Hello Everyone, this is my first post! I'm excited to join this site, as I have a mystery dog and I'm hoping some of you may have experience to help me identify him. We adopted Jethro from a shelter on June 10, 2010 at the estimated age of 4 months. He was 45 lb. at the time, and listed as a mastiff/shepherd cross. As we have gotten to know him, his traits have not matched the mastiff profile, and he doesn't look like a GSD.

I will try to post better pictures, for now I have the portrait in my signature. He is now 10 months old, and weighs 70+ lbs. As our trainer says, "He is full of personality." I have been reading about Anatolian Shepherds, and started handling him as if he is one. It is really helping! It just seems really unlikely that such a rare breed would end up in a shelter...

That said, I am a new dog handler. Jethro and I have been through puppy and basic obedience and are signed up for intermediate obedience starting in January. We have a trainer who is guiding us through his puppy and now adolescent life. Without her we would be completely lost. With Jethro, you negotiate, there is no question of force. Luckily, he is a pretty gregarious fellow, and as long as he has clear instructions, he is perfectly willing to go along with me (especially if there are treats involved).

The surprising thing for me is that Jethro calms down and is much easier to get along with when he has about 90% structure and 10% sniff/free time. He doesn't like to play so much has have opportunities to get his bounce out (he loves to jump), go on a 'tear' (run as fast as he possibly can), climb (the more vertical the better), and sniff (tracking/finding things with his nose). He loves training, and learning new things. If I was a more experienced trainer, he would be much further along. He is really pushing me to up my game everyday. Which I enjoy!

He hates coyotes! OMG. And has attacked perfectly harmless collie puppies for no apparent reason. He loves a good rough house with labs, shepherds, pit bulls, golden doodles, dobermans, and mixes thereof. He has been over-protective of the house, I'm finding he is easing off on that now that I am 'working' him 4 x 45 min. a day - basically we patrol the neighbourhood (our 'estate'). I keep him on a nice, close heel, letting him off for a sniff at the corner or so. If I give him too much free time he gets headstrong and bossy. If I keep him in a structured situation he is quiet, calm, and good-natured.

We have made a point of socializing him and taking into a variety of situations. He is getting much better at taking his cues from me instead of deciding on his own.

Anyway, I wanted to join this forum because you have wisdom about big, powerful dogs and I want to participate in learning from you.

Welcome Jenny! I love Jethro's eyes and face, what a handsome dog!
You have come to a great place to learn, lots of really knowledgeable, helpful people here. Again welcome!

Welcome! Jethro sure is a handsome man. I cheated, I looked down at the pic when I first read you wanted help identifying him, before I finished your post. I think he looks like an Anatolian mix also. They are charming dogs. He look very similar to a friends Anatolian/shep/lab mix. Could also be Dane/lab, or Dane/GSD.

I own a fairly rare breed, pretty much only known in working dog circles, and I got him from a rescue, it's amazing what people will dump when the dog is not longer a novelty.

Welcome Jenny! You have a very handsome guy there - wonderful face.

Now that you know he is capable of attacking collie pups for no reason, I'm sure you are doing all you can to prevent those types of episodes from happening again. He is obviously going to be a big, strong dog, and it sounds like you are doing all you can to manage him with "appropriate authority" (more structure/less sniff time).

Do you have any of the Leerburg videos yet?

Again, welcome to the forum! I can't help but think of what wonderful photos another forum member, Natalya Zahn could take of your beautiful boy!!!

Yes, that was a big surprise because he had been doing so well with his socializing on the field and all of a sudden he turned into a real a$$. Since then we have been working diligently to socialize him in a more structured way. For example, yesterday afternoon all his 'trigger' pups were out on the field. I walked him around the perimeter of the field a few times, never letting him go in to investigate or make any contact. One of his 'target' pups was playing fetch, and as he ran near us, I got Jethro to "Leave it" and kept moving forward in a nice brisk Heel. After a few laps around the field, I was able to clip Jethro to a goalpost and put him in a Down/Wait while I made my way to the centre of the field to pick up our other dog, a 10 year old male fox terrier (Skipper), who was playing fetch with everyone while I exercised Jethro. I was sooo proud of Jethro, because he stayed in his Down/Wait the whole time I was gone, maintaining his position to the very last, as I walked up to him. It was amazing! Everyone on the field was aware of how hard Jethro and I were working to be good citizens on the field (they were throwing the ball for Skipper in my stead).

One of the collie pup owners, who was pretty frustrated with her pup getting attacked, not just by Jethro, but by other dogs in other incidents, actually walked near us and said hello as we were doing our laps. That felt like a victory, too.

I have ordered three of the videos: 301, 302, 308 - I can't remember what they are, I know one of them is the leadership video.

He is a real charmer, who really benefits from strong leadership. One thing I am really getting straight. Never, ever, let him decide when the command is completed. And I am following the NILF for LGD - putting him into a Down as much (and more) than a Sit. He's getting it.

All I can say is, thank you for prong collars! If my trainer hadn't recommended it I would have been too intimidated to try it. It turns out Jethro is self-correcting most of the time when he has it on. Waaaaay less pulling and leash corrections, a lot more verbal/eye contact, and body language.

 Quote: Jenny Arntzen

One of the collie pup owners, who was pretty frustrated with her pup getting attacked, not just by Jethro, but by other dogs in other incidents,

Jenny, is this all happening in a dog park? I realize this has NOTHING to do with your original post, but where/how is this individual putting these collie pups in a position to be attacked repeatedly? Not in your control, I realize...

It absolutely sounds like you are working with your dog - so please don't take my question as anything negative toward you!

Welcome Jenny! I second the Anatolian mix... nice looking boy...

Hi, and welcome! Very cute little man you got there! (maybe not so little )

Hello and welcome! You have a gorgeous boy there, and I can certainly see a resemblance to Anatolian Shepherds. I've only met one while working for a vet, but he looked very similiar to your boy and from what you said, had a similiar personality too! You've found a great forum here full of helpful people!

Strong Anatolian influence....I would guess possibly more than 50% pretty boy!!!
Welcome to the forum.
You are doing great having a trainer.
I would read all of Ed's E-books....on dog parks, pack structure, dog aggression, dominance, babies, children, bites, breaking up dog fights, learn how to MARKER train, all those great resources that are on the main site.
And find a real job for him to do.
Pulling your garden wagon, carting, pulling you in a sulky, for sure get him a good set of packs to wear on walks.
NO. Dog. Parks.
My Eddie is only 1/4 Anatolian.