The DG and I have been owned by several, ok many, well all right thousands of different animals in the past 20 years. As we live on a small farm that has a ravine on two sides of our house, we also get to deal with the wildlife that inhabits a wooded creek border area. We have raccoons, opossum, coyote, owls, mink, stray dogs, cats and weasels. Each of these creatures at one time or another preyed on our livestock. Our solutions to these predators was an Anatolian Shepherd dog. Just one dog, with simple obedience training solved problems as minor as an odd skunk up to and including an entire pack coyotes. Our first was gotten as an 18 week puppy; her name was Hazel. Her registered name - heck I dunno. We had her shipped from the Napa valley in CA. Her sire was a Turkish dog and her dam was a California girl. I did my research before we contacted the breeder in CA. She was perfect for us, but would not be perfect for the great majority of homes.

Anatolians or ASDs are livestock guardian dogs. They are not herding dogs in spite of the shepherd name. They guard their charges; if something threatens (or is perceived as a threat) their sheep or chickens or whatever, the dogs are genetically programed to respond. The dogs first response to threat is to bark. (I call it bark #1 - it means "Please do not come any closer.") If the threat does not leave, bark #2 sounds - it is louder, nastier and means "I WILL KILL YOU if you do not go away." Bark #3, from which there is no call off is actually a roar and is uttered DURING the killing process. BTW - the killing process is normally quick. Once the dog graduates from puppy to dog, usually around 2 years of age, he or she will begin to guard as an adult.  Any animal which does not belong at your house or farm will be perceived as a threat.  If the threat runs away or leaves, that's the end of it.  ASDs will not normally pursue threats outside their own territory.

We did take our puppy to puppy class and 1st & 2nd level obedience classes for socialization.  If you wish to guard against human intruders; do not do this.  You can easily train your own ASD if you choose.

At this point - I should mention fences. Our fences were woven wire and chain link at 6-7 feet. This is NOT enough fence to keep an ASD in. You will need some type of invisible fence. We did not bury ours; just fastened it to existing fence with electrical ties and buried the driveway portion. ASD's believe that whatever they see is their territory to guard. The neighbors harmless little dog IS seen as an intruder. You only pay vet bills once before you get an invisible fence. Maybe you are smarter than me and you get the invisible fence first...

It is interesting that as these dogs become old dogs, physically unable to be active, they become guardians of the very young and the elderly in their native villages in Turkey.  Ours was no different; I have never seen a dog behave in a more non threatening manner with small children. Without any instruction or training, she belly crawled to little kids. She particularly loved my mom (83) as they both got older.  When mom was visiting, Hazel was her constant companion and generally laid so that she was touching mom's feet.  Talk about disarming.

I will locate some of our photos and get them posted here next week.