Why an Anatolian Shepherd Could Be Your Pet

This breed is not very affectionate. They are independent and like to fend themselves. They do not need cuddles or play times. And this only makes them very loyal to its owner. They are very devoted to their human family. They protect them till its last breath. This breed is great with children. They can protect your children too.

This breed is originally very large in size. They grow between 28 inches to 32 inches. They weigh around 90-150 pounds. It has an almost rectangular head. Its body is very muscular. All these give it a stocky appearance. But this breed is very agile despite their rugged looks. They are always alert. So they can be your best friend doubtlessly.

This breed is very low maintenance. You can brush every week to keep your home fur-free. They do not have the doggy odor either. So you only have to bathe the dog only a few times in a year.

They come in various colors. They can be white, cream, piebald, and sesame. They have two coats. A thick undercoat protects them from bad elements. The top fur layer is soft except the neck and the mane. Double coat means having a lot of hair. You can control the shedding of the fur too.

This breed is a very healthy breed with a lifespan of 10 to 13 years. You have to be concerned about only bloat, and hip & elbow dysplasia. You should visit your vet regularly to keep it strong and healthy. Give it proper food. Maintain the proper exercise schedule.

This breed is not the fussy eaters. They can eat anything you give them. But make sure to feed them enough. Give them three cups of food twice a day. You can feed them with vegetables or fruits too.

They do not need special physical exercises despite their large size. They do not need hour-long walks either. You can take it out in a dog-free zone because of its protective nature. They can attack other stranger dogs or human wandering too close.

This breed is very stubborn, strong, and wild in nature. So they do need proper training. They are natural guard dogs. They are always suspicious about strangers. So you need to give them training during their childhood. You need to command them being firm and confident. It will help you to identify yourself as the leader to them. You need to give them socialization training too.

They are descendants of Roman Mollosian war dogs and Tibetan Mastiffs. Their homeland is Anatolia of Turkey. This is why the Anatolian Shepherd name was given. Local tribesmen used to live in a nomadic way back then. They used to depend on goats and sheeps for a living. They used to use this breed as the protector of their sheeps and goats from bears and wolves. This breed used to stay with the goats and sheeps all the time protecting them. The Turks somehow managed to hide this amazing breed from the world till the 1900s.

This breed was first seen outside eastern Europe in the 1970s. This breed gained popularity in the United States after the introduction of the Endangered Species Act. This act stopped the farmers from killing livestock predators. So they start adopting Anatolian Shepherds to protect their animals. This is how people started to love this breed.