The Alsatian

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 5, 14 August 1931, Page 6

The Alsatian

AS any gentleman been more maligned, abused and slandered than the handsome Alsatian? Realising that in "Sparwood," of the "N.Z. Referee," I was listening to an expert, I held my

breath in apprehension when he announced recently from 1YA that he was to talk on Alsatians. But my anxiety was quickly allayed; "Sparwood" is a champion of the breed. Cheers! The chief enemies of the Alsatian are ignorance and prejudice. Known up to the time of the Great War as the "German Shepherd Dog," it carried a name which breathed peacefulness and the desire to protect. As soon as the war broke out the name became charged with undesirable attributes and qualities. So the kennel club in its wisdom deemed a new nate to be desirable, and they chose that of "Wolf-hound." Clever, wasn’t it? As "Sparwood" says "had they held a competition and. offered a substantial cash prize for the most unfortunate name, then wolf-hound must have been adjudged the winner." Let it be remembered that it is possible to keep a list of offences against any breed; because your terrier, feeling frisky, takes a "bit out of the butcher boy’s pants, do you expect all your neighbours, hearing of the incident, to write indignant letters signed "Pro Patria," "Householder," "Mother of Ten," "More to Come" and "Disillusioned." all demanding that this vicious

and dangerous breed be exterminated? Any dog, of any breed, if ill-treated or badly cared for, is liable to turn bad tempered, but of all breeds," ‘- when properly looked after, none ranks ~ higher for intelligence, frankness, boldness and gentlemanly behaviour than the handsome Alsatian. "Sparwood" gave two local examples of the Alsatian’s trustworthiness and sagacity, A comparative baby paddling on the beach at Takapuna was bowled over by a wave and dragged, screaming into the undertow. A beautiful Alsatian, not belonging to the baby’s family, saw the danger, dashed in and brought that little child out of peril, restoring it to its distracted mother. Despite the fact that the child was wearing a bathing suit only, she never received one pinch from that Alsatian’s teeth. Again, a Henderson lady with an Alsatian pup on a lead, was accosted recently by a bag-snatcher. As soon as she could, after recovering from the. shock of the push which the. thief had} given her, she liberated her young guardian and sent him after the bag, He was only a youngster, but he knew his drill; notwithstanding the most brutal kicks, that pup got the bag back and restored it to his mistress, From my own experience I could quote many more such examples. Space, however. does not permit. Please remember, though, that in classifying the Alsatian as dangerous, treacherous or unreliable, you do but display dreadful ignorance. If you have the room; if you are prepared to devote time and trouble; first in training, and thereafter in exercising; if you are big enough to have a big dog then you will find in the Alsatian a handsome friend who will reward your initial efforts on ., his behalf with a whole-hearted devotion to you and your interests, which will make you very proud and happy. But for his sake, and for your own, make sure that you can answer affirmatively all these questions :- Have you plenty of space? Have you sufficient time? Will you fee¢ him carefully and regularly? Will you refrain from over-feeding him? Will you groom him regularly and constantly? Will you give him plenty of exercisenot a stroll round the block, but a good romp over the hills-every day? If so, he will make you his god, and will worship you-Can you stand the strain? Should you be unable to answer all the above with a definite affirmative, please don’t buy an Alsatian, ®