Blog
SportDog Invisible Fence
We have gotten a lot of questions about our fencing and how we keep our dogs contained. We have 47″ tall woven wire steel field fence that makes up our pens. The fence is perfectly adequate for our Kunekune pigs, hair sheep, Jersey cow, and puppies. However, our older livestock guardian dogs could easily hop out of our fences at any time. Especially when we have 2-3 feet of hard snow pack along the fence line. The way we have chosen to address this is to utilize the SportDog 100A Invisible Fence System. Here is a video about how we set up our system: And here is the LGD Invisible Fence shopping list (of affiliate links that cost you nothing extra, but support our dogs. Thank you!) if you want the same products we use here. Special Notes: SportDog 100A JUST THE BOX (You’ll save money by avoiding a rechargeable collar and crappy wire by buying the lone box). Order one collar per dog!These are the collars we use, because they take 9 volt batteries that last 2-4 months. The SportDog collars currently available are re-chargable and require charge every 8-12 hours. Order Enough Wire for your fenceline + double the distance to where you will put your transmitter box indoors.This is the wire we use. Use as few rolls/pieces as possible to keep the boundary line strong and prevent loss of loop. Use Splices to join your wire pieces together along the boundary line.These are rated for outdoor use. You can use other splices, but the moisture and dirt can affect your loop quality. Zip Ties secure your boundary wire to your physical fenceline. Get enough for every other fence post.Bright colors are easily spotted if they fall, but you can use any color you like! Keep spare 9 Volt Batteries on HandYou don’t want to run out of these for your collar(s). Keep them in the fridge, they will last a long time!
NEW STUDY: LGDs Deter Grizzly Bears
There is a new multi-year study regarding how livestock guardian dogs deter grizzly bears in Montana. Two of our puppies were placed with a family in this recent LGD study by Utah State University and the Montana, Fish Wildlife and Parks. We are honored to have our dogs participating in active research regarding predator management in our area. The Study found that livestock guardian dogs (Anatolian Shepherd Dogs and Kangal Dogs used in this study) are effective deterrents of grizzly bears in areas of previous conflict. Conducted on the Eastern front of the Rockies here in Montana, this study measured many factors about the participating livestock guardian dogs, including how they patrolled and established territory around homes and grain storage. From Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks: This multi-year case study, led by FWP’s bear specialist Wesley Sarmento and Julie K. Young, associate professor at Utah State University, reveals the significant role LGDs can play in coexisting with recovering populations of apex predators. “.. our experiment shows that an ancient human technique is effective and increasingly relevant in modern society with recovering carnivore populations. … As carnivore populations declined, so did these ancient practices. Now rewilding is requiring relearning these often-forgotten techniques, but before now, to our knowledge, no scientific tests have been conducted on the efficacy of LGDs for protecting farmsteads. LGDs are one more tool in the toolbox to help keep people safe while coexisting with recovering populations of apex predators.” Highlights from the study: • 87% reduction in bear GPS collar locations near homes after placement of LGD • 58-fold fewer camera detection of bears near homes with LGD compared to those without LGD • Ag Producers had positive experiences with LGD, considered them effective, and would recommend them. Check out the study here: https://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content/assets/fwp/conservation/bears/young-and-sarmento-2024-lgd-efficacy.pdf
Shazam x Jyn Litter Announcement
Celebration! Today we celebrate a few firsts here at Apex Anatolians! Our first successful AI (artificial insemination, not intelligence) litter, first cesarean section, and first mini litter (2 pups) all happened today! Gratitude As many of my friends know, my mentor Janet Dotson and I undertook a passion project at the end of last year to breed Jyn to one of the best dogs I’ve met (and I have met so many good dogs!) This was a very involved process with many people to thank: Janet (of course, again, forever), Dr. Souther and Jordan, Dr. Ferguson and the Blue Mountain team, my supportive husband, and my boys. The Story In November, I delivered Jyn to Southern California to enjoy some sun and vacation time from the critters here before she came into heat. That didn’t really work, because the moment she could, she went to work the goat pen with Ateš, Boris and Muska. Shockingly, everyone got along fine and Jyn is now BFFs with Ateš (no one saw that coming). During Jyn’s stay, Janet graciously took Jyn to Dr. Souther, her Theriogenologist (reproductive veterinary specialist), for initial bloodwork, multiple progesterone tests, and two Transcervical Inseminations (TCI) to some less-than-optimal frozen semen from Shazam. It just didn’t freeze/thaw well. We were all cautiously optimistic for a good outcome given otherwise ideal conditions and timing! I picked Jyn up a couple weeks after she was bred, and began monitoring her closely, scheduling her ultrasound and X-rays with my Theriogenologist Dr. Ferguson. On day 30 we confirmed she was pregnant! But we only saw two little fetuses. As she progressed, we noticed all the usual signs of pregnancy other than getting obscenely large. For the last week, Tim and I have monitored Jyn around the clock. She looked like she was finally getting into stage 1 early this morning, but Jyn didn’t progress normally into second-stage labor (when the puppies appear) so she had a cesarean section before noon today. Both pups were removed surgically, and showed plenty of vigor immediately. We are so happy to have two healthy Anatolian boys! This is the second and sadly final litter out of GCHS Karaboudjan’s Mystic Moonspell “Shazam” who was expertly bred and loved by Janet Dotson of Karaboudjan Anatolians. The Boys
The Anatolian Shepherds and Dog Shows
Have you ever wondered why an Anatolian Shepherd dog goes to a dog show? And what does conformation showing have to do with a working breed dog? It’s common to hear the reasons a dog shouldn’t be shown- because he has a job to do, the sheep won’t make it if he leaves, or maybe he doesn’t know what a leash is… but the biggest reason that most working Anatolian breeders give for not showing is that it won’t tell them anything they don’t already know. Same for health testing, usually. Interesting, isn’t it? While my primary focus here is dogs who bond with my stock and family to protect them, I have gained a healthy respect for the conformation show ring. It doesn’t make sense to pull your only livestock guardian dog away from his charges to attend a dog show- even if you have a working pair. With the pack I have built up, I have enough dogs I can rotate to cover for one or two of the dogs attending a weekend show. I understand that this is not true of every farm! Please know that I’m not advocating putting your livestock or property at risk for the sake of a dog show. However, if you are ever interested in attending a dog show or exhibiting your dog, here are some things worth considering: Why should you show an Anatolian Shepherd Dog? There are many reasons to show a dog in a conformation ring! Let’s ignore the selfish reasons and focus on the more productive and constructive drivers behind many breeders I know who show their Anatolians: A breeder who presents their dogs for evaluation by a conformation judge is showing that they care about external opinions. This is a GOOD trait in a breeder! Conformation shows are not be-all, end-all for any Anatolian breeders I know. Most of us have livestock that we would rather spend our time with than driving across the countryside to a dog show. But there are good reasons to go sometimes! New to Dog Shows? If you’re new to the breed or conformation events, don’t be afraid to ask questions! Most people at dog shows will be happy to help you learn the ropes. I have experienced it first-hand. The number of kind people outweighs the others, and you’ll learn who is genuine pretty quickly! Contact the Club (Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America) if you need help locating or entering a show with your Anatolian Shepherd. You can also reach out to your local All-Breed Club, which you can look up here: https://www.apps.akc.org/club-search/#/conformation A “Low Entry Breed” As of January 2024, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog is still a “Low Entry Breed” with the American Kennel Club. This year’s letter: http://images.akc.org/pdf/judges/Low_Entry_Breeds_List.pdf What does that mean? The AKC publishes a list of “Low Entry Breeds” for each year. This doesn’t mean a breed is “rare” per se. “Low entry” simply means that a certain breed of dog is not being entered in AKC conformation shows very often, so judges see them less often than a higher-entry breed. For conformation judges interested in adding a low-entry breed to their repertoire, the requirements and breed count limits are modified due to fewer opportunities for formal judges’ education and hands-on mentorship in a show environment. (See: From the AKC Board of Directors – Judging Approval Process page 4) Is this a bad development? No, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog has never been a high-entry breed. They have been on every one of these lists I have seen. This doesn’t mean that the breed is in new trouble or that there are not enough Anatolians. The low entry status will only affect us when it comes to building points/major points in a given day. Communication with local/regional Anatolian people will help you make the most out of your show entries!
The Turkish Shepherd Dogs in America – a Brief Timeline
There is a long-standing debate between the owners of various Turkish Shepherd dogs in the United States and beyond. Varying opinions on which breed is “real,” “original,” or “recognized.” Some owners believe theirs is the only breed worth owning, or that the others are false imitations. This stems from a cultural difference between America and Türkiye. While working to preserve these fantastic dogs, Americans unintentionally created something new and exciting to argue about! While I do enjoy a good debate, it has become increasingly obvious that I don’t need to attend every argument I’m invited to attend. I know- I must be getting old or something. But it does raise the question – Why can’t we just get along? I believe we can! Natalie with a Panter line Kangal bitch in Summer, 2012. We stopped in Las Vegas, NV for a walk on our trip from Los Angeles to Montana. What is a “Turkish Shepherd” though? Great question! Essentially, what I mean when I say “Turkish Shepherd Dog” is a dog from Türkiye called “çoban köpeği” which means “shepherd’s dog.” These livestock guardian dogs are raised by shepherds to live with and protect their flocks and herds from predators and rustlers. They are selected for guardian traits and the pups who do not exhibit proper behaviors are culled, not kept. This is how the dogs have developed into reliable assets to their shepherd owners over millenia. These dogs are not herders like many of the other shepherd breeds (German, Australian, etc.). Why are Americans Involved? Another good one! The quick version here is that the United States of America and Türkiye have a long-standing diplomatic relationship. This means that servicemen and women from each country regularly reside for a time in the other country. In addition to the military presence, there are business and tourism draws to Türkiye. Since the 60s, multiple Americans have visited and fallen in love with the shepherd’s dogs of Türkiye. Prior to the 60s, the dogs that protected livestock across Türkiye were more of a landrace, but a few Americans (as well as some Brits!) took an interest and collectively dedicated hundreds of thousands of dollars to researching, exporting, and preserving the shepherd’s dogs of Türkiye. Today, you will see Kangal, Anatolian and Akbash dogs living across the world, from Africa to Russia, Britain to the United States. Just the Facts, Ma’am Many people don’t know the history of how these breeds- the Kangal Dog, the Akbash Dog, and the Anatolian Shepherd Dog were actually formed, standardized, and recognized. These dates are available, but not in a single place- until now! I went to each American registry of note (American Kennel Club and United Kennel Club) as well as each breed parent club (Kangal Club of America, Akbash Club of America, Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America) to verify dates. Here is the timeline of the Turkish Shepherd Dogs in America:
The Grizzly and the New York Times
The Grizzly Bear What a Fall it has been… In the first week of August, we had a new experience! A young grizzly bear (no, not a cinnamon black bear) found his way to our creek. He decided that this was a nice place to hang out for about 5 days. His visit did a few things. First, the bear perturbed the dogs to see something that large within 200 feet of the front fence line. The dogs were more alert than usual for August. That level of activity is more common in October when the bears raise the pressure and consider coming into our pastures. Second, the bear reports/photos alarmed a bunch of my neighbors who don’t have LGDs for their birds/stock. It started some good conversations about bear safety. I discussed being bear aware, limiting draws and increasing property/outbuilding security protocols with multiple neighbors. Third, thanks to our neighbor’s doorbell camera photos, US Fish and Game finally verified the presence of grizzlies in the Ninemile Valley. Locals have seen sign of the grizzlies since before 2020, but the official confirmation is nice to have. Mostly, I’ll use this confirmation whenever a random person tries to tell me that I don’t know what a Grizzly looks like and it “Must’ve been one of them cinnamon black bears.” No, sir. Maintaining Security So will I change anything due to the grizzly bears in the neighborhood? The short answer is “No, not really.” The dogs were effective in keeping that bear away from the property lines, and that’s their job. I see no reason to fix what is working. Jyn and Severine confronted a bear this week. Both girls are sore but intact. Just part of their job here. The New York Times About a month after the grizzly left our area, Jim Robbins contacted me to meet our dogs and talk about how they work. He came to the property, met the dogs and interviewed me about them. I am the opening interview in the New York Times article. The article is about how the increasing grizzly bear populations in Montana and our neighboring states are impacting the lifestyles of the humans who live here. There are multiple ways in which we all can adapt to an increasing predator score; our favorite option is the livestock guardian dogs. Special Thanks I have to say a special thank you to the two men who made this opportunity happen: I am so grateful for Jim Robbins, the New York Times journalist for contacting me about this article and giving me the opportunity to share my message with a wider audience than usual. And to John Stember, the photographer who captured these beautiful photos of the dogs for the article and my use, thank you so much! I hope you are both enjoying the fall in Montana. Moving Forward The publicity of the New York Times article provided many inquiries for puppies and also support for livestock guardian dogs we didn’t produce. I have been happy to help! If you have emailed, filled out a contact form, or applied for a puppy in the last month, you should have heard from me by now. If not, it’s possible I missed you on accident! Please reach out again, and I will get back to you. If you’re interested in learning more about LGDs, check out our Introduction to Livestock Guardian Dogs online course. Use the code NYT for a discount through 11/30/23! Interested in an Apex puppy for your stock or family? Please visit our puppies page. It will give you all the information you need about how our puppies are raised, placed, and supported long term, plus how to get on the waitlist, take the Apex Puppy Prep course, and more!