The Anatolian Shepherd is a historic breed of working heritage, primarily bred to guard and protect livestock. With such a physical and demanding job, the question naturally follows – how big do they get? What kind of size can an owner expect them to grow to? Here is what you need to know.

So, how big do Anatolian Shepherds get? Anatolian Shepherds typically reach 27-31″ (71-81 cm) in height and weigh between 90-141 lbs (41-64 kg), on average, when fully grown. They generally reach their final size between the ages of 14-19 months, depending on how big they get. On average, males are usually taller by 1-2 inches and heavier by 15-20 pounds.

Otherwise known as the Karabash (not to be confused, they are the same), the Anatolian Shepherd is undoubtedly a huge dog.

Besides, their work required a significant deterrent.

A guard dog by nature; they are naturally independent, bold, and stubborn.

But they are equally incredibly loyal – particularly with those around them.

As such, they can make a great family dog. But this is certainly not a dog for everyone and every family.

Their size alone, added to their possessive instincts, will require a firm and confident owner; keen to put in the time and effort to train and socialize this dog consistently from a young age.

Let us now take a closer look at the average Anatolian Shepherd’s size in further detail, covering their growth rate and what this all means for potential owners.

Average Anatolian Shepherd Size

The Anatolian Shepherd is is a very large breed, often described as a ‘giant’. Although, not every dog of the breed is the same, and there is some variance among the sexes:

A male adult Anatolian Shepherd will typically stand between 29-31 inches (74-81 cm) in height, weighing between 110-140 pounds. (50-64 kg).
A female adult Anatolian Shepherd will typically stand between 29-31 inches (71-79 cm) in height, weighing between 90-130pounds. (41-59 kg).

As you can see, dogs of this breed can differ by quite some size.

Nevertheless, they all share the same physique and build.

They are athletic, powerful, and bold, possessing a decent amount of muscle mass while being equally nimble on their feet.

This is not your typical ‘shepherd’ dog.

They can get almost twice as big as your average Australian Shepherd, for instance.

And it all boils down to their respective heritages.

Guarding and protecting livestock has very different requirements to herding them!

As such, the Anatolian Shepherd is certainly intimidating in size and stature.

Regarding the rest of their appearance, they possess a short, fawn coat that can come in a range of different colors and patterns, although cream is the most commonly seen and found.

They have a mastiff-like face, long tail, and medium-sized ears that droop down each side of the face.

At What Age Is An Anatolian Shepherd Full Grown?

The average Anatolian Shepherd will reach their full adult size between 14-19 months. The smaller dogs of the breed, typically the females, will reach their final size before the larger ones.

Below we will look at the respective growth rates of male and female Anatolian Shepherd from puppy to maturity.

Growth Of A Male Anatolian Shepherd

The weight of a male Anatolian Shepherd at 3 months should be between 35 and 45 pounds.
At 6 months, they will likely weigh between 69 and 85 lbs (pounds).
At 1 year, a male Anatolian Shepherd should weigh between 100 and 130 lbs (pounds).

Age	Weight – Low Average (lbs)	Weight – High Average (lbs)
3 Months	35	45
4 Months	48	60
5 Months	57	71
6 Months	69	85
7 Months	75	92
8 Months	81	105
9 Months	88	111
10 Months	94	118
11 Months	97	124
12 Months	100	130
13 Months	102	132
14 Months	103	133
15 Months	105	135
16 Months	106	137
17 Months	108	138
18 Months	109	140
19 Months	110	141

Growth Of A Female Anatolian Shepherd

The weight of a female Anatolian Shepherd at 3 months should be between 30 and 40 lbs (pounds).
At 6 months, they will likely weigh between 58 and 75 lbs (pounds).
At 1 year, a female Anatolian Shepherd should weigh between 83 and 112 lbs (pounds).

Age	Weight – Low Average (lbs)	Weight – High Average (lbs)
3 Months	30	40
4 Months	40	52
5 Months	49	64
6 Months	58	75
7 Months	63	82
8 Months	70	91
9 Months	73	97
10 Months	77	103
11 Months	81	109
12 Months	83	112
13 Months	84	114
14 Months	85	115
15 Months	86	116
16 Months	87	117
17 Months	88	118
19 Months	89	119
19 Months	90	120

As the data shows, there is quite a bit of difference from the low to the high average – even among those of the same gender.

For instance, one male Anatolian Shepherd could be 31 pounds lighter compared to a larger dog of the breed.

Spatial Requirements Of Anatolian Shepherds

For such a formidable dog, they undoubtedly need space. A small apartment will not suffice.

Instead, this dog needs to be kept in a spacious home. This is very important for their health and wellbeing.

So, you need to ensure that you can provide plenty of room, both indoors and outdoors, if you are looking to keep one.

A large, fenced, and enclosed yard that you can let your Anatolian Shepherd out in is strongly advised.

Generally, the more space you can afford them, the better. They can grow up to 140 pounds and 31″ in height, after all.

For reference, that is 2.5 feet – so almost up to the waist of the average human.

And carrying such mass, while being muscular and agile too; they have the potential to cause a lot of damage to, and in, a home.

Then another consideration would be traveling.

This is not a breed that is going to fit easily in every car.

You will likely need a large car, a 4×4, or one that affords sufficient space for this kind of breed.

A car that provides sufficient height is a must, especially if you intend to do any regular traveling.<