Protecting The Future By Preserving The Past

Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them.

When I got involved in Anatolians back in the mid 1990’s there was quite a bit of talk about breed preservation. It seemed the early breeders were concerned about the future of their dogs and their purpose. As time went on, breeders became plentiful and the focus began to turn to showing and breed club politics.

By the time the 2000’s rolled around, there was little talk of preservation and even less talk about working dogs. Club newsletters were filled with show accolades and show talk. It still remains this way today. It’s hard for the working dog owner and/or breeder to find their way in the dog show world and even harder for them to remain a member of a “breed preservation club,” that only speaks of show dogs. The dog show life is one that most farmers and ranchers don’t understand or have an interest in. (Yes. I’m speaking from experience.) By 2005 or so, the future of the dogs seemed to lay in the hands of show only breeders, or at the very least there was a profound divide starting between working dog breeders and show only breeders.

In my opinion, working dog people do the majority of work when it comes to breed preservation. Raising their dogs with livestock, testing their dogs abilities among the livestock, maintaining working traits, etc. They have the advantage when it comes to breeding functional working dogs as they are selecting their breeding dogs based on their performance in the pasture, not the show ring. Working dog breeders are the backbone of the breed. A good working dog breeder doesn't try to change the breed, instead they preserve those traits that were developed thousands of years ago by the Turkish Shepherds. In the show ring, not only were the show breeders changing the look of Anatolians, they were changing the temperament. It was concerning to us, as we depend on these dogs to protect our stock. We depend on the primitive traits that were original to Anatolians when they first came to the states. We depend on the predictability that comes with selectively breeding generations of purebred WORKING dogs.

Our focus here has never wavered. We are first and foremost farmers who use these dogs to protect our stock. We had a terrible predator issue and needed a solution. In one night, half of our laying hens were killed and cached by the resident red fox. A short time later, our flock of prized Sebastopol geese were wiped out by the pack of Coywolves living in the conservation land behind us. Baby goats were being carried off in daylight. Our solution to these (and other) losses was the Anatolian Shepherd. We were (and still are) farmers who needed working livestock guardians. We purchased the dogs to protect our livestock, not the other way around. Some Anatolian breeders purchase livestock (a couple sheep or goats) to maintain a working dog image. There is a difference between breeders who raise these dogs out of a need to protect their livelihood and those who do it for the ribbons. Ribbons are nice, but our focus has always been on the dogs ability to protect livestock. I wish there were ribbons handed out for that!

As I watched the focus of other breeders turn from working ability to show ability, I started thinking back to the early days. Back to those breeders, like us, whose focus was to protect the breed by preserving those primitive traits that made it a breed in the first place. Where did they all go? Did they not mentor and instill preservation values into the next generation? I hated seeing my breed being turned into a generic show dog right before my eyes. Working ability and ruggedness was being diminished and replaced with these small, biddable, human dependent dogs that lacked breed type, so much so, I didn’t even recognize them as Anatolians.

My solution was to start doing more breed education and more AKC Judge Education. I made myself available to any breed judge, farm group, agricultural co op, etc that was interested in learning about Anatolians and their purpose. I made myself available to anyone who needed a mentor, where their dogs came from didn’t matter. I comment frequently on social media, so I started using the word “preservation” A LOT. I wrote articles on Anatolians and preservation. Did interviews in dog magazines and talked about preservation. Preservation became my most used word. I used the word so much I began to see other breeders start to use the word again. It became the focus for new breeders and show only breeders that felt the working dog people maybe had something they didn’t.

I also decided to get into the show ring with my working dogs. What better way to combat the tiny, bouncy, generic show dog? I wanted to force people to see my large, rugged, impressive, and sometimes goat scented, working dogs. We don’t get to do many shows, farming takes precedence, but Stonecoat dogs have repeatedly held their own in the ring. Our dogs need good structure to perform the job they were intended to do. Good structure is usually rewarded in the ring, therefore our dogs do well. By taking them to shows they also become ambassadors for the breed. It gives us another opportunity to show good breed examples to the public. It gives us the opportunity to talk Anatolians with anyone who is interested, something we love to do. We are proud of our dogs and proud of the job they do. We are committed to protecting the future of Anatolians by honoring the history (past) of the breed. Preservation is possible through committed, responsible, working dog breeders.

Preservation is more than just a word. I’m glad to see it being used again in our breed, but don’t want to see it being used carelessly. Do your research and make sure you are actually supporting a Preservation Breeder.

Here are some guidelines:

1) Should have at LEAST 10 years breeding purebred Anatolians.

2) Question those that have or still promote the breeding of crossbred dogs. Crossbred dogs lack predictability and muddy the gene pool. Great Pyrenees-Anatolian crosses are a huge issue right now, in the LGD community, when it comes to preservation.

3) Preservationists should be breeding their own lines. They should have multiple generations of their own breedings behind them. Well developed, consistent production is a sign of a dedicated breeder. Be cautious of those that are constantly breeding other breeders lines or lack consistency in their production. (We aren’t talking about outcrosses for genetic diversity, we are talking about breeders that don’t retain and build off their own productions) If breeders are happy with what they are producing then they retain multiple pups to carry on their lines.

4) Their dogs should live with livestock 24/7 in a predator rich environment. (No, letting your dog out to pee at midnight where it happens to chase off a raccoon isn’t the same thing.) Having three sheep or two goats on a small lot isn’t exactly a true working environment either, but it’s better than kennel raised Anatolians.

5) Preservationists put working ability first, followed by sound temperament, structure and health.

6) Preservationists will place at least 75% off their puppies in working homes. The goal should always be 100%, but we know some dogs will be better suited as family and property guardians(Anatolians are very loving and loyal to their humans as well). We never want to place a puppy where it doesn’t fit. Temperament testing and proper placement are key.

This is not to knock new breeders, everyone has to start somewhere. New breeders can focus on wanting to become Preservation Breeders, but they aren’t actually “preservationists” just yet. When you see a breeder using the word Preservation, do your homework. There are advantages to buying your next guardian from a preservation breeder who has dedicated decades to producing dogs fit for purpose.