HORACE LANGFORD, JR. / PVT Marlene Johnson with Leydi, one of her two Zaltana Anatolian Shepherds. Leydi is an ARC champion who comes from show dog parents. HORACE LANGFORD, JR. / PVT Anatolian Shepherd use force only as a last resort to protect livestock. HORACE LANGFORD, JR. / PVT Anatolian Shepherd use force only as a last resort to protect livestock. Advertisement

Zaltana Anatolian Shepherd dogs don't have many of the characteristics that come to mind when one usually thinks of a guard dog.

For one thing, they only use force as a last resort when protecting livestock and their primary defense is aggressive barking.

In addition, they are known to be independent thinkers who decide for themselves on what constitutes a threat.

As Marlene Johnson, who is breeding the dogs, put it, "When I sit, they ask why."

But don't let any of that fool you.

It's the Anatolian Shepherd, a breed that originated in Turkey, that the National Cheetah Management Project has selected to serve farmers in South Africa to protect their livestock from cheetahs.

If that's not a testimony to the breed's effectiveness, what is?

And Johnson believes the dogs can be just as useful to farmers or ranchers right here in the valley.

"It's a rare breed that needs to be preserved," Johnson explained. "There's a growing demand because so many people have livestock."

Johnson went on to explain that a friend of hers in Amargosa and another friend right here in Pahrump had lost goats to stray dogs, which Johnson said is the biggest threat to local livestock.

"A lot of people don't realize what they're doing when they let their dogs out at night," Johnson said.

Johnson, however, rests assured that her four goats and 10 chickens are duly protected by Ayla and Leydi, her two male Antolians.

True to form, upon arriving at Johnson's farm (or rather, even before having stepped from the car), the dogs were barking at the gate, an impressive and intimidating sight.

Once Johnson opened the gate, and the dogs took a few good get-to-know-you whiffs, however, they quickly settled and almost casually followed us on the tour of the farm.

When brought in with the goats, they quickly settled down amongst the animals.

Johnson explained that although the breed is not unfriendly, they prefer to be amongst the animals they are guarding.

And although Ayla and Leydi appeared to be lolling about in the shade, Johnson explained that their casual attitude was deceptive.

"They always pay attention," Johnson explained. "They always try to be in a place where they can see everything, and they're up in a flash."

Although Anatolians will use force if it becomes absolutely necessary, it is always a last resort, another facet of the breed that appeals to Johnson.

"It's non-lethal," Johnson said. "So if a mountain lion comes down and looks at my goats, I don't have to shoot it."

Johnson has had Ayla and Leydi since 1995 but then made the decision to breed them.

"It's not an easy decision," Johnson said. "But I'm very thorough with any animal I get."

So two years ago she came to Pahrump and started to build her chicken coop and set up her farm, so the dogs could have livestock with which to bond.

Because much of the guarding Antolians do is instinctual, it was less a matter of training them than letting nature take its course.

The breed is naturally protective, particularly of children and young livestock, and is known for having a sense of what needs to be guarded.

They don't respond well to force training, however, a testimony to the independent streak they're known for.

"You really have to form a partnership with them," Johnson. "They'll make independent decisions of what a threat is."

Ayla and Leydi, for example, have for whatever reason decided they don't like the UPS truck at all.

"But if he came out of the truck, they'd be just as friendly," Johnson said.

Johnson is taking her role as a breeder seriously, having committed to having contracts that commit her to buying back dogs the buyer can't keep and requiring new owners to do the same health testing she does, which includes X-rays of the hips, elbows, and shoulders.

She's also selling dogs with limited registration.

"I'm not just selling puppies to anyone who wants them," Johnson said.

She is also working with an African cheetah outreach program in Africa and hopes to donate a puppy to it.

Whether guarding chickens or gazelles, one thing is for certain: when it comes to Zaltana Anatolian Shepherds, the bark is just as effective as the bite.