Norwegian ban on SW and CzW

Tonje · 06-09-2002, 09:08

As Per Olav's conversation with the SW-breeder shows, it all comes back to
sheep and farmers. Farmers have a significant "say so" in any matter
pertaining to our wild carnivores. The public in general, especially in the
urban areas, are "wobbly" in their attitude to wolf as a species in norwegian
wildlife. Farmers have tried appealing to the urban public, by saying how
terribly their sheep suffer when attacked by wolves/hybrids/dogs and how awful
they feel about that. (However the same farmers let 110 000 sheep die from
other causes in the summer. The sheep die from diseases, fall injuries, eating
poisonous plants, maggots etc.) Concerning the sheep mauled last week, the
local farmers probably view that as a godsend if they want to get rid of the
SWs in the region..

Defending the CSV and the SW in Norway has little to do with any potential
hazard to human beings, one is actually fighting wolf phobia and farmers'
grazing rights for sheep. I think it would be best to try and get the
authorities to understand that there are major differences between wolfdogs
and wolves - to emphasize the differences instead of letting the authorities
focus on the visible similarities. Otherwise one would easily get caught up in
agricultural politics which really is a hornets nest. I don't believe any dog
organisation would stand a chance in that context. If the authorities could
understand that wolf politics is irrelevant to CSVs and SWs, then matters
could be resolved on a more correct basis. How to get them to take in the
"minor" detail that wolfdogs are not wolves but actual dogs, is something
else. Here it would have been appropriate for the Norwegian Kennel Club to
inform the authorities, but the Norwegian Kennel Club is apparently reluctant
to do anything at all.

As for changing the name from wolfdog to something else, I am not sure that
would serve any greater purpose. As an example, there is no antipathy so ever
against the irish wolfhound, though it is called "irish wolfdog" in norwegian
(there is no word for "hound" in norwegian).

Well, for now one can only wait for any development, starting with the meeting
on Monday.
Regards Tonje

P.S. Please correct me if I am wrong Per Olav!

06-09-2002, 09:08	#11
Tonje Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 9	Norwegian proposal of banning FCI approved wolfdog breeds As Per Olav's conversation with the SW-breeder shows, it all comes back to sheep and farmers. Farmers have a significant "say so" in any matter pertaining to our wild carnivores. The public in general, especially in the urban areas, are "wobbly" in their attitude to wolf as a species in norwegian wildlife. Farmers have tried appealing to the urban public, by saying how terribly their sheep suffer when attacked by wolves/hybrids/dogs and how awful they feel about that. (However the same farmers let 110 000 sheep die from other causes in the summer. The sheep die from diseases, fall injuries, eating poisonous plants, maggots etc.) Concerning the sheep mauled last week, the local farmers probably view that as a godsend if they want to get rid of the SWs in the region.. Defending the CSV and the SW in Norway has little to do with any potential hazard to human beings, one is actually fighting wolf phobia and farmers' grazing rights for sheep. I think it would be best to try and get the authorities to understand that there are major differences between wolfdogs and wolves - to emphasize the differences instead of letting the authorities focus on the visible similarities. Otherwise one would easily get caught up in agricultural politics which really is a hornets nest. I don't believe any dog organisation would stand a chance in that context. If the authorities could understand that wolf politics is irrelevant to CSVs and SWs, then matters could be resolved on a more correct basis. How to get them to take in the "minor" detail that wolfdogs are not wolves but actual dogs, is something else. Here it would have been appropriate for the Norwegian Kennel Club to inform the authorities, but the Norwegian Kennel Club is apparently reluctant to do anything at all. As for changing the name from wolfdog to something else, I am not sure that would serve any greater purpose. As an example, there is no antipathy so ever against the irish wolfhound, though it is called "irish wolfdog" in norwegian (there is no word for "hound" in norwegian). Well, for now one can only wait for any development, starting with the meeting on Monday. Regards Tonje P.S. Please correct me if I am wrong Per Olav!