How to Select a Working Anatolian Shepherd

By Stevee LaDuke

Instructions

Step 1:
Begin your search by evaluating your needs for a working Anatolian shepherd. Anatolians are best suited as flock guardian dogs and work best when allowed to live and bond with their new flock. Small herds of 10 to 20 animals are easily guarded by one dog, but a larger flock or property might require more than one dog.
Step 2:
Create a list of all of the qualities that you want in an Anatolian shepherd. Anatolians are independent, highly intelligent dogs that work well alone, so a dog that displays that independence at a young age is important. A proper working Anatolian shepherd should also be structurally sound and large to be sure that he can fend off threats to the flock without risk of serious injury. The Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America has a listing of the Anatolian shepherd standard that explains all of the appropriate qualities of a good dog.
Step 3:
Study Anatolian shepherd working lines to find breeders you are interested in. Anatolians are still a relatively new breed to the world outside of Turkey and many breeders stick strongly to certain working lines to preserve the heritage of the dog.
Step 4:
Contact breeders once you have decided what lines you want to learn more about. Ask the breeder questions about each dog’s working accomplishments and see which dogs actually live and work as guardians. Dogs who use and display their working skills on a frequent basis tend to produce puppies that display a high degree of working ability themselves.
Step 5:
Visit the dogs and breeder in person. Anatolians tend to be standoffish to new people, so do not be surprised if the dogs do not come up and greet you. See how a dog interacts with the flock and with other dogs to get a feel for or her his personality and attitude.
Step 6:
Discuss potential puppies with the breeder. She will show you any puppies that she has available and you can see and evaluate the puppies with the breeder to help find the best puppy for you. Watch the puppies together and separately to get a good understanding of their individual attitudes and personalities.
Step 7:
Complete any required contracts or paperwork with the Anatolian shepherd breeder. You can discuss any contracts or conditions that the breeder has and talk about prices and payment. Make sure that you sign any required documents, such as registration papers before leaving the breeder’s house.
Step 8:
Transport your new Anatolian shepherd dog safely on the ride home. Kennel him in the car to avoid any messes or accidents. Schedule a veterinarian checkup within 72 hours for your puppy to complete any required shots and make sure that you’ve gotten a healthy puppy. Take your puppy home once you've been given the clearance from your vet and allow her to settle into life as your new working Anatolian shepherd dog.

Tips & Warnings

Evaluate breeders carefully before choosing your puppy. Different breeders have different dogs and requirements for purchasing a puppy, so be sure to explore all of your options.
Do not pick a puppy on a whim. Anatolian shepherd dogs are not a breed for a novice owner and require an owner that knows the breed well to avoid problems later in life.

Resources

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America

Photo/Video Credit

http://www.citlink.net/~lostarmadillo/pupgoat.jpg

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