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An Anatolian pup perceives flock animals (like sheep and/ or goats) as a part of its extended pack. A pup with good working genetics can learn to fit into its flock by engaging in behaviors that are acceptable to the herd if it has been provided an environment that automatically rewards good behaviors and punishes improper behaviors. Without proper feedback (i.e. without a whine and/or a growl) from goats or sheep that a pup's play is too rough, the pup imagines his friend and pack member (a sheep or goat) is enjoying the rough play as much as the pup is and does not realize he is hurting or tearing his "friend." When the pup plays with its littermates and bites too hard, the littermate will protest with a whine or a growl, so the aggressive pup understands it is being too rough. Sheep and goats will never whine or growl, so we rely on the animal, or its dam, to provide the feedback by butting the pup. It is vital that the owner immediately correct rough play by providing the type of feedback the pup understands - physical punishment from flock animals that are being mistreated by the pup. Physical punishment will only be provided by sheep or goats strong enough to stand up against the pup. However, teaching animals must NOT be bad tempered and excessively aggressive or the pup will not learn to love its flock. Good teaching animals must be strong enough to immediately stop the bad behavior. They also must immediately stop their aggression when the pup shows submission. All teaching animals unable to immediately stop rough play in a pup must be removed without delay!!! As the pup matures, the level of strength necessary in the teaching animals surrounding the pup usually needs to increase, so the animals with the pup are likely to need to be changed out for new and more dominant animals. It is vital that you change the teaching animals the FIRST MOMENT you see your pup get away with inappropriate play. There are only two easy points to remember: 1. NEVER allow a pup to stay with animals too weak to demand and receive the pup's immediate respect! 2. NEVER place overly aggressive or vicious animals with a pup since an abusive flock animal may interfere with proper bonding or even injure the pup! Also keep in mind that good or bad working behaviors are inherited, just like good or bad hips, good or bad teeth, etc. Therefore, when I'm looking for a superior Anatolian working pup I look for a pup from two proven superior working parents. Proven superior working Anatolians are most likely to produce pups who can easily be trained to become excellent working Anatolians! I think it's a good idea to visit the ranch where the parents are and make certain that both the sire and dam actually live with either sheep and/or goats 24/7 in a predator rich environment and that the sire and dam have excellent and desirable working ability. Breeders who say "all Anatolians" have good working ability are probably just trying to sell their pups! If a breeder has not focused on superior working ability with every breeding it is possible their pups may not have the level of working ability that you want! To me, SHOW ONLY Anatolian "Breeders" are just glorified puppy mills uninterested and unconcerned about Anatolian Breed Preservation. For thousands of years the primary breeding criteria for Turkish Anatolians was superior working ability. All other factors were less important than an Anatolian's ability to successfully protect their charges. In the United States, many of the currently dominant breeders maintain their Show-Only Anatolians in an environment without sheep and or goats with no predators. Worse yet, many judges still pick traits antagonistic to superior working behaviors (generic show dog behaviors), leading to a serious decrease in Anatolian working ability! I understand that many people are unable (or unwilling) to maintain their dogs in an environment required to test for superior working ability! (With sheep and/or goats 24/7 in a predator rich enviornment) Since I do, I know testing for working ability takes a great deal of time, energy, and dedication to the breed! However, it seems to me that if "Breeders" are actually interested in Breed Preservation, they will only breed their untested and unproven non-working Anatolians with proven superior working Anatolians! When I see generations of unproven show dogs in a pedigree, I'm not convinced that breeder has any interest in either Breed Preservation or Anatolian Working Ability!!! Since I require a high level of working ability, I avoid those lines! |
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