Grooming
Anatolian Shepherds can have two types of coats: short, about one inch, and rough, which is approximately four inches. But regardless of which type of coat your dog has, grooming is fairly low maintenance on Anatolians.
A thorough brushing session with a good pin brush once a week will keep them tangle-free and prevent the occasional hair from showing up on your clothes. Keep in mind your dog will shed their undercoat twice a year in the spring and fall, though. While this is happening, you’ll need to groom them every couple of days with a brush and steel comb to make sure you get all dead hairs out. A shedding rake will prevent the undercoat from matting.
A bath once a month will keep your pup smelling fresh. Want to do it at home instead of taking them to the groomer? Be sure to use a good quality dog shampoo. After bath time, use nail trimmers or a grinder to cut their nails. Your vet can show you how short your dog’s nails should be, but a trim once a month should do the trick. (Learn more about nail trimming here.)
Your dog’s teeth will need to be brushed daily. Brushing now (get the how-to here) can prevent painful extractions and disease later. And don’t forget to schedule a yearly cleaning with your vet!
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Training
Raising an Anatolian Shepherd requires significant obedience training. Obedience training teaches basic commands like sit, stay and come, and they learn how to walk nicely on a leash. The Anatolian Shepherd breed is both intelligent and independent—meaning your puppy is going to learn quickly, but will only listen if they want to. This intelligent and “I-want-to-do-it-my-way” attitude is why the breed is not ideal for your first dog—strong-willed streaks can be frustrating! They need a confident, calm and patient leader who understands what is needed to bring out the best in this breed.
Proper socialization is important; without it, the breed isn’t generally friendly with outsiders and can be hesitant to interact with people they don’t know. This is why it’s important to start socializing your dog while they’re a puppy. Socialization gets them used to experiencing new situations, people and other dogs. Puppy training school is a good place to start. If you have children or other pets in the house, socialize the puppy with them early and reward positive behavior with treats, praise or other high-value goodies. Pro Tip: You may find that enlisting the help of a certified trainer or pet behaviorist is beneficial. They can help you choose the best ways to help socialize your pup.
In order to keep peace in the home, you need to establish yourself as the clear leader and earn your Anatolian’s respect to avoid your dog trying to take on the leadership duties themselves. What do you need to do? Be confident, calm and consistent, and make sure they get the training they need. As you train your pup, use positive reinforcement methods where you reward your dog for good behavior. If you do use a trainer or behaviorist, always be present during the training sessions so you can benefit from the extra bonding with your dog—you want your dog respecting you, not the trainer! When your dog trusts your leadership, they will be happier, better behaved and reach their full potential as a wonderful, loyal Anatolian dog—a true canine superhero!
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Diet
Anatolian Shepherds typically do well on a high-quality commercial dog food. Be sure to factor in your dog’s age and choose a formula that fits their stage in life (puppy, adult, senior). Because they’re a working breed, your Anatolian Shepherd may benefit from higher-protein dog food.
Your veterinarian can help you choose the best food for your dog based on their individual needs. They can also help you nail down a feeding chart to guide you on how much and how often to feed your dog based on their specific diet, but feeding your Anatolian twice a day is a good place to start.
If you need a training aid for your guard dog, American Journey’s Training Bits are ideal. They’re smaller bits of treats that reward the dog without adding too many calories. Remember that treats = calories, so you want to adjust their food quantities if larger amounts of treats are given. If you notice your pup is packing on more pounds than usual, talk with your vet. They can help you put together a mealtime and exercise plan to help your pup shed the extra weight and maintain their nutritional needs.
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Exercise
The Anatolian Shepherd is no couch potato—and as their dog parent, you shouldn’t be either! They don’t need countless hours of exercise, but you’ll need to be prepared for a couple of 30-minute walks each day (totaling about an hour). When walking, keep your dog on a sturdy leash that allows you to maintain control even if another dog startles or confronts your ginormous pup.
You should also allow your dog several hours in the yard each day. Your Anatolian will be a big, muscular dog, so you’ll want to make sure your fence is tall and strong.
If you provide different types of toys for your Anatolian, ensure they’re size appropriate and tough enough for a dog with powerful jaws and a strong bite force.
Regular exercise helps your puppy build strong bones and muscles and ensures they live their best life. Have you heard the saying that a tired dog is a good dog? Trust us, you’ll be thanking us for this insight!
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Environment
The Anatolian Shepherd’s ideal environment is a farm in the countryside or a larger home with a big yard—this pup needs to stretch their legs. A small apartment or home with no yard will be more challenging. These dogs require room to roam, and they take up a good deal of space simply because they’re a larger dog.
The Anatolian Shepherd breed is particularly suited to be outdoors because of their thick undercoat. But this doesn’t mean you should leave your loyal doggo outside at night—they like a plush dog bed, too!
Want a dog who will keep your kids out of trouble while they play in the yard? With proper bonding and socialization, your Anatolian will make sure of that. They’re fiercely devoted to their family, and yes, your kids and other pets will become part of their flock.
Here’s another thing to consider: Is your house the social hub of the neighborhood? If so, you’ll need to work diligently on socialization as soon as you bring your puppy home. Enlist the help of a trainer—stat!
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