Anatolian Shepherd

FCI-Standard N° 331 /   06. 06. 1989/ GB

 

ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD DOG

(Coban Köpegi)

 

ORIGIN : Anatolia.

 

PATRON : FCI.

 

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD :  10.04.1989.

 

UTILIZATION :          Active breed originally used as a guard dog for sheep; hard working; capable of enduring extremes of heat and cold.

 

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group       2 Pinscher and Schnauzer –

Molossoid breeds - Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs and other

breeds. Section 2.2 Molossoid breeds, Mountain type.

Without working trial.

 

BRIEF HISTORICAL SURVEY : The Anatolian Shepherd is a shepherd’s guard dog of ancient lineage, probably descended from the large hunting dogs existing in Mesopotamia.  The breed has evolved over the ages to suit a specific set of circumstances.  Of these the most formative are the climate – hot and very dry summers, very cold winters – the peoples’life-style- settled, semi- and wholly nomade – and the work assigned to the dogs.  They guard flocks travelling great distances on the Central Anatolian Plateau.  They stay out whatever the weather may be.

 

GENERAL APPERANCE : Large, upstanding, tall, powerfully built, livestock guarding dog with broad, strong head and dense double coat.  Must have size and stamina.  Capable of great speed.

 

IMPORTANT PROPORTION : Foreface slightly shorter than skull.

 

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Steady and bold without aggression, naturally independent, very intelligent and tractable.  Proud and confident.  Loyal and affectionate to owners, but weary of strangers when mature.

 

HEAD

 

CRANIAL REGION : 

Skull : Large, but in proportion to body, broad between ears, slightly domed.  Mature males have broader head than females.

Stop : Slight.

 

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Black, except in livers, where it is brown.

Muzzle : Seen from above almost rectangular.  Profile blunt, tapering very slightly to end.

Lips : Very slightly pendulous, black-edged.  Edge of upper lip not lower than the profile of the underjaw.  Tight lip-corners.                    

Jaws/Teeth : Teeth strong, with a perfect scissor bite, i.e the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaw.  Complete dentition.

Eyes : Rather small in proportion to size of skull, set well apart, deep set, showing no haw.  Golden to brown in colour according to coat colour.  Eye rims black except in livers.

Ears : Medium sized, triangular in shape, rounded at tip, pendant with front edge close to cheek, higher when alert.

 

NECK : Slightly arched, powerful, muscular, moderate in length, rather thick.  Slight dewlap.

 

BODY : Powerful, well muscled, never flat.

Topline : Horizontal, slightly arched over loins.

Back : Rather short in proportion to leg length.

Chest : Deep to point of elbow; ribs well sprung, ribcage, sufficiently long.

Underline : With the belly well tucked up.

 

TAIL : Long, reaching to hock, set on rather high, when relaxed carried low with slight curl; when alert carried high and curled over back, especially by males.

 

LIMBS

 

FOREQUARTERS : Set well apart straight and well boned; of good length.

Shoulders : Well muscled, oblique.

Elbows : Close to sides, free moving.

Pasterns : Strong, slightly sloping when viewed from side.

 

HINDQUARTERS : Powerful, not overloaded with muscles.  Hindlegs vertical when seen from rear.

Thigh : Long.

Stifle : Good turn of stifle.

 

FEET : Strong, with thick pads and well arched toes.  Nails short.

 

GAIT / MOVEMENT  :  Very noticeable level line of body, head and neck when walking, movement even, supple and long reaching, giving impression of stalking, with great power.  Pacing acceptable at slow speed.  Mincing or hackney action highly undesirable.

 

COAT

 

HAIR : Short or half-long, dense, with thick undercoat.  Great variations in length according to climate.  Longer and thicker at neck, shoulders and thighs.  The coat tends to be longer in winter.

 

COLOUR  All colours acceptable.

 

SIZE AND WEIGHT  :

Height at withers : Dogs :  74-81 cm.

                       Bitches :  71-79 cm.

Weight : Mature dogs : 50-65 kg.

            Bitches : 40-55 kg.

 

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

 

SERIOUS FAULTS  :

• Low to ground, heavy and slow, too massive; too light in build, whippety.
• Flat skull.
• Hackney action, mincing gait, stiffness.
• Coat too long and hanging.

 

ELIMINATING FAULTS :

·         Aggresive or overly shy.

·         Muzzle too short (one third of the total length of head).

• Overshot, undershot.
• Coat : very short and smooth, devoid of undercoat.
• Incapable of guarding livestock.

 

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

 

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.