Another interesting livestock guardian breed is the Akbash. The person I herd with has a couple of them. Her male, who as a puppy, played with Sinjin occasionally, still remembers him and is not stressed when Sinjin herds "his" sheep. However, he will go ballistic with strangers and strange dogs. Here is a picture of them together when the Akbash was 4 months old and Sinjin was 15 months:
I just dislike the attitude of the owner of that particular dog and the bragging of how much of a bad a** it is.
I think some people are just fascinated by believing their dogs will somehow save them from an act of violence that will more than likely never occur. Most people have never seen an act of aggression except in the movies and I think they fantasize about it to justify owning a dog like that. IMHO.
I just dislike the attitude of the owner of that particular dog and the bragging of how much of a bad a** it is.
I think some people are just fascinated by believing their dogs will somehow save them from an act of violence that will more than likely never occur. Most people have never seen an act of aggression except in the movies and I think they fantasize about it to justify owning a dog like that. IMHO.
My wife had some guys in her store today talking about how big and badass their dogs were. One guy had a Dane, another guy had a 180lbs. GSD that wasn't fat, and the third had a 225lbs. Belgian Shepherd that also wasn't fat. Coincidentally, I had a guy tell me that his 185lbs. rott, that wasn't obese and had just lost 15lbs., came from a sire of 225lbs. and a dam of 200lbs.. He was upset when I doubted the dog's ability to work and suggested that he be concerned about dysplasia with such an abnormally large dog. His response was to call both my pup and I "scrawny" and tell me how much of a badass his dog was. I just told him he was stupid and went about my day.
In regards to control. These dogs are put out on their own to make their own decisions and to act upon them. They do not always have their owner with them to direct them or to tell them how they should proceed. And what that guy said is exactly right. HE decides whats a threat and acts upon it. But again the dog needs to be guarding livestock not living in a residential area.
They are however dogs just like any other meaning they all have individual personalities. Some can mesh just fine with a more social environment whereas some need to stay strictly on the field. I got to meet my first Caucasian Ovcharka last weekend and I have to say, was very impressed. Dog just eyed me while I was talking to the owner, I of course kept my distance. AS soon as the owner said "its ok" dog relaxed and walked forward to me let me pet her and even wagged her tail. Goes to show not all these dogs are out of control. But you cannot compare these dogs to dogs who were bred to work along side men from the beginning. They are just getting started whereas GSD's, Rotts, Dobes ect have had 100+ years of understanding to respect and obey its handler.
People need to be educated and understand these dogs are not for the average owner but doing that and really focusing on the negatives of the breed will attract people who have no business owning ANY dog. So its a lose/lose situation.
After watching that Youtube video, somehow all that comes to my mind is what happened to Diane Whipple. To me this is very frightening. If these dogs got in to the hands of a idiot like that guy being dragged across the street, the breed is going to get blame.
I totally agree with the general public needs to be educated on owning certain breeds of dogs. But people are going to be ignorant at the cost of the breed.
uh...one word: LIABILITY. i have a neo bitch...took her two years to decide that my fiance was a higher pack member..and that was with me doing the leerburg thing, consistantly. i have four dogs, all strong willed, independent thinkers., but they all listen and obey. and they all have crates.and they love AND respect me and my wife because they know their place.
once a "one person" dog is allowed to decide what's what , it's over.and the dog ultimately suffers for the owners ignorance.
maybe we could use these dogs in afghanistan? or the southern border?
semper fi,
ed
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