Anatolian Shepherd Dog
This is the breed standard for the Anatolian Shepherd Dog
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The UCI is a German based
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around the world. Kennel Club USA will name Kennel Club International as
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International Title from the UCI, contact IABACA for further information with
regards to International Titles or to find out what country they are licensed or
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Contact Information
Club of America
Corresponding Secretary
Genia Kyres
5078 Argonne Ct
San Diego, CA 92117-1003
Essentials
ESSENTIALS OF THE ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD DOG: This well-built
shepherd and guard possesses fine proportions and impressive musculature.
The head should don a black mask, evident in its Turkish name (Karabash);
a powerful jaw and moderate stop.
Height: 27-31 inches (68.5-79 cm)
Weight: 85-150 pounds (39-68.5 kg).
The breed occurs in brindles, tricolors, and solids, cream to fawn; white dogs
also occur.
Historical Summary
Arid conditions, poor vegetation and rocky terrain, compelled the tough natives
to adopt a primarily nomadic way of life. Family tribes were dependent upon
raising large herds of sheep and goats for their subsistence. They would travel
from region to region creating or overtaking settlements as they traveled.
Sometimes many years or decades would pass before they returned to the original
family settlements or villages. Aided with sticks and pebbles, the herds would
be moved along by the shepherds to graze on hills and plains around the
settlements. Protection of the hoofstock and the shepherds was the job for the
large guard dogs that the shepherds brought with them. Çoban köpegi (Cho-bawn
Ko-pey), Turkish for "shepherd's dog", was the term used to describe these
working dogs. The dogs had to live peacefully among and protect the hoof stock
with little or no special attention from the shepherds. The dogs stayed with the
animals, night and day, sleeping in the thick snow of winter and walking for
miles in the heat and dust of summer. Swift enough to race to the ends of a
widely scattered grazing flock of several hundred head, the courageous guardian
had to be large and strong enough to be able to best an interloper that dared
stand its ground.
Turkish shepherds depended on the working abilities of their guardians. A
powerful man's wealth was measured by the size of his flocks and so he relied on
the superior ability of his shepherd's dogs. The penalty for killing a good
Anatolian was for the guilty party to pay back with a heap of grain that was as
tall as the dog would be if it were fully suspended by its tail above the
ground.
I
General Appearance
Large, rugged, powerful and impressive, possessing great endurance and agility.
Developed through a set of very demanding circumstances for a purely utilitarian
purpose; he is a working guard dog without equal, with a unique ability to
protect livestock. General impression - Appears bold, but calm, unless
challenged. He possesses size, good bone, a well-muscled torso with a strong
head. Reserve out of its territory is acceptable. Fluid movement and even
temperament is desirable.
Size, Proportion,
Substance
General balance is more important than absolute size. Dogs should be from 29
inches and weighing from 110 to 150 pounds proportionate to size and structure.
Bitches should be from 27 inches, weighing from 80 to 120 pounds, proportionate
to size and structure. Neither dog nor bitch appear fat. Both dog and bitch
should be rectangular, in direct proportion to height. Measurements and weights
apply at age 2 or older.
Head
Expression should be intelligent. Eyes are medium size, set apart,
almond shaped and dark brown to light amber in color. Blue eyes or eyes of
two different colors are a disqualification. Eye rims will be black or brown
and without sag or looseness of haw. Incomplete pigment is a serious fault.
Ears should be set on no higher than the plane of the head. V-shaped,
rounded apex, measuring about four inches at the base to six inches in length.
The tip should be just long enough to reach the outside corner of the eyelid.
Ears dropped to sides. Erect ears are a disqualification. Skull is
large but in proportion to the body. There is a slight centerline furrow, fore
and aft, from apparent stop to moderate occiput. Broader in dogs than in
bitches. Muzzle is blockier and stronger for the dog, but neither dog nor
bitch would have a snipey head or muzzle. Nose and flews must be solid
black or brown. Seasonal fading is not to be penalized. Incomplete pigment is a
serious fault. Flews are normally dry but pronounced enough to contribute to
"squaring" the overall muzzle appearance. Teeth and gums strong and healthy.
Scissors bite preferred, level bite acceptable. Broken teeth are not to be
faulted. Overshot, undershot or wry bite are disqualifications.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck slightly arched, powerful, and muscular, moderate in length with
more skin and fur than elsewhere on the body, forming a protective ruff. The
dewlap should not be pendulous and excessive. Topline will appear level
when gaiting. Back will be powerful, muscular, and level, with drop
behind withers and gradual arch over loin, sloping slightly downward at the
croup. Body well proportioned, functional, without exaggeration. Never
fat or soft. Chest is deep (to the elbow) and well-sprung with a distinct
tuck up at the loin. Tail should be long and reaching to the hocks. Set
on rather high. When relaxed, it is carried low with the end curled upwards.
When alert, the tail is carried high, making a "wheel." Both low and wheel
carriage are acceptable, when gaiting. "Wheel" carriage preferred. The tail will
not necessarily uncurl totally.
Forequarters
Shoulders should be muscular and well developed, blades long, broad and sloping.
Elbows should be neither in nor out. Forelegs should be relatively
long, well-boned and set straight with strong pasterns. The feet are strong and
compact with well-arched toes, oval in shape. They should have stout nails with
pads thick and tough. Dewclaws may be removed.
Hindquarters
Strong, with broad thighs and heavily muscled. Angulation at the stifle and hock
are in proportion to the forequarters. As seen from behind, the legs are
parallel. The feet are strong and compact with well-arched toes, oval in shape.
Double dewclaws may exist. Dewclaws may be removed.
Coat
Short (one inch minimum, not tight) to Rough (approximately 4 inches in length)
with neck hair slightly longer. Somewhat longer and thicker at the neck and
mane. A thick undercoat is common to all. Feathering may occur on the ear
fringes, legs, breeching, and tail.
Color
All color patterns and markings are equally acceptable.
Gait
At the trot, the gait is powerful yet fluid. When viewed from the front or rear,
the legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each
other. With increased speed, footfall converges toward the center line of
gravity. When viewed from the side, the front legs should reach out smoothly
with no obvious pounding. The withers and backline should stay nearly level with
little rise or fall. The rear assembly should push out smoothly with hocks doing
their share of the work and flexing well.
Temperament
Alert and intelligent, calm and observant. Instinctively protective, he is
courageous and highly adaptable. He is very loyal and responsive. Highly
territorial, he is a natural guard. Reserve around strangers and off its
territory is acceptable. Responsiveness with animation is not characteristic of
the breed. Overhandling would be discouraged.
Disqualifications
Blue eyes or eyes of two different colors.
Erect ears.
Overshot, undershot, or wry bite.
Approved: June 1995
Effective: June 1, 1996
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