[stylist] German shepard in fantasy world?

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Helene,

For me, at least, and for most American readers, that would form the image
of a GSD immediately!

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of helene ryles
Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 1:10 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] German shepard in fantasy world?

Thanks for your advise Judith and Tamara.

My first guide dog was an austaralian shepard. I've known people with
german shepards. Although very differant in aprearace (smaller and
stockier) they are similar in tempermant. As a pointer would it be
sufficent to introduce them as failed police dogs?
Helene.

On 05/05/2009, Tamara Smith-Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net> wrote:
> People from sheep and cattle country might confuse it with an Australian
> shepherd or other herding type of very different appearance temperament,
> since they're still bred for herding.  I do that when people refer to
their
> shepherds, unless I stop to think.  When I inquire about an interesting
> mixed breed and hear it's a shepherd mix, I immediately start looking for
> Aussie characteristics.  Which always seems odd, because I adore GSDs and
am
> not too far shy of being fanatical about them.
>
> Off the top of my head, using the word 'shepherd" to denote the breed will
> get the right general idea across, and you can use subtle descriptive or
> behavioral clues to point the reader towards the correct type of shepherd.
> Or you can always invent a new breed.  /smile/  I found myself doing that
> with horses in my fantasy world.  I started out with the earth breeds that
> fit the characteristics and functions I was looking for, most of them
named
> for place of origin in Europe, since the kingdom where the story begins is
> based on a more-or-less European-style feudal political and physical
> geography.  When I got serious about the story, I realized this would
never
> do!  So I had a great deal of fun inventing horse breeds.  I also invented
a
> dog breed, now that I think of it.  Fun stuff!
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of helene ryles
> Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 11:12 AM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: [stylist] German shepard in fantasy world?
>
> Here is another question. One of my characters Liza Bronze has 7
> german shepard ex police dogs. The only problem is the country germany
> doesn't exist in the world I'm writing about but the 'german shepherd'
> dog does and has nothing to do with germany. Should I just leave the
> 'german' bit out and call it a shepard? Would people know what kind of
> dog I meant?
>
> Helene
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site:
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/tamara.8024%40comca
> st.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site:
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/dreamavdb%40googlem
ail.com
>

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>

stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/tamara.8024%40comca
st.net