German shepherds
KMB
Hi there! I have just proudly become a new recipient to the gundog list.
Anyway, my family has always been a hunting family, and have had Springer
spaniels, Irish Setters, Cocker spaniels, and a Visla (sorry if spelling is
off here). All had been used as hunters (always during dove season,
sometimes quail and pheasant). We don't need a water dog, just one that
will sniff out the birds since we can't find 'em! Our springer is too old
to hunt - her hearing is almost non-existant, which is unacceptable in the
field but fine for home.
Now here's the problem I need help with. I have the chance to buy an
excellently bred German shepherd in Feb. 1997. My brother wants another
springer, but I'm always the one that cuts out knots, shaves under the
arms/ears and between toes, pulls ticks, etc. I want a dog that is fairly
easy to maintain (a visla is also being considered), and would like another
German shepherd. We currently have a German shep, but she was never trained
to hunt. I know they have a very good sense of smell. I'm also pretty
certain that I can train it to do what we need it for. My mind is set on
the shepherd (my favourite breed), and I really want one of these new dogs.
But my brother said he would "absolutely never hunt with one"; so I would
like your opinions. I would appreciate stories you have where the shepherd
was used as a gun dog. I know other breeds have more potential right out of
the box to be better hunters, but still. I'm begging for your help to help
me talk my way into one of these puppies. If this article looks familiar,
it has been posted in rec.hunting.dogs.
Thank you *very* much!
Kalah B.
RUSSELL STEWART
This is the same list. Didn't you feel you had enough reponse already.
How about a pug?
Russ Stewart
San Diego
christy whitlock
Hi! I was one who responded to you earlier post--why dont' you get on
the net and find the GSD group and ask them?? I'm sure of any of them
thinks your getting a GSD is a good idea, they will tell you!
In other words, while I love shepards and all they can do, this is not
the best place to ask for that kind of support!
KMB wrote:
--
1>
Brandy Burton-Tarantino
In article <m0uM2R4...@spider.lloyd.com>,
KMB <ski...@SPIDER.LLOYD.COM> wrote:
>Now here's the problem I need help with. I have the chance to buy an
>excellently bred German shepherd in Feb. 1997. My brother wants another
>springer, but I'm always the one that cuts out knots, shaves under the
>arms/ears and between toes, pulls ticks, etc. I want a dog that is fairly
>easy to maintain (a visla is also being considered), and would like another
>German shepherd. We currently have a German shep, but she was never trained
>to hunt. I know they have a very good sense of smell. I'm also pretty
>certain that I can train it to do what we need it for. My mind is set on
>the shepherd (my favourite breed), and I really want one of these new dogs.
>But my brother said he would "absolutely never hunt with one"; so I would
>like your opinions. I would appreciate stories you have where the shepherd
>was used as a gun dog. I know other breeds have more potential right out of
>the box to be better hunters, but still. I'm begging for your help to help
>me talk my way into one of these puppies. If this article looks familiar,
>it has been posted in rec.hunting.dogs.
>
>Thank you *very* much!
>Kalah B.
some replys from that "side-of-the-house" but for my 2cents...Sure.
Supposedly there was/is some guy in this area that trialed with
his Shep (NARHA?? - not sure which club allows "off" breeds, but "they"
tell me there is also a Dalmatian that was working about the same time :).
Be aware that not all Shepherds like to swim, but most can be taught
to retrieve quite easily...they just have a much harder mouth. I'd
say go for it, recognizing the limitations...Shepherds are MUCH more
susceptable to cold when wet, MUCH more likely to take work for a
hard mouth and will most likely cause people to look at you a bit
strangely! (I'm used to it myself....I herd sheep with my Labrador, and
am about to start teaching one of the Shepherds to be my hunt training
pick-up dog :)
---SnoLine----------------------------------------Brandy-----
---German Shepherd Dogs & Labrador Retrievers----------------
Boyd Ulsh
My wife ran a German Shepard in a Started NAHRA HRT as test dog once. We
didn't do it any more because some lab folks got *upset* when their dog could
not do the test as easily as the shepard. We chickened out when we could
have run test dog at an AKC Junior event. We have also watched a Dalmation
run by Linda Fulks (Coyote Kennels in Oregon) do a splendid NAHRA
Intermediate job. It has had it's intermediate title for a number of years
now. Both my wife and Linda like to do things that *pro's* and others say
can't be done. They only did this to show it *could* be done not that it
*should* be an everyday thing. Both Linda and Deb have admited (privately
<G>) to me that it was pretty challenging and that they don't want to make it
a habit! But it sure was fun to see the looks they got!!! <VBG>
Personally I'd let the shepard be a guard dog and get any other hunting dog
breed for your hunting companion.
Boyd Ulsh (pepr...@aol.com)