How to Entertain an Anatolian Shepherd
Anatolian shepherds are large, powerful dogs that were originally bred as livestock guarding dogs. They can grow to be extremely large at 26 to 30 inches tall and over 150 lbs. They are both intelligent and intense. As guarding dogs, Anatolians are clever, loyal and alert, and have a superior sense of both sight and smell. As family pets, Anatolians are taken out of their natural habitat and may require additional attention and entertainment.
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Instructions
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Give your Anatolian shepherd task-oriented toys to encourage it to think and solve problems. Put treats or scoops of peanut butter in a Kong, Buster Cube or Pet Goody toy, and refill the toy when the dog figures it out. Make the game more fun by playing fetch or hide-and-seek with the toy.
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Set up obstacle courses for your Anatolian shepherd. These are active dogs that enjoy a challenge and exercise, so set up obstacles, tunnels and jumps and make up a course to run with your dog. The dog will enjoy the personal attention and action, and may calm down inside the house if it gets exercise every day.
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Train your Anatolian shepherd. These are working dogs that enjoy the mental and physical challenge of training, and work hard to please their owners. Start with standard obedience commands like sit, stay and come, and then move on to more complex commands. Consider enrolling your dog in a professional training class to learn weekly lessons and have something to look forward to.
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Tips & Warnings
Start training with large dog when they're puppies, for a smoother, more successful experience.
Some dogs do better with companionship. If your Anatolian shepherd has trouble settling down, consider getting another dog or cat to keep the dog company.
Anatolians do not do well in apartments, as they are large and active. Only buy an Anatolian if you have a large yard and plenty of time to interact with the dog.
