Posted on 01/30/2012 9:35:38 AM PST by Daffynition
SILVERTON — Turkish sheepdogs prized for their fierceness are raising concerns they may be a little too tough for the southwest Colorado communities where ranchers are using them.
The Akbash dogs weigh up to 120 pounds and are especially aggressive toward animals near the sheep they guard. But that can include hikers and other backcountry tourists, prompting debate about whether the breed should be regulated.
The Durango Herald reports that Silverton town trustees met last week to discuss Akbash conflictsU.S. Forest Service officials, sheepherders and outdoors enthusiasts have also entered the debate over regulations surrounding the use of the breed.
(Excerpt) Read more at gazette.com ...
I love this story and this lucky dog felt worthy. He had a job.
What are your thoughts about this naive question of mine: I imagine these Akbash dogs are away from hearth and home for weeks at a time; since the herds they tend are scattered far and wide...how do you suppose the dogs feed themselves except to scavenge? Do you think the rancher drives out to the dog w/ the main herd and brings it dinner every night?
How long do you suppose that free ranging of herds has been going on? You think it's a recent phenomenon?
And this remarkable working dog Juno...every photo of her shows that she is *on duty*.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2839189/posts
Easy fix. Place warning signs for stupid hikers, Pass at your own risk, dogs guarding sheep against anything that moves that is not a sheep...
The guy we use to take our mohair to for weight and shipping to Texas had one of these dogs..beautiful. One shearing season when we went their dog had a large cast of its back leg...someone shot it, but the vet dug the bullet out and the dog was getting along fine with the cast. He had a lot of property and a very large flock of Angoras. His wife is the one that taught me to skin a goat using an air compressor and razor blade. Easy to do...her husband hated skinning a goat if they found one dead in the pasture....so she had to figure out a way to do it herself..
In my world, the dog would easily come “home” to chow (and drink) up daily.
We’d communicate daily and then go about our business as a team/pack.
Amazing animal.
I have spent a lot of time on public lands in the west weeks at a time.
Being mindful is one thing being attack by an animal is another.
Being an old farm boy I know a bit about stock.
I own and trained working dogs for close to 40 years now.
Your dog needs to be properly trained and under control.
If someone is on public land, road right away or what ever and your dog attacks. You are at fault and your dog is at fault.
I will not stand by and get bite by a untrain, uncontroled dog.
Then if your dog does bite me I’ll do every thing in my power to see that you are charged properly and sued to pay for the medical bills and other costs.
It is easy keep your dogs properly trained and under control and you will not have a problem
BLM and NF sevice land is open to the public and you can be armed on it.
I would think you are far more likely to encounter a cougar than a guard-dog.
You don’t have to tell me about wolves I live with them. I have had them walk through my yard I have seem them on a regular basis.
I know people who have lost dogs and live stock to them.
But that still doesn’t any ones dog the right to attack a person on public land.
Could very will be bears are more likely then cougars ect.
Well [you’ll pardon me] this didn’t stop this reporter from *crying wolf* when there have been no incidents of guard dogs biting anyone.
>>”We don’t need dangerous animals in the backcountry,” trustee Karla Safranski said.<<
Huh?
There are plenty of dangerous critters in the back county bears ,cougars, wolves and things.
Dosen’t stop me from living there, hiking, camping ect.
I have come face to face with many of them of over 55 years of living, hiking, camping, hunting, fishing in the country.
I have hiked, hunted, camped in many of the western states along with AK and Canada.
I have no problem with stock dogs but If I am on public land and one attacks me it well be delt with in a swift manner.
More likely she is a Anti’s and this is just another attack on ranchers ect.
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