyal, vigilant and possessive dog. His remarkable intelligence makes him an easy dog to educate and train, not a dog for beginners.

He needs a master who can impose himself. Calm, firm and brave, but not aggressive, the anatolian shepherd must be trained as quickly as possible, because a fully developed dog may be too strong and too big to be controlled, which is why it can become independent and dominant, no longer having the interest to satisfy its owner or all the whims.

Anatolian Shepherds are dogs with a late development, reaching body maturity around the age of 4 years. Early and extensive socialization, obedience and obedience training, as well as a firm, consistent and dominant owner are essential aspects to keep in mind when purchasing an anatolian Shepherd.

Read more about ... Pet Dog Training

Features Anatolian Shepherd

The anatolian Shepherd craves an outdoor living environment and is not too happy if he is raised in an apartment building.

If properly trained, the anatolian Shepherd can adapt to living in a large house.

It is relatively inactive inside the home, which is why you need to provide it with a large yard to consume its energy. He is happiest when he has something to guard and protect.

Their withdrawn nature and impressive waist do not make them a successful choice for families with young children.

It is not suitable for the apartment, it needs a large courtyard with a high and well-secured fence.

Diseases Anatolian Shepherd

All large and very large breeds of dogs are more or less disposed to tumors, cancer and hip dysplasia.

The breed can also suffer from skin allergies.

These allergies can also occur in the form of itching or blemishes due to poor quality nutrition or food that does not correspond to the digestion of the dog.

Anatolian Shepherd can suffer from 10% of eye problems.

Apart from the problems mentioned above, some of which may be genetic, the dog generally does not suffer from other diseases.

Life expectancy is 12 to 15 years.