Prospective owners need to understand that owning an Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. This breed grows to be a large serious dog that requires owners who understand the nature of a livestock guardian dog. The dogs of AlaTurkay follow thousands of years of selection for calm watchful behavior and the physical ability to stop a predator from approaching their flock.

NOTE: DUE TO THE STRONG WORKING INSTINCT OF ANATOLIAN SHEPHERDS, WE PREFER TO PLACE PUPPIES IN WORKING HOMES, AS GENERAL FARM OR FAMILY GUARDIANS, OR WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH LARGE WORKING BREEDS. ANATOLIANS NEED ABUNDANT SPACE AND FREEDOM TO EXERCISE AND PERFORM THE JOB THEY WERE INTENDED TO DO. WHILE THEY ALSO EXCEL AS WONDERFUL GUARDIANS AND COMPANIONS TO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, THEY ARE NOT MEANT FOR ALL ENVIRONMENTS. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THEM FOR URBAN AREAS WITH SMALL YARDS, APARTMENTS OR CONDOS.

If you have done your research and want an Anatolian, we would love to discuss their pros and cons with you. Our goal is to make sure people and their anatolians fit together for a comfortable lifestyle, whether purchased as a livestock guardian, family companion, and/or show prospect. Anatolians, like other livestock guardian breeds, are different from your more common dog breeds and, if you can adapt to their way of thinking, make other breeds seem superfluous after you have lived with them awhile.

AlaTurkay Anatolian Shepherd Dogs are chosen for their temperament, health, structure and working ability. This breed is loyal, brave and very intelligent. They are our companions and guardians, making them wonderful and devoted family members provided they are raised and socialized as proscribed for the breed.

In every litter of puppies there are a range of temperaments, as well as physical differences in the pups. I spend a lot of time observing a litter as they grow, and will choose each pup to match their prospective new homes according to what prospective new parents have asked me for. I firmly believe that all puppies need to have the influence of their siblings and mother during at least the first 8-10 weeks of life. There are occasionally older puppies and young adults that are for sale, and these will either have livestock or handling experiences to make them a desirable dog for the right situation.

All puppies are AKC litter registered and come with a written contract and health certificate. In addition, our pups come with "lifetime breeder support". In other words, if a "new parent" has a problem, at any time, during the life of their Anatolian Shepherd Dog, we are available to help.

We are NOT commercial breeders ... we breed only when we need to replenish our own kennels and have two exceptional dogs of the quality we require to breed.

Sires and Dams of every litter are tested and cleared for all genetic defects tested for in our breed (i.e., hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism and entropion) and must be OFA Excellent or Good to be considered for our breeding program. Our dogs are fed a high quality food to keep them in top shape. And, even if they pass all genetic and health testing, we still will not breed a dog unless they are also structurally correct with stable temperaments.

It is our belief that if we breed only the best possible dogs, we stand a better chance of getting correct structures, sound bones and stable temperaments ... and we strive to pass this on in all of our pups in order to produce healthy long-lived dogs.

No applicant will be considered unless there is a fully functional sturdy fence around the entire area where the dog will be kept. And, please do NOT apply for one of our pups if you live in an apartment dwelling with a tiny fenced in area. All applicants must be in a position to spend the necessary time and energy to raise one of these dogs properly. Please make sure you fit the necessary requirements before applying to us for an Anatolian Shepherd Dog.

Litters average 6-9 puppies and pups are hand raised with love in our homes, not in a kennel, until they are big enough to be introduced to livestock. Each puppy is carefully watched during the 8-10 weeks they spend with us, so we can better evaluate their personality and temperament. We try to learn as much as possible about our puppies and what their prospective "new parents" are looking for in order to match each puppy to just the right family.

Our puppies are considered NONBREEDING stock until they are at least 24 months of age and have passed all genetic testing for our breed (i.e., hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, entropion). Any breeding before they have been tested at that time and cleared for genetic defects nullifies our contract. You can see our basic contract HERE