The Birth of Anatolian Shepherd Puppies

Akilli is having contractions. It is 9 a.m. About 10 minutes later, the first water sac appears.
The first puppy is a breech birth. These are the back feet emerging. This puppy will not be born until after 11 a.m. 

"Hey! There are two legs hanging out of my back side!"
The puppy is halfway expelled.
Akilli quickly eats the afterbirth and cuts the umbilical cord with her teeth. It's a boy!
Akilli is nestled happily with 7 puppies, awaiting further contractions to deliver the 8th puppy! She has 5 males and 3 females. For more information about this breeding or the puppies, Go here!

Shepherds Rest The Mighty Quinn

The Mighty Quinn (seen on the left) has lived at his new home, Lost Armadillo Ranch, for 4 weeks now. Residing in northeastern California, Quinn helps other Anatolians guard against predators like the coyote (seen below) which visited the ranch recently. Quinn has a big job to do, as there are also mountain lions and assorted other predators living in the area.
When the coyotes come yodeling, Quinn joins the other ASDs barking and howling. Quinn is practicing his instinctive guarding abilities and developing protective behaviors he observes in the older ASDs. Due to Quinn's rough wrestling, he was just moved into a pasture with another ASD who likes to play rough. They are practicing for when this coyote decides to come closer! 

Tarik and the Snake

Tarik, at 12 weeks, is demonstrating his guardian instincts. He caught a snake this evening in the pasture. Had it been a poisonous one, he would have protected 10 goats and kids (two goats still pregnant) in his immediate pasture, not counting 16 in adjacent pastures. Lucky for him, there are no poisonous snakes in our area.




"Look what I caught, mom!"







It looks like Tarik has inherited more than good looks and a sweet disposition from his sire, Ballesters Rahman "Red." To read all about Red's experience with a cottonmouth, Go here!.

Tarik with his Goats at Shepherds Rest Farm

Tarik, at 9 1/2 weeks old, is getting to know each goat kid! He is working well with the mothers too, who are also getting used to a new puppy in the pasture. Tarik is with his goats 24 hours a day and loving it! This week he joined his mother, Sirin, in barking at the coyotes (all night!), and watches with fascination while she remodels her underground den. (The yellow spots on the goat's head are where it was disbudded and sprayed with yellow Furall.)

Tarik prefers to eat out of Sirin's bowl at meal time, which she is happy to let him do with no discussion. Sirin sits back and watches him eat, then finishes her meal from both dishes when Tarik is finished. Mother and son enjoy some great rowdy romps together, as well as some pretend fighting. Both delight in the other's presence!


Tarik is a very loving boy. He loves to sit and lie down for attention, and enjoys tummy rubs! Although he has had a few hot-wire experiences, and is very respectful of staying off the fencing, he still loves to rest very close to the fencing at the uppermost part of his pasture where he can see the whole valley.