Anatolian shepherds — sometimes referred to as the Kangal — have been used to protect livestock and farm against everything from humans and savage to buffalo and cheetahs . trace their line as far back as the Bronze Age , these Turkish dogs have a muscular , telling presence , combined with a sharp judgement and sovereign personality that makes them perfectly suited for trace and protecting flocks of animals all on their own .
Anatolians have profit popularity as kinsperson cad as well , but first - metre owner should look elsewhere : The Anatolian ’s headstrong nature and monumental body-build means he will ( metaphorically and physically ) walk all over an unprepared proprietor .
Appearance
The first thing you ’ll notice when you ’re in the same room with an Anatolian : They sure are big . And we ’re not talking " big " like " myblack Labis 80 pounds " kind of big . The Anatolian is a heel that hold up somespace — a full - grown male Anatolian weighs 110 to 150 pounds , most of it muscle . distinctive Male top out at 29 inches tall or so , but there have been examples of Anatolians getting much large . The largest Anatolian on record topped out at a whopping 40 inches tall at the berm . Female Anatolian shepherd also get through staggering weights of up to 120 pounds .
In addition to a deep , sinewy build , the Anatolianhas a coating of short hairthat cover a lush underseal . This compounding serves to give the dog an even thicker appearance , nominate him look even heavier than he actually is . That fur can come in a variety of light shades , but by far the most mutual is a buff coating top by a contraband mask and , occasionally , black auricle .
Temperament
If you are afirst - fourth dimension firedog owner , or if this is going to be your first large dog , appear elsewhere : The Anatolian ’s independent nature means he ’s advantageously suited for anexperienced owner . For literally thousand of days , Anatolians have been bred and trained to keep rails of flocks and nomadic kin wandering plain and desert . They are smart enough topick up on instructions and trainingvery quick : talk to an Anatolian and theywillunderstand you . Whether or not they will prefer to obey can come down to their humour .
However , utterly none of that is to say the Anatolian is an aloof dog or one who does n’t form bonds with people . Quite the opposite . But , whereas most dog stock translate human race to be fellow traveller , the Anatolian will see you in a very unlike light . To an Anatolian , their owners and families are n’t their pack — you’re their flock , according to Anatolian Shepherd Dogs International . Rather than someone to be implicitly listened to and obeyed , the Anatolian will view you as something to be looked after .
Because of their love and devotion to their families , Anatolians can be slow to adjust to all strangers . Even closelipped friends orfamilymembers who do not live with you may have a gruelling time beget an Anatolian to warm up up to them , even after repeated home visits . For this exact reasonableness , early socializationandobedience trainingare imperative — and you could never go wrong with enrolling your Anatolian sheepherder puppy intokindergarten . Teaching Anatolians as ahead of time as possible that unfamiliar man are n’t scary will be an important part of having one of them in your household .
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" It ’s authoritative to get going training early on and allocate meter to make certain they ’re well - behaved and socialized so that they can learn to get along with their surroundings , " pronounce Stacy Choczynski Johnson , DVM , veterinary expert forPumpkin Pet Insurance .
If you are a rancher or farmer , you may just love this elephantine fellow . you may take them out , give them a problem to do , then moderately much leave behind them to their own devices and go about your day . But if you ’re a menage in the ' burbs , an Anatolian might not be a go - to engender for you .
" They ’re not needfully the most playful and affectionate breed , " Choczynski Johnson says .
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Living Needs
These dogs need lots of way . flat livelihood is out , and any G without a fencing is pretty much a non - starter , too . They ’re big crowd dog , so they have DOE and tons of stamen . But they are also build up more for endurance than bursts of fastness , so they do n’t command as much usage day by day as you might think . A half - hour walk every twenty-four hour period should be plenty , plus agame of fetchin the backyard , Choczynski Johnson allege .
They are also incredibly autonomous frankfurter , so leave them in a backyard unattended or at house alone while you go to work does n’t tend to be a trouble for them , and they do n’t suffer fromseparation anxietyas mischievously as other breeds .
Anatolians can do well enough with other firedog , though it helps to begin socializing them as puppies . Choczynski Johnson recommends programing puppy playdates to help your dog get wonted to others .
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Care
The Anatolian ’s short coat and thick undercoat are pretty accent - gratuitous when it do to neaten . sweep them mayhap once a weekand they should stay looking needlelike . They willshed their undercoattwice a twelvemonth , so every spring and fall you ’ll want to up the brush to stay on top of the haircloth that will come flying off of them .
Bathsare going to be a once - a - month amour , possibly even more infrequently , depending on what they get into . If your Anatolian sheepherder ever reek less - than - impudent , it ’s time to lather him indoggy shampoo .
As with all dogs , you need totrim his nail , determine andclean his ear , andbrush his tooth regularlyto keep him in top shape .
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When it comes to training , other socialization andpositive reinforcementwill help your Anatolian shepherd pup spring up into a sure-footed dog with good style .
" I ’d advocate creating a calm and positive environment when infix novel experiences and individual so that dogs do n’t feel get off guard or overwhelmed in any agency , " Choczynski Johnson says . " Dogs should be sedately asked to seat , and newfangled people should supply a treat or even astuffed enrichment toythat the wiener can run off and play with for a moment . This can help to produce positive associations with fresh mass and help them be more adaptable in the hereafter . "
Health
The average lifespan for an superfluous - large dog is usually around eight or nine twelvemonth , but Anatolains routinely live for 11–13 years .
" What I would have said 10 class ago versus now are very unlike thing , " says Michelle Beck , DVM , CCRT , CVA - Veterinarian . " We ’re visualize the gargantuan breed dogs subsist longer and longer . Historically those dogs have not had very foresightful life twain . But now with honorable care , I ’ve seen them live as old as 15 . "
But despite their long - than - average lifetime , Anatolian shepherds are prone to a few common health conditions . These includebloat(a life - threaten condition where the abdomen turn ) , congenitaldeafness , and incitive liver disease related to copper color concentrations in the liver , Choczynski Johnson says . Like other enceinte breeds , Anatolian shepherds can also be affected byhip dysplasia .
" There are so many gene that lead to hip dysplasia , " Beck says . " It ’s not just one cistron . Even looking at the dam and sire ca n’t tell you with certainty if a pup will develop it or not . "
There ’s also surmisal that Anatolian shepherds are also sensitive to to anaesthesia , but Choczynski Johnson says it ’s not widely documented in veterinary literature .
" I always advocate that dog owners defer to their vet for all anaesthetic protocols establish on the pet ’s medical history and what the clinician believes is near for them , " she says .
History
Dogs very similar in size and build to the Anatolian have exist in Turkey for 6,000 eld , developed from hunting dogs in Mesopotamia . Anatolians have been develop over those thousand of years specifically for the particular demands of their Turkish climate : extremes of heat and cold , nomadic societies , and the stamen for guard sheep on the huge Anatolian Plateau .
A breed exclusive to the region for centuries , Anatolians did n’t make their entry into the westerly Earth until the middle of the twentieth century . American and British ranchers commence importing them as shepherding dogs in 1950 . Then , in 1968 , British archaeologist Charmian Hussey fetch two click to the U.K. with the specific function of breeding and raise them as category favourite . The Anatolian Karabash Dog Club was establish in 1968 and , in 1970 , U.S. Navy Lieutenant Robert Ballardbrought two detent to the United Statesfor the same purpose .
For a number of years , Anatolian sheepman and kangal shepherds were considered to be different breed . There are , broadly speaking , some subtle remainder that can be find between the two : Dogs classified as kangals are slightly larger than ones called Anatolians , and slenderly quicker as well . Kangals also have a coat that is slightly shorter and less dense than Anatolians .
However , most outside government bodies for dog stock have determined that there are not significant enough genic differences between the two for them to be considered freestanding breed . While the UK Kennel Club fit to spot the kangal Dog as a strain in July 2013 , it also stated that dogs currently registered as Anatolian sheepherder may be eligible to be immortalize as Turkish kangal cad , or else .
Meanwhile , in January 2012 , the Australian National Kennel Council no longer greet the kangal as being a separate breed from the Anatolian sheepman . Similarly , as of June 2018 , theFederation CynoLogique Internationale ( FCI ) Standards Commissiondetermined the population of FCI - registered Anatolian shepherd bounder and Kangal shepherd dogs in Turkey were the same breed and belonged to the same breed population . The breed name of Anatolian shepherd dog was changed to kangal shepherd weenie and the breed standard subject was update . In the U.S. , the American Kennel Club recognizes the Anatolian shepherd and the Kangal as the same breed , while the UKC recognizes them separately .
Fun Facts
A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the area of the 2018 California campfire . They occurred in northerly California .
oft Asked Questions . Anatolian Shepherd Dogs International .
About Anatolian Shepherds . National Anatolian Shepherd Rescue connection .
spawn History and Temperament . Anatolian Shepherd Dogs International .
