The Anatolian Shepherd is known for the role of a guardian dog or livestock protector 🛡. The main purpose of their development was to live with the flock and consider them as their own 🥰. They know how to intimidate or protect in any kind of situation because of their self-confident and rigorous nature.
Let’s get into more detail about the Anatolian Shepherd Dog Breed so that you can decide whether to like or dislike them. Disliking them is next to impossible; find it for yourself🤷
About the Breed
It makes no difference to the Anatolians whether the members of their flock are humans 🙍 or animals; protecting 🛡️ is in their nature, and they always remain true to that nature.
They project a menacing appearance, but once they’re among family, they warm up ❤ and become tranquil 🕊. Because of their naturally independent nature, they are not always able to obey the commands of their masters.
This breed had functioned successfully on their own for decades ✊. This breed is highly adaptable, and when they are young, they adjust their behavior to become more suitable for the environment in which they are living. As they get older, they develop an instinct to look out for others 🫶.
Anatolian Shepherd Dog Breed History
Because its ancestors 🧓 came from Anatolia, this breed of dog 🐶 is known as the Anatolian Shepherd. It got its name from the fact that it was given that name. It is located in the heart of Turkey, and the possession of a dog of this breed in one’s home is something that is regarded as a significant source of pride by the locals.
It is believed that the nomadic peoples who lived in Central Asia were the ones who brought this species to Turkey. Because of the terrain and climate of the area, the indigenous people were compelled to rely on flocks of goats and sheep as their primary source of food.
They brought along big dogs of breeds that were comparable to this one to protect both themselves and their flocks with the dogs they brought along with them 💘.
Did you know?
These canines were given the moniker “Coban kopegi,” which translates as “shepherd dog” in Turkish. They were under the obligation to stay within a short distance of the flock at all times, regardless of the time of day ☀️ or night 🌃.
They needed to be able to move swiftly to traverse the space from one end to the other among the dispersed flocks of animals 🐑. They needed to be strong 💪 and large enough to adequately protect 🪬 themselves from any prospective adversaries so they could defend themselves.
Anatolian Shepherd Dog Breed Job Card/Overview
| Name of the Breed | Anatolian Shepherd Dog |
| Other Names of the Breed | Anatolian Karabash Dog |
| Type of dog breed | Working Dogs |
| Origin | Turkey |
| Born of | Purebred |
| Height | 2 ft 3 inches or 2 ft 5 inches |
| Weight | 80 – 150 pounds |
| Expectancy of Life | 11 – 13 years |
| Type of Coat | Short coat |
| Colors mostly common | white 🤍, Pinto, Brindle, black 🖤, Fawn |
| Level of grooming | Easy to groom |
| Level of shedding | No |
| Persona | Independent, Smart, Dominant, Calm, Affectionate |
| Living in an apartment | Suitable for spacious apartments |
| Friendly with other pets | If trained then yes |
| Health issues/Diseases | Elbow dysplasia, Hip dysplasia, Hypothyroidism, Demodectic Mange, Entropion |
| Health in general | healthy |
| Level of reasoning | Very Intelligent |
| Easy to train | Need dominant trainer |
| Level of energy | Average Energy ⚡ |
| Activity interests | Moderately active |
| Number of Puppies | 5 – 10 puppies |
What to know
• These muscular avengers are smart, calm, and very loyal. They are also protective and have a strong sense of territory 🦾.
• They don’t do well in apartments and do best in the country or in the suburbs where they can have a yard 🏡.
• Some of the oldest domestic dog breeds are found in Anatolians 🐕🦺.
• Anatolian owners must be strong leaders who are willing and able to take care of a dog who can be both bossy and demanding and calm and loving 🤖.
• The Anatolian Shepherd Dog Breed is sensitive to anesthesia 💉.
Characteristics
Adaptability
The Anatolian Shepherd is a versatile dog that does well in many settings. This breed was specifically developed to protect cattle 🐄 from predators, and they demonstrate exceptional adaptability in this role. They are powerful working dogs 🐩 and faithful friends because of their intelligence 🧠 , devotion ✊, and strength 💪.
Because of their versatility, they may flourish in a wide range of environments 🏜️. The Anatolian Shepherd is a wonderful 🫶 and trustworthy 🤝 breed because of its adaptability and willingness to serve in a variety of settings, from rural farms 🌾 to metropolitan houses 🏡.
Adaptability
Adaptive to Apartment Living
Suitable for New Owners
Sensitivity Scale
Comfortable Being Alone
Comfortable with Cold Weather
Comfortable with Hot Weather
Friendliness
The Anatolian Shepherd is well-liked for its trustworthy, placid, and guardian 💂 demeanor. This is a friendly breed that forms close ties with its family 👪.
They make great guard dogs despite their reticence around strangers. Their trustworthy and placid nature makes them valued companions.
All About Friendliness
Lovable with Family
Kid-Friendly
Dog-Friendly
Frank with strangers
Personality
The Anatolian Shepherd is known for its smartness and dominant and independent personality. They make their decisions independently; that’s why they were used as livestock guardians. They feel that they are always on the duty of protecting their flock and family 👪.
Apart from being protective 🛡, this breed also has a friendly, calm, and affectionate side. They don’t get frank with strangers and get protective around those who don’t belong to their family, even if they know them.
The personality of this breed is also defined by several factors like socialization, training 🏌️, and heredity. This breed is when a puppy is playful 🤾 and curious, wanting attention. If you know what the puppy’s parents or siblings are like, you will be able to get a hint of their personality, too.
Temperament
The Anatolian Shepherd has a reputation for having a quiet, smart, and headstrong personality. It is extremely loyal ♥️ to its family and always acts cautiously ⭕ and protectively around them.
When properly socialized and taught, dogs of this breed are excellent livestock protectors due to their self-assurance and reserved demeanor among strangers.
Friendly with kids
When Anatolian Shepherds are raised in homes with children, they often become kind and patient pets. They create close relationships with their human family members, and they are especially protective 🛡️ of the youngest members of the family 👪.
Amicable to other pets
Anatolian Shepherds need early socialization with other pets to avoid aggression issues later on. They may live peacefully with other animals, like dogs and cats, provided they are raised with them and given the correct training 🤽 and socialization.
Barking tendencies
The Anatolian Shepherd breed has a well-deserved reputation for vigilance and a natural protective 🛡️ sense.
This can cause them to bark more frequently than other dogs 🐩, especially when they are alerted to danger. Barking can be controlled with early training and continuous reinforcement.
Possibilities of Staying Alone
The Anatolian Shepherd is a dog that may be trusted to take care of itself. Although they develop deep connections with their families, they are also capable of enjoying time alone if they are challenged intellectually and physically.
But it’s not a good idea to leave your dog 🐕 alone for long periods of time ⏳ because that can cause behavioral problems.
Pros and Cons of Anatolian Shepherd Dog Breed
Pros
- The Anatolian Shepherd breed is well-known for its resilience and ability to thrive in a wide range of climates.
- Their short coat may be maintained with little effort.
- Their natural sense of confidence often makes them reliable watchdogs over their homes and families.
Cons
- Because of this, it can be difficult to train them to follow instructions.
- They can become reserved or overprotective if they don’t get enough interaction with others.
- To maintain their physical and mental health, they must engage in frequent physical activity.
Male vs Female Attitude
The male ♂️ and female ♀️ Anatolian Shepherds only differ in terms of size. Otherwise, their personality is the same irrespective of gender.
Appearance
The Anatolian Shepherd is a huge and stout breed of dog that is known for its thick double coat and robust build.
Their alert demeanor, which is accentuated by the triangular 🔺 shape of their ears, their large heads, and the watchful look on their faces 😋, make them ideal livestock guardians and dependable companions.
General Appearance
The Anatolian Shepherd is a huge, powerful breed of dog. They are well-protected from the elements thanks to their thick double coat.
They have a broad skull, trapezoidal ears 👂, and large, expressive eyes 👀 that distinguish them apart. Their sturdy build and quick reflexes demonstrate their innate protective and herding instincts ❣.
Coat color
The Anatolian Shepherd has a coat length of about an inch, which means it’s a short coat type. There’s a thick undercoat present. You will notice feathering on the legs, tails, and ears of some of these breeds.
Their coat can be of a variety of colors like brindle, pinto, or white 🤍, but the most common color is a black mask with a fawn shade.
Shedding
Don’t get confused by this breed’s short coat, as they shed a lot during the year. It’s because they have a thick undercoat.
Size
The size of the male Anatolian Shepherd is more than the female Anatolian Shepherd. The male breed stands tall at 29 inches, whereas the female dogs get to a height of 27 inches. Apart from their intimidating nature, their huge size also makes them look intimidating.
They are gentle with whom they live, especially families with children. But their big size can easily knock down anyone smaller than them, and that includes kids. So, train your dog how to behave around your children to keep them safe.
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 29-32 inches | 27-30 inches |
| Weight | 110-150 lbs | 80-120 lbs |
Health
The overall health of Anatolian Shepherds is healthy, but you can’t always be sure that they won’t get any illnesses. There are some health issues you need to be aware of that this breed can face. Diseases like von Willebrand’s disease, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, Demodectic Mange, and elbow dysplasia.
Health Test Table
| Health Test |
|---|
| Patella Evaluation |
| Hip Evaluation |
| Elbow Evaluation |
| CBC Blood Count |
| GSD – II – DNA Test |
| PRCD – DNA Test |
Health and Grooming Requirements
Shedding Quantity
Drooling Capability
Effortless to Groom
Overall Health
Capable of Gaining Weight
Size
Maintenance and Care
The Anatolian Shepherd has a protective nature, and families with children will be happy to get this breed as their member. But this breed thinks it’s their responsibility to protect your kid, so they won’t allow the kids to play with others.
So, you need to train your puppy on their protective behavior. This breed is filled with unique qualities, so handling them is not everyone’s piece of cake. If you can take care of a large dog with a protective personality, then only you should get this breed.
This breed comes with a lot of responsibility, so if you are not sure whether to get this breed or not, you should get a consultation from a breed expert first. They can get uncontrollable and aggressive if not trained properly. This breed only listens to the owner, who has the qualities of a leader. If they feel like there is danger around, they won’t think twice before taking action.
Grooming
You don’t have to worry about their grooming 💇🏻♂️ as this is a clean breed. Although their coat requires less brushing 🪥, they can shed a lot throughout the year. You only need to bathe 🚿 them only three to four times a year. Brushing 🪥 teeth 🦷 should be done twice or thrice a week.
Food and Nutrition
The Anatolian Shepherd has average exercise 🏋️ and Energy ⚡ requirements, so you need to feed them a diet 🥗 suitable for medium to big-sized dogs 🐩. Take the advice of your professional nutritionist 🧑💻 or vet 🧑⚕️ about the diet of your Anatolian Shepherd 🐶 and how much portions of food to feed them in a day.
Their dietary 🥬 requirements are different from when they are a puppy 🐣 to when they reach adulthood 🐔.
Food Cost
Size, age, amount of exercise, and personal diet choices can all affect how much an Anatolian Shepherd eats. Spending 💲40 to💲60 per month on high-quality dog food 🥑 can ensure the health and happiness of this huge breed.
Exercise and Activity Level
They are always prepared to go and looking forward to their next new experience 🙋. They are going to spend the day engaging in activities such as running 🏃, leaping 🦘, and playing 🤾.
Low-energy ⚡ breeds 🪫 are the canine equivalent of a couch potato 🥔; they are content to do nothing more than laze around and sleep 😪.
Physical Requirements
Energy range
Intensity
Exercise Requirements
Capable for Playfulness
Trainability
An Anatolian puppy needs to be taught to get along with other dogs and people because the breed is naturally wary of strangers and protective 🛡️.
The breed needs to be trained to obey. The Anatolian was made to work alone, make decisions on his own, and protect his group from strangers 🪖. It can be hard to train this breed to do what you want it to do. An Anatolian should never be trained to be a guard dog or for defense 🦾.
Trainability
Effortless to Train
Smartness
Capable for Mouthiness
Tendency to Attack Prey
Urge to Howl or Bark
Wanderlust Ability
Conclusion
That sums up the Anatolian Shepherd, doesn’t it ❓ I am going to bet that you guys couldn’t possibly dislike it in the end 🤷. That is why you chose to stay and read through to the end. I really can’t say that I blame you 🤭. These creatures are quite incredible 🫰, and they watch out for one another like a watchful elder brother 🧑💼.
I hope that you are well-armed with all of the information there is to know about these canines. If that’s the case, I think we should wrap 🫔 things up for the day.
Explore More Dog Breeds…
FAQs on the Anatolian Shepherd Dog Breed
Where does the Anatolian Shepherd come from ❓
Turkey
What is the best diet routine for the Anatolian Shepherd dog breed ❓
Feed them a diet suitable for giant dogs
How much exercise is required for an Anatolian Shepherd ❓
Daily exercise will be enough.
I am a passionate animal lover with a lifelong commitment to pet care. With over a decade of experience as a pet owner, I’ve nurtured a variety of furry and feathered friends, from cats and dogs to birds and reptiles. I possess a deep understanding of their unique needs, behavior, and health. My mission is to share my knowledge and insights to help fellow pet enthusiasts provide the best possible care for their beloved companions.