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Anatolian Shepherd Dog Breed Standard USA
and Australian
Note: Australian Standard has an upper height range~because ~ there comes a time when the Breed is too tall~ this creates: breakdown and or an inability to be agile ~ form follows function
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AKC USA
Anatolian Shepherd Dog Breed Standard
General Appearance
Large, rugged, powerful and impressive, possessing great endurance and agility. Developed through a set of very demanding circumstances for a purely utilitarian purpose; he is a working guard dog without equal, with a unique ability to protect livestock. General impression - Appears bold, but calm, unless challenged. He possesses size, good bone, a well-muscled torso with a strong head. Reserve out of its territory is acceptable. Fluid movement and even temperament is desirable.
Size, Proportion, Substance
General balance is more important than absolute size. Dogs should be from 29 inches and weighing from 110 to 150 pounds proportionate to size and structure. Bitches should be from 27 inches, weighing from 80 to 120 pounds, proportionate to size and structure. Neither dog nor bitch appear fat. Both dog and bitch should be rectangular, in direct proportion to height. Measurements and weights apply at age 2 or older.
Head
Expression should be intelligent. Eyes are medium size, set apart, almond shaped and dark brown to light amber in color. Blue eyes or eyes of two different colors are a disqualification. Eye rims will be black or brown and without sag or looseness of haw. Incomplete pigment is a serious fault. Ears should be set on no higher than the plane of the head. V-shaped, rounded apex, measuring about four inches at the base to six inches in length. The tip should be just long enough to reach the outside corner of the eyelid. Ears dropped to sides. Erect ears are a disqualification. Skull is large but in proportion to the body. There is a slight centerline furrow, fore and aft, from apparent stop to moderate occiput. Broader in dogs than in bitches. Muzzle is blockier and stronger for the dog, but neither dog nor bitch would have a snipey head or muzzle. Nose and flews must be solid black or brown. Seasonal fading is not to be penalized. Incomplete pigment is a serious fault. Flews are normally dry but pronounced enough to contribute to "squaring" the overall muzzle appearance. Teeth and gums strong and healthy. Scissors bite preferred, level bite acceptable. Broken teeth are not to be faulted. Overshot, undershot or wry bite are disqualifications.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck slightly arched, powerful, and muscular, moderate in length with more skin and fur than elsewhere on the body, forming a protective ruff. The dewlap should not be pendulous and excessive. Topline will appear level when gaiting. Back will be powerful, muscular, and level, with drop behind withers and gradual arch over loin, sloping slightly downward at the croup. Body well proportioned, functional, without exaggeration. Never fat or soft. Chest is deep (to the elbow) and well-sprung with a distinct tuck up at the loin. Tail should be long and reaching to the hocks. Set on rather high. When relaxed, it is carried low with the end curled upwards. When alert, the tail is carried high, making a "wheel." Both low and wheel carriage are acceptable, when gaiting. "Wheel" carriage preferred. The tail will not necessarily uncurl totally.
Forequarters
Shoulders should be muscular and well developed, blades long, broad and sloping. Elbows should be neither in nor out. Forelegs should be relatively long, well-boned and set straight with strong pasterns. The feet are strong and compact with well-arched toes, oval in shape. They should have stout nails with pads thick and tough. Dewclaws may be removed.
Hindquarters
Strong, with broad thighs and heavily muscled. Angulation at the stifle and hock are in proportion to the forequarters. As seen from behind, the legs are parallel. The feet are strong and compact with well-arched toes, oval in shape. Double dewclaws may exist. Dewclaws may be removed.
Coat
Short (one inch minimum, not tight) to Rough (approximately 4 inches in length) with neck hair slightly longer. Somewhat longer and thicker at the neck and mane. A thick undercoat is common to all. Feathering may occur on the ear fringes, legs, breeching, and tail.
Color
All color patterns and markings are equally acceptable.
Gait
At the trot, the gait is powerful yet fluid. When viewed from the front or rear, the legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. With increased speed, footfall converges toward the center line of gravity. When viewed from the side, the front legs should reach out smoothly with no obvious pounding. The withers and backline should stay nearly level with little rise or fall. The rear assembly should push out smoothly with hocks doing their share of the work and flexing well.
Temperament
Alert and intelligent, calm and observant. Instinctively protective, he is courageous and highly adaptable. He is very loyal and responsive. Highly territorial, he is a natural guard. Reserve around strangers and off its territory is acceptable. Responsiveness with animation is not characteristic of the breed. Overhandling would be discouraged.
Disqualifications
Blue eyes or eyes of two different colors.
Erect ears.
Overshot, undershot, or wry bite.
Approved: June 1995
Effective: June 1, 1996
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Last Updated: 2 Jul 2009
A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.
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Group:
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Group 6 (Utility)
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History:
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General Appearance:
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Large, upstanding, tall, powerfully built, livestock guarding dog with broad strong head and dense double coat. Must have size and stamina. Capable of great speed.
Important Proportions: Foreface slightly shorter than skull.
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Characteristics:
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An active breed originally used as a guard dog for sheep; hard working; capable of enduring extremes of heat and cold.
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Temperament:
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Steady and bold without aggression, naturally independent, very intelligent and tractable. Proud and confident. Loyal and affectionate to owners, but wary of strangers when mature.
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Head And Skull:
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Skull: Large, but in proportion to body, broad between ears, slightly domed, with slight stop. Mature males have broader head than females.
Foreface: Seen from above almost rectangular. Profile blunt, tapering very slightly to end.
Nose: Black, except in livers, where it is brown.
Lips: Very slightly pendulous, black-edged. Edge of upper lip not lower than the profile of the underjaw. Tight lip-corners.
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Eyes:
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Rather small in proportion to size of skull, set well apart, deep set, showing no haw. Golden to brown in colour according to coat colour. Eye rims black except in livers.
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Ears:
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Medium sized, triangular in shape, rounded at tip, pendant with front edge close to cheek, higher when alert.
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Mouth:
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Teeth strong, with a perfect scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaw. Complete dentition.
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Neck:
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Slightly arched, powerful, muscular, moderate in length, rather thick. Slight dewlap.
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Forequarters:
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Shoulders: Well muscled, oblique.
Forelegs: Set well apart, straight and well boned; of good length.
Elbows: Close to sides, free moving.
Pasterns: Strong, slightly sloping when viewed from side.
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Body:
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Powerful, well muscled, never fat.
Topline: Rather short in proportion to leg length, horizontal, slightly arched over loins.
Underline: With the belly well tucked up.
Chest: Deep to point of elbow, ribs well sprung, ribcage sufficiently long.
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Hindquarters:
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Powerful, not overloaded with muscles. Hindlegs vertical when seen from rear.
Thighs: Long.
Stifle: Good turn of stifle.
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Feet:
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Strong, with thick pads and well arched toes. Nails short.
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Tail:
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Long, reaching to hock, set on rather high, when relaxed carried low with slight curl; when alert carried high and curled over back, especially by males.
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Gait/Movement:
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Very noticeable level line of body, head and neck when walking; movement even, supple and long reaching, giving impression of stalking, with great power. Pacing acceptable at slow speed. Mincing or hackney action highly undesirable.
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Coat:
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Hair: Short or mid-length, dense, with thick undercoat. Great variations in length according to climate. Longer and thicker at neck, shoulders and thighs. The coat tends to be longer in winter.
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Colour:
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All colours acceptable.
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Sizes:
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Height:
Dogs 74-81 cm (29-32 ins) at the shoulders
Bitches 71-79 cm (28-31 ins) at the shoulders
Weight:
Mature dogs 50-65 kg (110-145 lbs)
Mature bitches 40-55 kg (85-120 lbs)
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Faults:
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Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
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Notes:
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Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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Last Updated: 2 Jul 2009
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