This is an ancient breed native to Asia Minor. It is also known as the Turkish Guard Dog where he protects flocks and serves as a shepherd's companion. On the high Anatolian Plateau, where summers are hot and very dry and winters are cold, the Anatolian Shepherd Dogs live outside all year round. The first Anatolian Shepherd Dogs were imported to the United States in 1968, though the first successful breeding program did not get underway until 1970. For centuries it was used as a combat dog in war and for hunting. It was particularly valued for the victorious battles it could fight with wolves. As a sheepdog, it was bothered by neither fatigue nor bad weather. Today it is still used as a sheep dog as well as a guard dog.

The Anatolian Shepherd (also known as Karabash) is a large rugged dog, powerful and impressive and possesses great endurance ang agility. They were developed through very demanding circumstances for purely utilatarian purposes- they are a working guard dog, without equal.

Their origin is in Turkey, most likely more than 6,000 years old. They are impressive in size, serving as the Turkish shepherd's frontline defense from predators. They were developed to be able to withstand the harsh climate, and have evolved to endure the nomadic lifestyle as shepherds.

Loyalty, independence, and hardiness are the factors most appreciated of this breed. They first entered the United States in the 1950's, and have been known as a fiercely loyal guard dog but never considered to be a "glamor breed". They are highly intelligent, responsive to their owner, though they can be slow to respond to commands due to their independent nature.

Males should be 29 inches and weigh 110-150 pounds. Females 27 inches and 80-120 pounds. Their coat is short, one inch minimum, to Rough which is 4 inches in length. They can be any colors or group of colors.

Some are prone to eyelid entropion or to hypothyroidism. Hip dysplasia does occur, but is not as common as some other large breeds. They are sensitive to anesthesia. The Anatolian Shepherd's immunity often takes longer to develop than with many other breeds and therefore young Anatolians should be given extra vaccinations against parvo-virus.

The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a large and powerful dog, and as such is not suited for everyone. They were bred for hundreds, if not thousands of years in their native Turkey as Livestock Guardians for the flocks of semi-nomadic shepherds. Their natural foes included wolves, bears, and wild boar.