THE ALSATIAN DOG

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21844, 5 July 1934, Page 10

THE ALSATIAN DOG

Although the New Zealand Alsatian Club has changed its name to the New Zealand German Shepherd Dog Club to signify its intention to encourage the breeding of Alsatians of true type and character, the case against the animal 1 still stands. It is admitted that many dogs of the breed are sagacious, faithful and companionable, but far too many of them have been guilty of sheep worrying and of unprovoked attacks upon human beings. The suggestion of several branches of the Farmers' Union that the licence fee should be raised to £lO is therefore justified. Nothing within the power of the breeders' club to accomplish can now eliminate the dangerous strain. Mr. L. Lees admits that there has been some ground for complaint, but his plea that in half the cases halfbreds have been responsible is no answer at all. It simply supports the general contention that bad blood has been introduced and that the menace to the sheep farmer will increase in spite of the best intentions of the club. It is argued that some Alsatians have been worked successfully by New Zealand shepherds, but such an experiment means nothing. The collie needs no assistance from any dog in the world, and the Alsatian has yet to be found that can compete with the collie in shcepdocc trials in the Dominion. When announcing recently that the Commonwealth Government had decided to continue the embargo upon the importation of Alsatians, the Federal Prime Minister said that the weight of evidence was against the breed. Some Australian States

have referred the question of control to the pasture preservation boards, but Western Australia has passed legislation designed to bring about the gradual extinction of the breed. The council of the Australian Graziers' Federation declared in a report that in every case investigated in Victoria the Alsatian had attacked sheep on the forequarters, throat and head, this pointing to the fact that he was an instinctive killer. A friend of the breed was found in Sir Stanley Argyle, Premier of Victoria, but even he admitted that in fairness to other people he would not take his dog out in the city unleashed. Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., of Christehurch, stated from the Bench that he very much doubted the wisdom of keeping an Alsatian within the limits of the city. If, as is obvious, congested city conditions are unsuitable for the dog, his freedom in the outer suburbs and the country is not desirable because of the everpresent temptation to worry sheep. In no sheep country should the breed be allowed, unless, perhaps, under the rigid control of a heavy licence fee.