Quote: mike bellemare

 Quote:

.....*many* changes to your life ... to successfully manage the canine?

Am I the only one that does not understand what that means? Will or someone else, could you clarify?

Working dogs take a lot of responsibility and time to train and maintain. They are living creatures that can have good days and bad ones, they get cranky, lethargic, bored, excited, happy, and will need a lot of your time so they remain focused.

A working dog (which is basically what a PPD is) is not like an alarm system you can turn on and off after you have read the manual, or a gun that only requires cleaning and loading. A dog means: feed, brush, walk. A working dog means: feed, brush, walk, exercise, train, routine and consistency - by you, not your wife one day then your neighbour the next, then your kid, then you again for a few days... Granted, other people in the house need to be able to handle the dog should something happen while you are away, but a dog works best with one primary handler.

There is that Chuck Norris joke about how he doesn't sleep, "he waits", and a PPD dog is expected and supposed to play that role. Because a dog is a pack animal a PPD dog will be waiting for 2 things, one is of course a bad guy to munch on, and the second thing they wait for is you. Generally PPD dogs are high drive, smart dogs that need and constantly want something to do. Plan for AT LEAST 10 YEARS, having a full time part time 30 hour a week job with your dog.

I do not own a working dog, but know and have met people who do. Think of it as a commitment with very serious consequences should something go wrong, and very plentiful rewards over the long term. Keep in mind that dog is at work when it is around you, your family, or any of your property. It needs to be in great physical and mental shape: always.

Most people should just take a Krav Maga class, and always wear a good pair of running shoes. Get an alarm system, carry a cell phone, and do your best not to compromise your safety. Bullets miss, guns jam, Police may be too busy, alarm systems can be compromised, but nothing beats being in good shape and able to run or win a fight if you have to. Bad guys don't want opponents, they want victims.

Most of the time perception will dictate your fate.

I know I don't have the energy or temperament to live with a high strung working dog. I do like a protective dog and I recently purchased a Live Stock Guardian as they have the protective instincts built in naturally. They are also good with kids and household pets if raised together.

I purchased a year old Anatolian Shepherd, they are a Turkish breed and have been bred by Muslim herdsman for several hundred years. Muslims herdsman don't really bother to train their dogs, they heavily cull the litters so these dogs are more or less genetically programmed to guard family and flocks verociously. If their ancestors failed in their duty or had other problems they were simply destroyed.

The laid back temperament is wonderful, even at 14 months this dog lays next to my chair for hours, and while he can be a demanding and destructive puppy at times, he is for the most part amazingly calm. He has a low prey drive and he shows NO fear, I do believe he would engage and take on an opponent ferociously if a situation arose. They specialize in displays of intimidation (better to scare off wolves and coyotes than fight them) and the that threat alone would terrify any sane person. He also rarely barks, maybe once every day or two he sees something that is out of the ordinary and he will fire off deep warning bark.

Just thought I would share that option as having a protective dog does not have to mean having a high-energy working dog.

Hi, Sonya,


So basically you're saying that what you wanted (and got) was a dog with an impressive threat display?

It's true that this is what many folks want and need. That's not synonymous with "protective," though, as used here: "... having a protective dog does not have to mean having a high-energy working dog."


JMO.

Heck Sonya,
I've got a 9 month old GSD that does that.
Nothing special.......yet, it remains to be seen.

From what little I know about Anatolians though, I don't know that I'd abopt an year old dog. Maybe a few weeks old, but not a year old.
Good luck though.

Wish you well.
Randy

 Quote: Sonya Anderson

I know I don't have the energy or temperament to live with a high strung working dog.

Hi Sonya,

Welcome to the forum! So many folks don't appreciate the effort and time required in certain breeds they select, so kudos to you for knowing your energy level and selecting a dog which suits that better.

For the working dog enthusiasts, a laid back dog content to lay at their feet for hours, even though protective (hopefully), would be booorrrring. It is all in what an individual is looking for, and the sport of training a dog and the bond which develops is what appeals to so many working line folks.

Thats why there is chocolate and vanilla and pistachio pudding... something for everyone.

Connie Sutherland wrote: So basically you're saying that what you wanted (and got) was a dog with an impressive threat display?

They are true working dogs, they are bred to fight/kill wolves and coyotes as needed so the typical burglar is not going to scare them. In their homeland they wear heavily spiked collars as protection and they guard flocks for 6 months at a time by themselves (they hunt to feed themselves during those months).

They are not at all afraid of a fight. They decide when to attack and when to stop attacking based on instinct.

Not to hijack, but I just wanted to interject this for anyone reading this that isn't familiar with Anatolians.
Anatolians are hard core. Really hard core. I have 2 Pyrs with a touch of Anatolian (3/4 pyr 1/4 Anatolian) out there with the goats and chickens.....and I don't know that I'd have a pure one here on the property with the kids and all.
They are mostly reallllly dominant and can be hard to socialize to anyone other than their "pack". They take a bunch of work to be safe in a social situation.
As with some Pyrs, they can attack and kill new goats or sheep added to their flock...because the newcomers are outsiders.
Needless to say, in a non working home situation this can lead to unpleasant results.
This is a generalization, I know that, but they are not what I would call a low maintenance family pet that will protect the kids and family.
Just sayin'.

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

Edited by Willie Tilton (03/05/2010 08:32 PM)
Edit reason: Forgot to say hi. :)

Wolves and Coyotes are a bit different than people. Many of the guardian breeds tend to be more aloof with people they don't know. They are intimidating, but don't go out of their way to pick a fight.

 Quote:

They decide when to attack and when to stop attacking based on instinct.

This works well in rugged back country. I would be a bit hesitant to have a dog this driven by instinct and independent by nature in more populated area. Solid training and a fool proof management plan would be a must.

 Quote: randy allen

From what little I know about Anatolians though, I don't know that I'd abopt an year old dog. Maybe a few weeks old, but not a year old.

Errrmmmm...yeah...that is why I am here. We are having some dog aggression issues in the house. Other than that he adjusted to being a house dog really well after having been raised alone with sheep.

 Quote: Barbara Schuler

Welcome to the forum! So many folks don't appreciate the effort and time required in certain breeds they select, so kudos to you for knowing your energy level and selecting a dog which suits that better.

Thank you for the warm welcome. Yeah I used to show Dobermans and did rescue for a few years, I have had my share of hyper hard to handle dogs. A dog that lounges while I waste hours on the computer suits me just fine these days.

 Quote: sonya anderson

... They are true working dogs, they are bred to fight/kill wolves and coyotes as needed so the typical burglar is not going to scare them. In their homeland they wear heavily spiked collars as protection and they guard flocks for 6 months at a time by themselves (they hunt to feed themselves during those months).

They are not at all afraid of a fight. They decide when to attack and when to stop attacking based on instinct.

It's a big leap from flock predators to burglars.

"They decide when to attack and when to stop attacking based on instinct" is not what I want in the house. That's where the human decides. Not the dog.

JMO, of course.




What kind of issues are you having?

(I'm over my head here, but you know that canids would be one of the predators this flock guardian would have been guarding against, right?)

 Quote: sonya anderson

We are having some dog aggression issues in the house. Other than that he adjusted to being a house dog really well after having been raised alone with sheep.