Ed,
It was this type of dog, canary aka presa, not a Cane Corso. While I see your point we also live in America a free Country and a place where if he ever did bite I would be entitled to a trial where it helps when you have trainers that are police officers on your side. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> And we practice responsible dog ownership.

Yes, the dogs who mauled Diane Whipple to death were both Presa Canarios -- BUT I would still never name a "macho image enhancing breed" Bane, nor would I ever give it a fighting crop...

And yes "to each their own" in a free country, but inviting suspicion on yourself AND on your breed of choice is just looking for trouble, IMHO <:-(

Ugh, I can't believe I'm touching this one with a ten foot pole but... <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I see everyone's point...and I also see Steve's. I have an APBT now, and have fostered them in the past, sometimes up to 6. You kind of get to the point (or at least I did) that you just don't care what people think anymore. Sad, but true. I get dirty looks to this day sometimes when I bring my 45lb pit out in public. People look at me as if I must have some ulterior motive for owning her, and you should see the looks I get when she's got some sort of play-induced cut from her romps with my GSD. You start to feel like you're constantly trying to prove you're not a dog fighter, just b/c of the breed you own, and not b/c of anything you've actually done. Interestingly enough, it's more the show crowd that does cropping. Sure, there are some total @$$holes that crop for fighting purposes, but for example, the APBT standard calls for either style, while AmStaffs should be cropped, to my knowledge. Anyway, I just think we kind of need to back off a little and give people the benefit of the doubt. How many people who spend their time on this board, learning all they can about training, diet, health, etc., are the same people who are fighting their dogs in alleys and garages?

Re: the name Bane, I for one didn't even remember that was the dog's name. While I don't know that I would name my dog after a dog that killed someone, I also don't know that I would necessarily be conscious of every dog's name that ever attacked a person. With my number of animals, I probably have a guilty name in my arsenal... <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />. unbeknownst to me.

Ed does have a point about the legal side of it, Steve. You know that if Bane ever were to get in trouble, they'd be all over the name like flies on $#!+. Whether that's who he's named after or not, and regardless of who you actually are, you know how you and Bane would be painted. Unfortunately, you'll just need to be extra careful.

Now I'll await my crucifixion... <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

OK, I looked at the photo links. And I can see where his ears have been cropped, not folded back. I have nothing against cropped ears, both my minpins have cropped ears, but I can't say I really like the short, shaved sort of look. But, that's just my personal preference, same way I prefer the looks of dogs without jowls. However, your boy sure does have a plushy glossy coat, and his eyes are beautiful!

Yes, the dogs who killed Diane Whipple were named Bane & Hera -- Bane means "death, killer, slayer, destruction, poison, woe, a source of harm & ruin, curse" and people who choose this name know that...

Lovely (!) -- I have an Akita, but I sure didn't call her "Gangsta Bitch" or name her after some psycho female mass-murderer, just because I want to spit in the eye of anyone who doesn't appreciate my breed of dog.

Candi, I'm not saying he didn't know what the dogs' names were; I'm just saying that if we give him the benefit of the doubt that he really named him after a comic book character, I think we'll see lots of names w/stigmas. I don't see it as "spitting in the eye" as long as you truly have your own reason for naming a certain name. I know of several GSDs named Hera, mostly dogs named in Germany, whose owners probably were unaware of the stigma.

I think it's horrible how judgmental we've all had to become-with good reason! I think this board is probably made up of some of the most conscientious dog owners out there today, and as such, we tend to get a little reactive when there's suspicion of less-than-honorable intent.

All I'm saying is that maybe we need to ease up just a little and look at the fact that he's HERE, trying to do right by his dog, and drop the name issue, and look at the bigger picture. I don't see anything in his photos that concern me in the least. Just my opinion, of course. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

I know of several GSDs named Hera, mostly dogs named in Germany, whose owners probably were unaware of the stigma.

There's a stigma with naming a dog after the Greek god of women and marriage? Macho world you live in! And there's certainly enough line-breeding and inbreeding in GSDs to justify naming a bitch after the wife and sister of Zeus. Subtle comedians, those Germans.

Um, no, Woody. If "Bane" is a stigmatized name **after** the Whipple mauling, perhaps the same stigma could be applied to the name "Hera," (although it's literal meaning/origin is not as dark as "Bane"). Diane Whipple was killed by TWO dogs, named Bane and HERA, respectively.

Um, Jenni, I'd say that deliberately naming a dog with a word that's had negative connotations for about 700 years is a bit different. But perhaps I didn't understand what you meant.

And thanks for the ratings downgrade! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Jenni,

On the Whipple case, they are unsure of whether Hera took part in the mauling because of the bite wounds on her body. The general feeling among officials is that she (Hera) did take part, they are unable to prove it.

That said, the crime scene was nasty. Officers who responded said it was one of the ugliest they had ever been to. I do not remember what parts of her body were left intact (Feet? and?), I remember there were only TWO parts of her body that were whole.
In reading the description of the crime scene I was horrified. It sounded as if the dogs had not eaten in years and were eating for the first time. The pictures were just heartbreaking. The woman never had a chance.
I read the the book recently because of my interest in dogs. I figure the more I read the better I will be at raising good dog. For me, it reads as a "WHAT NOT TO DO".