Why an Anatolian Shepherd Could Be the Pet for You

9. Nomadic History

This special breed dates back to 2,000 BCE, and they are thought to descend from Roman Mollosian war dogs and Tibetan Mastiffs. Anatolian Shepherds get their name from their original homeland of Anatolia in central Turkey. Local tribesmen lived a nomadic way of life and depended on flocks of goats and sheep to survive. With predators in the region, such as bears and wolves, the nomads relied on large dogs to protect their animals. These dogs would stay with the flock, day and night, to see off any predators, and were given spiked collars to protect their throats from attackers. As such a useful and valuable breed, the Turks managed to keep Anatolian Shepherds a secret from the world until the 1900s.