Blackwood Farm Guardians
Farm Security
Anatolians:
The Anatolian Shepherd is native to Asia Minor. It protects flocks and serves as a shepherd's companion. On the high Anatolian Plateau, summers are hot and very dry and winters are cold. The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is able to live outside all year round. For centuries the ancestors of the Anatolian Shepherd were used as combat dogs in war and for hunting. It was particularly valued for the victorious battles it could fight with wolves. The Turkish people would put a spiked color on them to protect their necks from getting bit by predators who attacked their charges. As a sheepdog, it was bothered by neither fatigue nor bad weather. Today it is still used as a sheep dog as well as a guard dog. The Anatolian Shepherd is very closely related to the Kangal Dog and some people even declare all Turkish shepherds i.e. the Kangal Dog, to be one breed, the Anatolian Shepherd, however the true Turkish Kangal Dogs are said to be a separate breed from the generic Turkish shepherd's dog. The isolated historical conditions of the Sivas-Kangal region have resulted in the development of the Kangal Dog as a distinct breed which has been declared the National Dog of Turkey and a national treasure. The true Turkish Kangal Dogs are first and foremost still primarily working shepherds. The export of pure Kangal Dogs from Turkey has been controlled and now is virtually forbidden. The Kangal Dog Club of America continues to work to ease import restrictions. Imported dogs are considered to be extremely valuable for their potential contribution to the genetic pool in the United States. The Anatolian Shepherd was recognized by the AKC in 1995.
We got our first Anatolian in the fall of 1995 after our herd was attacked by 3 juvenile mountain lions, which had been previously turned loose by their owner because he could no longer feed them. They made the two week trip across the country side wreaking havoc and destruction along the path to our pasture, honing their killing techniques to finally arrive and proceed to kill and eat two of our best pregnant ewes.
Since the dogs have arrived we have not lost a single farm animal due to predators. They are the peace of mind I have every night when I sleep and every time I am away from home, I know all my animals are safe as long as my guardians are there.
We periodically have puppies for sale. We have two full blood females and an AKC registered male. Check back for updates to the tentatively scheduled litter coming fall of 2018.
