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- #11
Ridgetop
Herd Master
This is the story of our adventures with our Anatolians. We have had Anatolian livestock guardians for 10 years. We did not start with Anatolians. We came to ownership of them after almost 20 years' experience with Great Pyrenees. Our Pyrs were excellent guardians. Their only drawback (which we eventually learned was representative of the breed) was their ability to escape from any type of fencing.
Subsequent years of observation of the way Pyrenees guard compared to the way in which Anatolians guard helped me understand why Pyrs are roamers. Pyrenees establish a “safe zone” around their protected area. They drive out any predators that wander within that corridor BUT their self-established ”safe zone” can be up to a mile in circumference on the outside of your property. While they are patrolling their “safe zone” they are not with the flock in your fenced pasture. This is not a training difference, it is a difference in 1,000 years of selective breeding by Transhumance Basque shepherds who travelled with flocks, shepherds, families, and dogs.
After the death of our last Pyr from cancer, we had decided not to get another Pyrenees. I was resolute about keeping our dogs behind fences. Instead we would lock the sheep in the barn at night. Two years later we had replaced 10 sheep flocks due to coyote kills. The absence of a LGD meant the coyotes could kill brazenly during the day. We definitely needed another LGD but NOT a Pyr.
The internet has made it easier to find and investigate different LGD breeds than when we got our first dog in 1990. I made a list of LGD breeds to investigate. Anatolians were at the bottom because of their reputation for viciousness. After dealing with Pyrenees’ coats in our thick brush, I eliminated all breeds with long hair. Anything advertised as a “rare” breed was eliminated. I wanted a purebred dog from a working background. I wanted to talk to people that had those breeds about pros and cons. After a week of calls, I was left with Anatolians. I knew a couple of goat breeders out of state that had Anatolians, so I called them for their perspective on the breed. I was referred to several breeders with working dogs. They were circumspect on my questions about Anatolians’ reputation for aggressiveness. They might have puppies “next year”. No one had any adult dogs. I needed immediate protection. As I continued my search across the country, one name kept cropping up as a resource - Erick Conard. I was told he was the Anatolian go-to for information about the breed. When I pulled up his website, I was amazed! There was a wealth of articles from him and others about Anatolians. Without much hope I called Erick. We spoke for hours about my Anatolian fears - too aggressive, other dogs, small grandchildren always visiting, horses, friends who came over, etc. Would an Anatolian be good natured enough to put up with small children without being raised with them, strict enough with strangers but not so aggressive that they would bite without provocation, able to protect 6 acres, and not kill our current dogs? Yes, said Erick, yes, yes, and probably not.
Erick said that most Anatolians did not try to leave the property unless they were chasing off predators that would not respect their threats. Anatolians tend to remain close to their flocks to protect them. In Turkey the sheep are led out in the morning by the shepherds with the dogs, returning to the village at night.
I called Erick many times over the next weeks for reassurance about Anatolian temperament. He reassured me that while earlier imported Anatolians were more aggressive, today's Anatolians when raised properly were not savage. Erick told me that he might have an 18-month-old female Anatolian for sale. He had kept her and her sister while he decided which one to use in his breeding program. One of them would be available. The price gave me pause. DH was adamant - we would buy the dog. This dog was trained and ready to work. Considering what we were paying to replace our sheep every few months DH said this dog was worth any cost. We would have to drive to Texas to bring the dog back. Erick said the travel time spent bonding was invaluable with Anatolians.
Lucky hit Ranch was surrounded by 8’ fences containing many large barking dogs. Our fences were only 5' tall - my worries returned. When Erick escorted us inside the gate, the dogs did not immediately rush to smell us. Instead, they stood about 6 feet away, staring at us. One or two of the larger ones stood or sat next to Erick’s side. The barking had immediately stopped when Erick arrived. The dogs seemed to be assessing our potential for harm. The absolute silence was more intimidating than the ferocious barking had been.
Erick told us that Anatolians are different from other guardian dog breeds. Both sexes are very dominant. Adult males cannot be kept together. Females of different ages can live together but if one takes a dislike to another they will have to be permanently separated. Young dogs could stay together for about 2 years, but after that even pups from the same litter would eventually fight. Erick had to separate most of his dogs by 2 years old. Anatolians will fight for dominance resulting in nasty puncture wounds, vet bills, and occasional death. If we wanted to keep 2 Anatolians, we would have to have a male and female. Even then, they might mix it up occasionally since some females tended to be as dominant as males. Spaying and neutering would not make any difference.
Erick has bred and studied Anatolians for 40 years. The first Anatolians were very aggressive, just as my research in the 80’s had told me. In our American society Erick wanted dogs that would defend the flock against animal predators, but only scare off human ones. Half of the Anatolian’s ability comes from size and power, the other half from agility. Erick has been breeding for over 40 years toward the perfect flock guardian. His ideal Anatolian is a dog large enough to take on a big predator (or possibly several mid-size ones), agile enough to run, twist, and fight with cougars, coyotes, and bears while avoiding injury, stay with the flock, and be devoted and affectionate to the owner. Believing that some breeders were breeding dogs too big to work well, Erick aimed for a dog around 135-160 lbs. for males and 110-135 lbs. for females. This gave them the necessary size without losing their agility. Anatolian conformation is an important part of their ability to do their job. An Anatolian in attack mode charges the predator knocking it off its feet with his chest and shoulders. As the predator falls the Anatolian then grabs it by the throat, neck, or spine and kills it. An Anatolian with a weak front structure would be at a disadvantage. The Anatolian's has a bite pressure is greater than most other dogs. Since their movements around the flock are usually slow and calm it is incredible to see how fast they can move when after a predator. Barking is for warnings. When going after a predator that has ignored their warnings the Anatolian charges silently.
While Erick was telling me about the dogs and showing me around we had left DH behind. Coming back from the short tour Erick was stunned to see DH sitting quietly on a haybale surrounded by Anatolians. Two had their heads resting on his shoulders, while 3 others had their heads in his lap as he petted them. Apparently, they were rarely that friendly with strangers. Erick told me later that was when he decided to sell us a dog. LOL
Next - our trip home with Harika
Subsequent years of observation of the way Pyrenees guard compared to the way in which Anatolians guard helped me understand why Pyrs are roamers. Pyrenees establish a “safe zone” around their protected area. They drive out any predators that wander within that corridor BUT their self-established ”safe zone” can be up to a mile in circumference on the outside of your property. While they are patrolling their “safe zone” they are not with the flock in your fenced pasture. This is not a training difference, it is a difference in 1,000 years of selective breeding by Transhumance Basque shepherds who travelled with flocks, shepherds, families, and dogs.
After the death of our last Pyr from cancer, we had decided not to get another Pyrenees. I was resolute about keeping our dogs behind fences. Instead we would lock the sheep in the barn at night. Two years later we had replaced 10 sheep flocks due to coyote kills. The absence of a LGD meant the coyotes could kill brazenly during the day. We definitely needed another LGD but NOT a Pyr.
The internet has made it easier to find and investigate different LGD breeds than when we got our first dog in 1990. I made a list of LGD breeds to investigate. Anatolians were at the bottom because of their reputation for viciousness. After dealing with Pyrenees’ coats in our thick brush, I eliminated all breeds with long hair. Anything advertised as a “rare” breed was eliminated. I wanted a purebred dog from a working background. I wanted to talk to people that had those breeds about pros and cons. After a week of calls, I was left with Anatolians. I knew a couple of goat breeders out of state that had Anatolians, so I called them for their perspective on the breed. I was referred to several breeders with working dogs. They were circumspect on my questions about Anatolians’ reputation for aggressiveness. They might have puppies “next year”. No one had any adult dogs. I needed immediate protection. As I continued my search across the country, one name kept cropping up as a resource - Erick Conard. I was told he was the Anatolian go-to for information about the breed. When I pulled up his website, I was amazed! There was a wealth of articles from him and others about Anatolians. Without much hope I called Erick. We spoke for hours about my Anatolian fears - too aggressive, other dogs, small grandchildren always visiting, horses, friends who came over, etc. Would an Anatolian be good natured enough to put up with small children without being raised with them, strict enough with strangers but not so aggressive that they would bite without provocation, able to protect 6 acres, and not kill our current dogs? Yes, said Erick, yes, yes, and probably not.
Erick said that most Anatolians did not try to leave the property unless they were chasing off predators that would not respect their threats. Anatolians tend to remain close to their flocks to protect them. In Turkey the sheep are led out in the morning by the shepherds with the dogs, returning to the village at night.
I called Erick many times over the next weeks for reassurance about Anatolian temperament. He reassured me that while earlier imported Anatolians were more aggressive, today's Anatolians when raised properly were not savage. Erick told me that he might have an 18-month-old female Anatolian for sale. He had kept her and her sister while he decided which one to use in his breeding program. One of them would be available. The price gave me pause. DH was adamant - we would buy the dog. This dog was trained and ready to work. Considering what we were paying to replace our sheep every few months DH said this dog was worth any cost. We would have to drive to Texas to bring the dog back. Erick said the travel time spent bonding was invaluable with Anatolians.
Lucky hit Ranch was surrounded by 8’ fences containing many large barking dogs. Our fences were only 5' tall - my worries returned. When Erick escorted us inside the gate, the dogs did not immediately rush to smell us. Instead, they stood about 6 feet away, staring at us. One or two of the larger ones stood or sat next to Erick’s side. The barking had immediately stopped when Erick arrived. The dogs seemed to be assessing our potential for harm. The absolute silence was more intimidating than the ferocious barking had been.
Erick told us that Anatolians are different from other guardian dog breeds. Both sexes are very dominant. Adult males cannot be kept together. Females of different ages can live together but if one takes a dislike to another they will have to be permanently separated. Young dogs could stay together for about 2 years, but after that even pups from the same litter would eventually fight. Erick had to separate most of his dogs by 2 years old. Anatolians will fight for dominance resulting in nasty puncture wounds, vet bills, and occasional death. If we wanted to keep 2 Anatolians, we would have to have a male and female. Even then, they might mix it up occasionally since some females tended to be as dominant as males. Spaying and neutering would not make any difference.
Erick has bred and studied Anatolians for 40 years. The first Anatolians were very aggressive, just as my research in the 80’s had told me. In our American society Erick wanted dogs that would defend the flock against animal predators, but only scare off human ones. Half of the Anatolian’s ability comes from size and power, the other half from agility. Erick has been breeding for over 40 years toward the perfect flock guardian. His ideal Anatolian is a dog large enough to take on a big predator (or possibly several mid-size ones), agile enough to run, twist, and fight with cougars, coyotes, and bears while avoiding injury, stay with the flock, and be devoted and affectionate to the owner. Believing that some breeders were breeding dogs too big to work well, Erick aimed for a dog around 135-160 lbs. for males and 110-135 lbs. for females. This gave them the necessary size without losing their agility. Anatolian conformation is an important part of their ability to do their job. An Anatolian in attack mode charges the predator knocking it off its feet with his chest and shoulders. As the predator falls the Anatolian then grabs it by the throat, neck, or spine and kills it. An Anatolian with a weak front structure would be at a disadvantage. The Anatolian's has a bite pressure is greater than most other dogs. Since their movements around the flock are usually slow and calm it is incredible to see how fast they can move when after a predator. Barking is for warnings. When going after a predator that has ignored their warnings the Anatolian charges silently.
While Erick was telling me about the dogs and showing me around we had left DH behind. Coming back from the short tour Erick was stunned to see DH sitting quietly on a haybale surrounded by Anatolians. Two had their heads resting on his shoulders, while 3 others had their heads in his lap as he petted them. Apparently, they were rarely that friendly with strangers. Erick told me later that was when he decided to sell us a dog. LOL
Next - our trip home with Harika
