If you are thinking about owning an Anatolian Shepherd, you need to consider a few things. The first thing to consider is whether you want a female or a male. There are some differences between the Anatolian female and male that you should consider when you start your search. The next thing you want to consider is if you want a puppy or an older dog. Taking into consideration how much time you have to spend with the dog is also a factor.
The Male or Female Anatolian Shepherd
If you are looking for an Anatolian that fits into your lifestyle, you need to decide if a female or male is better suited to your family. The males are slightly larger than the females are and tend to be a little more aggressive. The females may be suited more for house living than the male due to the size difference as well. Males, however, are outgoing and tend to train easier than the female.
The females are not as dominant as the male Anatolian is and are better suited around children. Males, however, are more relaxed about protecting the home than a female, who is more protective of her home. Keep in mind that the differences are also going to relate back to the breeding for temperament and disposition as well.
A Puppy or an Older Anatolian Shepherd
If you are ready to own an Anatolian, you will need to decide not only the sex of the dog, but also the age of the dog. A puppy is going to need your time for training, nurturing, and help with developing their personalities. They need to start training early and the time you take to train the puppy will determine how the dog will grow up. If you do not have enough time to housebreak and train the puppy, you may want an older dog.
The older dogs already have a personality, hopefully some training, and you will know the type of dog they are as an adult. The only thing about an older dog is that you never know the complete history from birth to adulthood. Both the puppy and the adult dog are ideal pets, you just have to determine if you have the time to train or not.
Decisions to Make
Time is needed when you choose a puppy. You definitely want to have some basic puppy training as well as obedience training to have a controllable dog. If you are an active family, you may not have enough time needed to take the puppy to training classes and continue the training at home as well. Anatolian puppies are sometimes difficult to train and it can take longer than you can commit to.
The older dog should have already had house training and obedience training. If not, you might have some issues to work with, which can take longer than it would with a puppy. They have a natural instinct to be stubborn and set in their ways as they grow older.
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