the German Shepard dog.

[Triggermortis]

So what was the intended use for GSD’s initially, were they “sheep dogs” as their name suggests?

 

[BenBhoy]

So what was the intended use for GSD’s initially, were they “sheep dogs” as their name suggests?

I believe they were flock protectors & used to stop any ewes wandering, as opposed to gathering a flock in the way a collie might.

 

[Rob-E]

Mines 9, I’ve never used her to track deer as my permissions to date haven’t allowed dogs. This has now changed so I hope to take her out and see what she does.

As I said she’s 9 so it will be an old dogs new tricks but her favourite game is finding things so I’m hopeful.

As she’s old she’ll only be an emergency dog or for short stalks, the last 3 days on the hill I did I averaged 15miles a day which will be way too much for her.

 

[Rob-E]

So what was the intended use for GSD’s initially, were they “sheep dogs” as their name suggests?

Think of them as giant wolf/rustler alarms.

 

[smokey]

just wondering out there how many stalkers etc use the German Shepard for work on the stalking or deer finding???me personally think there more and capable of doing the job if trained right !!but would love to here from owners who use them?please post pics etc if you use them would love to here from experience.
regards swaro.

When we are talking deer dogs , unless the dog breed or type has physical issues its more about how you bring them up ! I have seen a few terriers , sheepdogs ( the latter are very often gun shy , but look what they do for hill farmers ) . Tackels are nothing like the labs i use but they are both employed to do the same job a different way . I have had GWP and Labradors as deer specialists , cannot see me ever having anything instead of a Lab now and look at the breed generally these dogs are the most popular in so many work tasks not just shooting related ones either ! ... They have the size to do what smaller deer dogs cannot physically manage . One of our youngest established breeds of dogs but look at how they have taken over in so many lines of work!
Choose what suits you though or what you have available because deer are the natural prey of all dogs it must be hard to find a dog that was totally, utterly 100% useless after some training with heads , skins and blood etc.

Ask the Africans they will tell you feed any dog heart or liver off a fresh dead animal and they will all track yum yum any breed almost will do

 

[Free range rob]

Not GSD but I worked a Belgian Mali on deer and he was superb, had a few quirks, but a great dog, there was nothing he couldn’t find, had a hell of a nose on him.

 

[Andyquadra]

Not GSD but I worked a Belgian Mali on deer and he was superb, had a few quirks, but a great dog, there was nothing he couldn’t find, had a hell of a nose on him.

He was special

 

[Free range rob]

He was special

Like owner

 

[Andyquadra]

Like owner

Whats the saying, pets and their owners.......