ALSATIANS AS TRACKERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21647, 13 November 1933, Page 15

ALSATIANS AS TRACKERS

Sir, —In connection with the letter signed "Breeder," my statement seems to hare been taken rather literally. The statement that Alsatians could never make trackers, when taken by, itself, is indeed too sweeping. I do not maintain that Alsatians have no track* ing abilities, but it must be remembered that the subject was that of mam tracking, which is one of the hardest tests to which a dog can be put. Nearly all dogs of useful breeds can track a man if trained to it, but there are many degrees. To he of much practical advantage for police work, a dog must often bo put on tracks which are very old. When it comes to following an old track without any definite guide to give a dog a start, it takes' .an expert one to be of any advantage. It must also be remembered that for English police work, a dog that attacks is useless. A' dog, therefore, to be .of any great ad-" vantage for tracking purposes, must have very special qualifications. I maintain that for practical use . as a mantracker, for police purposes, the Aisa. tion would not be a suitable dog. Al* though a dog can be trained not to attack, I am also afraid that I would not like to be tracked down by an Alsatian when his master was not there to con* trol him. A.H.W.