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Location: Cumbria
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 52
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Originally Posted by
Ripsnorterthe2nd
I'm going to email Deely and discuss things a bit more as I'm worried that my house and garden isn't big enough for a breed bred to cover large distances. That said it won't be short on exercise as an adult.
It's a tough one!
I had one and I live in a terraced house in the middle of a small town, he was mostly lead walked as they are not the most obedient of dogs (plus most other dog owners would object to a dog that size bearing down on them to play!), but I walked him for miles over dockland/beach every day. He came from the same kennels of the dog that won BOB at Crufts. I would not hesitate to have another (or two!) in this house.
When I say they are not obedient I don't mean they are not capable of learning - just that they learn too fast and are too intelligent for their own good, this combined with the fact that they are very headstrong and think that they know best all the time can make them very frustrating dogs to own! They are bred to be independent and often don't always wait for 'commands' from their handlers/owners.
They don't really cover large distances. They are bred to sit on the hillside and 'guard' or watch over their stock. If something (like a bus) comes into their patch they will run alongside and escort it until it leaves their patch and the dogs next door will take over.
Most of the time they are laying/sitting surveying the area.
My boy was quite happy sitting around the house, I used to walk him for a half hour in the morning, then two hours most afternoons and half an hour round town at night. Not much different to what my GSD's got, except theirs was all free running because they were more obedient.
I would advise anyone interested in the breed to contact the breed rescue (Roz Carr). She will be very honest about the breed and has lots of experience of them. As gorgeous as they are they do not suit everyone.
If buying a pup I would definitely recommend going to a good breeder who has been breeding for a number of years. Don't just buy the first pup you see advertised. There are a number of cross breeds being advertised as pure 'Anatolians'. If you like the Karabash (black faced ones) then go to a breeder who breeds Karabash, not all 'Anatolian' breeders do (hence the variation in type).
They can be a very long lived breed so you have to make sure it is the breed for you - you will be stuck with them for quite a while!!!
If anyone wants more information about them you are more than welcome to pm me and I will try and answer any questions you have (or give you the names/phone numbers of people who can).......
Sue