Quote: Barbara Schuler

I agree... Since the origional topic is a few months old, start a new one explaining the problems you are having. I have absolutely NO experience with aggressive dogs but am interested to see where this one goes. I am curious as to why the need of this dog since you are comfortable defending yourself and there aren't any apparent security issues, considering you already have two dogs... Was there a concern as to how this new guardian would react with the two dogs? I'm asking out of interest, not trying to put you on the spot or anything.

Okay the whole story. First off, I didn’t get this dog to “do a job”. I love dogs. Four years ago my “once in a lifetime” dog, an alpha male Doberman, passed on from cancer. Four years later, I have two wonderful dogs that I found on the street and kept, a 6 year old Australian Shepherd male and a 10 (?) year old Cocker Spaniel male. The Aussie rescued as a tiny pup and raised by my alpha Dobe and another dominant Chow mix until the age of 2 (they passed on). The Aussie was used to dealing with strong male dogs.

Flash forward, I move from the city to the country. Someone on a bulletin board suggests a LSG dog as the perfect way to protect my other pets from coyotes. I latch on to that idea because I really really miss having a macho male dog in the house. I find an Anatolian Shepherd pup (1 year old) for sale at a breeder in the next state. I discussed the situation with the breeder and she tells me he should be fine, he is guarding a pasture with another older Anatolian male. I think my Aussie will be fine too since he has always loved other dogs.

I purchase the Anatolian and look forward to the time I can pick him up (I was moving at that point, it was 2 months off). I move to the new place, a very small place in the country, and discover something about the “country folk” out here. Apparently people out here have an alternative to spaying, if the bitch gets pregnant and they don’t want to deal with the puppies they just drive out to a dirt road and dump the dog in the woods. So a pregnant dog shows up at my doorstep and has puppies two days later, a couple of weeks before the arrival of the Anatolian. The animal shelter tells me point blank the dog will euthanized with her pups within the week if I bring her there. I ask 4 local rescue groups if they can help, not only can they NOT help but they can’t even be nice and offer moral support with puppy whelping and such. (Hint: I really don’t need any insensitive comments from doggie people right now).

So here I am, my Aussie was not thrilled with the newcomer. The newcomer is not crazy about other male house dogs and is willing to settle the issue by killing them, and I have an unexpected female with puppies to care for and find homes for. We live in a frickin’ shoebox that is now mostly x-pens.

I keep the dogs separated (the males have always been separated). I hire a canine behavioralist that trains Schutzhund dogs to help me because I live alone and don’t know anyone, I realize it takes two people to safely introduce these dogs when the time comes. I have the Anatolian neutered (did I mention the breeder BRED this pup and I didn’t know it? Please no lectures on checking out breeders…what is done is done). The behaviorist suggests purchasing a remote collar and I came to this site to buy one (after having read some articles as well).

That is the story. Please do not make harsh/catty comments, there are plenty of others to snipe at, this is the internet. I am under a lot of stress with the dog aggression and the puppies that I can’t find homes for.

Sonya,

Let me tell you the folks here (not me...) are very knowlegable and helpful, but expect bluntness. The passion here is for the dogs, not for "our" feelings, so try to leave your emotions at the door. I understand you are stressed and for good reason, but try not to fly off if you initially hear something you don't want to hear, okay?

You say you didn't get this dog "to do a job" but in the next paragraph you say you wanted him to protect your other dogs from coyotes. That sounds like a job to me.

Some of the solutions to your situations may not be the type any of us would normally like, but I'm going to leave that to the folks who really know what they are talking about.

If you are honest and frank on this site, you will get the same in return. I honestly hope someone can give you the guidance and help you seek.

 Quote: barbara schuler

You say you didn't get this dog "to do a job" but in the next paragraph you say you wanted him to protect your other dogs from coyotes. That sounds like a job to me.

No that wasn't so much a job as an excuse. I had two dogs (rescues, lovable dogs but not my breeds of choice). The idea of "needing" another dog for a good purpose seemed great because it provided a reason to get another macho dog which maybe some sensible people would not do if they finally, after many years of having multiple dogs, got down to 2 dogs and their household was reasonably sane.

OK. The PPD theory in the other thread was closer to why you got the new dog, then.

The dogs are separated (good). "... my Aussie was not thrilled with the newcomer. The newcomer is not crazy about other male house dogs and is willing to settle the issue by killing them" --- not facts garnered from a violent encounter, then?

So far no encounters?

You think that maybe this isn't the right home for the Anatolian?

"I realize it takes two people to safely introduce these dogs when the time comes."

You know that the time may well not come, right? That real separation is your most probable route?

Well, Michael and I typed together.

How old are the puppies now? How many? How long has the mother been in the house?

Wait wait,
Didn't I read some place about goats or some other herd or another?

Sonya, Would the breeder take the Anatolian back tomorrow if need be?

If the Anatolian has to be separated from my other males for life I will deal with that. In my heart I realize they probably won't ever mix, the Anatolian is incredibly powerful and I don't think I will ever trust these dogs together.

I bought the remote collar to at least try to curb the x-pen aggression. I want them to be able to be in the same room so we can all share family time without the fence fighting (which honestly scares the heck out of me, if those dogs get into it the Aussie will be dead and I won't be able to stop it).

The breeder did say she would take the Anatolian back if there was ever a problem, she has fields he could tend. This dog has bonded and he loves attention and companionship, I could not send this pup back to live in pasture with sheep, he would be lonely after having lived in a household with a lot of attention.