Anatolian Shepherd
Anadolu Çoban Köpegi, Anatolian Karabash Turkish Karabash, Turkish Shepherd
The Anatolian Shepherd is one of several Turkish livestock guardians. Livestock guardians do not herd their charges, but instead protect them. Anatolian Shepherds traditionally guarded both sheep and goats, living with their charges and fending off predators such as wolves, bears and jackals.
Anatolian Shepherd Standards
- AKC (Working)
- FCI (Group 2)
- KC (Pastoral)
- UKC (Guardian)
- 28-32"
- 90-141 lbs
- large livestock guardian
- triangular, drop ears
- long tail reaches hock
- coat length can vary due to climate
- may be any color
History of the Anatolian Shepherd
The Anatolian Shepherd is the result of several different types of Turkish livestock guardians that have been selectively bred outside of Turkey, primarily the United States. There are three different livestock dogs that are recognized inside of Turkey, the Akbash Dog, the Kangal Dog and the Kars Dog (which is currently considered by most to be a variant of the Central Asian Ovcharka). Each of these dogs are from a specific region inside the country, but because they are working breed there exists some overlap between them. The dogs that were originally brought to the United States were of the Kangal and Akbash type and since then have been breed to American standards to create the Anatolian Shepherd. This causes not only confusion, but also heated debates on both sides as the Anatolian continues to gain recognition and popularity outside of its homeland and the Turkish dismiss it as not being a native breed.
Related Breeds: