Animal register · DogComing soon to the app
Anatolian Shepherd Dog
Anatolian Shepherd, Kangal Shepherd Dog, Karabash
The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a large, powerfully built livestock-guarding dog from Turkey; the FCI describes the Turkish shepherd dog as the Kangal Shepherd Dog — one colour from fawn to wolf sable with a black mask, 72–78 cm tall for males and 65–73 cm for females. The American breed standard gives 110–150 pounds (about 50–68 kg) for males and 80–120 pounds (about 36–54 kg) for females. A dog of this size is fully grown at about 18–24 months (PetMD); the Royal Kennel Club gives a lifespan of over 10 years and WebMD 11 to 13 years on average.
The Royal Kennel Club recommends more than 2 hours of exercise a day and grooming more than once a week, says the breed sheds and suits a large house with a large garden in the country, and lists it in Breed Watch Category 1. PetMD writes that Anatolian Shepherds might be best in homes without smaller children, that puppies introduced young usually get along with other pets, that early socialisation is key, that the coat needs weekly brushing outside its twice-yearly moult, and that exercise around mealtimes should be avoided.
Built and tested; it arrives with a coming app release.
Updated:
At a glance
- Size
- large — The Royal Kennel Club S685
- Adult weight
- males 49.9–68 kg, females 36.3–54.4 kg — American Kennel Club S686
- Daily exercise
- more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S685
- Brushing
- more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S685
- Shedding
- sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S685
Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.
Who it suits
The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.
What it needs
From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.
Exercise
- Daily exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S685
Coat and grooming
Meals
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Lifespan
Life stages
- Reaches adult size at: about 18–24 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Size and weight
Training
- FCI standard no. 331, group 2 (pinscher and schnauzer types, molossoid breeds and Swiss mountain and cattle dogs); origin: Turkey. — FCI S682
Questions and answers
Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.
How much exercise does an Anatolian Shepherd Dog need?
According to our sources, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog needs this much exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S685.
How long does an Anatolian Shepherd Dog live?
According to our sources, the lifespan of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog is: more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S685; 11–13 years — WebMD Pets S688. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.
How big does an Anatolian Shepherd Dog get and how much does it weigh?
Size and adult weight of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog, according to our sources: Size: large — The Royal Kennel Club S685; Adult weight: males 49.9–68 kg, females 36.3–54.4 kg — American Kennel Club S686.
How much grooming does an Anatolian Shepherd Dog need?
Coat and grooming of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog, according to our sources: Brushing: more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S685; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S685; Coat: short — The Royal Kennel Club S685.
Who is the Anatolian Shepherd Dog a good fit for?
Our sources describe the Anatolian Shepherd Dog as a good fit for: homes with other pets — PetMD S687; a large house and garden — The Royal Kennel Club S685. Keep in mind: needs lots of exercise every day — The Royal Kennel Club S685; large dog — not for homes with small children — PetMD S687; sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S685.
Game rules, not veterinary advice
How PetPrep simulates it
In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.
| Life stage | Starts | Meals a day | Daily step goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy | arrives at 2 months | 4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2 | 1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 12,000 from month 12 |
| Young dog | month 9 | 2 | 9,000 → 12,000 steps |
| Adult | month 36 (3 years) | 2 | 12,000 steps |
| Senior | month 90 (7.5 years) | 2 | 9,000 steps |
- Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 2 hours, so 12,000 steps a day.
- Learns commands as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
- Becomes a senior in month 90 (7.5 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
- Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
- Combing once a week.
- Care: brushing the teeth every day — a task for the child.
Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine, WebMD Pets S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S685S687S688
Common Anatolian Shepherd Dog owner mistakes
Small habits that cause bigger problems — each point comes from the sources of this breed.
- Too little daily exerciseExercise needed: more than 2 hours a day. Plan it into every day, not only at weekends. — The Royal Kennel Club S685
- Skipping coat careBrushing: more than once a week. Sheds. — The Royal Kennel Club S685
- Forgetting that the puppy is still growingAdult size reached at: about 18–24 months (guidance for its size class). Until then, plan exercise and food for a young animal that is still growing, and ask your vet what suits yours. — PetMD S10
- Overlooking the breed's known health issuesBloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), where the stomach twists, can occur in the breed — it is an emergency that needs a vet straight away. Can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips and elbows tested before breeding. Entropion, where the eyelids turn inwards and irritate the eye, can occur in the breed; ask for eye-checked parents. — PetMD S687
In PetPrep a child practises exactly these habits — steps, meals, care — before the real pet comes home.
Health
For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.
- Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), where the stomach twists, can occur in the breed — it is an emergency that needs a vet straight away. — PetMD S687
- Can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips and elbows tested before breeding. — PetMD S687
- Entropion, where the eyelids turn inwards and irritate the eye, can occur in the breed; ask for eye-checked parents. — PetMD S687
Before you buy: what to check with the breeder
Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.
For every breed
- See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
- The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
- Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
- Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
- National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
- Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10
Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.
Health tests of the parents for this breed
Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum
- Genetic diversity — check the inbreeding coefficient — The Royal Kennel Club S685
Further tests for best practice
- Hip X-ray screening for hip dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S685
These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.
Similar breeds
Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.
Sources
Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.
- S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
- S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
- S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
- S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
- S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
- S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
- S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
- S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
- S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
- S682FCI — FCI-St. N°331 — Kangal Shepherd Dog (Kangal Çoban Köpeği) (PDF)https://WWW.FCI.BE/medias/331g02-en-9067.pdf
- S685The Royal Kennel Club — Breeds A to Z — Anatolian Shepherd Doghttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/pastoral/anatolian-shepherd-dog/
- S686American Kennel Club (Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America) — Official Standard of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog (approved June 1995, effective 1996-06-01) (PDF)https://a.storyblok.com/f/92981/x/9572e56ac7/akc-anatolian-shepherd-dog.pdf
- S687PetMD — Teresa Kho-Pelfrey, DVM (2023-02-08) — Anatolian Shepherdhttps://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/anatolian-shepherd
- S688WebMD Pets — Logan Smith, medically reviewed by Amy Flowers, DVM (2025-01-31) — What to Know About Anatolian Shepherd Dogshttps://www.webmd.com/pets/dogs/know-about-anatolian-shepherd-dogs
- K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
- K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
- K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
- K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
- K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.
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