Anatolian Shepherd: photo, description of the breed, character, video

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The Anatolian Shepherd stands out among working and herding dogs. She is smart, self-sufficient and knows how to adapt to different living conditions. She is valued for her watchdog qualities, calm, reasonable disposition and devotion to her owners. This is one breed that should not sit idle. They need some kind of occupation, be it herding a flock of sheep, guarding the master's house or fussing with children. This is a real service dog.

Anatolian Shepherd

History of the origin of the breed

The distant ancestors of these dogs are depicted on Assyrian bas-reliefs, and their history goes back more than six thousand years. In Turkey, their historical homeland, powerful and hardy animals have helped shepherds guard their flocks of goats and sheep for centuries.

Although shepherd dogs of this breed are called Anatolian, Turkish experts do not recognize this name, calling the dogs Kangal, which translates as black-headed.

What is noteworthy is that purebred Kangals in Turkey are considered a national treasure, and their export from the country is strictly prohibited. But the taboo does not apply to puppies born from a marriage of purebred Kangals and other breeds, which allowed Europeans to take out several mestizos for further selection work with them.

Kangals were used to guard herds of sheep and goats

The official registration of dogs occurred relatively recently - in 1990, so I consider the Anatolian Shepherd breed to be young, despite their centuries-old history. In the same year, the first club of Turkish Shepherd lovers was founded, but so far the animals cannot boast of worldwide fame and popularity among dog lovers.

Appearance and description of the breed

Anatolian Shepherds are large and powerful dogs that carry themselves with dignity and self-confidence. And, despite their size and apparent heaviness, the animals are very dexterous and fast and have a well-developed reaction.

Appearance:

The animals have a proportional build, with a straight back and a wide chest. The height of adult males reaches seventy-five to eighty centimeters, and weight ranges from fifty to sixty kilograms. Females are more graceful and slightly smaller than males. The body length of females does not exceed seventy centimeters, they weigh from forty to fifty-five kilograms;
the legs are long, straight and muscular;
the tail is medium length, flexible and fluffy;
Dogs have a large, wide head with a convex forehead, which smoothly transitions into the nasal part. The eyes are almond-shaped, chocolate or amber-golden in color. Animals have hanging ears of medium length, triangular in shape;
The Anatolian's coat is straight and short with a thick, dense undercoat. The fur on the neck and chest is longer and fluffier than on the rest of the body;
The breed standard allows almost any color of Anatolian Shepherds. Dogs may have cream, blue-gray, reddish or light brown fur. The main condition is that the nasal area, cheeks, eyebrows and ears must be painted in a dark shade.

The breed was officially registered in 1990

Description and characteristics of the breed

The Anatolian Shepherd has the following breed description:

muscular and large animals that have a thick neck and broad chest;
the head is large;
at the withers, males usually reach 66–79 cm, and females – 68–76 cm;
dog weight – 40–70 kg;
The coat color can be any. The most common color is white and cream with black ears, as well as a black mask on the face;
the wool is thick. She has a thick undercoat. Therefore, dogs should be brushed approximately 1-2 times a week. When the animal is excited, the tail rises.

Related article: Good-natured and affectionate Old English Sheepdog or Bobtail breed

Animals become sexually mature at approximately 18–30 months of age. At the same time, dogs live on average about 10.5 years. However, these data are based on just one study. Most often, shepherds of this breed die from cancer, heart attacks, and a combination of several factors.

Character and behavioral characteristics

The calm and serene appearance of the Anatolian Shepherd is deceiving. It may seem that the dog is lying calmly near the porch of the house, showing absolutely no interest in passing people and passing cars, but this is a skillful disguise.

In fact, the animal carefully examines its surroundings and never loses its vigilance. And as soon as someone approaches the property under the dog’s control, the pet reacts with lightning speed to a potential threat. Not a single stranger will be able to penetrate unnoticed into the territory patrolled by a shepherd dog, therefore, as a guard, she has no equal.

Character

Unlike most Turkish breeds, the Anatolian Shepherd is not overly nervous and aggressive. Representatives of this species are calm and adequate.

Kangal is unusually strong and resilient. Thanks to his sharp mind and quick wit, this dog expertly protects the livestock and property of his owners. He easily maintains discipline in the herd and always keeps his territory under control.

The Turkish Karabash is not a pet, but a working dog, for which security service is not a difficult duty, but the joy and meaning of life.

He loves his owner, is endlessly devoted to him and is ready to defend him at any moment. And under the protection of such a huge and fearless dog, in any situation you can be calm for your life.

The Kangal Shepherd loves the children of his family, protects and takes care of them. He treats other people's children either neutrally, showing indifference or wary if they are too noisy.

It is impossible to leave children, especially small ones, alone, and even in the company of other people’s children with a kangal. A dog can accidentally harm a child due to its enormous size or stand up for its baby if he is offended by other children.

Strangers for a karabash are a threat, especially if they cross the boundaries of its territory.

A stranger should not approach the Kangal on his own, trying to make friends; such familiarity can end sadly, especially if we are not talking about puppies and young dogs, but about sexually mature individuals.

If the owner wants the dog not to show aggression towards house guests, he should simply introduce the karabash to the people who come. After this, guests are not in any danger from the dog.

It is important to remember that the external immaturity of the Kangal Shepherd is a deception. It’s just that the dog is restrained and adequate, but only until the second it detects a threat to itself or its owner.

He gets along well with other pets, but only if he grew up and was raised with them.

Interaction with children

Anatolian Shepherds are patient with children, but you should not expect the dog to become a fun play partner for your child. After all, even at an early age, this breed is not prone to games and pranks like other puppies.

For Kangal, a child is an object of protection

For an Anatolian, a child is an object of protection and the baby can be safely left under the supervision of such a vigilant protector. The dog will not let anyone near the child and will not let him out of the protected area.

Video “Kangal – the strongest dog in the world”

From this video you will learn about the Kangal or Anatolian Shepherd breed.

Teaching methods and training

When deciding to get an Anatolian Shepherd, the owner should prepare for the fact that it will take a lot of time and effort to raise and train the animal. These dogs are not distinguished by their obedient and flexible character and must be taught to obey from an early age. If you do not raise the puppy properly, the pet will become uncontrollable and will make its own decisions, ignoring the orders of the owner.

Patience, calmness and perseverance are the necessary qualities in raising an Anatolian puppy

Dogs of this breed are smart and quick-witted and have excellent memory, thanks to which they quickly remember commands, but this does not mean that they will obey orders unquestioningly. After all, the Anatolian will carefully analyze each command of the owner, and if he considers it meaningless, then no circumstances will force the animal to carry out the instructions.

To teach a dog obedience, the owner must make it clear that he is the leader and authority. Once you show weakness and allow your pet to do as he pleases, it will no longer be possible to achieve obedience from him. Therefore, it is necessary to repeat each command until the animal completes it.

It is also worth considering the innate hostility of Anatolian Shepherds towards strangers and other animals. And it will depend only on the owner how the pet will behave in the presence of guests. After all, a dog that is not accustomed to discipline may refuse to allow people into its territory, even if they came accompanied by the owner. And along with the basic commands - “sit” and “come to me”, it is very important to teach your pet to obey orders - “place” and “no”. Otherwise, the pet itself will decide who is worthy of entering the house, and the owner will only have to come to terms with the choice of the animal.

Training and education

The Turkish Karabash quickly remembers commands and understands its owner perfectly. Despite this, training such a dog is quite difficult. Representatives of the breed are distinguished by their freedom-loving disposition. They only listen to those they respect. So it is not easy to subdue the Kangal.

Karabash will show brilliant results in training, but for this the following conditions and rules are necessary:

Become a leader for the dog, whose word is law, and establish a trusting relationship and contact with him.
Early socialization.
The beginning of education and training from the first months of life.
Variety of training lessons
Strict training sequence.
Be sure to ensure that the given command is executed.
Eliminate physical, harsh punishment.
Use rewards along with persistence.

After proper training, the Kangal Shepherd will feel the intonation of the owner, understand him at a glance, and will be distinguished by obedience and diligence.

Interesting Facts

Kangal has lived on the Anatolian plateau since Babylonian times.
In ancient times, carabash were used to hunt lions and other large predators.
The Anatolian Shepherd can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h.
In South Africa, kangals serve mainly to protect livestock from cheetahs.
When guarding a herd of cattle, Karabash uses lion tactics: he climbs to a hill and from there monitors the territory.
Kangal is capable of chasing prey or an enemy for several days.
The Kangal Shepherd dog breed is a national treasure and the pride of Turkey.
The name of the breed arose in honor of the city of Kangal.
In Turkey, there is a tradition of presenting the first boy born in the family with a Kangal Shepherd puppy.

Care and maintenance

Caring for the unpretentious and undemanding Anatolian Shepherd will not require much effort from the owner.

Anatolians are unpretentious in grooming, but require long walks

Hygiene procedures:

there is no need to brush the dog regularly, and such a procedure is only needed during the period of intense molting of animals, which occurs in spring and autumn;
The pet also does not need frequent bathing, so water treatments for the pet are arranged no more than two or three times a year;
the eyes and inner surface of the ears are periodically cleaned of secretions and accumulated dirt;
Plaque can form on the teeth of animals, so the dog’s teeth are regularly examined and, if necessary, cleaned with a special brush.

Conditions of detention:

Anatolian Shepherds feel comfortable outdoors at any time of the year. But a comfortable and spacious enclosure should be equipped for your pet, where he can rest and take shelter during severe frosts;
the dog needs long, frequent walks and physical activity;
it is necessary to devote enough time to communicate with your pet and to educational disciplinary activities.

Important: these animals do not tolerate restrictions of freedom, so putting them on a chain is extremely undesirable, otherwise the dog will become nervous, irritable and aggressive.

Care

The Anatolian Shepherd does not require excessive attention. Her fur is brushed no more than once a week, and she is also given infrequent baths. This dog is capable of being outside for a year, but it is advisable to let it into the house to communicate with its owners and for a comfortable existence. During the cold season, it is better for the Anatolian Shepherd to live indoors.

The owner must remember that dogs of this breed were bred to live in open spaces, so it is impossible to keep them on a chain or in a closed enclosure: this spoils the health of the animal and shortens its life. For the same reason, such dogs are not kept in city apartments. The Anatolian Shepherd also needs constant and long walks. Physical activity is required to keep the karabash in good shape.

Feeding

The Anatolian Shepherd is undemanding when it comes to feeding, both in terms of quantity and quality. But it’s still not worth giving her economy-class food: they negatively affect the animal’s health. It is also advisable to have a bowl of water ready. This dog is not demanding when it comes to drinking, but if it needs to quench its thirst, this should not be a problem.

These dogs are not only unpretentious in food. They do not require the same amount of food as other breeds of similar size. It is impossible to overfeed these animals with meat, as this does not have the best effect on their health. The basis of the diet will be porridge, of which buckwheat or rice are preferred. Boiled vegetables and fruits are also added in limited quantities. The Anatolian Shepherd does not react well to sweet or salty foods, so there is no sugar or salt in its diet.

Health and Lifespan of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog

This breed is distinguished by its endurance and excellent health. Dogs calmly tolerate temperature changes, adapt to changes in environment without stress, and are not afraid of intense physical activity.

The nose area, cheeks, brow ridges and ears should be painted in a dark shade.

In general, these are healthy animals with strong immunity that are not susceptible to hereditary diseases.

But like other large dog breeds, Anatolians are prone to hip dysplasia, so calcium should be added to their food.

Older animals often develop tumors, especially at the site of injury, and the owner should more closely monitor the health of an aging pet.

On average, Anatolians live between ten and twelve years.

Important: dogs of this breed are very sensitive to anesthesia and may not tolerate surgery performed under general anesthesia.

Diet and feeding regime

The Anatolian Shepherd cannot be called picky when choosing food. These animals happily eat any food offered by the owner.

If dry food is chosen as food, then you should give preference to premium food, which contains vitamins, beneficial additives and microelements.

When choosing natural food, you must remember that the main daily dish should be porridge with pieces of boiled or raw meat. You can diversify the menu with fermented milk products, vegetables, offal and sea fish.

Anatolian Shepherds eat immoderately, as a result of which they are prone to overweight and obesity. To avoid this, you should establish a feeding regime, giving the dog food twice a day, at strictly prescribed times and observing the dosage of portions.

It is forbidden to feed your pets sweets, smoked meats, fish and chicken bones and fatty salty foods.

The cost of a puppy of this breed

Purebred Kangals are considered the property of Turkey and are prohibited from being exported from the country
. Not many kennels are engaged in breeding Anatolian Shepherds, so their cost is quite high. For a purebred puppy with a pedigree and documents, the future owner will have to pay from thirty to sixty thousand rubles.

But babies with defects (non-standard color, white spots on the body, long hair) are much cheaper. And if the owner does not plan for his pet to participate in exhibitions and simply wants to purchase a guard for his home, then he can buy a puppy for ten to twenty thousand rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

Any breed has its advantages and disadvantages. Kangal has both clear advantages and disadvantages. The positive aspects of the breed include good physical endurance, friendliness towards people, as well as fearlessness and courage. The main advantage of the Anatolian Shepherd is the presence of a stable psyche.

However, we should not forget about the shortcomings of the breed. These include the difficulties of breeding such dogs in city apartments. The disadvantage here is both the mobility of the dogs and their wayward character. You will also have to spend a lot on pet food every month. In addition, there are difficulties in purchasing a purebred Kangal, the cost of which is not small.

As you can see, there are enough advantages and disadvantages here. Therefore, each dog breeder must decide for himself whether he can provide his pet not only with love, but also with everything necessary.

Owner reviews

How do owners of Anatolian Shepherds characterize their pets?

Veronica: a great dog for home protection

The most valuable qualities of this dog are intelligence, endurance and devotion. Yes, she is not as obedient as other breeds, but she is a reliable and loyal pet. Our dog is brave and determined and I never worry that thieves will break into the house if I have to be away for a long time.

Evgeniy: this is a calm and intelligent pet.

We were given an Anatolian Shepherd puppy as a gift, and I immediately started looking for information about her. Honestly, I didn’t like the fact that the dog’s character was independent and stubborn, but as it turned out, this doesn’t apply to our Emir. He is smart, intelligent and balanced, and even made friends with our daughter’s favorite Yorkshire terrier and condescendingly watches as the baby runs around barking loudly throughout the house and area.

The Anatolian Shepherd is not a working dog with a playful and cheerful disposition and is unlikely to be a fun play companion. But over the centuries, she has regularly coped with the role of watchman and protector and is always ready to stand guard over peace and protect the lives of those to whom she is faithful and devoted with all her heart and soul.