The
question of wonder if those
adaptable maremma sheepdogs could adapt to this task is curious. I am
extremely doubtful that this would work. The difference is not that of guarding
chickens, rather than penguins or sheep. I suggest that would be a small change
and very easily done in the training.
The
difference is that these dogs are good at guarding against foxes and feral dogs
(basically similar terrestrial predators as they are), rather than eagles. The
point being that foxes and feral dogs will recognise a defending big dog because
they are all similar and think the same way. Thus the deterrence is obvious. But
how do you get eagles to be deterred by a dog? Also eagles will attack quickly
from the air and most of the time can get away easily and long before a
defending dog would even know. So even if you could train maremma sheepdogs to recognise an eagle,
(which I doubt), because they can't smell them and would be unlikely to have
that instinct, they don't have the time to defend that would arise from foxes
and feral dogs that will be noticed and can be chased off by big dogs.
Philip
Lovely story John. Amusing to wonder if those
adaptable maremma sheepdogs could adapt to this task (eg http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/blog/sheepdogs-guard-penguins/).
On 1/10/2013 10:55 AM, John Harris wrote:
Hi all eagle watchers.
For the second year in a row I have seen a Wedge Tailed Eagle take one of
my neighbour's chooks.
My Portuguese neighbour has a very traditional approach to his garden and
hens and he takes them for a walk to forage at the back of our houses backing
on to Ginninderra Creek. I usually choose that time of day to have a yarn with
him and yesterday a WTE swooped down and took a hen. Same thing happened
September last year.
The Eagle returns sometimes and roosts on top of the chook house or his
Verandah. he still walks the chooks but he carries a big stick and keeps the
little flick close to him.
Cheers
John
John
Harris
Rev Dr John Harris,
36 Kangaroo Close,
Nicholls, ACT 2913
AUSTRALIA
P:
61-(0)2-62418472
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