Shepherds Rest Farm

TURKISH SHEPHERD DOGS: Stories from Turkey #2

2012-01-01T20:59:00.000-08:00

HOW TURKS TAKE CARE OF THEIR DOGS!

Part 2 of 2

This is the same dog owner in Turkey as part 1 of this story. This female got in a fight with a wolf and needed medical attention, which he gave.

The dog also needed dental attention. This is a pictoral story of the tooth removal.

Look at the size of that canine tooth below!!! Although there were other dogs guarding with this dog, she was the first one to catch up with the wolf! She is now doing fine and continuing her livestock guarding work in Turkey.

Shepherds Rest Happy New Year Announcement

2011-12-30T10:46:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year from Shepherds Rest! We are anticipating a unique new litter with great eagerness! The two sire breeding of female import Nazli with male import Capar and male import Duman has been a success!!! Whelping will be late February or early March. Puppies will be ready for new homes in early May. All puppies will be DNA tested to determine sire of each.

TURKISH SHEPHERD DOGS: Stories from Turkey #1

2011-12-26T11:46:00.000-08:00

HOW TURKS TAKE CARE OF THEIR DOGS!
Part 1 of 2

This two-part story features dogs owned by one family in the Sivas region in eastern Turkey. The name of their town is Kargakalesi, meaning crow castle.

The dog shown in the first 4 pictures and the dog in the 5th picture are being treated for food poisoning.

The source of the poisoning is unknown. The family treated one dog in the house and the other outside the home.

The little girl helping her uncle care for his dogs is 6 years old. Although her uncle is not a vet, he has learned well how to care for his dogs.

Here is a video showing what the terrain is like in the Sivas region: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V0pdLFQil4. This video was taken a year or two ago and shows some other Turkish Shepherd Dogs unrelated to the ones in the blog photos.
Special thanks to the owner in Turkey for permission to use his photos and story on my blog.

Vasi's First Kill

2011-12-23T23:23:00.000-08:00

Keeping cats away from goats!

(Photo courtesy of the Hoff and Sing family. Title and caption given by the family also.)
This is the light brindle male that now lives and works in Oregon on a goat farm.

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 8 Weeks Old - THE MALES

2011-12-23T23:11:00.000-08:00

Dark brindle high socks male (above and below) weighed 19 lbs 10 oz at exactly 8 weeks old. He now works on a goat farm in Washington State.

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Dark brindle low socks male weighed 20 lbs 8 oz at 8 weeks. He joins a number of other Anatolians in Pennsylvania as a companion and goat guardian.

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Light brindle male (spot on shoulder disappeared) weighed 22 lbs 11 oz. He is working on a goat farm in Oregon.

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Fawn male (right foot white) weighed 24 lbs 4 oz. He now lives in Arizona as a companion and guardian of chickens and goats.

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Fawn male (right high sock & left knee sock) weighed 22 lbs 14 oz. He lives with a Turkish man and his family as a companion in Oregon.

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Dark fawn male (left toes barely white) weighed 24 lbs 10 oz. He lives in Washington as a companion and guardian of chickens, ducks, and a turkey, with future plans to guard pigs and sheep.

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 8 Weeks Old - THE FEMALES

2011-12-23T22:55:00.000-08:00

Light fawn female (above and below) weighed 23 lbs 1 oz at exactly 8 weeks old. She now lives in Washington state as a companion dog.

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Dark fawn female weighed 21 lbs 1 oz. She is now working on a large sheep farm in Oregon with 4 other Shepherds Rest dogs.

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Dark brindle female weighed 22 lbs 4 oz. She lives in New Mexico with a massage therapist and another Anatolian and will be a companion, chicken, and property guardian.

STAY TUNED FOR PICS & STORIES OF THESE PUPPIES IN THEIR NEW ENVIRONMENTS!

The Male Pups 7 Weeks Old

2011-12-12T14:37:00.001-08:00

Brindle male with high front socks (above and below) likes to spend time with other dogs besides his littermates and mother, and likes being able to approach the goats in person instead of through the fence. He navigates himself well through the maze of goat legs without bothering them or making them want to move away. Tonight his official 7 week old weight is 17 lbs 9 oz.

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Brindle male with short socks is seen above and below enjoying a romp in the crispy frozen grass and the warm goat noses. The goats don't see him as a threat, and enjoy saying hello up close and personal. Since the goats and pups all know each other from their visits through the fence, 7 weeks old is a great time to allow "real" time together. His weight is 16 lbs 1 oz. Now that the puppies are so mobile, their fluctuating weights reflect the fact that they are easily distracted from eating by any sight, sound, or touch. A distant dog barks and they forget to eat. Another pup bumps them and they end up wrestling and the meal is no longer important.

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Light brindle male was difficult to capture in decent photos, as he was always on the move. When it was time for him to go back in the puppy pen, he tried to hide among the goats under the alfalfa feeder! He weighs 17 lbs 10 oz.

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Dark fawn male with right white foot was very much at ease being free to move about with the other dogs and goats outside the puppy pen. His demeanor today was laid back yet willing to interact and say hi to the goats, including this one that was shaking her head at him. He weighed in at 19 lbs 0 oz, the second heaviest of the puppies.

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Fawn male with high right sock and left knee sock was interested in chewing on branches and licking the ice off them. He knows the goats and was more interested in exploring and trying out anything new in the bigger pasture that wasn't available in his smaller puppy pen. He weighs 18 lbs 14 oz.

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Fawn male with left toes barely white was having fun first with Gunner (half brother who has same sire), and later had to mingle with the goats, overseen by Gunner's mother in the background, who lets these pups try to nurse on her, even though she's dry. This pup had to have a taste, just like all his other siblings! He is the heaviest of the pups at 19 lbs 3 oz.

The Female Pups 7 Weeks Old

2011-12-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

Dark fawn female is seen above and below. Very interested in the goats. Very independent. Great posture in approaching other animals. Confident in approaching the other animals also, with no hesitation. Seven week old weight is 16 lbs 15 oz.

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Light fawn female pup (above and below) has an "I'm something else" attitude! Social with the goats and dogs; loves to hang with the goats; coy with the older male pup seen in the pics with her. She weighs 18 lbs 12 oz.

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Brindle female likes the goats but prefers other dogs and especially Gunner (the huge male pup that was loving her and teasing her). He misses his brindle sister who is now in TX. The brindle female was more than happy to be a stand-in for his sister! You can't tell above but her paw is up on his face! Her weight is 17 lbs 13 oz.

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 6 Weeks Old

2011-12-07T19:20:00.000-08:00

Photos were taken near dusk, so terrible lighting, but better than no pictures at all! Dark brindle male (above) with high front socks weighed 12 lbs 13 oz at exactly 6 weeks old (Monday). All puppies were dewormed with liquid Strongid also on Monday, and will get a second deworming prior to going to new homes, as a matter of routine with puppies.

Dark brindle male with short socks weighed 13 lbs 9 oz.

Light brindle male (spot no longer shows) weighed 13 lbs 5 oz.

The dark fawn male that is now fawn (right foot white) weighed 15 lbs 1 oz.

The fawn male with right high sock and left knee sock weighed 14 lbs 13 oz.

Fawn male with left toes barely white weighed 14 lbs 7 oz.

Dark fawn female weighed 13 lbs 3 oz.

Fawn female weighed 13 lbs 7 oz.

Brindle female weighed 13 lbs 4 oz. She has gained enough to pass another puppy in weight this week!

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 5 Weeks Old

2011-11-29T10:48:00.000-08:00

Dark brindle male with high front socks weighed 10 lbs 0 oz at exactly 5 weeks old

Dark brindle male with short socks weighed 10 lbs 15 oz.

Light brindle male (with spot) weighed 10 lbs 13 oz.

Dark fawn male with right foot white weighed 10 lbs 12 oz.

Fawn male with right high sock and left knee sock weighed 11 lbs 6 oz.

Fawn male with left toes barely white weighed 10 lbs 10 oz.

Dark fawn female weighed 10 lbs 2 oz.

Light fawn female (above) weighed 10 lbs 11 oz.

Brindle female (below) weighed 9 lbs 13 oz.

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 4 1/2 Weeks Old

2011-11-26T20:01:00.000-08:00

This was NOT a posed picture. Puppies were not set up! Three of this litter didn't get into the line up. ;->

Kepi & Puppies

2011-11-23T11:29:00.000-08:00

Is the whelping box getting smaller?! Puppies are constantly on the move, here, there, and everywhere!

The Gang's All Here!

2011-11-23T11:23:00.000-08:00

The 3 females, above, left to right are light fawn, dark fawn, and brindle. The light fawn wanted to approach for attention. The brindle just wanted to fall asleep again right there. The dark fawn was determined to escape and get back in the whelping box for a nap.

The 6 males, with the 3 fawns on the left and the 3 brindles on the right (light brindle in the middle of the brindles). A fawn pup is just finishing a yawn!

The colors as seen from above while eating. The light brindle has the heariest appetite and is the most mobile, bold, and fearless. He is everywhere.

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 4 Weeks Old

2011-11-23T11:14:00.000-08:00

The Kepi X Capar litter is actively in and out of their whelping box, playing, and eager for attention.
Dark brindle MALE (above) with high socks 6 lbs 13 oz at 4 weeks old.

Dark brindle MALE with short socks 7 lbs 9 oz.

Light brindle MALE with shoulder spot that is almost invisible now 7 lbs 4 oz.

Fawn MALE with right foot white 7 lbs 8 oz.

Fawn MALE with high right sock & left knee sock 7 lbs 13 oz.

Fawn MALE with left toes barely white 6 lbs 13 oz.

Dark fawn FEMALE 6 lbs 14 oz.

Light fawn FEMALE 6 lbs 15 oz.

Brindle FEMALE 6 lbs 10 oz.

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 3 Weeks Old

2011-11-15T10:22:00.000-08:00

The Kepi X Capar litter is now 3 weeks old, walking, eating solid food, making all manner of new sounds.

Dark brindle male (above) with front socks to mid-thigh. 4 lbs 10 oz at 3 weeks old

Dark brindle male with double dew claws. 5 lbs 9 oz

Light brindle male with faint white shoulder spot. 4 lbs 13 oz

Dark fawn male with white right foot. 5 lbs 3 oz

2011-11-15T10:10:00.000-08:00

Fawn male with high right front sock and left front sock to knee. 4 lbs 14 oz

Fawn male with left front toes barely white. 4 lbs 11 oz

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Dark fawn female. 4 lbs 7 oz

Light fawn female. 4 lbs 7 oz

Brindle female. 3 lbs 14 oz

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 3 Weeks Old

2011-11-14T20:01:00.000-08:00

Enjoying breakfast and exploring!

A look at the coat colors from above.

Mother Kepi is a very good mother who stays close to her puppies! Stay tuned for individual puppy pictures hopefully tomorrow.

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 2 Weeks Old

2011-11-09T22:05:00.000-08:00

The Kepi X Capar litter is now seeing, hearing, and walking!

Dark brindle male (above), front legs white to mid-thigh - 50.2 oz

Dark brindle male, double dew claws - 57.6 oz

Light brindle male with shoulder spot (that has almost disappeared!) - 52.0 oz

2011-11-09T21:58:00.000-08:00

Dark fawn male, right white front foot - 57.8 oz

Fawn male, high right white front sock & left front sock to knee - 55.1 oz

Fawn male, left front toes barely white - 50.7 oz

Dark fawn female - 49.3 oz

Light fawn female - 47.7 oz

Brindle female - 44.4 oz

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 1 Week Old

2011-10-31T20:04:00.000-07:00

The Kepi X Capar litter of 9 is growing fast. Mother Kepi is spending more time outside the whelping box and has become very protective of her babies, getting very riled up when other dogs approach the fence to her puppy enclosure. Kepi seems to produce an abundance of milk to keep them happy, not surprising after eating 2 full meals per day (double her normal amount). A week from today, the puppies will begin regulating their own body temperatures. Some are already starting to stand more upright on their legs instead of "swimming" like salamanders (see lightest weight female, the 9th pic below, who is the fastest one on her feet)! The puppies have different vocalizations depending on how they're feeling. The sound of newborn puppies began with a "meowing" type sound. Now if they are hungry and not attended to by mom fast enough, they will escalate into more screaming or high-pitched sounds, which rarely happens. Or if they're annoyed, like when I weigh them each night and they don't get back to mom fast enough, they will do a rolling chirp like squirrels telling you off! ;->

Dark brindle MALE (single dew claws) and front leg white socks to mid-thighs weighs 32.0 oz.

Dark brindle MALE (double dew claws) weighs 35.2 oz.

Light brindle MALE (single dew claws) with white shoulder spot weighs 34.2 oz.

Dark fawn MALE (no dew claws) with right front white foot weighs 34.9 oz.

2011-10-31T19:52:00.000-07:00

Fawn MALE (no dew claws) with high right front white sock weighs 33.6 oz.

Fawn MALE (no dew claws) with left front toes barely white weighs 31.2 oz.

Dark fawn FEMALE (no dew claws) weighs 31.2 oz also.

Light fawn FEMALE (double dew claws) weighs 31.2 oz. They really do have the same weights!

Dark brindle FEMALE (single dew claws) weighs 27.8 oz.

KEPI X CAPAR LITTER 3 days old

2011-10-27T21:49:00.000-07:00

Natural position group pic ABOVE.

Brindle and Fawn groups separated ABOVE.

Brindle group close up.

Fawn group close up.

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 3 Days Old

2011-10-27T21:43:00.000-07:00

FACE & BODY PICS OF EACH PUP
LABELED BETWEEN EACH SET OF 2 PICS

Dark Brindle MALE with single dew claws and high front socks. Birth weight 18.3 oz. Day 3 weight 22.7 oz.

2011-10-27T21:35:00.000-07:00

Dark brindle MALE with double dew claws. Birth weight 19.9 oz. Day 3 weight 25.2 oz. (Heaviest weight pup on day 3.)

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Light brindle MALE with single dew claws and a center white shoulder spot. Birth weight 18.1 oz. Day 3 weight 23.4 oz.

2011-10-27T21:28:00.000-07:00

Dark fawn MALE with no dew claws, white right front foot. Birth weight unknown (new birth discovered next morning). Day 1 birth weight 17.4 oz. Day 3 birth weight 25.0 oz (second heaviest weight pup on day 3).

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Fawn MALE with no dew claws, high right front sock. Birth weight unknown (was a surprise the next morning). Day 1 birth weight 19.7 oz. Day 3 weight 24.1 oz.

2011-10-27T21:17:00.000-07:00

Fawn MALE with no dew claws, all dark nose & chin & tail, left front toes barely white-tipped. Birth weight 17.6 oz. Day 3 weight 21.8 oz.

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Dark fawn FEMALE with no dew claws. Birth weight 16.9 oz. Day 3 weight 22.2 oz.

2011-10-27T21:09:00.000-07:00

Light fawn FEMALE with double dew claws. Birth weight 17.8 oz. Day 3 weight 21.6 oz.

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Dark brindle FEMALE with single dew claws. Birth weight 14.1 oz. Day 3 weight 18.6 oz.

WAIT . . . I COUNT NINE PUPPIES!

2011-10-25T16:05:00.001-07:00

This is how the litter looks when DRY! :-)
Well, there were several surprises this morning. When I left Kepi last night there were 8 puppies. This morning there were 10, although one was no longer alive. So we gained two and lost one in the night. The two new puppies were male and the lost puppy was male. Of the 10 in the litter, 5 were brindle, which makes half the litter brindle. The pup we lost was brindle. Final tally is 6 males: 3 fawn, 2 dark brindle, and 1 light brindle; and 3 females: 2 fawn and 1 dark brindle. All puppies are healthy and active, and today weigh between 14.8 to 20.8 ounces. I guess Kepi and Capar can make a good-sized litter! Kepi was treated to cottage cheese and then some leftover warmed and watered down spaghetti sauce with meatballs over some kibbles this morning. She was hungry!

Newborn Anatolians!

2011-10-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

Kepi had 8 puppies tonight, sired by Capar of Cardak. Five males and three females. All healthy. Puppies weighed 14.1 to 19.9 oz. Details below.

How I tell the puppies apart:

FEMALES:
First-born had both rear double dew claws. 17.8 oz
Third-born had no dew claws. 16.9 oz
Seventh-born had both single dews. 14.1 oz

MALES:
Second-born had a single left dew and no right dew. 18.3 oz
Fourth-born had both double dews, no white on nose or tail. 19.9 oz
Fifth-born had no dews, no white on nose or tail. 17.6 oz
Sixth-born had both single dews. 18.1 oz
Eighth-born had no dews, some white on nose, and a barely white-tipped tail. 16.9 oz

All puppies are very healthy and active. Mother Kepi is happy and not acting tired. First puppy was whelped at 5 pm. Last puppy was whelped at 7:24 pm. A nice fast delivery. Kepi did whine softly all night last night getting ready for hard labor to kick in. Hope we all sleep well tonight! Puppies are outside in an open shelter with alfalfa under a blanket to keep them warm, with a heat lamp about 4 feet off the ground.

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 12 Weeks Old

2011-10-23T18:47:00.000-07:00

Working 24/7 with the goats.

The whole family from left to right (mother Nazli, father Capar of Cardak, female pup Sevda, male pup Gunner).

Anatolian Puppies 9 Weeks Old

2011-09-28T21:20:00.000-07:00

The Nazli X Capar puppies are now 9 weeks old. They are still swimming in the creek, gulping raw chicken necks whole, and bravely challenging the adult dogs to mock fights as if the pups could actually win!

The female brindle pup above weighs 28 lbs 3 oz at 9 weeks old. The male fawn pup below weighs 30 lbs 14 oz.

8 Week Old Female Anatolian Shepherd

2011-09-20T15:33:00.000-07:00

Brindle girl weighs 24 lbs 12 oz at 8 weeks old.

8 Week Old Male Anatolian Shepherd

2011-09-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

This boy weighs 26 lbs 12 oz at 8 weeks old.

Anatolian Puppies Playing With Mother

2011-09-20T09:04:00.000-07:00

So much fun with a dried sunflower stalk!

Settled! Each have a sunflower head!

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 7 Weeks Old

2011-09-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

Gunner and his sister are growing like weeds. Gunner weighs 21 lbs 9 oz. Brindle sister weighs 19 lbs 15 oz.

Gunner is a bit more keyed into his mom, howls when he wants out into the pasture, likes to be on his feet, and is a sweetheart.

Brindle girl is more roly poly, independent, liking to explore without concern, likes to play/wrestle older dogs, and go tummy-up.

Both pups are keenly interested in the goats and both are already demonstrating good guardian abilities. Evaluations will begin in a week, at 8 weeks old, and continue for a week. Final decisions on which, if any, pup is kept as breeding stock by Shepherds Rest will be when puppies are 9 weeks old. Evaluations consist of a 4-part process: 1) continued observations of all facets of general behavior, working behavior, movement, conformation, personality, and more; 2) temperament testing; 3) a litter evaluation by show judge, Pat Hastings, to determine conformation strengths and weaknesses; and 4) a comprehensive vet exam to determine overall health and rule out any potential problems.

Anatolian Female Pup 6 Weeks Old

2011-09-07T18:10:00.000-07:00

The brindle female, wet here from a few dips in the creek, is 15 lbs 13 oz at 6 weeks old. She gained 3 lbs 10 oz in the last week. She is most likely headed to another breeder in about 3 weeks, if all the 8 and 9 week old evaluations turn out as well as anticipated (and if I don't decide to keep her over the male pup!).

Looks like she is posing in a show ring! In this photo, she is looking down hill at the goats browsing along the creek and the other Anatolians doing their guardian duties.

Here is the female pup with her daddy, Turkish import Capar of Cardak. Daddy is dark brindle and his girl is a lighter brindle.

Three Shepherds Rest brindles! Capar with his female pup are in the foreground, and a new import adolescent named Kara Panter is in the background.

I would be remiss if I didn't show the female pup with the livestock. This is a working breed, after all! ;->

Anatolian Male Pup 6 Weeks Old

2011-09-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

This sweet "mama's boy" has somehow gotten the nickname Gunner. Most likely a future stud for the Shepherds Rest Farm breeding program, this 6 week old pup weighs 17 lbs 8 oz. He gained 4 lbs 8 oz in the last week! Look at that nice chest width.

Excellent conformation is noticeable, even on uneven ground. Look at the thick bone structure he acquired from his import parents! You just don't find that bone structure in Anatolians often here in the U.S., which is one of the many reasons why Shepherds Rest Farm chooses to focus on imports!

At 6 weeks old, Gunner is jumping the creek (after falling in a time or two when he tried to follow me across the creek and was more concerned about staying with me than he was afraid of the water)! The pics of him sopping wet after his first accidental dunk and his subsequent howling were too pitiful to post! None the worse for wear, after the first couple immersions, he seemed comfortable jumping in to swim across the narrow creek on purpose! ;-> Note: it's about 95 degrees here today in the Portland, Oregon area.

Gunner is comfortable with the goats up close and personal, and is getting to know the other dogs on the farm. Kepi, in the background, is almost 2 weeks pregnant. She was bred to Capar, the brindle male import, who is the father here of Gunner. (Kepi is expecting her litter the end of October, so her puppies will be ready for new homes at Christmas time!)

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies at Play

2011-09-01T14:53:00.000-07:00

Puppies are teething! Today was the first day they were given toys, to give Nazli (mother) a break. She is still very playful with them and very attentive to their needs. Notice how Nazli is shedding and has two coats lengths in different places.

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 5 Weeks Old

2011-08-31T08:45:00.000-07:00

The Nazli x Capar litter of two is at a very fun age to watch for their animal interactions,
as they are mature enough to show keen interest in their environment now!

The brindle female above and the fawn male below are both very fond of the goats!

Male pup weighs 13 lbs 0 oz. Female pup weighs 12 lbs 3 oz. They are built differently, with the female having a thicker body. Notice that their heads are shaped a bit differently too. The female is built more like her father's side while the male is built more like his mother's side. Pictures were taken at dawn this morning.

4 Week Old Anatolian Puppies

2011-08-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

Brindle female above weighs 8 lbs 6 oz, while fawn male below weighs 8 lbs 15 oz at 4 weeks old. They are barking and growling now, and engaging in mock battles with each other. The intensity and length of their eye contact with each other, their mother, and people shows they are working on interpreting their environment and specifically reading animal and people facial expressions.

Anatolian Puppies 3 Weeks Old

2011-08-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

The Nazli X Capar litter was 3 weeks old yesterday. Took these pics today. At 3 weeks old, both weighed 6 lbs 4 oz. If you weigh on an ounce only scale, the female was 100.5 oz and the male 100.8 oz. The brindle female is seen on the left above and on the right below. The male is standing now, but not sturdily yet. The female is still working on getting her hind end up. They are on solid food twice a day, in addition to continuing to nurse on mom. The male misses his mommy the most when she's out of the whelping box, and can really get a good howl going.

Puppy Antics

2011-08-11T13:28:00.000-07:00

2 weeks & 2 days old

MY, what a big MOUTH you have!

Those eyes and body posturing say she's got something in mind!

Ahhhh, brother's head almost bits (I mean FITS) entirely INSIDE her mouth! ;->

Will brother take this lying down?!?

Puppy Antics (continued)

2011-08-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

Time for brother to have his turn at some get-the-best-of-sister stunts!

The morning puppy tussle was soon over and puppies were sleeping again!

BUT, the mother of the puppies, Nazli, was very playful and spry, . . . bouncy and seemed very happy. Puppies are fairly quiet so she spends a lot of time outside the whelping box and seems eager to get back out into the pasture. Puppies eat well and are contented, so mother is happy. This is different for her than her last litter of a dozen in Turkey, with 8 surviving (pics of that litter on Nazli's shepherds-rest webpage)!

I chose Nazli partly for her build. Not often you see a female built like a male. A nice thick bone structure is hard to find in the U.S.!
The father, Capar, also on the website, is busy keeping an eye on the nearby hills, where coyotes like to sit and look down on the farm to watch the activities! He will bark until the coyotes disappear into the brush.

Puppies 2 Weeks Old!

2011-08-10T22:37:00.000-07:00

The Nazli X Capar litter is 2 weeks old as of yesterday. Above is fawn male on left, female brindle on right. The male weighed 66.4 oz at 2 weeks old, and the female is close behind at 65.0 oz.

Eyes Are Open!

2011-08-06T20:56:00.000-07:00

Eyes opened day before yesterday, as seen in male pup above. Puppies are much more mobile and I even caught the female (below) rolling on her back today!

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 1 Week Old

2011-08-06T20:51:00.000-07:00

The Nazli X Capar litter is one week old in these pictures. Male is shown on top above (facing camera), while below he is the solid fawn coat without the brindling seen in the female.

Female pup below. Notice that mother is shedding, so even though I clean up her fur constantly, it is still everywhere! Mother Nazli was also chewing on the inside of the whelping box, so I'm also cleaning up slivers of wood with the fur! See puppy weights below.

Male weights by day (from day 1 birth weight, to day 7's one week old weight):
24.6, 26.6, 30.3, 34.0, 36.8, 37.9, 39.5 oz (one week gain in weight was 14.9 oz)
Female weights by day:
27.1, 26.8, 30.5, 33.5, 35.2, 38.2, 40.3 (one week gain in weight was 13.2 oz)

Nazli X Capar puppies are finally here!

2011-07-26T19:54:00.000-07:00

Nazli had TWO puppies today - C-section. There was a dead pup inside that probably prevented the correct body communications to start the birth process. Puppies were 2 days overdue. Above left is brindle female. Above right is fawn male. Both are healthy and strong. Female weighed 27.1 oz. Male weighed 24.6 oz. The mother is doing well and a great caretaker. She is picking them up and moving them around with her mouth exactly where she wants them, despite their squeals of protest! They are in a home-made whelping box in an outdoor shelter that is in a fenced area inside the goat pasture next to the goat feeder. Stay tuned for weekly updates and photos!

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 3 Weeks Old

2011-03-06T22:32:00.000-08:00

The Sirin X Capar litter is growing quickly. Look at the 3 fawns and the 3 brindles and the color differences!

THE FEMALES:

The fawn female (above) weighs 5 lbs 0 oz at 3 weeks old. She was caught howling up a storm the other day, just enjoying hearing her own voice! These pups bark now too, and growl, ... so many different vocalizations.

The brindle female weighs 4 lbs 13 oz. She barked at my foot the other day when I stepped into the whelping box! I think they are all beginning to enjoy being petted. Mom spends much more time out of the whelping box now. Puppies haven't quite yet discovered how to climb in and out.

The Males - 3 Weeks Old

2011-03-06T22:24:00.000-08:00

The light brindle boy has a huge head and is a heavy-weight compared to the others. Notice the difference in his head compared to the rest of the litter! He seems more laid back and unconcerned. However, he does love his new solid food. It isn't enough to just put his head over the edge of the dish and eat nicely. He has to push his way all the way to the other side of the dish! At 3 weeks he weighs 6 lbs 12 oz!

The dark brindle boy is alert and watchful and more interested in his surroundings than the rest of his siblings. Today he watched me milk the goats from his whelping box! He weighs 5 lbs 12 oz, a whole pound behind his heavy-weight brother.

The fawn boy with no shoulder spot is a dark grey fawn. He is taking his sweet time and putting on the weight slower than the others. This can actually be a good thing and may have no bearing on his final adult size. He is the first one to walk up to my feet seeking attention. He weighs 4 lbs 2 oz.

The lighter fawn boy with one white shoulder spot weighs 4 lbs 10 oz. This guy doesn't mind being picked up to be weighed each evening, and usually doesn't make a peep, just takes it all in stride.

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies - Female Puppies 2 Weeks Old

2011-03-01T19:49:00.000-08:00

Here are the Sirin X Capar puppies. The fawn female (above) is 51.1 oz at 2 weeks old

The brindle female is 52.5 oz.

Male Puppies 2 Weeks Old

2011-03-01T19:46:00.000-08:00

Light brindle boy is 75.8 oz.

Dark brindle boy is 61.8 oz.

All fawn male (no shoulder spot) is 44.6 oz.

Fawn male with shoulder spot is 50.0 oz.

Anatolian Pups One Week Old - Females

2011-02-20T19:24:00.000-08:00

Here is the whole litter naturally (above).

Here are the puppies lined up according to birth order (first 2 are the females). In case of confusion, birth order is numbered next to each pup also.

Fawn female (above) weighs 29.6 oz at a week old.

Brindle female weighs 29.8 oz.

Males

2011-02-20T19:17:00.000-08:00

The light brindle male with a bit of a collar (above) weighs 43.6 oz at 1 week old.

The dark brindle male with the white heart on the shoulder, now looking less like a heart and more like a spot, as this boy grows quickly, weighs 36.9 oz at 7 days old.

The all fawn male weighs 31.1 oz.

The white knight male weighs 30.8 oz.

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies - THE FEMALES

2011-02-13T21:34:00.000-08:00

This is the birth order as presented: 2 females and then 4 males.

Fawn female (above), the firstborn, was born at 11:01 am. This girl has a lovely big white V on her chest, undoubtedly for Valentine's Day! This pup was the only one in the litter born breech. I actually pulled her out because she stayed halfway out of the birth canal too long for my patience. She weighed 20.6 oz at birth, the lightest of the 2 females, but heavier than the lightest weight male.

Brindle female with lightning bolt of white between shoulders weighed 24.5 oz, the third heaviest in the litter! She was born 34 minutes after her first sister. Neither she, nor any of her siblings have rear dew claws.

THE MALES

2011-02-13T21:33:00.000-08:00

Light brindle boy (above) with a bit of a collar was the third born and the first brindle male. He was born 1 hr 4 min after his second sister. He is the heaviest male and the heaviest pup in the litter, born at 27.3 oz. Little chubbo!

Dark brindle boy with white heart on back and dark heart on tummy, was born 2 hours 3 minutes after brother above. He is the second heaviest male and second heaviest pup in the litter, at 24.8 oz.

Fawn boy and only one in the litter without white shoulder spotting weighed 22.9 oz at birth. This guy has the darkest rear feet, with only white rear toes, while all other pups have totally white rear feet. Like all other puppies in this litter, his tail is white-tipped.

Fawn boy with white front legs and chest . . . tempted to call him the White Knight, as he is adorned with white below the head (chest and front legs and feet) when presenting his front side . . . weighed the least in the litter at 19.7 oz. The males started with the heaviest pup and got lighter with every pup! He and the fawn female both have a white spot on top of the right shoulder, but can be distinguished from colors of their fronts, as well as their sex!

Valentine Puppies Are Here!

2011-02-12T21:14:00.000-08:00

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies have arrived! In honor of Valentine's Day, the male on the far right has a white heart on his back and a black heart on his white tummy. There are 2 females and 4 males, weighing from 19.7 oz to 27.3 oz. All are healthy and well. All have anywhere from a tiny bit of white on the nose to a wide blaze of white down the face, all in honor of Sirin, who is almost 9 years old and will be retired from breeding after this litter. (She will, however, continue her guard duties in the goat pasture.) The sire, Capar, also passed on his mark in the litter, with the brindle-colored puppies. None of these puppies has rear dew claws. Stay tuned for weekly pictures and updates!

Ilik X Capar Female 8 WEEKS OLD!

2010-08-06T20:45:00.000-07:00

Ok, so no being picky about how I stacked these puppies! I miss Pat Hastings! She was out of state when these puppies were ready for their 8 week litter evaluation. I just do not have the knack that Pat has for setting up the puppies! And as you can probably see by their faces, they were not happy with me either! Sorry puppies!

The lone female in this litter weighed 21 lbs 8 oz at 8 weeks old. She is now in Maryland, loving and protecting her new family. I suggested they get a wading pool, since she likes water so much!

Ilik X Capar Males 8 WEEKS OLD!

2010-08-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

Firstborn son (above and below) weighed 27 lbs 14 oz at 8 weeks old! He is now in Ontario, CANADA, joining the Shepherds Rest darkest female puppy from the Sirin X Duman litter.

Capar Jr. flew to Tennessee just prior to the heatwave, so left a few days before 8 weeks old due to needing to avoid the heat. The airport he flew into was not serviced by Continental Airlines (air-conditioned facilities), so special arrangements had to be made with Delta to ensure he would not fly through any hot areas. The temperature embargo that most airlines have in effect means that animals cannot fly if the temperature is likely to be at or above 85 degrees at any connection, including the destination, at their anticipated arrival time! When Capar Jr. left, he was 24 lbs 0 oz. I do not have an exact 8 week old weight for him.

Ilik X Capar Puppies 7 WEEKS OLD!

2010-08-06T20:27:00.000-07:00

Well, these puppies are now 8 weeks old and gone to their homes, but for the sake of documentation and those following the litter with interest, I'll go back and give weights and info for the 7 week point. In these pics, puppies are 6 weeks old because my computer (or the Picasa program I use for photos) deleted several folders when my computer ran out of space. The important thing here is the weights and info on the puppies at 7 weeks!

The female loves the cool spot behind the water trough, and in fact, loves to get her feet wet. Just prior to leaving for her travels to her new home, she was spotted stepping her front feet into the water trough, then hauling her back feet in also, one at a time, as the trough sides are higher than her tummy! At 7 weeks, she weighed 17 lbs 11 oz.

Firstborn son above weighed 22 lbs 8 oz at 7 weeks. He has enormous paws that even the vet and the Continental Cargo people exclaimed about! A very sweet boy! He weighed in at 1 oz more than his brother below.

Capar Jr. weighed 22 lbs 7 oz at 7 weeks old. He loves to guard his goats and is often seen standing around them rather than playing with the other puppies! He is quite attentive to whatever is going on!

Sirin X Duman Male Anatolian Puppy

2010-08-02T16:37:00.000-07:00

Benek, Turkish for Spot, since he has a spot at the base of his tail, is the only Sirin X Duman puppy still waiting on the perfect home. He is huge, super sweet, and loves goats and dogs and people. He is outside working 24/7. He loves mud and water on hot days. He also still loves to mouth feet and shoes of people who visit. Don't wear shoestrings when you come! He is very responsive to voice, and will make eye contact if he knows you're addressing him! He would love to have a farm job protecting livestock and people! He gave the alert just the other night when the coyotes were near. He's now too big to weigh on the puppy scale, and is 10 weeks old.

Ilik X Capar puppies 6 WEEKS OLD!

2010-07-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

Sweet girl here weighed 14 lbs 15 oz right at 6 weeks old. She gained 2 lbs 11 oz this week. Average daily weight gain was 6.1 oz. She is easiest in the litter to weigh! She is usually the first one finished eating. If Momma is around, she is definitely Momma's girl.

Firstborn son weighed 18 lbs 8 oz at 6 weeks. He gained 3 lbs 15 oz this week. His average daily weight gain was 9.0 oz. This guy is Speedy Gonzales! When you bend down and talk to him, he responds with a foot in the air, as if pawing toward you.

Capar Jr weighed 18 lbs 0 oz, no longer the heavy-weight chunk of the litter. He gained 3 lbs 2 oz this week. Average daily weight gain was 7.1 oz. This is the mellow, quiet, sweet guy of the litter. But he holds his own in play with the Sirin puppies, of which there are still 2 here. Nobody picks on this pup (is it his size, color, personality, communications, or a combination?)! ;-> Even though he is younger, he weighs as much or more than the Sirin puppies that are 2 1/2 weeks older. But Ilik puppies are still more roly poly than Sirin puppies who are very steady on their feet now at 9 weeks old. Today these 3 Ilik puppies here shared their nursing meal with the 2 Sirin puppies. Mother Ilik good-naturedly nursed them all when allowed to visit for a short time. Puppies are pretty much weaned except for a daily snack. Male Anatolian, Durbun, is the guard in the puppy pasture with 5 puppies and 4 young goats! But pictures in that pasture are next to impossible, so puppies had to be removed one at a time in order to get decent pictures!

Sirin X Duman Male 8 Week Stacked Fronts

2010-07-16T23:45:00.001-07:00

Fawn male, alias "Wolf Boy"

Pinto boy, all white body (here seen as Leaning Tower of Puppy - he does love affection!)

Pinto boy, tail spot

Sirin X Duman Male Stacked Photos 8 WEEKS OLD

2010-07-16T23:28:00.000-07:00

Fawn male, alias "Wolf Boy"

Pinto, all white body boy

Pinto boy with spot at base of tail (mostly on right side!)

Sirin X Duman Female 8 Week Stacked Fronts

2010-07-16T23:15:00.000-07:00

Lightest color girl

Light coat dark mask girl

Dark double-dew claw girl

Darkest girl

Sirin X Duman Female Stacked Photos 8 WEEKS OLD

2010-07-16T22:59:00.001-07:00

Lightest coat girl

Light coat dark mask girl

Dark double-dew claw girl

Darkest girl

Anatolian Threesome at 5 Weeks Old

2010-07-15T20:28:00.000-07:00

Ilik X Capar Puppies 5 WEEKS OLD!

2010-07-15T20:20:00.000-07:00

The female, above, loves to paw at you for attention. She is 12 lbs 4 oz at 5 weeks old. She gained 2 lbs 15 oz this week. Her average daily weight gain this week was 6.7 oz. She and her brothers are getting very quick on their feet!

Firstborn son, above, is showing more and more the brindle look of faded broad stripes, unlike his brother below that looks more like spots. He is very agile. He gained 4 lbs even this week, so now weighs 14 lbs 9 oz. He does not like separated from his mother and will whine at the door for her!

Capar Jr. here weighs the most still at 14 lbs 14 oz. He gained an even 4 lbs this past week, like his brother. Average daily weight gain for each of the boys was 9.1 oz. He looks so much like his father, even his personality, it's uncanny! Very sweet personality. He still is very calm and still when held.

Anatolian Puppies Eatin' & Chillin'

2010-07-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

Seven weeks old as of Saturday, these puppies are growing fast at 14 to 16 lbs!

The dark girls! Can you tell them apart?!

The doghouse is a great thing to try those new teeth on!

Sirin X Duman Males 7 WEEKS OLD!

2010-07-12T18:14:00.000-07:00

Wolf boy here, as we affectionately call him due to his face markings, weighed 3 lbs 2 oz at 7 weeks old (Saturday). He gained 3 lbs 2 oz this week. His average daily weight gain was 7.1 oz. He is very sweet and huggable, still! A very mellow boy!

The pinto boy with all white body is more in-your-face for attention and more likely to seek shade during the 100 degree weather. He is a very friendly boy at 15 lbs 11 oz. He gained 3 lbs 9 oz this week, the leader of the pack in weight gain. Average daily weight gain was 8.1 oz! I think he wants to be the big boy. We will see if he gets larger than his pinto brother below. It's a possibility.

Pinto boy with the tail spot is more nibbly on the feet and shoes, still. He is also very friendly. He weighed 16 lbs 0 oz. He gained 3 lbs 1 oz this week, with an average daily weight gain of 7.0 oz. He remains the overall heavy-weight of the entire litter.

Sirin X Duman Females 7 WEEKS OLD!

2010-07-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

Lightest female who has the lightest mask was 14 lbs 15 oz at 7 weeks old (Saturday). She gained 3 lbs 1 oz this week, and had an average daily weight gain this week of 7.0 oz. She still has the best eye contact, such that it seems like she's trying to read your mind!

White toes female who is also a light-colored body and has an all dark chin, was 14 lbs 15 oz also. She gained 3 lbs 7 oz this week, the big gainer of the girls. Her average daily weight gain was 7.9 oz, second only to one of her brothers in total weight gain this week and average daily weight gain for the week! This girl continues to mostly enjoy staying kicked back and observing activities without getting in the midst of them, although she does join in sometimes.

Dark female with a double dew claw (actually is one dew since the second pad has no actual claw in it) was 15 lbs 1 oz, the heavy-weight female of the sisterhood. Her weight gain for the week was 3 lbs 1 oz, with an average daily weight gain of 7.0 oz. She and her sister below are the biggest meet-and-greeters of the litter!

Darkest female weighed 14 lbs 10 oz on Saturday at 7 weeks old. She gained 3 lbs 2 oz this week for an average daily weight gain of 7.1 oz. She is still the friendliest and if allowed, will be the first in your lap and the first one out the gate!

Ilik X Capar puppies FOUR WEEKS OLD!

2010-07-08T20:23:00.000-07:00

The female pup, above, weighs 9 lbs 5 oz at 4 weeks old. She gained 2 lbs 11 oz this week, which makes an average weight gain of 6.1 oz per day. She is happy-go-lucky and enjoyed dipping her feet in a dog-food-dish of ice water today in the 100 degree weather! She and firstborn son are still a bit scared of human feet.

The firstborn son, above, weighs 10 lbs 9 oz. He gained a whopping 4 lbs 1 oz this week. Average weight gain was 9.3 oz per day!!! He says he will take on his brother in a wrestling match any time! This guy likes to find a dark quiet spot in the heat and hole up. I don't blame him! He and his sister are about even in activity level, bouncing around and having fun, when the temps are more normal.

Capar Jr. weighs the most still at 10 lbs 14 oz. He gained 3 lbs 10 oz this week, with the average daily weigh gain being 8.3 oz. Today is the first day he is mostly steady on his rear legs! This guy gets the friendly greeter award for the week. He was also seen dipping feet in the ice-water! He prefers to mostly watch the goings on instead of get into a tussle, but he can't help but join in the play when attacked by the siblings! He is always good-natured about it. He seems more like a wise old man watching over his family at times!

Anatolian Puppies At Play - 6 Weeks Old

2010-07-05T23:51:00.000-07:00

Sirin X Duman Female Puppies SIX WEEKS OLD!

2010-07-05T23:40:00.000-07:00

Here is the lightest-color of coat in the litter, above. This is the white-foot female. This sweet girl has a very similar personality to her fawn brother. She loves to play with her siblings but is not the initiator, usually. She has fabulous eye contact with people. She weighed 11 lbs 14 oz at 6 weeks old. (I'm a couple days behind in pictures!) She gained 2 lbs 15 oz this past week, almost one pound more than last week's weight gain. This week her average daily weight gain is 6.7 ounces.

This is white toes female, also one of the two lighter coat color females. This girl is comfortable with her littermates and without. It's not unusual for her to go off to take a nap by herself, comfortable with her environment, and then join in the puppy play later. She weighed 11 lbs 8 oz at 6 weeks. Her weight gain this week was 3 lbs 3 oz. Her average daily weight gain this week was 7.3 oz.

Double-dew claw female was quite the happy camper during the photo session Look at that smile! Actually, I think she was plotting her next move against a sibling rival!!! She and her dark sister below are both usually the first two puppies to meet and greet visitors. Both are happy-go-lucky. Double-dew girl (above) weighed 12 lbs 0 oz at 6 weeks. She gained 3 lbs 9 oz this week, and has an average daily weight gain of 8.1 oz.

Darkest female continues to lighten in her body color, as does her sister above. She had been involved in quite the wrestling match with siblings and had just plopped down in the grass when this picture was taken, as if saying, "Hmmm." Although she's looking at the camera, she is keenly aware of where her siblings are and maybe even what her net move will be! The seriousness of those eyes is probably a sign of the internal battle plan she's cooking up!!! ;-> She weighed 11 lbs 8 oz at 6 weeks. This week she gained 3 lbs 1 oz. Her average daily weight gain was 7.0 oz.

Sirin X Duman Male Puppies SIX WEEKS OLD!

2010-07-05T23:19:00.000-07:00

I've had comments and compliments about how this guy above looks like a wolf pup! This boy really knows how to smile! He is still the sweetest cuddle puppy with a gentle disposition. He weighed 11 lbs 9 oz at 6 weeks old. He gained 3 lbs 9 oz this week, and had an average daily weight gain this week of 8.1 oz.

The male pup with the all white body (above) loves to play tug-of-war with branches. He also loves to follow feet wherever they go! Human feet, animal feet, any feet! His 6 week weight was 12 lbs 2 oz. He gained 3 lbs 7 oz this week. His average daily weight gain this past week was 7.9 oz.

Ah, the BIG boy! This is Mr. Tail Spot, which is more like a partial dark ring around the base of the tail. So cute! This guy is big and fast and very friendly. He especially loves to initiate play with his siblings! He weighed 12 lbs 15 oz at 6 weeks, the largest puppy in the litter by 13 ounces! He gained 3 lbs 9 oz in just the last week! His average daily weight gain this week was 8.1 oz, same as the fawn male and one of his sisters.

The Hugesome Threesome!

2010-07-02T08:38:00.000-07:00

This first litter from import brindle Capar of Cardak is now 3 weeks old, out of the whelping box, growing like Jack-in-the-Beanstalk, and eating solid food with gusto.

Their favorite spot is the hole that the female is lying in (background below). Usually the barn door is open and they watch the outside world cuddled together in that hole. For now, their outside world consists of goats, chickens, and other dogs.

Below you can see the colors as the puppies mature. Seems like 2 fawns and a brindle, but the fawns have very interesting wide bands of color differences in the fawn in the front half of the body, which the camera does not pick up very well.

Ilik X Capar Puppies 3 WEEKS OLD!

2010-07-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

The only female (above) is second best in litter on her feet, following firstborn son below. She likes to cuddle, but hangs on for dear life with both legs wrapped tight around an arm! She watches things in her environment the most intently and the longest, especially people and animals. She weighs 6 lbs 10 oz. The last week she gained 1 lb 10 oz, with an average daily weight gain this week of 3.7 oz.

The firstborn son is getting quite nimble on his feet. He is the most agile and the most mobile in the litter. He's also the most wiggly to hold! He has places to go and things to see and isn't eager to be held back from them! ;-> He weighs 6 lbs 8 oz, gained 1 lb 13 oz this week, and has an average daily weight gain this week of 1 lb 13 oz. Look out predators!

Mr. Sack of Potatoes here (heavy-weight!) is the calmest to hold and the last one to accomplish getting up on his rear feet! Although he can now move all over the place, and CAN stand on his feet, he still bottoms out a lot with rear legs straight out at the sides! ;-> This brindle boy weighs 7 lbs 4 oz. He gained 1 lb 14 oz this week and had an average daily weigh gain of 4.3 oz. This guy will probably have the role of bouncer with predators when he grows up!

Anatolian Puppies Raised With Goats

2010-06-27T22:53:00.000-07:00

What a crew! If you're not sure what they're looking at in the top photo, just take a look at the photo below!

These puppies are wondering WHAT the goat is doing in THEIR pasture! The goats have previously been on the other side of the fence, familiar, but not part of the pack. All the sudden the goats are in shared territory!

Now this shot (above) is great because you can number the puppies as to who is most eager to meet and greet the goat kids brought into the puppy pasture that morning! Darkest girl is WAYYYYYY out front, with two sisters second and third. Fawn boy is fourth with the all-white-body-pinto boy in close fifth. The tail-spot pinto boy and white toes lighter female are not yet leaving home position.

Perfect age for goats and dogs together - 7 week old Oberhasli kids with 5 week old puppies. Puppies are old enough to get away quickly out from under foot of the goats, yet not fast enough to chase or big enough to try to play successfully with the goats. If the puppies get a little forward, the goat kids will rear up and that's enough for the puppies to tumble over themselves backwards in retreat.

Sirin X Duman FEMALE PUPPIES 5 Weeks Old!

2010-06-27T22:28:00.000-07:00

The light pup with the white foot weighs 8 lbs 15 oz, almost 9 pounds at only 5 weeks old! Usually Anatolian puppies weigh an average of 8 lbs at 8 weeks old when they go to new homes! This girl gained 2 lbs 1 oz this week. She often likes to hang back and watch the goings on, unlike the rest of the litter. But if she chooses, she's not afraid to join either!

The light pup with white front toes weighs 8 lbs 5 oz, gaining 1 lb 14 oz this week. She likes to start the play and is often found on top of the sibling-play-partner for most of the action.

The dark pup with a double-dew claw is not so dark this week on the body. She is 8 lbs 7 oz and gained 1 lb 12 oz in the last 7 days. She is brave and confident and often found returning again and again to the food bowl until all is gone.

The darkest pup is only the darkest pup in the face now. The body is lightening up a lot. This girl weighs 8 lbs 7 oz and gained 1 lb 13 oz this last week. She likes to get attention from people and seems to know when people are looking at her!

Sirin X Duman MALE PUPPIES 5 Weeks Old!

2010-06-27T22:11:00.000-07:00

This fawn boy weighs in at 8 lbs 0 oz, a gain of 2 lbs 7 oz in the last week. He is super sweet and still likes to cuddle more than the other puppies. Today he was hiding safe in a hole watching the 2 goats in his little pasture.

Pinto boy with the all white body is 8 lbs 11 oz. He gained 2 lbs 1 oz this week. He loves to follow feet and is very quick. Feet mean hands that reach down and pet and he adores that!

Big pinto boy with the dark mark about his tail now weighs 9 lbs 6 oz. He gained 2 lbs 0 oz this week. He loves to pounce on feet and nibble on toes. He is always in the middle of whatever is going on.

Ilik X Capar puppies TWO WEEKS OLD!

2010-06-24T20:43:00.000-07:00

The puppies all began to open their eyes a few days ago. They are hefty pups so are still having trouble getting upright, especially in the back end! Still wondering if all are brindle with perhaps fainter and wider markings.

The female weighs 5 lbs now. She gained 1 lb 12 oz this week, an average of almost 4 oz a day (3.93 oz to be exact)! This girl is the sleepiest.

The firstborn male weighs 4 lbs 11 oz at 2 weeks old. He gained the same as the female above this week, 1 lb 12 oz, with the same daily average as the female. This guy is the best getting up on his feet and the most agile so far.

Capar Jr. weighs 5 lbs 6 oz. His gain this week was 1 lb 14 oz. Daily average gained this week was 4.26 oz. This guy is the noisiest. ;->

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 4 Weeks Old

2010-06-20T21:08:00.000-07:00

2010-06-20T21:05:00.000-07:00

Sirin X Duman FEMALES 4 weeks old!!

2010-06-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

6 lbs 14 oz

6 lbs 7 oz

6 lbs 11 oz

6 lbs 10 oz

Sirin X Duman MALES four weeks old!

2010-06-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

5 lbs 9 oz

6 lbs 10 oz

7 lbs 6 oz

Ilik X Capar Puppies ONE WEEK OLD!

2010-06-17T21:26:00.000-07:00

These puppies will likely be short coats, like the import sire's, Capar of Cardak's coat. The mother is a rough-coat fawn. Father is a dark brindle. Anyone care to venture 8 week old coat color predictions?!

2010-06-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

The Anatolian puppy threesome will open their eyes this next week! Already they are crawling all over the whelping box. Their mother, Ilik, is still staying close and rarely leaving the whelping box.

The only fawn/black mask female, above, weighed 52.5 oz yesterday at one week old. That is a gain of 28.7 oz from the birthweight of 23.8 oz.

The only fawn/black mask male weighed 46.5 oz at a week old, gaining 24.0 oz from a birthweight of 22.5 oz.

The only brindle male weighed 56.2 oz at a week old. This hefty guy put on 27.4 oz from birth, when he weighed in at a whopping 28.8 oz.

Ilik X Capar Puppies 4 DAYS OLD

2010-06-13T18:41:00.000-07:00

Dark males are on either side of middle female. Pup on right is a little (big?!) Capar Junior. His brindle markings are able to be seen easier now than at birth. At this age he looks like a little clone of his sire!

The female pup is quite a big girl. She weighed 31.2 oz at 3 days old, while the firstborn son (left) weighed 27.5, and the brindle son weighed 33.8. But with no competition for the milk, each pup can easily get their fill. The firstborn son is still very large compared to the other Sirin X Duman litter at that age (now 3 weeks old).

Ilik is being a good mother. She rarely leaves the whelping box at this stage. Her job right now is cleaning the puppies up, which is no easy task since they are eating all the time! Ilik allows the puppies to be handled and weighed every day, but she gets uneasy if a puppy is away from her for too long, and she watches what is happening with each puppy with eagle eyes! If she didn't like what was happening, I've no doubt that she would come pick up the puppy and take it back with her into the whelping box!

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies 3 Weeks Old

2010-06-13T18:24:00.000-07:00

Here are the 5 of 7 fawn puppies above, and the 2 of 7 pinto puppies, below, from the Sirin X Duman litter. These puppies are ALL over the place now, mostly OUT of the whelping box! Two nights ago was the first night they all slept outside the box. And this week they are barking and howling, a change from the puppy mewling sounds of earlier.

The puppies are also beginning their mock killing and predator-fighting practice. Even at this young age, they can sound pretty fierce when they growl and carry on! But mostly they still sleep and eat and occasionally do a little bit of exploring.

I think they must also have a contest for biggest mouth! ;->

Sirin X Duman FEMALE PUPPIES 3 weeks old

2010-06-13T18:06:00.000-07:00

White foot female weighs 4 lbs 12 oz. She gained a total of 22.9 oz this week.

White toes female weighs 4 lbs 9 oz. Her gain this week was 24.9 oz. This gal has less need to be huddled with the "pack." She was discovered yesterday sleeping off by herself. It was an 83 degree day, so maybe she is just more self-sufficient at cooling herself off!

Double dew claw female weighs 4 lbs 6 oz. She gained 19.4 oz this week, tying with the fawn male for least weight gain in the litter this week.

Darkest female weighs 4 lbs 9 oz. She gained 23.9 oz this week.

Sirin X Duman MALE PUPPIES 3 weeks old

2010-06-13T17:50:00.000-07:00

The only fawn male is now 4 lbs 2 oz, with a total weight gain the last week of 19.4 oz.

The pinto male with the all white body weighs 4 lbs 10 oz, gaining 25.6 oz this week. This guy is trying to catch up with his brother and wins this week's special mention for most weight gain of the males and also most weight gain of the entire litter!

Huge pinto boy with the brown line around the base of his tail is now 5 lbs 4 oz. He gained 24.3 oz in the past week.

Capar of Cardak Sires First Litter in U.S.

2010-06-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

Two dark males and a light-colored female are the result of Çapar's first breeding in the U.S. to Shepherds Rest Ilik Duman ("Ilik"). One male is brindle and the other two have gorgeous coats but hard to tell yet on brindling. (Yes, only three puppies. Just went to the vet to x-ray and we have 3 healthy and huge puppies with no more to whelp!) Ilik was chosen as the first female to produce Çapar offspring. She was the female pick-of-the-Shepherds-Rest-litters since 2006, due to conformation, temperament, and working ability. She also has the distinction of having a very large head, which is unusual for a female and rarely seen in the U.S. Go to www.shepherds-rest.com and the pedigree page for information on OFA certifications and other details of the parents of this litter. And stay tuned to this blog for weekly updates and more.

PUPPY 1: Çapar's 1st Son!

2010-06-10T00:18:00.000-07:00

Brindle import Çapar of Çardak has sired his first litter in the U.S. by Shepherds Rest Ilik Duman! First pup, a male, shown here, was born at 6:42 pm. Weighing 22.5 oz. Rear dew claws are present. A double on the right and a single on the left.

PUPPY 2: Çapar's 2nd Son!

2010-06-10T00:14:00.000-07:00

Born at 9:08 pm. Weighing 28.8 oz! Yes, 28.8. I weighed twice to make sure. Born 2 hours and 26 minutes after the firstborn. No rear dew claws on this big boy.

PUPPY 3: Çapar's 1st Daughter!

2010-06-10T00:10:00.000-07:00

Born at 9:43 pm. Weighing 23.8 oz. Rear dew claws consist of a doubt right and a single left.

Three and Counting

2010-06-10T00:06:00.000-07:00

At 10 past midnight, there are still only 3 puppies born!

ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD PUPPIES Two Weeks Old!

2010-06-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

The Sirin X Duman litter is continuing to grow healthy and strong, with eyes all open now and 3 puppies having achieved traveling awards (i.e., ability to climb out of the whelping box).

Unfortunately, at photo op time, puppies had just finished nursing and were very sleepy. The interesting thing this week was noticing that as soon as the eyes were open, the puppies were much more fearful of being picked up and weighed. The first day of eyes open, most of the pups soiled in the weighing box and most became very clingy with the front feet, hooking themselves onto my hands and fingers when picked up. The third day after eyes were open, the puppies were back at ease again about being weighed.

Sirin X Duman FEMALE PUPPIES Two Weeks Old

2010-06-06T18:53:00.000-07:00

White foot girl weighs in at 53.6 oz now. She gained 16.1 oz this week, a tiny bit down from the weight gain of 17.6 oz her first week of life.

White toes girl now weighs 48.8 oz. The gain this week was 16.0 oz, a big change from being tied for least weight gain in the litter at 12.7 oz her first week last week.

This girl with a double rear dew claw is still second darkest in the litter, but lightening up. There is no stripe on her nose. That's only a light effect in the photo. This gal is now the female heavy-weight of the litter at 51.3 oz, a gain of 18.0 oz this week, which wins her the Most Gained In Litter status this week! (Last week she gained 13.2 oz.)

Darkest girl here is also lightening up but still darkest in the litter, especially when compared to the fawn male she's sleeping on! She weighs 49.9 oz, having gained 16.6 oz this week. Last week's gain was 13.6 oz.

Sirin X Duman MALE PUPPIES Two Weeks Old

2010-06-06T18:43:00.000-07:00

Mr. Handsome here is now 47.0 oz, a gain this week of 14.1 oz. (The weight gain in his first week of life was 12.7 oz.) He likes to snuggle with people.

If this boy were to guard the Boer goats as an adult, he would blend right in and look just like them! This is the one with no color spots other than the head. He weighs 48.6 oz, gaining 15.8 oz this week. (Last week he gained 14.9 oz.)

This boy has the spot at the base of his tail. Not only is he still huge, but he is also adventurous. He and the pinto above were the first ones to climb out of the whelping box, and at only 1 1/2 weeks old, too!!! They were found nursing on mom in a hole dug behind the whelping box, keeping all the milk to themselves! The rest of the puppies were still in the whelping box. Ha! He now weighs 59.6 oz. He gained 16.1 oz this week, a bit more normal than his huge gain of 19.6 last week!

Anatolian Shepherd Puppies - ONE WEEK OLD!

2010-05-30T13:55:00.000-07:00

It's feeding time for the Sirin X Duman litter, and they all seven find a way to find their food! Already they are using the mat under them as leverage for their feet to get where they want to be.

What a healthy and contented litter! This is the only time to get them lined up so colors and variations of the fawn ones can be seen, either at feeding or when asleep!

Sweet faces! Next time they are blogged in a week the eyes will likely be opening!

It's the after-feeding dog pile of full tummy puppies!

Sirin X Duman. THE GIRLS.

2010-05-30T13:43:00.000-07:00

Fawn black mask female with white right front foot. No rear dew claws. Birthweight 19.9 oz. One week old 37.5 oz. Second heaviest in litter after the big pinto male.

Fawn black mask female with white front toes doing a sleepy stretch. No rear dew claws. Birthweight 20.1 oz. One week old 32.8 oz.

Fawn black mask female. Double left and single right rear dew claws. Birthweight 20.1 oz. One week old 33.3 oz.

Fawn black mask female, darkest in litter but lightening as time goes by. Single rear dew claws. Birthweight 19.7 oz. One week old 33.3 oz.