The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is highly intelligent, independent, and dominant. He thinks for himself--a necessary characteristic for a livestock guardian. He's very protective of his family and flock, and he considers himself to be constantly on duty.

Though protective, the Anatolian Shepherd is calm, friendly, and affectionate with his immediate family. He is not friendly with strangers and is very reserved with those outside his family, even if they're friends or relatives of yours.

Temperament is affected by a number of factors, including heredity, training, and socialization. Puppies with nice temperaments are curious and playful, willing to approach people and be held by them. Choose the middle-of-the-road puppy, not the one who's beating up his littermates or the one who's hiding in the corner.

Always meet at least one of the parents--usually the mother is the one who's available--to ensure that they have nice temperaments that you're comfortable with. Meeting siblings or other relatives of the parents is also helpful for evaluating what a puppy will be like when he grows up.

Like every dog, the Anatolian Shepherd needs early socialization--exposure to many different people, sights, sounds, and experiences--when they're young. Socialization helps ensure that your Anatolian Shepherd puppy grows up to be a well-rounded dog.

Enrolling him in a puppy kindergarten class is a great start. Inviting visitors over regularly, and taking him to busy parks, stores that allow dogs, and on leisurely strolls to meet neighbors will also help him polish his social skills.

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