Anatolian Shepherd FAQ

We have about 20 acres in northwest Iowa, surrounded by corn country, prairie, and groves of trees. Of the acreage, approximately half of it is located in a floodplain of a river and unable to be permanently fenced. There is a plethora of wildlife that uses this remote channel as a vital habitat. When the waters recede in the spring, we are able to utilize the grass with temporary hotwire and electronet pastures that are easily removed in the fall. The goats and dogs enjoy having more space in the floodplain during the warmer, grassy months. For the upper ground, we have four permanent pastures made of cattle panel and t-post fencing with a strand of hotwire and a SportDog 100-acre system. During the winter and while the waters are high in the spring, we practice rotational grazing in these four smaller pastures. Our eventual goal is to build a functional perimeter fence above the floodplain that encloses the yard, buildings, and pastures to allow our dogs full access to the entirety of the property. That is a work in progress! At any given time, we have a dozen dairy goats, 4 dozen free-range chickens, a handful of cats, and our dogs that protect everyone.

The very purpose of a livestock guardian dog is to be a predator-friendly option to keep livestock safe. This means that predators and prey can coexist in the same area because the dogs act as a deterrence for predation. LGD's will bark as their first line of defense, which makes most predators think twice about coming close. However, we do occasionally have a run-in with a brazen predator, especially around kidding season, when the sights and smells are too good to resist. The dogs swiftly dispatch any encroaching danger and effectively keep our livestock safe. Our most common issues with wildlife, besides the standard small pests and rodents, are raccoons, ground hogs, stray dogs, fox, and coyotes.

As my retired veterinarian used to say, "If you're expecting a dog's care and health to be cheap, you'd best get a chihuahua instead of a great dane!" To be completely honest, there are SEVERAL challenges to owning this breed. Anatolians are definitely not for everyone. This ancient breed was developed for thousands of years to be able to think independently and act accordingly without human interaction in the best interest of livestock. While that creates an amazing livestock guardian dog, they can also be incredibly stubborn and aloof. They can perform commands perfectly one day and then act like they can't even hear you the next. They are massive diggers and often have a variety of dens or holes that help them keep cool or warm. They can be escape artists and roam far distances without borders. However, they are unmatched in their ability to bond with and protect livestock. There are few things better than watching an Anatolian help clean up a newborn baby goat and then defend it against coyotes later that night.

We currently produce only 1 litter per year and have 1 active breeding female at a time. Our senior female was retired after her 2020 litter and our junior female will eventually take her place. Dogs that are not used for breeding or are later retired from breeding are spayed and neutered. All breeding dogs are health-tested with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals after 2 years of age and obtain their CHIC numbers (meaning they have completed the breed standard requirements of health testing) prior to being bred. Breeding begins at 2-3 years of age with 1 litter per year and a maximum of 4 litters per breeding female before retirement. Copies of OFA results are provided in the puppy care package.