ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD

This ancient breed dog is also called Turkish shepherd, originated from the powerful hunting dogs in the areas that today are Iraq and Iran. It was used as a combat animal and large game hunter; it is currently a guard and company dog. It its evolution, weather and surrounding town’s environment have been determinant. In its lands, which range from Turkey to Afghanistan, shepherds place a collar spiked with iron nails to defend it from herd prowling wolf bites.

PHYSICAL TRAITS of the ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD
This breed’s male is a lot larger than the female; it can be up to 81 cm tall to the cross and weigh 65 kg. The fur is short, rough and very thick, sandy colored, intense, tabby or liver red colored. The male as well as the female have an impressive well proportioned head, black nose and small, brown colored eyes, except in liver colored animals; its ears are triangular, round tipped, usually drooped while the dog is resting and erect when it is alert.

Neapolitan mastiff breeding is expensive and hard to achieve.

TEMPERAMENT AND ADAPTATION of the ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD
It is intelligent, lively and learns easily, but its education must be constant but not harsh. Tame and affectionate to the family, who it feels it must protect, this makes it very aggressive towards strangers, to the point of attacking if it notices a threatening attitude. Although it likes children and its patient and protective toward them, it must not intervene in their games. It has a permanent vigilant attitude, alert to the slightest, suspicious sounding noise. It is not recommendable that it lives in a flat; country houses are more appropriate or if it lives in the city, there should be a park nearby.

EXERCISE AND CARE required for a ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD
It is not convenient to let it loose outside of the house, due to its unexpected reactions toward strangers. It doesn’t need special hygiene care, only the occasional brush. It must be provided with space so it can get the daily exercise it needs.

This animal has huge instincts: it protects all the puppies, even other breeds. Females have been known to breastfeed orphan lambs.