Young, the archeologist responsible for the digs at the ancient Turkish city of Gordium (birthplace of the King Midas and Gordian Knot legends), also exported Anatolian Shepherd Dogs to his home in the US.
No active breeding program was initiated in the United States, however, until 1970, when Lt. Robert C. Ballard, USN, who had been stationed in Ankara, Turkey, returned to the US with his imports “Zorba” and “Peki” and produced the first recorded American-bred litter of Anatolian Shepherd pups. The year 1970 also saw the founding of the national breed club, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America (ASDCA).
SOUND BY NATURE
Over the past several thousand years, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog has had absolutely no reason for existence other than to work on behalf of his flock master. Thus, no quarter has been given either by Nature or man in the area of unsoundness. Because of this ruthless culling, few hereditary defects exist in Turkish-bred Anatolians or in their direct descendants.
SPIKED COLLARS
The spiked iron collars that one sees in pictures of working and guard dogs of many breeds are entirely misunderstood by most observers. They are not an offensive aid as some believe. The purpose of the collars, and the reason that Anatolian Shepherd Dogs living in Turkey are equipped with them, is for the sole purpose of protecting the dog’s neck and throat from the attack of predators.
In 1965, Anatolian Shepherds were exported to England. They were recorded by the The Kennel Club there as “Anatolian Sheepdogs,” later to be renamed “Anatolian Karabash” and then finally, in 1983, “Anatolian Shepherd Dogs.”
The ASDCA in the US met with a stumbling block in its quest for AKC recognition caused by a group that believed each of the Anatolian’s several colors represented separate and distinct breeds. This situation caused great concern with the American Kennel Club as it had with The Kennel Club in England and was, in truth, what had created the periodic change of names with the organization.
It should be noted here that the tan dogs with black noses and ears are referred to as Karabas in Turkey. The English translation is “Karabash,” meaning “black head.” Akbas (English translation “Akbash” or “white head”) describes the all-white dog in Turkish.
OFFICIAL BREED NAME
The entire matter of name and color was settled in 1983 by The Kennel Club in England. After years of hearings and what is said to have been thousands of pages of testimony, a geneticist appointed by the organization testified that Karabas/Karabash and Akbas/Akbash were simply color descriptions and that using those terms to indicate distinct breeds was incorrect, regrettable and no longer valid—the breed’s name was officially established as Anatolian Shepherd Dog. The name was also adopted by the American Kennel Club and by the Fédération Internationale Cynologique when it granted the breed full eligibility for international championship status.
Today all colors are accepted in the Anatolian breed. This dog’s black markings are typical of what is called Karabas in Turkey, the breed’s homeland.
The Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of Great Britain was founded in 1979, setting preservation of the distinctive qualities of this centuries-old breed as its goal. The organization has a strict code of ethics regarding breeding and the main aim of the club is to promote and preserve the breed in all of its naturally occurring coat colors and textures while at the same time ensuring stable temperament and physical soundness.
The Anatolian Shepherd is a large dog that requires love, companionship, a proper diet and adequate space and time for exercise. Are you able to supply these needs? If not, you should not acquire an Anatolian.
ARE YOU READY FOR AN ANATOLIAN?
It would be hard for an observer who had never seen a full-grown Anatolian Shepherd Dog to guess that the stocky little youngsters playing in a whelping box could grow up to be such imposing adults. The little Anatolian puppy with his floppy ears, oversized feet and inquisitive expression gives little hint of things to come. However, their beguiling appearance as baby puppies are no more indicative of things to come than is their diminutive size.
In the case of the Anatolian Shepherd puppy, what you see is most definitely not what you will get. For this very reason, the person who anticipates owning an Anatolian must give serious thought to the final decision. All puppies are charming and, in most cases, even cuddly. Anatolian puppies are certainly no exception. You must remember, however, that puppies are living, breathing and very adventurous little creatures that will depend entirely upon their human owners for everything once they leave their mother and littermates behind. And, in the case of an Anatolian, the end result may be more of an undertaking than the average person might be prepared for.
Careful consideration is appropriate regardless of any breed you might be thinking about bringing into your household. But beyond that, there are special considerations for those who might be thinking about the Anatolian as their first or even next dog.
As his history tells us, the Anatolian is a flock guardian and the absence of a flock makes the Anatolian no less a guardian, a job he performs at all costs! Centuries have been invested in cultivating and developing the breed’s protective characteristics, and you must not delude yourself for a minute that you will be able to change that heritage. The Anatolian’s entire genetic structure demands that he puts to use the very reason for which the breed was established and perpetuated. His well-being depends upon his being given the opportunity to exercise the mental and physical characteristics that he has inherited.
If given no flock to guard, the Anatolian Shepherd will protect you, your children, your property and any and every living thing that might be included in the territory over which he presides.
Given these opportunities, and given the guidelines by which his conduct is governed, the puppy you bring home will develop into a well-behaved and devoted companion whose loyalty could not possibly be surpassed by any other breed of dog.
Without an owner to set the rules, the Anatolian puppy can become an overbearing adolescent who grows into a domineering and aggressive adult that will make you regret ever having even considered dog ownership. Is the dog being impossible and incorrigible? No! The dog is simply following his nature, which demands that he put his incomparable abilities to good use. He believes that you have denied him this opportunity and failed in your responsibility to show him how you want this done.
Failure to think ahead and understand the amount of time and readjustment dog ownership involves is one of the primary reasons that there are so many abandoned canines that end their lives in animal shelters. Buying a dog, especially an Anatolian Shepherd Dog, before you are absolutely sure you want to make that commitment can be a serious mistake.
Before a person decides to buy a dog, there are some very basic conditions that must be considered. One of the first significant questions that must be answered is whether or not the person who will actually be given the responsibility of the dog’s care
