Our Farm

Montana, the sheep, and the dogs that guard them.

Wild Rooster Farm sits under the mountains in northwest Montana. We raise hair sheep, laying hens and a garden, and the dogs that guard all of it.

By Wild Rooster AnatoliansWe breed and work AKC Anatolian Shepherds on our farm in northwest Montana. The parents of our litters are OFA evaluated for hips and elbows and guard our own sheep and hens.Updated November 12, 2026

Hair sheep grazing green pasture at Wild Rooster Farm, with the mountains behind them under a gold evening sky

A woman in a white knit hat kneeling in the snow beside Tucker, who is lying down and looking at the camera

A man in a cap kneeling on the grass with his arm around Tucker, who is sitting and leaning into him

Our family

The people behind the program.

We started the farm when we bought this land. With mountains in the backyard, it was hard not to plant a garden and bring home animals. Our family has always been happiest outdoors, and the farm keeps us there. In a world that runs more and more on screens, it gives us daily work with our hands, our animals and the ground under our feet.

The dogs were a natural fit for the way we live and the land we have. We knew from the start that we wanted to breed them, so we took our time choosing a foundation. After weeks of research into pedigrees and the dogs behind them, we brought home Tucker, the best male we could find. He comes from lines that proved themselves both in the show ring and in the pasture, with eleven AKC champions in five generations. He has since proven that research right, in his own work and in his puppies.

The sheep

Working dogs need real work.

Our dogs are not kennel dogs. They live with the sheep and the hens and guard them full time. Puppies grow up watching their parents do the job, which is the best training a young guardian can get.

Tucker lying in the straw with sheep standing close behind him

Smokie, a young fawn Anatolian Shepherd with a black mask, lying on a mound with snow-capped mountains behind her

Our philosophy

Welcome to the family.

When you take home a Wild Rooster puppy, you get us too. We stay in touch for the life of your dog.

Questions people ask

Are Anatolian Shepherds good with chickens?
They can be, if they are raised with chickens from puppyhood and supervised while young. It is not automatic, and research on guardian dogs with poultry is thin.
Can an Anatolian Shepherd stand up to wolves?
Not alone, and no breed should be expected to beat a wolf pack. Several dogs working with people, fencing and night penning can reduce losses. Wolves kill guardian dogs, Anatolians included.
Can Anatolian Shepherds handle cold weather?
Yes. They carry a thick undercoat and work outdoors in real winters, ours included.
What fencing does an Anatolian Shepherd need?
A strong, tall, secure fence. The national breed club calls a large yard with a five or six foot fence and a locked gate ideal.
When do Anatolian Shepherds start guarding?
Guarding behavior can show up in the first months, but most sources put reliable guarding at 18 to 24 months or later. Anatolians mature late.
Will an Anatolian Shepherd protect against bears?
Against black bears, usually yes. Against grizzlies the evidence is thin and mixed. A dog can make a bear uneasy enough to leave, but we would not expect any dog to be a match for a grizzly.

All questions