You have questions, we have answers!
How much does a puppy cost?
If you plan to have a livestock or family guardian and not breed them, our AKC limited registered Apex Anatolian puppies are $4000. You can find all the details about our puppies on the Puppies page!
How do I get a puppy?
Your first step to getting an Apex puppy is to visit the Puppies page and follow the steps.
What age can I pick up my puppy?
Apex puppies go home according to their home placement. For example, working stock guardian pups will go home between 10 and 12 weeks depending on the working LGDs at their new home. Family guardian pups can go after 8 weeks of age to better bond with their family. No pups will leave Apex prior to 8 weeks of age.
Can I pick my puppy?
The placement of each pup is a big responsibility, and we take it very seriously! This means that we put our puppies through the paces of temperament and work aptitude evaluations in Week 7 to best understand them and identify the home they will thrive in long-term. Though the colors, markings and patterns of our puppies may vary, the prettiest puppy (to you) may not be the best fit to your needs or home. After the evaluation week is complete, we make recommendations to those on our waitlist if a puppy fits their needs. You are able to accept your pup choice OR decline if you really want a different color or sex.
What do you use to match puppies to me?
- Your application.
- Your phone interview.
- Your existing dogs/animals.
- Your goal for the puppy.
- Week 7 puppy evaluations- temperament and work.
Can I get two puppies?
No. Training a working puppy is a lot of work. Staggering ages in multiple dog households (or working packs) has been successful for our clients for the last decade. If you have a puppy already, we recommend you wait to apply for an Apex puppy and proceed to the wait list until you are ready to add a new pup to your family.
What if I need to sell my farm or lose my home?
Your Apex puppy will ALWAYS be welcome here. We take our pups back in any condition for life. No refund will be given, but you’ll be protecting your pup from a shelter or mismatched home.
What is the recommended/required health testing for Anatolian Shepherd dogs?
The Canine Health and Information Center (CHIC) follows breed parent club recommendations for their health testing requirements. The Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America (ASDCA) health committee has recommended Hip and Elbow dysplasia testing for all Anatolian Shepherds.
What health testing do you do on Apex parents?
Each potential breeding dog here at Apex Anatolians is tested at MINIMUM for the CHIC required tests by OFA and/or PennHIP for hip dysplasia, OFA for elbow dysplasia, and Embark for general DNA health screening.
Is my puppy health tested before pickup?
Your Apex pup comes from health tested parents, but they cannot be health tested at 8-12 weeks of age. We recommend having all dogs’ hips and elbows checked after 2 years of age.
What is the hip dysplasia study you mentioned?
Jyn is participating in OFA and the University of Missouri’s hip dysplasia biomarker study. You can read more about this HERE and we encourage you to participate with your Apex pup!
Can Anatolians be pets?
We don’t place our pups as pets. We will place pups who prefer human company to livestock in what we call “Family Guardian” homes which means the family understands that they will be their dog’s purpose to protect and live with.
Are Anatolians aggressive dogs?
No. Anatolians have high defense drive, meaning they will assess and address threats to their territory and family- whether that is your home and yourself, or a few hundred acres of land and the livestock on it. This means they CAN show behaviors that are commonly mislabeled as “aggressive.” But that is usually an error in human assessment of the situation, not the dog. Managing a 100+ lb dog who doesn’t want any strangers on their territory can be a challenge, and you do need a protocol in place when visitors of any kind come to your property or home. Introduction and/or containment protocols are important to keeping your dog and your guests safe.
