Anatolian Shepherd
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- Dog Breed Group
- Working Dogs
- Origin of Breed
- Turkey, sheepdog.
- Life Expectancy
- 12 - 15 Years
- Color
- All colors, but most desired is solid cream to fawn with black mask and ears.
- Coat
- The breed is double-coated. The outer coat is short or half-long and dense. The undercoat is thick. The coat is longer and thick
- Exercise Needs
- Daily exercise on a leash or a large area to free run. Mental stimulation to prevent boredom.
- Temperament
- The Anatolian Shepherd is intelligent and reliable. He is suspicious of strangers which makes him an excellent guard dog. Alert
- Good with Children
- Very loving toward his family children, but other children should be properly introduced.
- Grooming Needs
- Weekly brushing.
- Average Size - Male (in)
- 29 - 30
- Average Size - Female (in)
- 27-30
- Average Weight - Male (lbs)
- 90 - 150
- Average Weight - Female (lbs)
- 80-120
- Health Issues
- Hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism.v
- Living Conditions
- Will happily live indoors, but will do better in an outdoor environment. Not recommended as an apartment dog, he needs a home wi
Breed Description
The Anatolian Shepherd is a shepherd's guard dog of ancient lineage; probably descended from the large hunting dogs existing in Mesopotamia. The breed has evolved over the ages to suit a specific set of circumstances. Of these, the most formative are the climate (hot and very dry summers; very cold winters), the people's lifestyles (from settled to semi- and wholly nomadic), and the work assigned to the dogs. They guard flocks travelling great distances on the Central Anatolian Plateau, staying out through all weather conditions.