Re: [pyrnet] chat:Pet Fair~~an unusal happening

["Linda Weisser" <lmweisser@attbi.com>]

Tedford, Ellen" <Ellen.Tedford@bcbsma.com>


My niece raises goats and pointed out to me that  herding dogs (collies,
shepherd etc) have prick ears, while guard dogs such as Pyrs, Maremma,
Akbash-have floppy ears.Sheep and goats react to the profile of the dog,
running from the prick eared dog and making it possible for these dogs to
herd, while the drop eared dogs can mingle with the sheep to protect them.>>

Actually there are a lot of herding/drover breeds with down ears.  Without
getting extensive, there are Old english, Beardies, Briards, Puli, Nizinny,
Aussie Shepherds.  And Collie type breeds often have only semi prick ears.
Some breeds are cropped to give them the upright look.  And Border Collies
can have any kind of ear from dropped, through rose, through semi prick, to
fully upright.  And, of course, some LGD breeds have their ears cropped and
have a profile that is slighty prick eared.  Probably ear set is no more a
determiner of like or dislike than is coat color.

Linda