Why Are Anatolian Shepherds Destructive When Bored

Is your Anatolian Shepherd destructive when he's bored? Can you leave him and return just five minutes later to find he's practically devoured half the sofa and turned the whole room upside down? It's not surprising. Anatolian Shepherds have a bad habit of doing things like that. Did you leave your Anatolian Shepherd out in the backyard while you went inside to finish up some chores? Wasn't such a good idea, was it? By the time you went back out, he'd probably dug up half the lawn, chewed through a couple of fence panels, and eaten half the garden hose. Right or wrong? Probably right or you wouldn't be reading this article. So why are Anatolian Shepherds so destructive when they get bored?

As beautiful a breed of dog as they are, getting bored quickly and being destructive are two of an Anatolian Shepherd dog's more common characteristics. When you acquired your Anatolian Shepherd, you didn't just get a dog. You got a power pack of energy. Not just any ordinary power pack either, but one which will run for miles and miles without getting depleted. It's that incredible stamina which stands them in good stead for the work they're breed to do which is rounding up cattle. If you don't just happen to have a livestock ranch then you're going to have your hands full.

Apart from having exceptional energy levels, Anatolian Shepherds rank among the highest on the canine intelligence scale. If there was such a thing for dogs, their IQ ratings would probably make them eligible for Mensa. That superior intelligence means they get bored a lot quicker than many other breeds of dog. Being a house pet and sleeping their days away on the kitchen floor just isn't the way Anatolian Shepherds like to pass their time. They much prefer to be working. If they're not fully occupied, well, expect a recipe for disaster.

Anatolian Shepherds are not small dogs. They can grow up to weigh anywhere up to one hundred and fifty pounds which is a pretty hefty size for a pup. That size dog needs a lot of space, not just to run around in, but basically just to accommodate him. If you've only got a small apartment that's low on square footage, your Anatolian Shepherd is not going to be very comfortable and neither are you. Leave him alone in a confined space when you go to work and guaranteed, you'll return home to find he's tried his paw at interior decorating. Worse, he might have had a go at demolition and chewed through the wall.

Anatolian Shepherds need to be in the right environment to have a happy and satisfactory life. They need to be outdoors doing what comes naturally to them, which is working with cattle or other livestock. Being cooped up with nothing to do makes them bored. To them, being a house pet is akin to taking early retirement. They've got too much time on their paws and boredom initiates their destructive streak. It's not the right breed of dog to have if you're out a lot at work or going places where you can't take your dog with you. You could well end up with no house to come home to.

If you've just acquired your Anatolian Shepherd and he's still a pup, if you only have a small house and backyard, then maybe it's the right moment to think of moving. Things might be okay while he's still young or at the puppy stage, but don't let that fool you into thinking you've escaped the common problems of having an Anatolian Shepherd. You won't have. As he grows, so will his need for more space and a lot more exercise. If you don't keep up with his requirements, well, after reading this, you've got a very good idea of what to expect.

Anatolian Shepherds are amazing dogs, but can be a proper handful. If you're not sure how to keep control of yours or how to stop him being destructive, you might want to consider consulting with a professional dog trainer. They'll be able to show you some great ways to overcome the problems you're having. Anatolian Shepherds like to be busy. You might like to consider signing up for some agility classes or even attend some specialised training session with a qualified dog handler. They'll stretch him mentally by putting his canine cleverness to the test and help keep him out of mischief.

Yes, it's true, Anatolian Shepherds can be very destructive when they're bored. They also require a lot of exercise. If you've found just a short walk isn't enough to tire yours out, you might want to consider taking up marathon running and letting him accompany you. Guaranteed when you cross the finish line, while you're flagging, he won't be tired, but ready to do it all over again.