Male Vs. Female Anatolians: Which one is better for you?

 When we purchased our first Anatolian 9 years ago, we requested “the largest male in the litter.”  We wanted the intimidating-looking dog.  We did not consider any other traits, and the breeder honoured our request and gave us the biggest male.  Not only was he large, but we soon realised he had an alpha personality, and his personality was more than we could manage at the time.  Looking back, we made a poor decision.  We had a dominant male, and we were new to livestock guardian dogs. Once he was around 8 months old, we felt a great deal of stress.  He was stubborn and desired to patrol much more than our 20 acres, which meant he was finding ways to escape the area he was meant to patrol and would wander.  What we also find interesting is that what we had considered a large male (130lbs) is now the same weight as our breeding female Jane. If we could do it all over again, there are 3 factors that we would consider before gender. In this article, we’ll explore what these 3 factors are and how gender really isn’t the be-all, end-all in this case.

Wiley (right) at 3 years with his daughter Belle (left) at 7 months

The Differences

Size: 

 Males will generally mature to a larger size than females, usually ranging between 30”-36” at the shoulder and weighing around 120-180 pounds. They will usually have more muscle mass than females, but take a longer time to mature. This is especially evident in intact males.

 Females are slightly smaller, but are still very big dogs! Females generally mature between 100-160 pounds and 28”-34” at the shoulder. They will have less muscle mass than males but mature faster. 

Temperament:

 Males are usually more dominant and have a stronger desire to be the alpha of the pack. This usually means they will be more stubborn when backing down from other dogs. It can also mean they can be more resistant to listening to your training commands. They’re more territorial than females and will spray frequently to mark their territory. Males also have a stronger desire to wander and expand their territory. 

 Females are more maternal than males. They will usually bond quicker to the livestock or family and be more affectionate towards them. They can be distracted from their guardian work when they are in heat, which will happen twice a year (this can be prevented by spaying them). They are generally more submissive in comparison to males, generally making them easier to train and more eager to respond to commands. 

The Similarities

 Although males are slightly larger, both males and females are LARGE dogs! We’ve owned male Anatolians that are bigger than our females, but we’ve also seen it the other way around, where the males are smaller than the females.  

 When it comes to character, we’ve found way more similarities than differences. Although males usually have a stronger desire to be at the top of the pack, females will also work out the hierarchy. Both genders have the desire to wander and will do so if offered the opportunity. Although females usually are more maternal and bond closer to their “flock”, we’ve had males that choose to follow the livestock rather than watch the perimeter. Both are capable of being amazing guardians- gender cannot change that! 

The Factors

 Rather than looking at gender for direction as to which puppy to pick, we have found to look for the following 3 factors when choosing a puppy. 

Breeder:

The first thing to look at is the breeder. First and foremost, how does the breeder handle the puppies when they have them? Where the breeder keeps the puppies, how she manages them, and who or what they spend the most time with will affect what the puppy sees as family and how people-dependent they are. The second thing to look at is if the puppies are out guarding alongside their mom. When puppies do this, they will learn many valuable lessons from their mom and take those with them for the rest of their lives. The final thing to look at is the parents. Do they come from working lines or have qualities you are after? Yes, each puppy will have their own personality, but they will still share many of the same qualities as their parents. 

Training: 

 How a puppy is brought up through training will determine how enjoyable or burdensome that dog becomes. Owners should set consistent expectations and boundaries from day 1. They should have firm consequences in place if the puppy oversteps boundaries and nip bad behaviour in the bud immediately. Owners should look at possible problems and try to prevent them. Obedience training your Anatolian is an absolute must if you value a well-mannered and controllable dog. Take the time to obedience train and teach your dog that your commands are non-negotiable. Remember to always stay firm and consistent and prevent rather than correct when training your Anatolian!

Personality:

 The last and most important thing to keep in mind when selecting a puppy is their personality. No matter the gender of the puppy, some personality traits are hard, if not impossible, to change. For example, a female who is more dominant and headstrong compared to a submissive and chill male will likely mature to have more of a drive to be the alpha of the pack. A male who likes spending more time with livestock compared to a female who is more reserved and prefers to observe will likely bond closely with the livestock once mature. In short, ask the breeder what character traits they consistently see in each puppy and take any recommendations they might have into consideration.

In closing, when selecting a puppy, we encourage buyers to look at the breeder, your training style, and personality before looking at genders.  

Sources Cited: 

• “Male or Female Livestock Guardian Dogs: Which Is Better for Your Needs” by For The Love of Livestock https://www.forloveoflivestock.com/blog/male-or-female-livestock-guardian-dogs 

• “Livestock Guardian Dogs: Male or Female?” by Michelle Lindsey ‘Homestead on the Range’ on March 1, 2022 https://homesteadontherange.com/2022/03/01/livestock-guardian-dogs-male-or-female/ 

• “Male Vs Female Anatolian Shepherd Rundown: A Gender Battle” by Vanja Regoda ‘Breed Atlas’ on April 5, 2024 https://breedatlas.net/male-vs-female-anatolian-shepherd/