Anatolian Shepherd Dogs -

Top Quality Anatolians - Working dogs, import lines, health screened and started with livestock

It's a dream come true! After 10 years of waiting Pendraig Anatolian Shepherd Dogs is finally a reality.

Image of female Anatolian Shepherd from Shepherd's Rest now the foundation bitch of Pendraig Anatolians Shepherd Dogs.

Shepherd's Rest Mehlika
Photo © Copyright Dawn Campbell

We are proud to welcome our new bitch who will be joining us soon. Her name is Mehlika and she comes to us from our dear friends at Shepherd's Rest. We are so blessed to have Mehlika and this great opportunity. We'd like to thank them for entrusting us with this stunning girl. We'd also like to thank Chyril of Shepherd's Rest for all her help, advice and friendship!

Our breeding goals:

Preserve the Anatolian Shepherd breed's working ability
Develop type and conformation that fit working Anatolian dog needs and abilities and the breed standard
Develop healthy lines free of hips dysplasia, elbow problems, thyroid disease and other issues
Maintain genetic diversity within the Anatolian Shepherd Dog breed using import lines combined with long standing working lines developed by the great breeders of past and present..
Maintain stable temperaments while preserving the breed's unique personality, strength of mind and character

Anatolian Shepherds as Livestock Guardians

What makes this breed truly unique is their heritage as a landrace livestock guardian that has been shaped over centuries to the harsh conditions of the Anatolian Plateau region. Though this landrace is known by many, often confusing, names all over the world including kangal dogs, akbash or karabash they are one and the same. A formidable and environmentally friendly predator control system that can allow the farmer or rancher to live in harmony with the existing wildlife without suffering serious losses and devastation.

Image of our boy Connor bred on by a nice couple here in Texas raising working Anatolians.

Connor our Resident ASD male
Photo © Copyright Dawn Campbell

The integrity of this breed's suitability as a livestock guardian dog is paramount and should be considered in every breeding decision. To that end I decided 10 years ago that for my love of the breed I would have to be a farmer. I had always wanted to have horses but when I fell in love with the Anatolian Shepherd Dog I knew nothing else would do but to have a proper, working farm with a diverse selection of animals and all of it following the sustainable farming methodology. Our pups will be raised and imprinted on not only their human caretakers but the types of livestock their new owners may want to have them guarding including sheep, goats, chickens, and cattle.

The best livestock guardian dogs are ones that are exposed to livestock from a very early age, allowing their developing brain to create new pathways and a type of bonding that let's them see non-dog species as part of a special "pack". The dogs then have their innate "Warrior Hearts" full of amazing courage in the face of any danger and their "Guardian Souls" that give them a surprising gentleness towards their charges.

Nothing inspires me more than seeing a magnificent dog such as these out guarding the flock. Majestic, and powerful they will scare off predators many times their size yet they can turn around and offer a gentle and protective reassurance to the animals, or people, in their care. As if guardian angels sent from heaven above in dog form to help farmers and ranchers protect their livelihood and the animals they cherish from predatory attack and even the depredations of human cruelty. Any troublemaker thinks twice about disturbing a herd of goats protected by an Anatolian Shepherd Dog.

For more see Pendraig's Anatolian Shepherds as Livestock Guardian Dogs.

Anatolian Shepherds as Companions

This is not your typical house dog but for those people willing to take the extra time, care and dedication it takes these dogs can make excellent companions. Not for the faint of heart though, many an Anatolian Shepherd has ended up in rescue or returned the the breeder because as they reached maturity the very independent, strong willed, stubborn and extremely powerful dog can be too much for most people to handle. This dog needs a strong leader but not a bully, and many a good dog has been ruined by an overly aggressive owner attempting foolish and dangerous "alpha rolls" or the passive and submissive owner who shies away from taking the lead position in the relationship.

There are some Anatolians suited as household companions, with less drive to work than others but it will take a dedicated owner. The joys of a successful relationship far out weigh the difficulties, but it is not easy.

If you are thinking of an Anatolian Shepherd as a companion animal please read Pendraig's Anatolians as Pets section carefully.

Naturally Reared Anatolian Shepherds

Our beloved dogs and pups will be reared on a predominantly raw diet consisting of as much natural, grass-fed and pastured animal products as we can get our hands on. We will also include as part of their diet a bio-available vitamin enhanced supplement regimen to insure the most healthy and robust dogs in body, mind and spirit.

Our dog's health will be supported by natural means utilizing both homeopathy and holistic medicine all with a foundation of sound and solid nutrition. To learn more about Natural Rearing please see our Naturally Reared Anatolian Shepherds section.

Texas Anatolian Shepherds

We feel there isn't a breed more suited to the hot Texas summers and unpredictable winters fluctuating between cold and hot from week to week. The Anatolian Shepherd, rough or smooth coated, has the ability to withstand extremes in temperature thanks to their long history in Turkey. They also have efficient metabolisms able to do more with less than many giant breed dogs.

The Eco-Friendly Anatolian Shepherd

It may be strange to think of these dogs as beng "green", but what is more eco-friendly than an working Anatolian Shepherd? He earns his keep, and the food he eats, by guarding the livestock. And this vital function in turn helps the environment by protecting predators.

Yes, the Anatolian Shepherd when working is also protecting the predators. He does this by preventing the predation of livestock which then affords farmers the luxury of leaving local predator populations alone. Though this is not a perfect system and it still needs work, especially when dealing with large wolf packs in North America, it is a system with great promise and hope. In Namibia this system is working to help preserve the Cheetah thanks to the efforts of the Cheetah foundation and generous Anatolian Shepherd breeders that have supplied vital dogs and bloodlines to the program. Learn more at Pendraig's Eco-Friendly Anatolian Shepherds.

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We are located near Austin, Texas USA

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