THE ALSATIAN DOG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20162, 24 January 1929, Page 14

THE ALSATIAN DOG.

Sir, —In answer to Mr. Pudney's IetMIP re Alsatians, the "German shepherd doc** ' has been used for sheep herding ' guarding since the early day 3 all over the "" Continent and is no more likely to b ' a menace to sheep than any other breed 6 This breed of dog is in no way a wild type, as Mr. Pudney suggests, but « purely a shepherd dog. Jusix<a

Sir,—l have seen many letters against the Alsatian, and note the writers do not give cases from their own actual knowledge, but what they have read or heard* I have had about two years' daily knowledge ot an Alsatian bitch. I bought her as six-weeks-old pup; a more fa.thful and loving dog it would be hard to findobedient at once, not; from fear, as my dogs do not get the stick, but for pure love of myself. The 'Alsatian being R one-man dog, she would give her life to protect me. lam sure she is not quaiT»lsome, as some dogs are. I have scored of chickens running about. S}w never hurts one; they often p fic ]{ at her food, she does not growl She has taught herself to retrieve a * stick, and fetches it for me to throw for her. She has taught herself to open the gate into the orchard ; it is fastened with a large wooden button. After trying a few times to open the gate the reverse way, she now never tries, showing she thinks. There are bad dogs in all varieties, but the rearing has been unsatisfactory. A well-known pedigree sheep breeder told me a few days ago that sheep dog pups were as bad "as any until broken to sheep. I have had hundreds of dogs in my 36 years as a breeder of bulldogs, tox' terriers, poms, Pekes spaniels and one litter of Alsatians. If the Alsatian has proper, kind treatment as a pup he makes one of the best friends a man can wish for. H. K. Mat.