Anatolian Shepherd mixes are a result of breeding the incredible Anatolian Shepherd and many popular dog breeds.
For starters, the Anatolian Shepherd is not the kind of dog you can see everywhere. There aren’t many good Anatolian Shepherd breeders to begin with. So, why are their mixes so popular? How come there are so many mixes of this breed?
I believe it has a lot to do with the kind temperament these dogs have, along with their gentle personality.
Yes, Anatolian Shepherds may look a bit scary since they’re so big. But, there’s something even bigger than them…. it’s their heart that can captivate the many people he gets to meet.
Without further ado, let’s jump into the matter and discover some pretty cool Anatolian Shepherd mixes together. I guarantee you’ll have a blast, and find a crossbreed dog that will steal your heart for good.
1. English Mastiff X Anatolian Shepherd
Photo from: @howdysarge
Okay… we’ve got a pretty big pooch over here! So big that it’s ridiculous to call him a pooch.
Meet the English Mastiff and Anatolian Shepherd mix. We don’t really have a fun name for this crossbreed pup, but you can call it the Anatolian Mastiff if you want.
This is an expected combination of purebred dogs since Anatolian Shepherds usually mix with larger dogs, preferably giants. It’s due to their huge size. I mean, an average Anatolian Shepherd will weigh up to 150 pounds. Imagine breeding one with a male or a female Chihuahua.
That’d be ridiculous and unethical!
That’s why canines like the English Mastiff are perfectly fine.
Appearance
The English Mastiff usually weighs up to 200 pounds. This makes him a good counterpart to Anatolian Shepherds. Their crossbreed puppies will be large dogs.
Whether they’ll take their weight after one parent or another is completely irrelevant since it will still be a huge doggo.
The signature features that will help you recognize an Anatolian Mastiff is its medium-length coat in numerous cream shades, including brindle and white, as well as its blocky, mastiff-type head.
Temperament
As for their temperament, Anatolian Mastiffs are not what you’d expect from them. Sure, they are big. They might make you feel intimidated, but these dogs won’t harm you on purpose.
Anatolian Mastiffs are actually pretty sweet and caring. They are as gentle as a dog of their size can be.
Still, I’d be careful, and would not leave them with small children, as they might hurt them unintentionally. After all, these are pretty big, heavy, and strong canines.
Health Problems
Mixed-breed dogs always come either incredibly healthy or feature numerous health issues. With dogs of this size, it’s important to pay attention to joints, bones, and hips, as they’re the ones that cause issues first.
Watch out for canine hip dysplasia, and don’t let your dog exercise too long. Surprisingly, strenuous workouts for these mixes are not recommended because they affect their skeletal system negatively.
2. Anatolian Pyrenees: Great Pyrenees X Anatolian Shepherd
Finally, two dog breeds that look a lot like each other… well, at least in terms of size and signature coat colors.
This is the Anatolian Pyrenees – a cross between two truly magnificent dog breeds; our Anatolian Shepherd and the Great Pyrenees. Two dog breeds of a robust size have met and created one stunning dog… not a pup, but a big dog that will impress you with its size.
Let’s see more of why the Anatolian Pyrenees is an impressive hybrid!
Appearance
Both parent breeds are exceptional working dogs. They are purposely bred to help with herding cattle, or serve as livestock guardians. Their big body size helped them a lot with these tasks. Also, their strength was a nice backup when they needed to protect their owner and the herd from wild animals.
The Anatolian Pyrenees features a double coat inherited from both parents. They’re fluffy looking and soft, usually in lighter shades like cream or white. Of course, they will shed like the Great Pyrenees. Unfortunately, shedding is a massive issue with these dogs, so keep that in mind.
This crossbreed usually has a nice long muzzle, and floppy ears covered in medium-length hair.
Read Also: Colorado Mountain Dog – A True Coloradan Braveheart
Temperament
Everything is big with the Anatolian Pyrenees, especially their heart.
Yes, you can definitely call them gentle giants. These dogs are family-oriented, sweet, and caring. Most importantly, they will put your safety first, and defend you from any possible threat.
This may be a bit problematic, especially around unknown people. Their territorial behavior as well as their overprotectiveness is something that needs to be addressed through early socialization and obedience training.
You should not have any issues with general training since the Anatolian Pyrenees learns fast, he’s super smart, and he is eager to please.
Health Problems
Giant dog breeds will always have issues with their mobility. However, those aren’t the only problems with the Anatolian Pyrenees. Unfortunately, they’re also prone to some severe eye conditions.
For example, your Anatolian Pyrenees puppy may inherit cataracts, or conditions called entropion or ectropion.
Also, bloat is a constant threat with giant dog breeds. Better control their meal intake, and don’t allow them to exercise a lot before and after meals. Too much air will cause their belly to twist, which can be lethal.
3. German Anatolian Shepherd: Anatolian Shepherd X German Shepherd Mix
What kind of a list would this be without a German Shepherd? Of all Anatolian Shepherd mixes, this is definitely the one with the most popular mom or dad, the German Shepherd.
The German Anatolian Shepherd has one of the finest working ethics you’ll ever see in the canine kingdom. He’s the ultimate hard worker. While other Anatolian mixes may lay around and cuddle, this pup will be out and about, giving 110%, and completing tasks without a hassle.
What you’re about to learn concerning the German Anatolian Shepherd will change your mind about crossbreed pups, and make you wish you had one immediately.
Appearance
When we compare the two parents, we’ll notice an obvious difference in terms of size. German Shepherds are not as tall as you might think. They are longer dogs, with a slouched back and long tail. But, if you follow the GSD growth chart, you’ll see that they can pack up to 90 pounds. That’s pretty close to our Anatolian Shepherd.
However, the Anatolian Shepherd has a more bulky build, and they appear larger than they really are.
The crossbreed puppies of these two will be somewhere around 100 pounds. They will have a muscular body build covered in short hair. Lots of coat colors are possible, but all of them are German Shepherd colors.
One of the most popular colors will be sable, just like the sable GSD.
Unfortunately, GSDs shed, and so does the Anatolian Shepherd. So, you will have your hands full with brushing them.
Temperament
A lot of people believe German Shepherds are aggressive. But, that’s far from the truth. No dog, including a German Shepherd, is aggressive by default.
When you combine their temperament with the Anatolians’ calm and gentle approach, you get the perfectly balanced puppy that will grow into a quiet, devoted dog that will work hard like no other mix on this list.
Of course, I’d pay attention to their size as they might cause injuries with smaller kids. But, other than that, German Anatolian Shepherds make fine crossbreed pups.
They can live with families since they are extremely loyal and look for the alpha in their humans.
Health Problems
If you want your German Anatolian Shepherd to reach its maximum lifespan, then you should take him to regular vet visits. But, most importantly, buy from a breeder who guarantees the puppies are free of any hereditary disease.
This is another one of the Anatolian Shepherd mixes that is prone to dysplasia and bloat. However, I have to add hemophilia to the list since German Shepherds often carry this severe condition.
4. Anatolian Shepherd Great Dane Mix
Photo from: @purpletabs
I just love it when breeders mix dogs of similar size, appearance, and temperament. Do you want to know why? It’s because I want to see what will make their puppy different from the others. Will it be behavior or will it be some unusual appearance traits?
The truth is, you never know with crossbreed dogs. They don’t have a breed standard, and they don’t have to resemble both parents. Sometimes, these dogs take after one side more than the other.
In this case, the Anatolian Shepherd Great Dane mixed puppy will usually look more like the Great Dane. Why don’t we check out some other features of this incredible hybrid?
Appearance
The Anatolian Shepherd Great Dane mix is another giant with a mellow heart. Even though they may look like aggressive hounds, Great Danes are not really dangerous. I feel really bad for Great Dane boys and girls because they have to take all the unnecessary bad publicity.
A cross between them and the Anatolian Shepherd would be a calm, gentle dog that won’t hurt anyone. Great Danes are known for their gentle approach, especially to children. In fact, they’re real cuddle bears, but sadly, they don’t fit into a human lap.
The Great Anatolian Shepherd (a shorter name for this mix) should inherit Great Dane coat colors. I’ve seen some pretty lovely mantle pups, just like mantle Danes.
But, this handsome boy is more than just beauty.
Temperament
Great Dane Anatolian Shepherd mixed puppies are blessed to be quite intelligent.
Besides their cuddly behavior, these dogs tend to be a bit territorial. However, that’s nothing that should worry you as they won’t show aggression.
Brace yourself for an endless amount of big, wet dog kisses as the Great Anatolian loves sharing the love!
Health Problems
Sadly, this is one of those Anatolian Shepherd mixes that doesn’t live for too long. That’s the problem with giant dog breeds. They grow fast, and thus, reach maturity faster. Consequently, nature decided they should live a shorter life.
One of the most common health problems that might affect your Great Anatolian Shepherd will be inherited from the Great Dane side of the family. It’s cardiomyopathy (basically, an enlargement of the heart muscle).
See, I told you these dogs have huge hearts!
5. Golden Retriever X Anatolian Shepherd
Photo from: @indi.louis
One of the best family pets in the world, and a parent to this wonderful Anatolian Shepherd mix, is the Golden Retriever. Whether your breeder uses English or American Goldens, the end result will still be a lovely Golden Anatolian.
Since Golden Retrievers aren’t that good as guard dogs, I believe that breeding them with Anatolians was to create a lovely family dog that would cuddle and protect as needed.
I do have to congratulate whoever remembered to breed Goldens and Anatolians together. They’re not only good dogs to have around, but they’re also valued family members, and now you’re about to see why.
Appearance
Let’s start with the appearance of the Golden Shepherd. As you can tell, the signature color of this crossbreed puppy is gold or cream, just like the Golden parent.
There is a significant difference in terms of the size of the two parent breeds. Golden Retrievers are large-breed dogs, but they’re not as giant as Anatolians.
You can expect your Golden Anatolian to weigh up to 80 pounds. Of course, when it comes to male vs female Goldens, females are smaller. When you combine these genes with Anatolian’s, you’ll get a pup that will resemble a GSD in terms of size.
This is still a pretty big dog that will make you feel safe around him.
The facial expression usually takes after the Golden. There is no signature black mask as there is with Anatolians.
Probably the only thing most Golden Anatolians inherit from the Turkish side of the family is their size and their dense coat.
Speaking of coats… yes, you will need to brush it all the time because both the Anatolian Shepherd and the Golden Retriever shed quite a lot, and are not hypoallergenic.
Temperament
I’d recommend a Golden Anatolian even if you’re a first-time owner. The reason is pretty simple! The easy-going temperament that both dogs have will make Golden Anatolian Shepherd puppies adaptable to any lifestyle.
These dogs will never show you aggression because Golden retrievers are not aggressive, and neither are Anatolian Shepherds.
These dogs don’t have too high of energy levels, but they do need daily workouts, i.e., long walks in the park. Also, I recommend you get some toys to work on your Golden Anatolian’s mental stimulation.
All in all, this cross from popular dogs is threatening to become the favorite among all Anatolian Shepherd mixes as well as other family-oriented dogs.
Health Problems
The one thing that’s really bad about Golden Retrievers is that out of all dog breeds, they’re the ones most prone to developing different types of cancer. There’s a huge chance your Anatolian Shepherd mix will inherit genes that might trigger this severe condition.
I suggest you take your pup to see the vet anytime you can. Don’t skip checkups, and take care of your dog’s health.
inherited from the Great Dane side of the family. It’s cardiomyopathy (basically, an enlargement of the heart muscle).
See, I told you these dogs have huge hearts!
ch dogs.
So, expect some drama from your Anadoodle, just because they feel a bit bored.
Also, when it comes to boredom, don’t let your Anadoodle get bored while alone at home. You might come home to a destroyed living room. Provide some fun games for mental stimulation and you’ll have one grateful pup.
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