Jeff Williams Webboard User Reg: 07-17-2005
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A friend of mine has a horse and cattle ranch and looking for a shepherd. He would prefer a black female he could use on the ranch and maybe breed to my male. We are wondering how well a geman shepherd would do working cattle and horses. Also would like some help finding a breeder so we could find a good match to my male. We have also talked about the fact that niether one of use is going to do any shutzhund training and was wondering if that will hurt use selling the pups if we do breed.
Kristen Cabe Webboard User Reg: 06-09-2004
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Any particular reason for wanting a shepherd, other than to breed to your male? I've never seen a shepherd work cattle, but rottweilers and australian cattle dogs (duh! lol) do an excellent job with them.
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Jeff Williams Webboard User Reg: 07-17-2005
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They owned one before when they had kids at home and liked the way the shepherd was with the children. Now they have grand children and want a dog that will be watch them when they are alone. Also they are getting older and would like to have the protection and peace of mind a shepherd would give them.
Ed Frawley Administrator Reg: 07-11-2001
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There is no such thing as a ranch GSD unless your definition is a GSD that happens to live on a ranch.
I happen to be typing this as I sit on my cousins ranch in South Dakota. His driveway is 9 miles long and we have been gathering cattle for a week (weaning) - tomorrow we are on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation - working leased pasture ground which has 300 of his cows with their calves.
You dont use GSD's to do this. Its not the kind of herding they do. We have a cattle dog for this work - GSD's could never do this.
call me impartial but you should look into a giant schnauzer they are natural guardians of there people and properties they are excellent herders and extremely tollerant of children.
We owned a working cattle ranch for 20 years with 2500 head of momma cows. We also at one time had over 100 brood mares for our cutting horse operation. First off, you never work horses with dogs. Period. As far as a working cattle dog in the real world, there are only 2 breeds that I would considered having tried quite a few. They are the Australian Shepherd (not cattle dog) and border collie. Depending on your required range these are the only breeds I have found that have the determination and stamina to work all day. My family always had GSDs and Rottweilers as personal dogs, they are not suitable for this work. While the GSD has the ability, I've yet to see one who's focus wasn't more concentrated on the drover than the herd. If you watch a well trained border collie work, they regard the drover as an unnecessary distraction from them getting their job done!
alice oliver Webboard User Reg: 09-14-2005
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what about blue or red heelers, luke? out here in montana, they are even more popular than BCs for cattle work. a ranch i used to work on has also used airedales, which are among the most versatile of all working dogs, in addition to aussies and heelers.
Molly Graf Webboard User Reg: 06-11-2004
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Blue and red heelers are the same breed as Australian Cattle Dog - correct? I must admit I am surprised that a Border Collie would be considered better in working cattle than a Cattle Dog. I have never owned either breed, but have worked around livestock for many years with dogs - and the cattle dogs have seemed like the toughest of the breeds with large livestock. But, not speaking from "real" experience. Interested in learning, though!
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Looking for working ranch german shepherd
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