Advantages of the Turkish LGD.  In regards to physical attributes, we enjoy the shorter coat of Anatolians.  ASD coats are just thick enough and short enough to handle most any kind of environment.  ASDs can have longer coats as well but not as long as the great pyrenees.  Their coat also makes it considerably easier to keep them clean.  Even the beautiful white Anatolians will go from muddy to clean in a day of clear weather.  They are basically maintenance free in that they don't require shaving, don't get mattes in their fur, shed burrs easily and keep themselves clean quite well.  Their coats are thick in the winter making them suitable for all kinds of cold climates and then shed off in the spring.  They are quite suitable for a nice range of temperatures.  The white Anatolians blend in with the stock very nicely (for those who prefer that characteristic) and the fawn/masked or brindle ASDs are quite formidable in their appearance.  We also prefer the characteristic guardian behaviors of working ASDs as opposed to some other guardian breeds.  They are forward in their protection behaviors confronting danger directly and with considerable force.  They are gentle when they need to be, are not afraid to stay with the stock under any conditions, and will fight to the death to protect their charges.  They are super intelligent and if raised properly can usually be trusted with visitors (once you introduce them) and are not overly aggressive with strangers unless they present a dangerous attitude. They are first "watchers" evaluating the danger.  Then if the need arises they will take action. They do not try to move the stock away from the danger but instead will handle the danger themselves.  A pair of ASDs will split their duties automatically allowing one dog to stay with the stock and the other to investigate the danger. A male/female pair usually ends up with the female staying with the stock and the male investigating the threat.   The ASD will not bark without cause.  They typically will not bark all night long unless there is some reason (hunters in the area, predators, etc.).  They are instinctively  wonderful with children (children may be defined as someone smaller than the dog) and even great with cats if raised with cats.    

What Anatolians Are Not.  ASDs are not herding dogs.  They will not gather or move your livestock for you.  Some will however, allow themselves to be gathered and moved by herding dogs as long as they are familiar with the dog and its use.  While they are wonderful family dogs, they cannot be allowed to run loose -- they may kill your neighbors dogs, cats or livestock if they view them as not belonging wherever they happen to be.  They are territorial and will not tolerate strangers entering their home area.  They typically will not hurt small children on purpose (on the contrary they may not allow the parents to take them back) but they may not feel this connection with larger children.  ASDs are not attack dogs.  They cannot be trained to attack on command nor can they be easily stopped in the middle of an attack.  They are bred to determine when aggression is needed and when it is not and they are quite good at making this decision if handled properly.  

ASDs with Ducks, Chickens, etc.  ASDs can be wonderful guardians with fowl species also.  They will guard against all the usual predators of fowl such as foxes, coyotes, dogs, bobcats, etc.  They will also guard against hawks as well as other birds of prey.  We strongly recommend training your pup using an adult that is already guarding fowl.

ASDs with Sheep or Goats.  ASDs are wonderful guardian dogs with sheep and goats.  Please refer to the information below on introducing adult dogs and on raising puppies with livestock before you buy any guardian breed.  Once your pup has bonded with your livestock, it will protect them from all manner of danger including stray dogs, neighbor's dogs who get loose (so be sure you have your area well fenced), coyotes, bobcats, cougars, bear, human intruders, etc.  Many ASDs will care for kids (goat) or lambs when they are born, cleaning them and the nanny or ewe following birthing and keeping them warm in cold weather.  They will clean up the afterbirth and any dead babies so predators are not enticed into the area by the smell of birthing. (So don't assume your pup killed a goat or sheep if you see it eating the remains.)  They will protect newborns from the rest of the flock while letting only the mother approach.   They view miniature cattle and miniature horses like they are goats and will care for them in much the same way. 

ASDs with Cattle, Horses and Llamas.  ASDs will also guard cattle, horses and llamas.  However, it is very important that these animals be conditioned to accept the dog first, as an angry mother cow or horse can hurt the dog since it may not try to protect itself from her.  Also consider the breed of cattle as some breeds are more prone to be dog-haters than others.  Our stud dog, Moses, has spent many hours guarding our weanling calves and the herd in general.  Our bitch, Cass, also occasionally guards a herd which includes bulls and heifers.  This same principle applies to guarding horses.  If you want to use your dog to guard cattle or horses, introduce the pup just like you would introduce an adult (see next section) to prevent injury to your pup by your livestock.

Typical ASD Protection Behaviors.  ASDs are typically more forward in their approach to dangers than many other breeds.  Their responses to intruders are seen as a series of levels of aggression beginning with barking and increasing to attack.  They go through several levels of aggression prior to their last option of attacking.  If properly socialized they will be permissive of strangers and even strange dogs if the owner is present and appears to be willing to have the people and dogs there.  We have people and dogs coming and going all of the time at our farm.  Our dogs know the difference between someone who should be there and someone who shouldn't.  Some of them will allow themselves to be petted while others will simply ignore the strangers and stay with the herd.  My dogs do not attack unless there is a real threat to their stock.  They allow the vet to work with sick animals and for routine vaccinations.  But, they made no secret of the fact that strangers are not always welcome when our road was being paved and they stood growling at the workers every time they got off the road and came into the grass along the fence.  

ASDs and Children.  ASDs are wonderful with children of all ages once they know them.  They are gentle giants.  As puppies they are not as intimidated by children wrestling or hugging or running with them.  However, like all puppies, they can be frightened if a child screams at them or hurts them.  They are tough but will squeal if they are hurt (step on a toe and you'll find this out quickly).  They will attach themselves to children and treat them in much the same way they would treat their flock of sheep.  They will stay with them most of the time and will protect them with their lives.  Be aware that this does not mean the LGD won't escape fencing even when the children are outside if it thinks the children are in no danger and feels the urge to wander.  If you put your LGD with your children and it bonds to them, you will need to allow it to be with them even at night and any other time when the children are at home.  When your children are gone your LGD may try harder to get out (to search for them) or may be depressed.  The LGD will not be like most other dogs who will play with children, even follow them around, but then also do its own thing when it pleases.  When your LGD is not actively playing with your children, it likely will have at least one eye on them.  An LGD that is expected to guard children must be very well socialized throughout its life.  If you do not take it many, many places with lots and lots of people all the time (not just as a puppy), you may end up with a dog who won't allow anyone to get near your children including teachers, relatives, friends, playmates, etc.  Your LGD certainly will not allow other dogs to approach your children unless those dogs are also a part of your family.  

ASDs and Family Pets.  If your ASD is raised with a family pet it will consider itself a part of the family and will protect the family just like everyone else.  Once the dog has reached 6-8 months an introductory period should  be used if a new adult pet is brought in.  Typically bringing in new puppies, new kittens, etc. will not be a problem as the dog will simply view these as helpless creatures that need care (assuming your LGD is accustomed to the species of animal being introduced).  However, just to be safe use the  introductory methods described below in Introducing Adult LGDs to Livestock.  However, be forewarned that they love chewing on large things, like furniture, walls, door frames, etc. and should be placed in a crate when not actively monitored. 

Selecting an ASD puppy.  At Possum Hollow we like puppies  that are friendly at 6 weeks with everyone indicating an overall pleasant personality.  At 8 weeks old we want a pup that will be a little suspicious of strangers and then friendly when it sees someone it knows.  Usually our puppies are barking at strangers and strange noises at about 3-4 weeks and yet are very friendly as long as we are around to assure them that there is no danger.  We want a pup that will give ground and show submissive behavior to any kind of livestock, no matter how small.  I also prefer a pup that will submit to me as well.  We don't want a pup that will turn and bite if we try to catch it or that will stand in the corner and bark and growl if it doesn't want to do what is ask.  Puppies want to play.  Livestock guardian dogs of all breeds will play with whatever is available, including livestock.  Keep in mind that guardians, while appearing to be adults due to their size, are still puppies in their minds until they are about a year and a half to 2 years old and should be treated that way.  If you already have an adult guardian dog, then put your puppy into a pen beside the pasture until your adult guardian dog has accepted the puppy.  Then allow your adult to train the puppy by putting the puppy into the pasture with the adult.  Keep a watchful eye for any play behavior towards the livestock and stop it immediately.  Take note if your adult does not take care of this problem because you will have to change your plans.  Put your puppy in with the livestock when it is less than 3 months old (12 weeks).  The puppy needs to learn the heirarchy of who's who in the pasture while it is still young and small enough to be dominated.  Do not take it out for anything except the occasional visit to the vet.  Read the information below on training your guardian puppy.  The best source of training for any LGD is another adult LGD that is already trained. (PHF provides training options for guardian puppies on livestock.  Go to PHF LGD Training Program for more information.)  

Obedience Training your puppy.  If you want your puppy to be a livestock guardian dog, the best thing you can do is give it NO or MINIMAL OBEDIENCE TRAINING.  However, you will need to train it some very basic obedience (and we don't mean heel, sit, and stay!).   At about 4-5 months you will need to train your puppy to walk quietly on a leash, tie out quietly and go into a crate or vehicle.  Do not wait until your puppy is large to start this training.  Do your training sessions inside the pasture and keep them to a maximum of 15 minutes each day.  Keep in mind, however, that these dogs are not bred to obey.  They are bred to make their own decisions and that may include not listening to you.  Be prepared for your pup to buck and squeal when put on a leash or tied out.  Some pups will act like you are killing them and some will be totally fine with the whole thing.  When training to walk on the leash, simply allow the pup to buck and pull until it decides to rest.  Then pull it toward you just enough so you can allow the leash to slacken and therefore reduce the pressure on the pup.  If you are having your pup trained by an adult dog, you can be as free as you wish with praise during this work.  However if you are training the pup on livestock yourself, only porvide minimal praise.  Do not over-train your dog.  It is our experience that the more you mess with your dog while it is learning to be a good guardian the less likely it is to learn what it needs to be a good guardian in the pasture, and after all that is the most important thing. 

Fencing and ASDs.  Your ASD will need a very strong fence to keep it home and too keep other animals (including humans) out.  Invisible fencing may work to keep your ASD home under normal circumstances, but it will not keep it home if your ASD perceives a threat.  Invisible fencing will also not keep other animals out and if another animal enters the ASDs territory normal guardian defensive tactics may occur (including attack).  The most effective fencing involves a woven wire with electric on top.

ASDs as Companion Dogs.  While we prefer that all our guardian dogs go to working homes, this is not always possible.  ASDs are wonderful companion dogs, but new owners must be fully aware of the requirements for maintaining this type of dog.  They are not just large dogs (like St. Bernards, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Great Danes, etc.).  Their breeding incorporates a completely different set of instincts from any other large breed.  Companion ASDs can and will go through normal fencing if they please.  They can rip chain link easily and are able to clear or climb over any height fence.  They are accomplished diggers and can dig a little or a lot and then push the fence up as needed to escape.  Amazingly, a full grown dog  is able to squeeze under a board fence as low as 10 inches high without digging.  They will expand their territory if possible.  An ASD may not go along on a hike and stay right with you without a leash .  It will be happy to guard anything you have, including your other pets and children, to the best of its ability.  Do not underestimate your dog's willingness to fight intruders (which can include visitors, neighborhood dogs, etc.).  ASDs sometimes will bounce and wave their tails appearing to play when they are actually warning an intruder not to come closer.  Look for signs of warning such as hair standing up on the neck, back or hips.  The owner must be the alpha member of the dog pack and this must be established when the pup is still very young.  If you want your dog to be comfortable around lots of people, take it everywhere as a puppy and encourage everyone you know to pet it.  Never allow your puppy to climb into your lap or jump on you.  Be aware that your dog may be dog aggressive (to non-family dogs) when it is in your yard.  Be a responsible owner.