Anatolian Vs. Pyr

Straw Hat Kikos

The Kiko Cowboy
Joined
May 18, 2012
Messages
6,110
Reaction score
33
Points
166
Location
North Carolina
theeggboxtoo said:
Straw Hat Kikos said:
One of the real upsides for the Anatolian is they can take the extreme heat and the extreme cold. They were bred in Turkey were it is either really hot or really cold. The Pyrs can take the cold, but not the heat. Places like North Carolina is about as far south as they can go. Any further is to hot for them.
I just wanted to say that this is not entirely true, I live in Alabama and I have 3 Great Pyrs. When they are hot they get into the duck pools to cool off :) also, I know 4 or 5 other people with GP's that also live in Alabama :)
Sure you can have them there but really, imo, it is not a very good idea. I have talked to vets and know of vets that don't even like them here in NC. They were bred for the really cold, not the really hot. So again, while people do have them there it is not the best idea and they do have issues in the heat. That is fact.
 

EllieMay

Loving the herd life
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
498
Reaction score
26
Points
138
Location
Central Kentucky
When we moved to Costa Rica, there was another American family who just moved there and they brought their Grt Pyr with them.
That was the most miserable dog I had ever seen in my life.
Everyone told her to send the dog back to the States and just get a 'Tico' dog as a pet.
It is just too hot and humid for a dog like that.
And with that thick undercoat, it just locked in the humidity causing the poor dog to walk around in its own self-contained sauna.
I don't know whatever happened to that dog.
 

Ranchhandok

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Mar 25, 2013
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
Points
17
It is good to hear the difference in dog breeds. I will be looking for some guard dogs the summer. Every bit of information helps.
 

bcnewe2

Loving the herd life
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Messages
474
Reaction score
79
Points
103
Location
Union, MO
Can you talk more about Anatolians? I'm considering getting one. But I have prayed and looked for a "special" dog. I've had pyrs, akbash and mixes with no problems except they were all travelers and tended to make their territories as big as they could. Was ok where we lived previously but not now. I brought with me a female akbash but she was way to people friendly so would be off visiting neighbors who were super nice to her and i think fed her treats. Didn't want to make a stink about it being new to the neighborhood. So eventually we placed her in a pet home as she just didn't want to stay with her sheep anymore.

So now I have nothing and lots of lambs on the ground.
I decided to look for a semi feral female LGD that was already used to free range chickens, and lambs or other small babies. needed one already working a bit as fencing is light and neighbors are plentiful. Didn't really think I'd find what I was looking for but I have. Now I have to make a decision if the dog will be right for us.

I have working dogs (border collies), always have. They and the LGD's get used to each other and have always been fine. Are Anatolian that much more aggressive than other LGD's? My Akbash fought off bears and cougars in CO. Most we have here are coyotes, fox and other small predators, and of course neighborhood dogs.
I found that all my other dogs were easy on anything unless something had bad energy or intent. Then they backed it right off the property. I even had a bad human come up to me and the dogs responded totally different compared to how the greeted friendly people.

Just wondering if a ASD is the right dog for us.

This has been an interesting thread. I had a pyrs down in AR, I brushed them all the time and he had a pond to lounge in but he suffered ear problems for ever. I also had a smooth coated pyr down there, he did much better. The akbash were rather smooth or at least not like a pyr but they were so thickly undercoated they were more miserable here in MO than other dogs I've had.

Thanks for any comments.
 

Southern by choice

Herd Master
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Messages
13,336
Reaction score
14,682
Points
613
Location
North Carolina
Anatolians are no different... they are great dogs.

I love my pyrs but our Anatolian is the easiest of the bunch. Much of the hype about Toli's come from Toli people.LOL- they are just passionate about them and "the anatolian is the best guardian out their-period" attitude has perpetuated this myth of aggression. Just being honest.

When I looked for my LGD' I had experience with Tibetan Mastiff, Anatolians, and Kuvasz- little with pyrs. In the beginning I really wanted the Kuvasz but couldn't find working stock for under $1000- then the Anatolians were my 2nd choice- same thing, nothing reasonable- ended up with my pyrs and then later an Anatolian.

I love love love my pyrs... from a strictly non- biased opinion ( I have canine background for over 3 decades) Toli's have been "hyped".
They are excellent LGD's and easier to work with than pyrs... Our Toli's lines are not wanderers... her breeder has one that roams the property- no fenceline whatsoever...all the rest are in the fields. Our Toli will stay with you if you bring her out of the fields, more Shepherd like, our Pyrs- HECK NO! Toli's listen better and take instruction well...pyrs much more stubborn and hard headed. Toli's bark more but all ours have outgrown the nonsense of barking all the time... I don't tolerate it. Maremmas are great also but IMO really lack size.

I LOVE MY PYRS- but they can be a PITA sometimes. Toli's are also much quicker guardians.. start earlier . Hope it helps
 

bcnewe2

Loving the herd life
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Messages
474
Reaction score
79
Points
103
Location
Union, MO
Thanks Southern I think you helped me make my decision. All dogs are as good as you train them to be including lgd's but pyrs sure have that wandering need. Personally I have never seen a guard dog stay in a fence that wanted to get out. But that's just my experience and I"m sure they can be contained, it's just never went that way for us. when you get to fencing lg acres it's hard to make it dog proof, if it was, it'd be predator proof too, or at least that's what it feels like!

I am passionate about all the breeds of LGD's we've had. They are amazing to me. So natural at what they are bred to do. Like a good border collie doing what it was bred to do. Art in motion. When you see a guard dog doing it's job it takes my breath away!

I feel so much better after reading your post. Just what I needed to hear!
 

Southern by choice

Herd Master
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Messages
13,336
Reaction score
14,682
Points
613
Location
North Carolina
bcnewe2 said:
I am passionate about all the breeds of LGD's we've had. They are amazing to me. So natural at what they are bred to do. Like a good border collie doing what it was bred to do. Art in motion. When you see a guard dog doing it's job it takes my breath away!
Well said- and my background is herding and working dogs! I have GSD's well only 1 right now... and yes it is amazing to watch dogs do what they do!! My GSD is not herding trained- schutzhund background but she still has the instinct to herd.

Many many years ago my old gsd's would herd my then young children to where they felt they should be.... my children use to say MOM- they are doingit again! It was always amazing how fast they could effortlessly move all the children to the swingset and the children never knew they were being herded til they were there. LOL

I love your line- Art in motion! :thumbsup
 

woodsie

Loving the herd life
Joined
Dec 19, 2012
Messages
613
Reaction score
104
Points
123
Location
Kamloops, BC, Canada
bcnewe2 said:
Thanks Southern I think you helped me make my decision. All dogs are as good as you train them to be including lgd's but pyrs sure have that wandering need. Personally I have never seen a guard dog stay in a fence that wanted to get out. But that's just my experience and I"m sure they can be contained, it's just never went that way for us. when you get to fencing lg acres it's hard to make it dog proof, if it was, it'd be predator proof too, or at least that's what it feels like!

I am passionate about all the breeds of LGD's we've had. They are amazing to me. So natural at what they are bred to do. Like a good border collie doing what it was bred to do. Art in motion. When you see a guard dog doing it's job it takes my breath away!

I feel so much better after reading your post. Just what I needed to hear!
That's exactly how I felt...if I can keep a Pyr in with my fence...no predator is going to get in anyhow. That being said I did finally figure out a system that seems to work.

I have farm and field fencing with planks in the gateways between fields that the dogs can get through but sheep and goats wont jump...then IN ADDITION I have the invisible fence radio wire that runs along the perimeter fence so the dogs get a shock if they get within 12 feet of the fencing...this way they can't get close enough to the fencing to dig or climb the fence without getting shocked continuously. I think I finally solved the problem of keeping Pyrs in the yard but guarding more than one field at a time. That being said I am also adding some hotwire to save my fence from being used as a scratching post and it probably wont hurt as a second line of proteaction for the dogs too. But I only have six acres to fence not 160.
 

bcnewe2

Loving the herd life
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Messages
474
Reaction score
79
Points
103
Location
Union, MO
Thanks Southern
I do love my dogs. Ok so I love most dogs. But when I get to commutate with an alien species I am most in awe!
It was dogs that got me into sheep. I wish I could say it was the other way around but....got a border collie, bit the neighbor kid, her dad told me I needed to teach that dog to herd!...What? Herd? it was all down hill from there. Within 6 months we had a little 5 acre place and our lives had changed forever!

That sweet dog just passed away last spring at 16, She was never that good at herding BUT....she was a heart dog for sure.

Then years later I found I needed a LGD. Had never really experienced one. Got 2 puppies about 4 months old. Again that was it. I was head over heels in love with the guarding breeds.

There is probably no dog that I don't like but I truly love the dogs that are still doing what they were bred to do.

And Woodsie, I sure wish you luck containing your dogs! I'm probably not going to even try. But I have found a dog that is already working and people shy so that should do a great deal in the area of keeping her from visiting the neighbors which is my other main goal with a guard dog.

I would never imagine a underground fence being hot enough or containing enough to do the job but maybe with all the rest of your security measures you will win the battle. Keep me posted!
 

Ridgetop

Herd Master
Joined
Mar 13, 2015
Messages
6,572
Reaction score
22,280
Points
693
Location
Shadow Hills, CA
I decided to look for a semi feral female LGD that was already used to free range chickens, and lambs or other small babies. needed one already working a bit as fencing is light and neighbors are plentiful. Didn't really think I'd find what I was looking for but I have. Now I have to make a decision if the dog will be right for us.

If by semi feral you mean shy of humans and not too approachable - NO NO NO! The best LGDs are socialized and trained. yu need to be able to work with yiur dog in case of emergency. What if it tangles with a cougar or bear, you will need to get it treated. It will need vaccinations without being so wild or afraid of you it will bite the vet or you.

You only have 6 acres so 1 LGD will work for you as you get to know her I agree that Pyrs are great rovers. They are made to travel long distances with the flocks. Our Pyrs were great guardians but guarded our neighbors property too. They guarded by traveling out to move all predators back from our property. Fine 30 years ago but not now. Fewer livestock people and more city people who want large estates. We switched to Anatolians after losing our last Pyr to cancer. We started with an 18 month old trained female. When she was 4 we added a 4 month old male pup so he could learn from her. His training is still intensive and he is more family/home protective while she is more sheep. He is 20 months old and still a pupppy receiving training. Both are very dominant dogs (a Toli characteristic since they were bred to fight to the death against large dangerous predators) however male Anatolians constantly push the boundaries to see if you are still the dominant pack member or if they can slip in and take your place. This is because they think they are better at it than you LOL.

Start with a trained female and add a second puppy later. The adult Anatolian will accept a puppy but not a new adult dog. Two Anatolians are a lot to train up front. We knew we needed another when the neighborhood started seeing cougar depredations. California protects them and they are making a comeback, and unfortunately no longer afraid of humans. With an LGD or 2 though you do not have to shoot or trap anything. LGDs will set up the perimeter with their flocks and predators will just stay out of their way. If they don't stay away they are dead. We added a male so the two females would not fight. The male and female will still get into it if she think she needs to punish him (he's still a puppy remember). I am older and back out of their scraps. Lots of noise and ferocity but rarely any blood. I just don't want 275 lbs. of snarling, fighting dogs to knock me over!

Anatolians do bark, but not as much as some of the other breeds. When a predator does have the guts/stupidity to come after a lamb, they do not make a sound. Just 2 yellow streaks heading for a kill. When they are going after a coyote to kill it there is n barking or warning. The coyote has aready signed its own death warrant by ignoring their territorial markings. All predatators know the boundaries of an LGD's territory just as they know the boundaries of their own and rival predator's hunting territory. I have seen my dogs work when a coyote came over the fence after a lamb- no barking just action. We now have the only vegetarian coyote in the state! LOL

Hope this helps. Whatever breed you get make sure to socialize and train it. The days of believing that the only LGD was untouched by humans is over and we know the best ones are socialized and trained. You still need control over your dog.
 
Top