We know the German Shepherd Dog as a dog that excels as a War and Military Dog, Seeing Eye Dog, and all around great family pet – but Goose Guard?

In the mid 19th century, there was such things as “goose guards” that were employed in various regions of Belgium, but fifty years later, thousands of Geese were raised in the north of France. These young birds were sent in huge flocks over public roads back to the Belgium region with the help of dogs. In early December, they traveled again to a region near the village of Dendermonde to be fattened up the same way they came. The exterior of the “guard” dogs were commonly called “gazenwachers” (goose guards), and it’s believed that early ancestors of the German Shepherd were these dogs.

Hagen Print by Kimberly Santini
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