The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a rather large breed that was developed in Turkey where it was primarily used to guard livestock. It is known by numerous names including the Anatolian Shepherd, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Anatolian Blackhead, Blackhead, Anadolulu Karabas, Kara Bas, Kangal, Coban Kopegi, Chien de Berger d’Anatolie, Perro de Pastor de Anatolia, Karabash and the Anatolischer Hirtenhund. Anatolian Shepherds got their name from their home of origin, which was Anatolia in Central Turkey. It is thought that the breed dates back about 6,000 years when tribes from Central Asia brought Mastiffs to Turkey. These early dogs were crossed with various sighthound breeds to produce the Anatolian Shepherds we know today. The main purpose of Anatolian Shepherds throughout the years has been to guard flocks of goats and sheep. While these dogs were extremely protective over their flocks, they could be quite vicious when faced with predators. They were first brought to the U.S. in 1970, and shortly after their arrival, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America was formed.
The Anatolian is a large, strong and muscular dog breed with high endurance levels. It has a large head, thick neck and is known for its calm expression. Antolian Shepherds have dense double coats that need to be brushed regularly due to shedding. The Anatolian Shepherd is a large breed of dog that can weigh anywhere between 80 and 150 pounds when fully grown. This is an extremely muscular dog that has a broad head sitting atop a thick neck. It has small, triangular drop ears, a long tail and eyes that can be light amber or dark brown in color. The coat of the Anatolian Shepherd dog is short and can be fawn-colored, liver, cream, white or brindle. Many of these dogs also have a black mask and/or white “stockings” on one or more legs. Typically, Anatolian Shepherds have black noses, with the exception of liver-colored dogs, which can have self-colored noses.
Personality
Anatolians are gentle giants who take their role as family protectors very seriously. They were bred to herd independently of humans, so they need to be socialized early otherwise they can be territorial and aggressive towards strangers. Anatolians are intelligent dogs that like to roam, so they need ample daily exercise. The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is friendly towards children but not very playful breed. While Anatolian Shepherd Dogs are very intelligent, they can be quite independent and stubborn. Furthermore, a full grown Anatolian Shepherd can be extremely hard to handle if it is not trained properly. As such, it is essential that you begin training your pet when it is still young. Although these dogs can make great family pets, due to their large size, they are not recommended for people who have small children. Active dogs of this size can easily knock over and hurt a small child. Additionally, if you choose one of these dogs, it is important to provide it with a lot of space to exercise. If you are looking for a dog that will make a wonderful companion and guard dog, an Anatolian Shepherd may be the breed for you. While these dogs are quite distrusting of strangers, they are very protective of their human family members. They are also extremely active and love to run and play.
Breed Characteristics
| Type: | Pure |
| Family: | Mastiffs |
| Function: | Guard |
| Origin: | Asia |
| Preferred Climate: | Any Climate |
| Group: | Working |
| Life Span: | 12-15 Years |
| Nicknames: | Anatolian Shepherd, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Anatolian Blackhead, Blackhead, Anadolulu Karabas, Kara Bas, Kangal, Coban Kopegi, Chien de Berger d’Anatolie, Perro de Pastor de Anatolia, Karabash, Anatolischer Hirtenhund |
| Hypoallergenic: | No |
Anatolian Shepherd Dog Build Information
The Anatolian is a large, strong and muscular dog breed with high endurance levels. It has a large head, thick neck and is known for its calm expression. Antolian Shepherds have dense double coats that need to be brushed regularly due to shedding. The Anatolian Shepherd is a large breed of dog that can weigh anywhere between 80 and 150 pounds when fully grown. This is an extremely muscular dog that has a broad head sitting atop a thick neck. It has small, triangular drop ears, a long tail and eyes that can be light amber or dark brown in color. The coat of the Anatolian Shepherd dog is short and can be fawn-colored, liver, cream, white or brindle. Many of these dogs also have a black mask and/or white “stockings” on one or more legs. Typically, Anatolian Shepherds have black noses, with the exception of liver-colored dogs, which can have self-colored noses.
| Size: | Giant |
| Length (Male): | 27-33 in. |
| Length (Female): | 22-24 in. |
| Weight: | > 65 lbs |
| Litter Size: | 5 – 10 Puppies |
| Tail Dock or Crop: | No |
Behaviour and Personality
Anatolians are gentle giants who take their role as family protectors very seriously. They were bred to herd independently of humans, so they need to be socialized early otherwise they can be territorial and aggressive towards strangers. Anatolians are intelligent dogs that like to roam, so they need ample daily exercise. The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is friendly towards children but not very playful breed. While Anatolian Shepherd Dogs are very intelligent, they can be quite independent and stubborn. Furthermore, a full grown Anatolian Shepherd can be extremely hard to handle if it is not trained properly. As such, it is essential that you begin training your pet when it is still young. Although these dogs can make great family pets, due to their large size, they are not recommended for people who have small children. Active dogs of this size can easily knock over and hurt a small child. Additionally, if you choose one of these dogs, it is important to provide it with a lot of space to exercise. If you are looking for a dog that will make a wonderful companion and guard dog, an Anatolian Shepherd may be the breed for you. While these dogs are quite distrusting of strangers, they are very protective of their human family members. They are also extremely active and love to run and play.
| Activity Level: | Active |
| Affection Level: | Moderate Affectionate |
| Aggressiveness Level: | Moderate |
| Barking: | Moderate |
| Dominating or Submissive?: | Dominating |
| Energy Level: | Active |
| Good to Other Pets: | Friendly |
| Guardian Skills: | Yes |
| Independant: | Yes |
| Kid Friendliness: | Friendly |
Appearance
The grooming requirements for Anatolian Shepherd Dogs are quite minimal and basically involve an occasional bathing and brushing. However, you will want to brush your pet daily during shedding seasons. Additionally, you should check its ears regularly and wipe out any excess wax with a damp cloth. If the nails grow overly long, you can cut the tips of them using a pliers-type pet nail clipper.
| Colors: | Cream, Fawn, Tan Brindle, White |
| Shedding: | Seasonal |
| Grooming: | Low Maintenance |
| Coat Type: | Fine |
Anatolian Shepherd Dog Common Health Conditions
While a healthy Anatolian Shepherd Dog can live about 10 to 15 years, there are some health conditions the breed may be prone to developing. These issues can be found listed below. Nevertheless, it is essential to note that responsible breeders test for these issues, and do not use dogs suffering from any of these problems in their breeding programs: Hip Dysplasia, Entropian, Skin Allergies, Lipomas, and Anesthesia Sensitivity.
Anatolian Shepherd Dog Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
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Breed Talents and Facts
Anatolian Shepherds once appeared on a national postage stamp. Anatolian Shepherd Dogs do not usually get along well with other dogs. Anatolian Shepherds often wore spiked collars to protect their throats from predators.
| Training: | Moderately easy to train |
| Hunting Companion: | No |
| Jolly for Jogging: | No |
| Sighting Capabilities: | No |
| Ideal for Tracking: | No |
| Retrieving Skills: | No |
| Pointing Breed: | No |
| Herding Skills: | No |
| Dutiful Watchdog: | Yes |
| Security Guard Capable: | Yes |
| Police Performer: | No |
| Wet Water rescues: | No |
| Assist Disable Owners: | No |
| Dog Sledding: | No |
| Able to Perform Dog Carting: | No |
| Agile/Zippy: | No |
| Fun with Lure Coursing: | No |
| Obedient: | No |
| Possible Schutzhund Work: | No |
| Trainable for Tricks: | No |
