Paws to Zen

16/06/2026

Perfecting doing nothing. It's hard for a working dog!

16/06/2026

Peace with four legs. Strength without needing to prove it!

25/03/2026

Effendi takes his job seriously… even when it’s just a blueberry.

Careful inspection. Zero aggression. Maximum confusion.

10/10 would investigate again.

CuriousDog

20/03/2026

Cone life ain’t slowing him down.

Still out here ripping around the yard with a toy like nothing’s different.

Snuck in a quick, low-key stop at vets just to keep things positive—no work, just stacking easy wins… and he was all in for the boiled chicken snacks.

From a behavior standpoint, this matters—pairing the environment with high-value reinforcement and low pressure helps prevent negative conditioned emotional responses to vet visits.

18/03/2026

Effendi update — home and recovering.

This big guy had a full week: elbow hygroma removal, neuter, and X-rays. He’s now back at Paws to Zen, cone on, taking recovery seriously… with brief breaks for chew toys and close supervision.

The hygroma had gotten large, so removing it was the right call. Now the priority is healing well and keeping pressure off that elbow so it doesn’t come back.

X-rays also gave us a clearer picture long-term — some early spondylosis (bone spurring along the spine) and looseness in the hips consistent with dysplasia. Nothing that changes who he is, but it gives us direction on how to support him: proper conditioning, weight management, and smart environmental setup.

Huge thank you to Big Paws K9 Foster House for stepping up with the resources to get him what he needed, and to Keep Em Healthy Veterinary Clinic for taking such great care of him through surgery and recovery.

What stands out most right now isn’t the surgery — it’s him. Even uncomfortable, even restricted, he’s calm, steady, and wants to be right next to his people.

These dogs are built different.

We’ll keep you posted as he heals — but so far, he’s doing exactly what he’s done since day one… handling everything in stride.

Cone life + gentle giant energy.

06/03/2026

Most people think this dog is an Anatolian Shepherd.

He’s not.

Effendi is an Aksaray Malaklisi, a rare Turkish livestock guardian breed developed to protect flocks from wolves and other predators. Known for their massive size, calm confidence, and strong guardian instincts, these dogs were bred to think independently and protect what’s theirs.

Effendi recently joined the pack here at Paws to Zen after his family’s circumstances changed. Through the incredible work of Big Paws K9 Foster House, he was placed with us so he could land in the right environment.

Right now he’s here on a 45-day foster-to-adopt trial while he settles in and we all get to know each other. That said… our history with fostering suggests we may end up being foster failures again.

Dogs like Effendi remind us why responsible rescue and placement matter so much. He was clearly loved, and it takes real courage for a family to recognize when a different environment will give their dog the best chance to thrive.

Huge dog. Calm temperament. Serious presence.

Have you ever seen this breed before?

Original rescue post:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DV3zG7L33/

WorkingDogs PawsToZen

03/06/2024

Who wins the battle of play time vs. nap time...

08/04/2022

Nigel had a little too much Pepper today...the perfect amount!!

pawstozen • Original Audio

27/03/2022

Nigel showing off his new training tools...