The legandary Morlen Nelson had GS only, mainly as companions , but I would imagine they loved to jump in and swim after ducks. There are old pictures of one jumping off a bridge into the Boise River with Morley. The one I got to know, Adak was a beautiful, massive male. Always friendly and mellow with Morley around. Would hate to confront him the wrong way.
People have used all sorts of breeds, and as long as their obedience is good (and german shepherds are VERY good at this) and you can call them off approaching your bird on a kill, they'd do just fine.
IMO, go with the dog that fits your lifestyle, not just for hawking. Any dog can run around in the brush and kick something up, and one that is inclined to use their nose is just a bonus. Of course there are dogs better suited to hunting, but if that's not your breed, don't do it.
I think a GS would do just fine Their temperaments are great.
If you dislike someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Then, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes. --Jack Handy
anyone ever used a german shepherd as a falconry dog?
Yes, I have. Not for hawking rabbits, but for flushing ducks off ponds for peregrines. She LOVED to swim and fetch things in the water - like a lab. So I took advantage of her love of water.
She'd swim directly towards the raft of ducks and panic them off the water. After the flush, she'd race after the flying falcon - barking at the bird all the while she ran. We always knew where the peregrine was! At the kill site, she'd lay down next to the dining falcon and wait for her reward -- a big chunk of duck meat after the falcon was done gorging.
You can teach a dog to do almost anything you want it to do...you could teach a maltese to flush rabbits if you really tried, but certain breeds are bred for certain things and that's why people love them--all you're doing is encouraging instinct.
G/S are wonderful dogs, sounds like you had a lot of fun with her, Migisi.
If you dislike someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Then, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes. --Jack Handy
Post by dirthawker on Feb 25, 2009 14:29:23 GMT -5
If you want a herding dog get a Queensland Healer I have one they are smart and will pick it up quick. the only problem is sometimes they are to smart for their own good. she also works OK for a hawking dog just to get things running.
My point was that although a German Shepard could be useful to guard the hawk/falcon from wild raptors, and maybe flush game, a dog bred for the certain task would be best.
That's not saying not to use the GS, I know someone who uses an Autralian Shepard when he flies his gos - it chases the gos when it chased something and stays near keeping wild hawks etc away. It does not find game though, which is fine for him. Having a dog in the field with the hawk to me is always more fun.
Like I said...having a breed specific to the task is obviously easier and usually more effective, but if it doesn't fit with your family or the rest of your lifestyle the bonuses don't make it worth it. Always pick the dog that fits YOU best, even if it's not necessarily the best one for the job. But hey, if a JRT is what you've always wanted, go for it. I couldn't own one personally ;D
If you dislike someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Then, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes. --Jack Handy
Post by caraputnam on Feb 26, 2009 23:18:35 GMT -5
Interesting you would ask this quesiton. I am exploring the world of Falconry. I am a dog trainer/instructor who owns a GSD. I was wondering the same thing!
I don't own one but I have always wanted one. In fact I am About to buy a GSP. I know that GSD's are a very smat breed and all they want is to please the owner and their property. Just wanted to Know if it would play any part in Falconry at all.......... Thanks all
Good hunting
"A Good friend will bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying..wow...that was fun!"
I grew up with GSDs, and they're great dogs. Very loyal. Obviously I never used them for falconry, but one of mine was good around chickens, as much as she loved to scatter seagulls at the coast. The other was far more prey-driven.
One LOVED the water; the other was as good a swimmer as a Pet Rock.
I currently have an aging half-GSD/half-sight hound who also loves the water and harassing ducks, but she won't go into brambles at all. Every winter I need to go into the blackberry canes to ferret out all the toys lost there the previous summer.
She's a very active but very senior dog with geriatric issues at age 13, and I doubt she'll be around when I get my first bird, but I'd imagine that it would have been fun to work her with a bird, if only in the less-than-brushy fields.
I think, as with all dogs, it depends on how they're raised and trained.