Erick Conard's Lucky Hit Ranch
Anatolian Shepherd Guardian Dogs

At Lucky Hit, we believe in breeding only top quality working Anatolians (Anatolians with proven working ability) whose confirmation would allow that dog to be shown competitively at the national level. At Lucky Hit we also believe that Anatolian Shepherd Guardian Dogs without proven superior working (flock guardian) temperament are not truly Anatolian Shepherd Guardians but just another beautiful companion dog.

We believe that unproven (in working ability) Anatolians should never be bred. An exception we would consider is when one of the breeding pair is a truly exceptional Anatolian both temperamentally and conformationally and has proven working livestock guardian parents. We do not approve of breedings in which neither the sire nor the dam have proven superior working ability. We believe that breeding Anatolians without considering working ability as the primary breeding criterion is a certain way to ruin the breed! And we consider breeders who discount working ability as the primary breeding criterion to basically be puppy mill breeder no matter how many championships they have in their pedigrees. A championship provides absolutely no information about a dog's working ability. In addition, many behaviors and demeanors preferred by judges in the show ring are antithetical to excellent livestock guardian ability. Eventually, selection for these improper behaviors and demeanors will reduce or eliminate superior working ability in Anatolians unless a serious change is made in AKC judging preferences.

Because Lucky Hit Anatolians are raised with, live with, and protect goats and other animals, over the years we've learned some of the important behavioral traits necessary in superior working flock guardians. As stated above, we believe some behavioral traits that are necessity in superior flock guardians are currently negative factors for Anatolians being shown in conformation classes, (i.e. a suspicious, aloof nature, head posture, etc.).

In spite of that fact, we believe that, in all cases, traits required for superior working ability must be selected over traits helpful in the show ring but destructive in a working environment (i.e. happy-go-lucky attitudes, a trusting nature, etc.). Each Anatolian breeder is responsible for his/her selection of only Anatolians with superior working temperaments and demeanors, even if those traits will make winning in the ring more difficult.

At Lucky Hit we believe correct conclusions regarding an Anatolian's ability and temperament are best obtained by placing an Anatolian in a working environment that contains both flock animals in need of protection (young and old) and predators interested in killing and eating the Anatolian's flock. In that real world situation, over time a comprehensive understanding of the true nature and ability of that Anatolian is reached!