Each litter at Apex Anatolians is planned out sometimes for years before they are whelped. Raising, evaluating, and selecting the parents for each litter involves pedigree analysis, health testing, temperament evaluation, work aptitude evaluation, and a conformation breakdown. 

It’s important to match complimentary parents, and we take that job seriously. 

Once we decide on an pairing, we wait! Mother Nature can’t be rushed, and we have to make sure we catch and time the heat cycle of the prospective mother. Vet visit, Progesterone testing for dam and Brucellosis testing for both potential parents, collection and analysis of the male, artificial insemination or natural tie, then it’s a waiting game to do an ultrasound four weeks later. 

The ultrasound machine can both confirm pregnancy and give a puppy count, depending on the skill of the scanner. 

Once we know puppies are on the way, we get the whelping suite ready! We use an EZ Whelp brand whelping box and always whelp indoors to monitor mom and pups closely for the first few weeks. 

When the time comes, we attend our moms during whelping.

Birth

Birthweights are recorded for each pup, and every 12 hours after for the first few days, until regular gains are noted. 

Each pup gets a colored collar assigned to them to better track their weight, development and any hiccups along the way. They are handled gently and safely by adults and children from day 1.

Day 3 to 17

We take the puppies through Early Neurological Stimulation and Early Scent Introduction to build up resilience to stressors and note scent reactions. 

Week 3

We start puppy curriculum according to the Empowered Breeder program. New sounds, textures, obstacles, objects and more- pups are exposed to new experiences to build confidence. 

Week 4

Pups begin spending time with sheep, pigs and chickens.

Week 6

Puppies are fed in crates to train them that confinement is safe and rewarding. We recommend that all Apex pups are crated at least once a week as they grow to reinforce positive association with the crate in case a need arises for them to be confined, transported, evacuated, etc. This is much easier to train as a pup than as an adult who has never seen a crate!

Week 7

We evaluate each puppy individually for temperament with the BAB Puppy Evaluation protocol, and our own livestock and family guardian evaluation which will tell us which homes the pup is best suited for. 

Week 8

We give recommendations to each home on the Waitlist, in order of deposits received, so long as there is a pup who matches the home’s needs. 

If a home receives a pup recommendation but decides to pass on the current litter/pup, they will retain their place on the Waitlist for the next litter. Should they pass once more, a conversation with Apex will determine Waitlist placement going forward.

Once all pups are matched to their future homes, they will go home according to their ultimate purpose:

Working Livestock Guardian pups will be sent home at 12 weeks of age, unless the home has an adult working LGD to mentor and train the pup. In that case, placement age will be discussed with the home directly. 

Family Guardian pups will be available to go home to bond with their families sooner than working livestock puppies. This will be scheduled once the home confirms their puppy selection.