What do you know about Anatolian Shepherd dogs?

[sigp220.45]

My beloved Rottie died recently. I have a Yellow Lab that I love dearly but he is friendly to a fault. I like having a protective dog around.

I walk dogs on Tuesdays at the local shelter. This sweet girl was there yesterday. She was originally found as a stray, then was passed from home to home until the third owner surrendered her because she ate four cups of food a day but was still skinny. He suspected some kind of parasite.

She’s on a vet hold until her health issues are sorted out and she gets spayed. I’m thinking of putting my name on her if she is still there next Tuesday.

They have her on the books as an Anatolian Shepherd. What do think? I’m not familiar with the breed. What I’ve read is that they are very protective.

I can tell you she is an absolute sweetheart. All she wanted to do was climb into my lap for pets and hugs.

 

[Bald1]

My sister has one that’s about 3 yrs old now. He eats as much as he wants but is also thin. They are protective and loyal. But they need proper training like any large breed. My sis also has a 10 lb poodle and 2 cats. He gets along fine with them. I have a 90 lb Pitbull and previously a 120 lb Rottweiler. They are both small next to an Anatolian.

 

[TAROMAN]

What a sweet dog!

 

[lihpster]

Don't know anything about the breed, but she looks like she'd fight for someone she loved. A literal ride or die bitch. I like her.

 

[ladder13]

Sorry about your Rottie. That Shepherd has her eyes on you.

 

[Ματθιας]

I don't know about the breed, but I do know that dogs, at least the ones I had, that eat a lot but are skinny tend to be poop machines when pups. If you get it, good luck!

 

[arjay]

Those eyes

 

[Onomea]

Awwww....

Come on, man! You know what you wanna do here.

 

[bdGreen]

Does she give you comfort in the area you seek? What are her strengths?

This is a newly adopted girl.
She gives me comfort.

bdGreen

 

[Rudi]

I think you have a new dog.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Bear approves.

 

[A10]

Boop.....everything I've heard of Anatolians is they are smart and want to work.....and they poop big....

Enjoy your new pup! She picked you now you have to take her!

 

[5-Shot]

Bald1 has is right. They are protective and loyal. I have friends who had one. It was much too protective and loyal. They would have to lock it away when ever a guest came by. Finally, when the wife was on a walker (not due to the dog) it had to be put down. The vet's reaction was "it's about time!"

 

[Bald1]

Bald1 has is right. They are protective and loyal. I have friends who had one. It was much too protective and loyal. They would have to lock it away when ever a guest came by. Finally, when the wife was on a walker (not due to the dog) it had to be put down. The vet's reaction was "it's about time!"

Yes they need early training and they need to know you are the boss. By nature they are herding/guard dogs. They protect the flock. But they need to know the mailman is not a threat to the flock

 

[Doug M.]

Study livestock guardian breeds in general to understand their genetic tendencies. They are often poor with strange dogs as they are in part designed to protect herds from wolves. If you feel comfortable with her, and she checks out health wise, give her a home.

I have a feeling an intruder would be ... unhappy if they messed with you and her. They are good dogs; not my preference for my life now, but good dogs. My avatar was a very good dog - dangerous to strangers, to an extent hard to understand unless you were holding his leash, but great at home. He was RottXFila and took after the Fila temperament. Not as big, only 125, but staggeringly violent with strangers.

 

[delcrossv]

We've had our ASD for 8 years now.
They are not particularly cuddly. "Standoffish" is a good term.
They are very suspicious of strangers. Guests need to be introduced by the owner when they come on to the dog's turf.

They are social climbers. If they do not think you're pack leader, they will take advantage. They will not take correction from pack members that THEY think are below them.(both people and other dogs)

Watch for subtle dominance games like sitting on someone uninvited etc.

Don't get me wrong, they're great dogs, but for someone used to a Lab etc, they're something else. For several thousand years they've been bred to protect flocks petty much without human input.

Negative reinforcement training is a definite NO, as is any kind of schutzhund training. Unlike a GSD or rottie, THEY decide if a target is neutralized, not the trainer.

PM me if you want to discuss offline.

 

[6518John]

I can’t speak to this specific shepherd breed, but I can speak to Australian Shepherds and other shepherd lines. I am firmly in the camp of adopt that sweet girl! With one admonition.

Our Aussie is from working lines. The amount of exercise he needs daily is astounding. He needs a minimum of one to two hours a day of exercise.

He would be the perfect dog for a farmer or a rancher that left at dawn, dropped the tailgate of his F-150–in goes the Aussie—and they come home well after dark. Our Aussie will work cattle from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and still be ready to go!

He is lord of his domain and frankly far smarter than his owners. That’s another problem with these working shepherd breeds, they are smarter and more intuitive than most humans.

Our Aussie LIVED with a police dog trainer for a month to get him under control and minding. Simple training sessions were not enough, he needed a “lock-down” program. He is almost completely civilized now.

You have walked and worked with her so you know her personality and what you are getting into. Just consider her exercise needs. I bet she ain’t going to lay around and sleep all day like a fat Rottie or Lab.

 

[Walkin Horse]

If you want a protective but goofy and loving dog, you can’t go wrong with a Doberman. This is my 8th one.

 

[delcrossv]

I can’t speak to this specific shepherd breed, but I can speak to Australian Shepherds and other shepherd lines. I am firmly in the camp of adopt that sweet girl! With one admonition.

Our Aussie is from working lines. The amount of exercise he needs daily is astounding. He needs a minimum of one to two hours a day of exercise.

He would be the perfect dog for a farmer or a rancher that left at dawn, dropped the tailgate of his F-150–in goes the Aussie—and they come home well after dark. Our Aussie will work cattle from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and still be ready to go!

He is lord of his domain and frankly far smarter than his owners. That’s another problem with these working shepherd breeds, they are smarter and more intuitive than most humans.

Our Aussie LIVED with a police dog trainer for a month to get him under control and minding. Simple training sessions were not enough, he needed a “lock-down” program. He is almost completely civilized now.

You have walked and worked with her so you know her personality and what you are getting into. Just consider her exercise needs. I bet she ain’t going to lay around and sleep all day like a fat Rottie or Lab.

Despite the "Shepherd" part of the name, the two breeds are used for completely different purposes.
Anatolians do not "shepherd" i.e. herd animals, like Aussies do, they GUARD them- e.g. kill wolves etc.
They're pretty moderate on exercise- not a "high energy" dog. They lay around until they see a threat and then BOOM.

 

[ASA335]

We had one as a mascot, Sgt Bob Dog, when I was stationed at Field Station Sinop (Turkey). I also got to meet a few that were working dogs around that area.

My experience is that they are not high energy dogs, are a bit hard headed, and are very protective of their flock - including their human flock. Ours would let all US personnel into the compound, but would grumble at the Turkish personnel!

Early training is a must.

Funny, Sgt Bob Dog liked Skittles, but wouldn't actually move to get one. If we placed a Skittle four or five inches away from his nose while he was lying down, his tongue would flick in and out to try to get it, but he wouldn't even stretch out his body to actually reach the Skittle.