Kangal/Ovcharka/Pyrenees/other LGDs

[BigWolfLittleWolf]

Does anyone have one and how do you find them?

Do you find they fit the (very negative and scary) public perception?

I would say very few people have lives and house suitable for such large guarding breeds.

They need space, they like to be outside, they are constant alert, they are livestock guarding breeds.

Not bred to be pets.

I would say very few people have lives and house suitable for such large guarding breeds
They need space, they like to be outside, they are constant alert, they are livestock guarding breeds
Not bred to be pets
This is my understanding too but I am interested to know if people’s real life experiences match up.

I have a breed thought by some ‘not to be a pet’ too and for me at least, the perception doesn’t fit the reality.

There is a lady local to me with what looks like a pinto Anatolian/Turkish shepherd dog.
I am mindful that at only a year old he hasn’t developed his adult personality yet, he’s such a sweet, friendly soul. For now anyway!

There is someone on here with an Ovcharka and another similar breed, but she doesn't live in the UK and has loads of land. I haven't seen her posting for a while but she may see this thread.

I would agree with @ArcherDog though that very few people (especially in this country) have the knowledge, experience and lifestyle to accommodate such a breed.

I had one by accident. Every thing on paper said totally not suitable for an average semi. In reality all he wanted was a sofa with a view out of the window. The softest, laziest, most devoted dog ever.
Generally didn’t need more than a normal walk either as he was bred for sitting on a mountain guarding sheep and not for running for miles.
He was very bright but incredibly stubborn so training beyond the basics was impossible. He’d just raise an eyebrow and refuse if he didn’t feel like it.
Also huge. And hairy. We had to buy a new sofa for the humans and other people were quite wary of him bouncing around.

I would think it would depend on the actual breed. A Pyrenean mountain dog out of generations of British show dogs would probably be fine as a pet, albeit huge and hairy.

But kangals, ovcharkas and Anatolians? They're working dogs, they need an outlet, they're not like St Bernard's or show-line GSDs.