Anatolian shepherds are considered by most canine experts to be the best guard dogs in the world. They are used in a wide variety of guardian situations, some of their most popular guardian roles are:
Guarding livestock
Anatolian shepherds have the proper temperament to guard most any type of livestock. Some of the livestock we have tried our Anatolians with include: chickens, goats, and other small fragile livestock (cats).
Companion Guardians
Anatolian shepherds are great with children, which makes them excellent house-hold guardians. They can also double as the family pet. Anatolians will guard the family they are raised with and stop at nothing to protect them from intruders. They are also smart enough to know who your friends are and treat them with the respect they show you and your family.
Guard Dog
Anatolian shepherds tend to bond with their surroundings, be it human, animal or objects, and they are capable of acting independently if a threat arises. They can work in pairs or singly to protect anything they have been raised with. This is what makes them capable of fulfilling so many guardian roles.
Breed Defined
Anatolian shepherds are a very noble, intelligent, loyal and independent breed of dog. They are also rather large dogs, males stand at about 29 inches tall and weigh anywhere from 100 to 150 pounds, females stand about 27 inches tall and weigh anywhere from 80 to 120 pounds. Like many other large breed dogs they do not reach their full size until they are around 2 years old. At two dog years they are 20 human years old.
Anatolian shepherds are natural guardians. They have little to no herding instincts.
Anatolian shepherds have been bred for many years for the specific purpose of being exceptional guard dogs.
They love to watch and protect livestock. You just need to give them the time to mellow out and settle into this job. They bond with any and all things around them and like to keep these things safe. They are not mean dogs by nature, their nature is to protect.
Anatolian Shepherds have two coats of hair. This makes them love the water in the heat of the summer.
Anatolian Shepherds are alert and calm around livestock.
Anatolian mothers are very loving and watchful of their puppies. They will teach their puppies how to respond all things in life.
Males vs. Females
Anatolian males are very territorial and more impressive in size and features. They do tend to roam a bit more than females and have trouble concentrating on livestock guardianship when there is a female in heat within five miles of their location. They are typically just as bondable to livestock or people as a female, but they are more independent. Males are very good at creating, patrolling and protecting boundaries. Their massive presence is normally enough to deter all predators.
Anatolian females are really good with children and baby livestock. They seem to have a better understanding of small things. They stay home more and only wander if no male is available when they enter heat. They have great patience and gentleness, but this only makes them better guardians. They are able to interact with the livestock better which allows them to set better traps for predators. In our personal experience, females are easier to raise to two years of age because they are not as headstrong. They are very aggressive protectors, especially when they have puppies with them or are in the company of those they consider their charges such as children or livestock.
In conclusion, either female or male Anatolian will do the job, but they perform best if there is one male and one female. In a pair situation, the preferences of each dog compliment one another.