Dog Chipping? Dog tucker more like.

[Jantar]

German "shepherd" ...........they dont call them that coz thier bullfighters. They have no 'hold' instinct

Oh really? Then why do the police use them if they have no hold instinct. And please provide evidence of any sheep farmer that successfully uses them as sheep dogs. I know that it is one breed of dog that I'd shoot on sight if I saw one anywhere near any of my sheep.

[Ixion]

My understanding (though it is but based on a vague memory, so correction is welcome), is that the breed was originally used in the Vosges, by shepherds, not to herd their sheep, but to protect the sheep (and I guess shepherd) from the wolves which in bygone days were endemic in those parts.

[Smorg]

Oh really? Then why do the police use them if they have no hold instinct. And please provide evidence of any sheep farmer that successfully uses them as sheep dogs. I know that it is one breed of dog that I'd shoot on sight if I saw one anywhere near any of my sheep.

why dont the police use pitbulls or staffie's if they are after dogs with holding instincts?

you farmers will shoot anything.......

http://www.geocities.com/heartland/r...3/showork.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Shepherd

Do you need anything else?

[Smorg]

My understanding (though it is but based on a vague memory, so correction is welcome), is that the breed was originally used in the Vosges, by shepherds, not to herd their sheep, but to protect the sheep (and I guess shepherd) from the wolves which in bygone days were endemic in those parts.

To protect and to herd, german shepherds are good at patrolling borders therefore keeping the sheep contained and safe, this is also what contributes to them being excellent guard dogs

[WINJA]

did someone say chip the farmers instead

[Jantar]

Thanks for the wikipedia reference. As I said, they are more suited to hold than to herd.

"The German Shepherd Dog does not have the "eye" as border collies or other similar breeds. They are trained to follow their instinct, which for the GSD is to "work the furrow", meaning that they will patrol a boundary all day and restrict the animals being herded from entering or leaving the designated area. It is this instinct that has made the breed superb guarding dogs, protecting their flock (or family) from harm."

[Smorg]

And please provide evidence of any sheep farmer that successfully uses them as sheep dogs. .

I provided evidence of sheep farmers using them succesfully as sheep dogs in both herding & guarding.

so your wrong

[Jantar]

I provided evidence of sheep farmers using them succesfully as sheep dogs in both herding & guarding.

so your wrong

Maybe, but I at this stage I won't concede. The only times I have ever seen German shepherds near sheep in New Zealand has been when they have been worrying sheep. The photo you provided could just as easily be a dog worrying as a dog herding.

Perhaps there is a simple solution. Just provide a name of any New Zealand sheep farmer successfully using them as sheepdogs. I'll give him a ring to confirm, then if you're right I'll concede.

[Pixie]

That may be true for their press release, but on TV Janette Fitzsimons definitely said "German Shepherd". Mrs J and both looked at each other and asked what farmer would be stupid enough to use a German Shepherd as a sheep dog. Their instinct is to hold, not herd.

Why are they called german shepards?
or ,for that matter, do german short haired pointers point at short haired germans?

[sAsLEX]

do german short haired pointers point at short haired germans?

Would of been handy during the war!

[Smorg]

Maybe, but I at this stage I won't concede. The only times I have ever seen German shepherds near sheep in New Zealand has been when they have been worrying sheep. The photo you provided could just as easily be a dog worrying as a dog herding.

Perhaps there is a simple solution. Just provide a name of any New Zealand sheep farmer successfully using them as sheepdogs. I'll give him a ring to confirm, then if you're right I'll concede.

Like I could be bothered...............i know im right, you know Im right so thats all that matters. If that german shepard is worrying sheep in that photo ill buy you a mars bar

[Indoo]

The Greens' release is posted verbatim earlier. The comments weren't attributed to Genetic Fitzsimons and the selected farmer's dog was a border collie.

Yep and thats what she said later on the radio. If she had used border collie again then she wouldn't have sounded quite so stupid.

[Lou Girardin]

Would of been handy during the war!

So the counter-measure is growing long hair?
They'd have to breed a new dog.

[spudchucka]

The only times I have ever seen German shepherds near sheep in New Zealand has been when they have been worrying sheep.

My five year old male shepherd lives next to a paddock full of sheep with only a standard eight wire and batten fence between them. He doesn't show them the slightest bit of interest, however, should the neighbours cat be stupid enough to venture into his domain he tends to turn himself inside out trying to catch the litle f*^ker. He then does a perimeter check for about the next hour and a half, pissing and shitting all around the boundry.

Shepards working for the police certainly do have a hold instinct but whats more important is that they have the ability to learn to release on command.

[Smorg]

My five year old male shepherd lives next to a paddock full of sheep with only a standard eight wire and batten fence between them. He doesn't show them the slightest bit of interest, however, should the neighbours cat be stupid enough to venture into his domain he tends to turn himself inside out trying to catch the litle f*^ker. He then does a perimeter check for about the next hour and a half, pissing and shitting all around the boundry.

Shepards working for the police certainly do have a hold instinct but whats more important is that they have the ability to learn to release on command.

Finally...............bling