Dogs classified as fighting dogs (dangerous dogs)
The following breeds and crossbreeds are classified as fighting dogs:
American Pit Bull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Bull Terrier (Miniature Bull Terriers are not considered fighting dogs)
American Bulldog
Caucasian Ovcharka (Caucasian Shepherd Dog)
Dogo Argentino
Karabash (Kangal Dog) (Anatolian Shepherd Dog)
Rottweiler
Lufthansa Airlines requires special crates for transporting the above referenced dangerous breeds. It seems the Germans are ahead of us in facing the reality of what some of these breeds truly are used for in their native countries.
This is a topic I have waded into in numerous, previous blog posts (Note: the quickest way to browse through them on this blog is to view it from a desktop computer and choose the "magazine" viewing option). As if to further exemplify the American penchant for excess, one Montana breeder, noted for crossing Kangals with the bogus "Boz Shepherd", is - surprise, surprise - running a Dogo Argentino in his "LGD" pack as well.
The frosting on the cake: this lovely doctor has now gotten into "Boz Shepherds". In what was likely a hurried attempt to distance themselves from him and/or deflect bad press, his nefarious name is now removed from their membership page. But are you beginning to see a pattern here?
Kangal purists dismiss the Anatolian as a "street mongrel". In America, the AKC (gotta love them) has granted it "breed status". It is no secret that dog fighting is a national pastime in Turkey, where these breeds originated. The Kangal Club of America states on their website:
Aggressive dogs are a detriment to the breed, a danger to people and livestock, and a liability to their owners.
The Caucasian Ovcharka, along with the Caucasian Asian Shepherd, are known for sharp personalities. Combine that with someone like the not so bright grinning woman on the human end of the leash below, and you are further amplifying the aggressive nature of a breed. A recipe for disaster, and only done by self-absorbed idiots….like this woman.
Fast forward now to our not-so-bright government agency the USDA, who is hell-bent on pushing bigger, and potentially meaner breeds to keep North American wolves at bay. In what has to be the Mother of All Gaffes, note how they even use a Mark Twain quote about fighting dogs on the link just given. Many of these breeds are known for being used in the fight ring. How they expect the average farmer out there to responsibly own and use these breeds remains to be seen…its a topic they never touch, but its already coming out that there is a plethora of "hands off/leave them alone in the sheep" going on with that experiment, which means potential trouble down the road.
Any dog breed can be made to be vicious. Promoting and coddling and emphasizing that meanness, is bad management practice for Livestock Guardian Dogs, and should never be done, or catered to. LGDs are supposed to nurture and protect livestock, not kill and maim people or predators, in spite of what some incorrectly boast! I know this is a topic I repeatedly harp on, however, if we do not practice good management of these dogs, it could mean future bans and regulations imposed by the government. Not what we want, or need!
Hats off to Lufthansa for calling a spade a spade.
The smart LGD shopper steers clear of anyone with even the slightest scent of dog fighter about them or one who purposely breeds for aggression and amplified "toughness", attack tendencies or extreme distrust of people. A leopard is known by his spots, and people are usually known by the company they keep. When you see an American breeder of the fighting crossbred bogus breed "Boz Shepherd", incessantly bragging about bringing over more imports from a known, bonafide dog fighter in Turkey, then do the math. The apple never falls far from the tree.
Any dog breed can be made to be vicious. Promoting and coddling and emphasizing that meanness, is bad management practice for Livestock Guardian Dogs, and should never be done, or catered to. LGDs are supposed to nurture and protect livestock, not kill and maim people or predators, in spite of what some incorrectly boast! I know this is a topic I repeatedly harp on, however, if we do not practice good management of these dogs, it could mean future bans and regulations imposed by the government. Not what we want, or need!
Hats off to Lufthansa for calling a spade a spade.
The smart LGD shopper steers clear of anyone with even the slightest scent of dog fighter about them or one who purposely breeds for aggression and amplified "toughness", attack tendencies or extreme distrust of people. A leopard is known by his spots, and people are usually known by the company they keep. When you see an American breeder of the fighting crossbred bogus breed "Boz Shepherd", incessantly bragging about bringing over more imports from a known, bonafide dog fighter in Turkey, then do the math. The apple never falls far from the tree.
