Judging the ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD DOG By Katie Emanuel Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America T he Anatolian Shepherd Dog is an exciting addi- tion to the Working Group. Th e Anatolian is first and foremost a work- ing dog. It is still bred for
therefore, the show-ring may seem quite trivial to the thinking working guard- ian. Th e Anatolian Shepherd may appear reserved when taken out of its environment. Th e dog’s inherent aloofness may not lend itself to baiting or excitement over squeaky toys. Th e Anatolian Shepherd dog is not to be penalized for a lack of interest in the showing process. Some dogs will have their tail carried in a wheel and others will be car- ried low (not to be faulted). When gaiting, the tail often will go up and over. Wheel carriage is preferred when gait- ing. Th is is an indicator of the dog’s reserve and awareness in the show ring setting. It also allows for the topline to be judged and seen with ease. Th e profile of the dog, when standing, should show a slight drop behind the with- ers (not a sway back or weakness in the
topline) with gradual arch over the loin, sloping slightly downward at the croup. Th e topline of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog will appear level when gaiting. With proper ease of movement the head will drop, the back will remain strong (no rolling) and the tail will rise. When these three elements come together, the leveling of the topline will become evident to the viewer. Judges should not expect to see this dog “fly around the ring”. While the Anatolian Shepherd is capable of explosive action while on guard duty, the dog naturally conserves energy throughout much of the day. However, correct fluid movement is essential for the soundness and longevity of the dog. Gaiting should be light and flu- id. Th ere is converging toward centerline as the gait picks up. Crossing over in front or from the rear is not acceptable. Th e Anato- lian Shepherd Dog has great drive and cov- ers a lot of ground. It would be the judge’s responsibility to assure adequate space to see the movement to its full potential. Clean, fluid movement should be consid- ered part of the breed type. Th e Anatolian should be shown on a loose lead, if pos- sible. Th is is the best way to see the dog’s natural characteristic movement. While the classic fawn and black mask coloration is the most common, all coat col- ors and markings are equally acceptable. In addition, the coat may range from short to rough (one inch to approximately four inch- es in length). Th e presence of a dense under- coat is expected, to serve as protection from the elements. Th e variety of colors and coat lengths can be found in a single litter and should all be treated equally, with no prefer- ence or fault. Th e coat and skin will typi- cally be greater around the neck forming a protective ru ff . Th e ru ff has a functional purpose of protecting the dog in battle. Males should be at least 29" in height at the withers and at least 110 lbs. and
its original purpose and the breed’s type and temperament are very much a component of its function. Th e Anatolian Shepherd Dog is large, rugged, powerful and impressive, possess- ing great endurance and agility. Th e Ana- tolian Shepherd is not a giant breed. It should be large enough to present a threat to an unwanted predator. It should appear powerful enough to kill a predator, rugged enough to scare a predator and impressive enough that a predator will not intrude. Th e Anatolian Shepherd Dog is extreme- ly intelligent and independent thinking;
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