Occurrence and distribution of Pomeranian herding dogs
The Pomeranian region (northeast of Germany, north-west of Poland and islands on the Baltic Sea coast) is considered to be the origin of the Pomeranian herding dogs (also called native herding dogs), which are divided into the following varieties:
Pomeranian Sheep Poodle
Pomeranian Sheepdog
Pomeranian hat spitz
small Pomeranian herding dog
The breeds were bred until the first half of the 20th century and are now considered extinct in this form. However, they may live on in other races.
In the Encyclopedia of Purebred Dogs from 1980, Hans Räber writes the following about the Pomeranian Shepherd Spitz:
The literature mostly mentions a white-colored Pomeranian shepherd dog. In any case, the fact is that around the year 1700 these white peaked hats were quite common in Pomerania and it was therefore assumed that the white peaked hats originally came from there. So in southern Germany they were generally called Pommer or "Pommerle", in contrast to the black "Mannheimer", or "< em>Spitzer”, as the Swabians called it. [1]
Description of the shepherd's head of the department for down-to-earth herding dogs (1939):
He is of medium height, prick ears, appears stocky and has a good medium length stick hair. As its name suggests, it has a small, taut, rounded prick ear, the edges and interior of which are well haired. His medium-length stock hair has a good undercoat, but this depends on the season. The strong development of guard hairs on the neck and cheeks causes the mustache mane formation. Silky or soft hair is not found in working tips. The tail is short, hard and bushy, has no flag and is usually not carried curled over the back. In addition, the student council must reserve the right[...] to later recognize one or the other local breed.” [2]
The association for down-to-earth herding dogs
In 1927, the veterinarian W. Wieland and like-minded people founded the Association for down-to-earth herding dogs", which was dedicated to preserving the sheepdog breeds that were then found in Pomerania. According to the understanding at that time, one wanted to develop one or more dog breeds from these blows, but put the needs of the rural population in the foreground; the majority of the club members were shepherds and cattle keepers.
Wieland originally classified three types:
a white shaggy Pomeranian (Type I)
which was the local variety of the Sheep Poodle
a white smooth coated Pomeranian (Type II)
Same as the Hungarian Kuvasz
a very small, around 30 cm tall, mostly blond dog (Type III)
which is similar to Puli and to Skye Terrier.
Type I should be named German Shaggy Shepherd Dog
Type II the name Longhaired German Shepherd Dog and
Type III got the name German or Pomeranian sheepdog.
He wanted to introduce the term "shepherd dog", on the one hand because the analogy to the Hungarian shepherd dogs seemed appropriate to him; and secondly, because "Schäferhund" is correct, but in view of the development of the modern stock-haired, i.e. the German Shepherd Dog, he was looking for a more distinctive name. The term "herding dog" only seemed appropriate to him for the small Type III.
In the years that followed, another type of dog became the focus of the Association for down-to-earth herding dogs, namely a white Spitz type with herding dog qualities. This Hütespitz or Schäferspitz is listed in 1933 as one of the three types of down-to-earth herding dogs, along with the Sheep Poodle and Type II. Originally classified as Type III, the dog appears to have received less interest in retrospect. The term Pomeranian Sheepdog was used in later publications for the straight-haired, white Type II; moreover, it became the generic term for all beatings.
Use and deployment of Pomeranian herding dogs
The need to raise a dog for guarding purposes, i.e. above all to "fight back from the fruit", arose from the expansion of intensively used agricultural areas and the increasing population density. This is how the smaller, more agile herding dog came about.
This development from shepherd dog to herding dog was gradual and mainly in those areas where the soil was used most intensively, such as in the wheat and beet areas of central and northern Germany, while the old forms are still preserved in southern Germany to this day have. However, one cannot clearly distinguish between the herd/utility dog forms mentioned, because there are numerous transitional forms that have arisen through crossbreeding and represent the down-to-earth, local breeds.
In Germany, the Old German Shepherd Dog (Old Württemberg Shepherd Dog, Old Thuringian Shepherd Dog), the Sheep Poodle, the Pomeranian Shepherd Dog, the Shepherd Spitz and the German Shepherd Dog are used as herding dogs.
In Baden-Württemberg, the old Württemberg shepherd dog, the German shepherd dog and numerous mixed and transitional forms can be found.
In the present study, 50 farms that operate local or transhumance sheep farming were examined with regard to the training and use of herding dogs in sheep farming.
The study was based on a questionnaire that was presented to the shepherds during a visit and filled out together with them. A total of 178 herding dogs were kept on these farms, of which 28 were German shepherds, 30 were old Germans, i.e. old Württemberg dogs, and 120 were crossbreeds. The large number of German shepherds, which are over-represented in relation to the use of this breed in practice, is striking in the so-called performance herding organized by the sheep breeding associations. One reason for this could be the membership in the German Shepherd Dog Association; the dogs are registered for breeding and can easily be sold to enthusiasts if they are not suitable for herding dogs. The interviewed shepherds have different opinions regarding the use of the different breeds, which often give rise to quite violent arguments. One group is of the opinion that the German shepherd's pricked ears and short coat make it less resilient than the old German and that it's in poorer physical condition overall. The other group, on the other hand, is of the opinion that some shepherds only prefer the Old German for herding because it is cheaper. However, every shepherd, regardless of the breed, requires a lively, but not agitated and nervous nature with a well-developed defensive instinct from a herding dog. The natural predisposition to herding is particularly important. Training of herding dogs Before a young dog is trained in the individual herding skills, it is essential that he is given obedience exercises such as "sit!" "Place!" etc. are taught. The actual training begins between the 9th and 12th month of life and lasts about 12 to 24 months. As a rule, the shepherds train their dogs themselves. (From the report Current work on species-appropriate animal husbandry 1979")
Sources:
The Encyclopedia of Dog Friends, Heinrich Zimmermann
[1] Encyclopedia of Purebred Dogs, Volume 1, 1980, Hans Räber
[2] Kynegetikos: Native herding dogs - final part. In: Rundschau for hunting and dog sports. Vol. 17, No. 4/5, May 1939.
Hütespitz Photo: The Encyclopedia of Dog Friends, 1934, Heinrich Zimmermann (1888-1942)
Further reading on the topic
Wolfgang Luther: Observations on innate behavior in a Pomeranian herding dog. In: Journal of Animal Psychology. Vol. 8, Issue 3, 1951
Current work on species-appropriate animal husbandry 1979" Report on the conference 'Species-appropriate handling of farm animals' of the German Veterinary Medical Society e.V. Behavioral research group from November 1st to 3rd, 1979 in the Animal Hygienic Institute in Freiburg
W. Wieland: The Pomeranian shepherd dog strikes - The dog. Vol. 1, 1926
Aga Gräfin vom Hagen: The dog breeds. A handbook for dog lovers and breeders. Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft Athenaion, Potsdam, 1935