Anatolian Shepard problems

[Ridgetop]

If you have been reading this thread you will see that we all agree this is a breeder/owner problem and the dog requires socialization and training. However if this owner cannot or will not train the dog, it will soon become a neighborhood problem and from there a problem for all LGD owners. What are your suggestions for this owner? Your article is great but she is not looking to get started with an LGD. She did not check out dogs and breeders before buying a 6 week old puppy, and has now let this dog "do it's thing" for over a year now. If the dog isn't fixed it will soon have mixed breed puppies which is a whole other problem when they are sold to prospective homes as LGDs.

In other words what are your suggestions for an untrained, unsocialized, 1 year old Anatolian Shepherd of unknown breeding who is not confined to its owner's property but is running on the neighbor's land as well, killing the owner's poultry, and has an owner who has no clue.

 

[Southern by choice]

@Ridgetop oh my goodness! So nice to see you again!

I agree. I am also not going to condemn someone that asks for help. I was really hoping I was closer.
I think sometimes in person meeting and sharing and showing is so much better.
Encouraging and support goes a long way.
The poster asked a genuine question about the dog her husband brought home... I get a chuckle out of the last part. How many sentences start with... My husband....

If the poster is still around, you are welcome to message me.

 

[Ridgetop]

Training, socialize, training, socialize . . . .

 

[Southern by choice]

Training, socialize, training, socialize . . . .

 

[RoahT]

@Emily Piveronas, I am so sorry you had to experience this side of this forum right at the get-go, and I hope you find that most of the people here are really nice! And I am confident that you are going to do a great job training your dog and making decisions on what to do about the situation that you are in! May your efforts be blessed!

 

[Beekissed]

I agree with Southern...the horse is out of the barn now, no need to shut the door at this point about breeders and such. Time to get down to basics of obedience~come, leave it, stay/down.

I suggest a good bit of time spent on basic leash training(not letting the dog pull you around or get in front of you during the walk) and basic commands. It's not hard with these dogs as they are very eager to please and VERY tuned in. Get him alone, no family distractions and work with a purpose. These dogs love to have a purpose, a job, and they love to work as partners, so giving him this outlet of working with you towards a goal will help him all the way around.

I agree with keeping him on your land...you are going to get him killed by letting him roam, an untrained dog allowed to be around various livestock is a recipe for death.

You can train him on the chickens simultaneously with the obedience training...in fact, the distraction of the chickens is an EXCELLENT tool to use in teaching him to redirect towards you in the face of distractions in his environment, especially the chickens...your goal there is that he not react to the noise and movement of the chickens.

Unlike other people with LGDs I don't find training on chickens the least bit daunting, nor do I think it takes 2 yrs to complete it...I can have it done in 2 wks or less on a young pup. An older, untrained dog may present more of a challenge, especially if it has no respect for humans, but it still wouldn't take 2 yrs...maybe a month, if that.

Now is the time to get serious about the kind of dog you've got...it's a special breed and you can capitalize on that special aspect if you educate yourself first about the breed and their nature, but also about your chickens and their nature. Understanding these two species separately can help you join them in the same environment without too much fuss.

It's a lot of information to go through, but I'd stick with sourcing people who have used Anatolians or LGD on poultry a lot, not as a secondary livestock, but as their primary livestock. There are YT vids on it and also people on BYC who have used Anatolians for their poultry.

I hope you keep us updated on your progress...you have a great dog breed with lots of potential and we'd love to see you realize it and be able to then educate others on how you accomplished it.