ALSATIAN DOGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21984, 20 June 1933, Page 8

ALSATIAN DOGS

TO THE' EDITOR.

Sir, —Your correspondent “ Pure Bred ” displays his small knowledge of dog affairs when he still declares that the. Alsatian is a mongrel. As the breed has long since been officially recognised by the English Kennel Club as a breed, it must be a breed. As for ‘-‘throw-backs” more or less to wolf and more or less to dog, one cannot breed a standard type from a hybrid. Any, biologist will say that, and the Alsatian is standard in appearance. “ Public Safety’s ” tone suggests a deep hatred of the unfortunate Alsatian. The letter from both these two earnest people suggest that they breed some kind of dog. They, as many others, make the bald statement, that the German sheep dog—-Alsa-tian wolfdog—is half wolf. Let some of these anti-Aleatianists prove it! I would refer them also to the points in my previous letter. They would have something to work on. .... I, too, dislike seeing children afraid of dogs, but do not parents often encourage them to be so?—“ Don’t go near that dog; he’ll bite you,” etc. “ Public Safety points a pathetic picture of maimed women and children, ruined farmers, and intimidated cyclists. Take this picture of the Continental shepherd 30 odd years ago. In the bitter German winter with the certain knowledge that wolves would visit his sheep he prepared for them. The wolves always came. He hears his dogs give tongue, and he hears sounds of fighting. If he goes out to help those dogs he might not come back. He often did not. Perhaps he waits till things quieten. He finds either that his dogs which he chose with such care for their courage and fidelity have driven the hated wolves back, or else he finds their remains with those of some of his sheep, and the rest of the mob scattered. And here we have unthinking, prejudiced people say with dogmatic ignorance that the German sheep farmers formed themselves into the extraordinarily enthusiastic body they are in order to create a dog which fulfilled their needs, using for that purpose the blood of the wolf! . Another point in regard to which “Public Safety” is misinformed, is that the hybrid is accepted neither by the dog nor the wolf. I refer you to a zoologist. Of course, the Alsatian will bite, worry sheep fight, chase cats, and do all that any ordinary badly-handled dog will do, but there the fault is with the owner— pursue this subject through this column, but if any of your correspondents would like a private war you have my name and address for that purpose. —I am, etc., G. Collett. Herbert, June 16.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I feel satisfied now that the controversy on this topic will be beneficial. The suggestion emanating from one or vour correspondents was an excellent one, and should be taken in hand by the authorities, viz., that there should be a poll tax on each Alsatian dog of f2 per annum, to build a fund whereby any man, woman, or child would be assured of certain financial help if injured by one of the breed. From the diatyibe over the signature of “Fancier” in this morning’s issue, I shall only choose one_ little paragraph in order to show on which side “ Fancier’s ” argument really rests. “ Fancier ” quotes Strubel thus: —“The reason why the Alsatian was so late in making itself known was owing to the fact that from ancient times a kind of odium attached to the breed, with the result that shows preferred dogs of better reputation.”

This proves the wisdom of these ancients, and. fortunately, the majority of moderns still retain a little of this ancient sense, in believing that, as Strubel says, there is a certain odium attached to the Alsatian. —I am, etc., R. S.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —It was interesting to read Mr Collett’s letter concerning Alsatian dogs. He states that the dog is seldom at fault, but always tlie owner. As Mr Collett is an ov -er of Alsatians and seems to know the treatment necessary to develop the character of a dog, it is amusing to me to remember that on one occasion I patted one of his dogs and was informed that I was fortunate it was the other one I patted, otherwise I might have been seriously bitten. I may add that a friend of mine, on proceeding recently through Herbert on a motor cycle, was snapped at by an Alsatian dog. In the light of these facts, I have my doubt concerning the character of these dogs, even under the best of treatment. —I am, etc., J. Anderson. Herbert, June 17.