Lucky Hit Ranch's Anatolian Page - Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) Between One and Eleven Years

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - January 30, 2003

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on January 30, 2003

Case, on left, guarding goats and one sheep in the corral at Lucky Hit Ranch.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on January 30, 2003

Case, bottom center, with his litter brother, Beau, guarding goats and one sheep in the corral at Lucky Hit Ranch.
Case and Beau were not able to stay together peacefully much longer than pictured here.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - February 22, 2003

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on February 22, 2003

Case resting in the pasture with his goats at Lucky Hit Ranch.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - October 22, 2003

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on October 22, 2003

Case in the pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - February 14, 2004

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on February 14, 2004

Case guarding goats in the pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch during a rare snow on February 14, 2004.
In the background you can see my incredible Champion Birinci's Yahsi.
Yahsi and Case had a very interesting relationship for two males. Yahsi appeared to form an alliance with Case as an equal.
They did occasionally have a scuffle, but generally work together fairly well. However, Yahsi went to Florida
before he reached two and I'm not certain that their uneasy alliance would have continued to hold had Yahsi stayed.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on February 14, 2004

Another picture of Case guarding goats on February 14, 2004 with Champion Birinci's Yahsi in the background.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on February 14, 2004

Case on February 14, 2004, checking out the perimeter fencing for predator incursions at Lucky Hit Ranch.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on February 14, 2004

Case on February 14, 2004, with llamas at Lucky Hit Ranch.
As usual, the snow is already beginning to melt only hours after it fell.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - March 19, 2004

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on March 19, 2004

Case on March 19, 2004, with llamas at Lucky Hit Ranch.
Case is a powerful and vigilant guardian.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - May 7, 2004

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on May 7, 2004

Case on May 7, 2004, guarding the big pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch.

You cannot know the quality and type of guardian ability your Anatolian possesses
without placing your Anatolian in a real world guardian situation actively guarding
sheep and/or goats in a predator rich enviornment over time.

Horses, cows, llamas, ducks, geese, chickens and other animals add to your knowledge regarding an Anatolian's working behavior.
But to understand an Anatolian's true livestock guardian working temperament, demeanor, and behaviors,
that Anatolian must live full time with sheep and/or goats.

Anatolians being selected solely for their ability to obtain an AKC Championship may or MAY NOT have good guardian ability.
Worse yet, many AKC judges improperly select for qualities that will ultimately decrease Anatolian working ability,
especially if the breeder defers to the judge's selection criteria rather than understanding and favoring correct working ability.

All responsible Anatolian breeders do the hard work of placing their potential breeding dogs (show stock or not)
in a working setting with sheep and/or goats as part of their breeding selection.
And a responsible Anatolian breeder won't be seduced into selecting a breeding Anatolian with improper working temperament
no matter how well suited that Anatolian is for the show ring!

Be very wary of a "breeder" who claims that their Anatolians have working ability if that breeder hasn't gone to the time and trouble to
provide a working setting with sheep and/or goats in a predator rich environment to test their dogs' actual working ability.

(Animals other than sheep and/or goats provide interesting information about a dog, but testing an Anatolian's true working ability
is ONLY accomplished by placing the Anatolian with sheep and/or goats over time in a predator rich environment.
Anything less and the Anatolian's working temperament has not actually been tested.)

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on May 7, 2004

Case on May 7, 2004, guarding the big pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch.
It's wonderful having such a beautifully built Anatolian guarding my Animals.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on May 7, 2004

Case on May 7, 2004, guarding the big pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch.
Case has such such a beautiful front, powerful and correct! And notice his beautiful Anatolian mane!

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on May 7, 2004

Case on May 7, 2004, guarding the big pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch.
Case decides the goats are spending enough time in this area that he can take a short break.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on May 7, 2004

Case on May 7, 2004, guarding the big pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch.
Close up of Case taking a short break in the big pasture.
It is difficult for Case to rest in the big pasture because he knows the potential danger his charges face without his help.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on May 7, 2004

Case on May 7, 2004, guarding the big pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch.
Case decides to go into the woods to check them for predators before the goats enter.
The other Anatolian is his daughter, Lucky Hit Autumn Tawny, from his first litter.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on May 7, 2004

Case on May 7, 2004, guarding the big pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch.
Case enjoys watching his goats from a high spot.
He considers it a bonus when some of the goats and kids decide to join him rather than graze.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on May 7, 2004

Case on May 7, 2004, guarding the big pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch.
Case loves his goats and his goats love him.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on May 7, 2004

Case on May 7, 2004, guarding the big pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch.
Anatolians that guard livestock and encounters serious predators tend to develop
a more serious and watchful nature than Anatolians raised as companion guardians.
You can see in these pictures of Case examples of that more serious nature.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on May 7, 2004

Case on May 7, 2004, guarding the big pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch.
Even resting Case seriously watches his surroundings.
He does not intend to lose even one of his charges.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on May 7, 2004

Case on May 7, 2004, guarding the big pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - June 19, 2005

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on June 19, 2005

Case on June 19, 2005, guarding the big pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch.
Case is ever vigilant.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on June 19, 2005

Case on June 19, 2005, guarding the big pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch.
Case spends a great deal of time moving ahead of the goats to check out an area before they reach it.
This pictures shows his beautiful front and rear angulation.
You can see he has the correct upper arm length. Short upper arm length straightens the shoulders and ruins good movement.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - September 18, 2005

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on September 18, 2005

Case on September 18, 2005, guarding the big pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch.
In the big pasture Case must guard, or at least peacefully co-exist with, goats, llamas, horses, ducks, and geese.
For his entire life, Case has interacted with each of these different types of animals beautifully.

However, some years ago, Case learned how dangerous horses can be because the horses ran through the herd on their way to water
and, two different times within a few weeks, their flying hooves accidentally hit young goats.
One was killed, his neck broken, and another's leg was broken.

In response, Case and my other pasture dogs began to protect their goats from the horses,
having learned that horses are a potential danger to their goats.

They now stand guard between my horses and the goat herd. The Anatolians don't allow the horses to move into the goat herd.
As a result of my dogs protecting my goats from wildly running horses, Case was kicked
when he was about seven and his leg was broken. It took nearly a year for Case's leg to mostly recover.

My Anatolians demonstrated a great deal of intelligence by keeping the horses separated from the goats
while still co-existing peacefully with the horses!
Even Case, who after having his leg broken, truly knew how dangerous horses can be!

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on September 18, 2005

Case on September 18, 2005, guarding the big pasture at Lucky Hit Ranch at dusk.
Anatolians become far more serious and watchful during the night... the major predation period.
Case has beautiful movement coming, going, and from the side. Here is a shot of his movement coming.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - August 27, 2009

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on August 27, 2009

Case on August 27, 2009, attentive at the fenceline near sundown.
Case is eight in this picture and you can see that his face has developed mature greying.
He has a full brother and sister that, at eleven, didn't have any evidence of this gene manifesting its self.

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - August 30, 2009

Lucky Hit's Shadow Kasif (Case) - Guarding Full Time at Lucky Hit Ranch on August 30, 2009

Case on August 30, 2009, attentive at the fenceline.
As you can see, Case is exceptionally beautiful.
Even better, he has proven superior guardian abilities demonstrated over his entire lifetime!
I was given a generous gift to have bred and owned such an exceptional Anatolian!

Erick Conard's Lucky Hit Ranch: Anatolian Page LUCKY HIT'S Shadow Kasif (CASE) Between One and Eleven Years Old A Forth Generation Anatolian

Erick Conard's Lucky Hit Ranch: Anatolian Page

LUCKY HIT'S Shadow Kasif (CASE)
Between One and Eleven Years Old
A Forth Generation Anatolian