• Question: why are german sherpads good at rounding up sheep

    Asked by bossfish to Andrew, Ash, Gem, Paige, SJ on 28 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Paige Brown

      Paige Brown answered on 28 Jun 2012:

      Bossfish, good question!!!!!!!!!
      I think certain breeds of dogs were actually trained and bred to heard animals like sheep. The dogs that were trained were bred, and those better at following commands and hearding the animals were picked out and bred again. Over time, you get (via artificial selection, as opposed to natural selection!) dogs that are VERY good at herding animals like sheep! There are other dogs bred to hunt, to sniff out wild animals, and even dogs bred to be inside pet animals!!!

    • Photo: SarahJayne Boulton

      SarahJayne Boulton answered on 28 Jun 2012:

      Paige is bang on right about artificial selection being hugely responsible for the intellegence and athleticism of the breed. Historically German Shepherds were bred not specifically to herd with the farmer but to live out with the sheep keeping them in one place and stopping them from grazing on the wrong land. The dogs had to be incredibly well trained and socialised to obey commands when the master wasn’t present, it’s this independent spirit and cleverness that makes them brilliant working dogs!

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