anatolian shepherd

Question
this is a follow up of the first question. i work and live in sydney.i love the outdoors, wide open spaces and tennis. however, i never get to do anything towards that direction as this is a new start for me. i have owned dogs since childhood and understand them better than most average people.
i will be renting a house soon and i will make sure it has space enough for a dog not to get bored. the dog i want to get is the anatolian shepherd. it may not have all the space it wants at home, but i will take him/her for a walk everyday before or after work. is this a sensible idea? i will be living in a suburb as i am an average taxpayer. is it ok to put the dog in a kennel if i go overseas?

Answer
Dear dominique,

Thanks for writing. It's wise to think of these things! The actual space for the animal is not as important as the amount of time you have to teach, socialize, train and entertain! Dogs and puppies need lots of all of these. A walk before and after work will probably not fulfill the Anatolian Shepherd requirements for stimulation and exercise.

Are you getting an older dog or a puppy? If you are getting a puppy, expect your life to be very hectic. If your work hours are such that you can keep a schedule with your dog, that would be better than whacky hours that change weekly.

Can you come home during lunch? Helping a new dog adapt to your home when you work all day is another hurdle. It can be done, but is easier if you come home during lunch.

Adopting an older pup might be less work.

All in all, only you can determine if your life has an opening for a dog. You might fulfill your own "need to be with dog" desires by volunteering at the shelter or walking dogs for older people.  

It's ok to kennel the dog when you are gone, assuming the kennel conditions are desirable.

Thanks for writing. Good luck!