How to care for an Anatolian
- barjohomestead
- Jul 5
- 3 min read
Have you ever wondered how to maintain your Anatolian? In this article, we will cover 3 important aspects of caring for your guardian: grooming requirements, exercise needs, and vet visits.
Grooming
Anatolians require moderate grooming. They have a thick double coat, which will shed twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall. This is when you’ll notice the most shedding happens and the need for grooming is most prominent. When grooming your Anatolian, run a bristle brush or a slicker brush across the dog’s coat to help remove hair. Throughout the rest of the year, grooming comes down to preference and lifestyle. For example, if you allow your dog indoors, you will likely want to groom them regularly to minimize shedding. However, if your dog is kept outdoors, you could likely just brush during the shedding seasons.
As for bathing, Anatolians aren’t a breed that requires baths. That being said, if you allow your Anatolian in the house, it might be a wise idea to give baths when needed.
Some other things owners may choose to do are teeth brushing and nail trimming. We have never done any of these. Our vet has never recommended brushing their teeth and they’re outside 24/7, so nails aren’t a concern for us. However, please look into these options and decide what would best suit your family.
Exercise
Anatolians aren’t an overly energetic or active breed, but still require exercise. The amount and frequency of exercise needed will vary from dog to dog and on other factors like their age and condition. But on average, Anatolians require around 1.5-2 hours of exercise per day.
How owners choose to exercise their dogs will vary, but Anatolians can receive most exercise through walks. This can be as simple as allowing your dog to roam in a fenced area or taking your dog for walks or jogs. They aren’t a breed that will play fetch or other activities alike but rather enjoy patrolling.
We allow our dogs to roam the pastures with the livestock as they please. Occasionally, we'll also take them for walks with us around our property or take them to town for a walk.
Vet Care
It is important to stay on top of vaccination, deworming, and checkup schedules as directed by your vet. Generally, puppies will need to visit the vet 3 times before 12 months and annually after they’re a year old. It's recommended to deworm them twice a year. Using external preventatives for ticks and fleas might also be a good idea if that is a concern in your area. Please speak with your vet regarding schedules and recommended vaccinations, deworming, etc. requirements.
Although it might seem like a waste of time and money to take your dog to the vet regularly, it is incredibly important and could save your dog's life. It is even more important that you stick to the vaccination schedule when your Anatolian is a pup. We’ve heard stories of Anatolians catching a disease or worms and becoming seriously sick because of it.
Furthermore, taking your dog to the vet can form a relationship with the vet and enhance your Anatolian's confidence in clinics. In an emergency, it’s crucial your Anatolian can enter vet clinics and behave within the clinic. Taking your Anatolian to the vet regularly is a great opportunity to train and grow their confidence.
In summary, we encourage all Anatolian owners to stay on top of their dog’s grooming, exercise, and vet needs to maximize their dog’s health and performance. This matters to Anatolian owners because maintaining your dog helps your dog to meet their full potential.
Sources Cited:
“Anatolian Shepherd Dog Breed Guide: Care, Training, and Fun Facts by ‘Borrow My Doggy’ https://www.borrowmydoggy.com/doggypedia/dog-breed-guides-anatolian-shepherd-dog
“Best Ways To Exercise Your Anatolian Shepherd Dog?” by ‘Tailster’ on August 20, 2021 https://content.tailster.com/best-ways-to-exercise-your-anatolian-shepherd-dog/
“Anatolian Shepherd Dog: Which Brush To Use and How To Groom” by ‘brushyourpup.com https://brushyourpup.com/dogs/anatolian-shepherd-dog
“Anatolian Shepherd- Vet Care Animal Hospital” by ‘Vet Care Animal Hospital’ https://vetcareanimalhospital.com/client-resources/breed-info/anatolian-shepherd/
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