Anatolian Shepherds are a large breed of dog that have been used as livestock guardians. This does not mean they cannot be great family dogs, but there are some things to be aware of this breed before you choose to take one home.
They have been bred for generations as working dogs and can sometimes have different socialization training needs than other breeds. When raised from a puppy, Anatolian shepherds are very loving and loyal dogs that can become great companions to their families.
In this article, we will look at this breed’s temperament and whether or not they would be a good fit for your family.
Is an Anatolian shepherd a good family dog?
Not really.
Anatolian shepherds are not good family dogs because they do not like young children and should only be around older, more mature children. They also should never be left unsupervised with any other animals including cats or other canines because of their protective instinct to guard.
Anatolian Shepherd is a working breed dog that is bred to protect flocks of sheep from predators. They are not meant for family life, so if you have children or other pets in the house, an Anatolian Shepherd will not be a good fit.
If you still think that this is the dog for you it’s important to be aware of the fact that they are large and strong and will require a certain amount of training to socialize with them in order to be able to control them.
Can You Train An Anatolian Shepherd To Be Family Friendly?
Anatolians can make great pets IF they are trained when they are young, around the age when they start fighting amongst littermates. This type of breed is not for everyone. If you cannot commit to training and socializing this is not the type of dog for you, as it will become a huge problem. But if you do train them to be part of your family they make wonderful pets who absolutely love children and other dogs and animals.
It all depends on what breeder and lines the Anatolian shepherd come from. There are some Anatolians that will only protect the family and territory it lives in, but there are also those that can become a well-rounded dog.
Anatolians must be socialized from a very young age to other people and animals around them.
Anatolian shepherds are naturally wary of strangers and other dogs, so you would not be able to train them to get along.
How To Prepare For An Anatolian Shepherd Dog At Home
Anatolian shepherds, even though they are guard dogs and were bred to be aggressive toward predators and strangers, can become very affectionate and protective of their family if trained and socialized well. They truly thrive on the attention they get from their families and will be loyal for life.
- Training: Be sure to enroll in an obedience class with your new dog where it will be exposed to many different situations and people.
- Housebreaking: Housebreaking takes time, so be patient with your new dog. It will take at least 6 months for them to completely housebreak, so be prepared for accidents during this time span
- Socialization: Socialize with other dogs, children, and adults when they are still puppies. The breed does not mature until 2 years of age, so during this time socializing them is very important. They are usually good with other animals, but be sure to supervise when they are puppies.
- Exercise: The breed is very independent and does not require excessive exercise. They tend to do better in cooler climates because of their thick coats, so this may help with the exercise.
- Grooming: Anatolian shepherds have short and dense coats that need to be brushed weekly and will shed heavily twice a year.
- Health: The Anatolian shepherd tends to have health problems with their back, eyes, and hips. Be sure your breeder provides medical records for the dog they are selling so you know what diseases/issues to look out for in the future.
- Diet: The Anatolian responds better to a high-quality dry kibble diet and high protein diet. Do not feed your dog table scraps, as this will encourage begging and may lead to obesity.
Anatolian shepherds can be a great addition to your family with the proper training and time on your part. They tend to do better with older children because of their size. Make sure you do extensive research before purchasing an Anatolian shepherd to ensure you have the time and resources needed to raise a puppy into a fully-trained guard dog.
featured image courtesy of https://www.flickr.com/photos/kjunstorm/3295771348
