Anatolian Shepherd

Anatolian Shepherd

The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a Turkish breed (Turkish that has roots dating back over 6,000 years. These large dogs are descended from the multitude of different central Asian breeds that arose to accompany the human civilizations that were emerging. They are muscular dogs, and are most commonly colored with light bodies and dark muzzles and faces.

Interestingly, Anatolian Shepherds aren't sheep herders at all-- the name is misleading. They are actually livestock guardians, meaning that they protect their flocks rather than move them. They are very independent dogs, due to their work, and they are able to protect their flocks without much human direction. This can make them very challenging pets, however.

One especially neat fact is the Anatolian Shepherds are being used in Cheetah conservation. The Cheetah Conservation Fund breeds these dogs and gives the puppies to farmers. They teach them how to train and care for the dogs, and then the dogs protect the livestock. Because the dogs scare away the Cheetahs, less Cheetahs are trapped and killed by farmers.

Status : Domesticated
Location : Turkey
Size : Height up to 30in (80cm), Weight up to 150lbs (68kg)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Carnivora
Family : Canidae -- Genus : Canis -- Species : C. lupus -- Subspecies : C. l. familiaris

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