Sam sleeps soundly

resmas wrote:
I can't verify the source, or even remember where I read it, but I recently read an article (and a forum thread) about that exact issue. It seems a small number of foreign LGD breeds ARE being imported for the sole purpose of dog fights, and not guarding livestock. I wish I could remember where the article/forum was...

Perhaps Boz Shepherds which are being promoted on multiple forums (by someing using the same user name on all forums). I've even a post asking what would be needed to hunt wild boar with this breed. I've also seen these dogs trying to be promoted as protection dogs.

Dog Fighting

In other countries, dog-fighting is very common. They do use powerful breeds. Quail-fighting. It's hard to watch.

Go Dogs wrote:
I enjoyed that article. However, I fear that if these testosterone-challenged 'Gangstas' read it, they would start importing these breeds for other reasons! :M

I can't verify the source, or even remember where I read it, but I recently read an article (and a forum thread) about that exact issue. It seems a small number of foreign LGD breeds ARE being imported for the sole purpose of dog fights, and not guarding livestock. I wish I could remember where the article/forum was...

What made me very suspicious that is was true were some of the photos of the dogs, both here and in the country they originated in. The photos and posts from the man here in the US were definitely NOT a farm environment. His dog yard looked like something you see on Animal Planet when they bust a dog fighting ring. It was definitely not how proper working LGD's are raised. Plus the guy looked like a jack*** with his clothes and bling - definitely not what I would picture as a "farmer".

The pictures of the foreign dogs were much the same. You could see "city" life going on in the background, and again, the guy handling and posing the dogs was just not right...

There is an urban area that we have to frequent. Used to be short-cropped pits and Rotties with fancy studded, leather collars, etc. Now, we see more and more Neapolitan, and English Mastiffs. The bigger the dog, the bigger the ...... NOT!

This is how pit bulls became a real problem. They were developed for dog aggression NOT people aggression for their "work" in the pit (handlers needed to be able to separate fighting dogs without getting bit). When the bulk of the breed was no longer bred for fighting (dog aggression) and care was not taken to maintain temperamentally well balanced pups, dogs are produced having aggression without the self-control.

"Now you have temperamentally unstable dogs with a breed background of aggression to challenge wolves."

YIKES!

I wouldn't worry about imported dogs; they would have likely been properly bred (aggressive to predators and not people). I would worry about the subsequent generations produced by people who are not breeding to the same working standard as the originators of the breed. Now you have temperamentally unstable dogs with a breed background of aggression to challenge wolves.

I enjoyed that article. However, I fear that if these testosterone-challenged 'Gangstas' read it, they would start importing these breeds for other reasons! :M

For those who don't think LGDs can work against coyotes, here is a review article on the use of LGDs againts wolves and bears.

The Use of Livestock Protection Dogs in Association with Large Carnivores in the Rocky Mountains

Sam has been corrected several times over the last few days for looking at the chickens.