red fox stopped from harvesting my stag

[centrarchid]

Quote:
I took a lot of heat from "experts" for use of a bird dog to guard chickens. He has proven to be one smart and trainable dude with excellent guard dog attributes. He did kill a couple when allowed to mix with those he was not raised with does no longer. Even chicken bolling has stopped.

 

[sourland]

Quote:
I took a lot of heat from "experts" for use of a bird dog to guard chickens. He has proven to be one smart and trainable dude with excellent guard dog attributes. He did kill a couple when allowed to mix with those he was not raised with does no longer. Even chicken bolling has stopped.

Actually I believe that the GSP was developed as an all purpose dog. I was told by a German immigrant that in Germany they are primarily used as a family/farm/guard dog with a secondary use for hunting game-- not only birds but mammals as well.

If so, then you are using him for his original purpose.

 

[stormylady]

Yippee! Good Job Scoob!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[centrarchid]

The actually is not supported in the literature I seen but all purpose he will be. We have been working on squirrel and rabbit hunting. I had read accounts of the breed used for hunting cats. Even now, he is very persistant about harassing cats even though at times he will sleep with them.

 

[sourland]

Quote:
As a scientist, I am certain that you have checked out the German literature; therefore, I will defer to you. What I report is only what I was told by the son of a German breeder -- must be hearsay.

Another function of the "original" dog according to this gentleman was the trailing of 'blood scent' from wounded boar or stags.

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
As a scientist, I am certain that you have checked out the German literature; therefore, I will defer to you. What I report is only what I was told by the son of a German breeder -- must be hearsay.

Another function of the "original" dog according to this gentleman was the trailing of 'blood scent' from wounded boar or stags.

Sourland,

Meinen Deutche ist sehr gut nicht. I have not checked into German literature owing to language limitations and frankly one can not research all areas. I interpret above as implication you are aware of detailed accounts concerning developement of the German shot-haired pointer in the German language? If yes, then can you direct me to it?

 

[sourland]

Nope, I have not done a search due to my language limitations also.

I was going on information from my surgeon whose grandfather and father raised GSP in Germany. It may be fact or fiction. I started a thread in "other pets---", and perhaps a GSP breeder can enlighten us about the subject. Not unusual for an intelligent dog (and yes GSP are intelligent) to take on other functions. As a kid my best friend had an old style rough coat collie who was a pet and companion 9 months out of the year. Pick up a shot gun in Nov., and he became a bird dog. Many a pheasant was shot over him.

 

[florida lee]

I'm using my German Short Hair Pointer, Jake, in the same way. He has always been ab excellent watch/guard dog . Now he's chief of security for my chickens. He's doing real well, but he's gettin on in age, now 10 yrs. and not as fast as he used to be. His backups, two Great Danes, don't seem as concerned with chicken security as he is.

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Someone else, good!

My birds are not part of one large cohesive unit. I have several free-ranging subflocks and the ranges of some of the some flocks either do not overlap or do not even come into contact with each other. Therefore dog does not have a single group to guard. What Scoob is expected to do and has done so far is respond to alarm calls produced by birds and quickly goes to disturbance.

Seeing it work so well helps me understand why chickens have been selected to make so much racket when threatened. It brings in farmer or farmers dog quicker to deal with predator. My red jungle fowl are much quiter when disturbed and not as likely to benefit from Scoobs abilty to interfere with predators. The red jungle give a short duration alarm when escaping or squawl when caught but they do not give the sustained alarm that brings in other predators or in the chickens case, help.

 

[busyteacher]

Good for him! We have an English Pointer who LOVES to watch over our chickens (although the chickens are not incredibly thrilled with her!) When we have chickens that get out of the pen she will bring them to us! She never hurts them, but she is very protective of them.