If you could have your dream dog...

What breed would it be, what would you do with said dog, and where would you obtain them?

My personal first pick would have to be the Karelian Bear Dog, a breed I've long admired for it's courage and striking facial expressions. At left, we have my absolute favourite Karelian stud, Ilo, of Runningbeardog Kennels of Upper Michigan. It's a very nice facility with a few dogs that are well maintained. I would /love/ to have one of his offspring and work it in Tracking, since these dogs do have a very strong sense of smell and a very high prey drive. These are NOT couch potato dogs and are best suited to life with a job. I've met three Karelians in my life, all of whom were in the mountains at my campsite, doing their job and holding the bears off.


Next, we have my second favourite dog, the American Indian Dog, a lesser known breed that has been around for centuries. This dog is a worker and would also do best in a working home. I've always been attracted to their beautiful coat varieties. I haven't yet found a suitable breeder, but would definitely invest in it. I'd like to show these dogs in a more active sport, such as Flyball or Frisbee, because they do have a strong prey drive and a good working head.


Maybe I'm just a sucker for the working/herding types... What do you think? :]

God, I hate breed profiling.

My little brother just told me something that pissed me off so bad... Apparently their "sensei" who comes from their little tae-kwon-do classes told my dad and the rest of my family that because of three of the breeds (and species) [German Shepherd Dog, Rottweiler, Chow Chow, and a low percentage wolf] my two dogs are mixed with, that one day they'd turn on our family and attack us. He's apparently knowledgable, having supposedly (brother said) imported a GSD straight from Germany from a "straight Schutzhund line".

Now, my two mixes are protective of the family, and certainly out of our four dogs, these two have the most even temperament regarding our family. They haven't snapped at us, or instigated fights. Hell, they don't even piss in the house. My dogs are loyal to the family. They may not be the friendliest to random people, but love you once they get to know you. You have to build trust with your dog, regardless of the breed.

I HATEHATEHATE the bias people have towards these dogs. Sure, they aren't for everyone, but just because there aren't enough people out their who can handle dogs properly, let alone responsibly doesn't mean everyone is like that. No wonder we have the media on our breeds... Not only is there a surplus of shitty owners, there are also snots like the aforementioned family friend who have to spread incorrect notions about the breed around, claiming to KNOW the outcome of living with such "vicious" breeds. This guy's an asshole.

Leave some breed-specific labels people have slapped on your dog before - I can't resist listening to idiots pretend to know what they're doing and get crazy on the owner.

[picture of my other mix on previous post. He's the above dog's full brother from the same litter! We should explore how unpredictable things can be when people breed mutts.]

You don't need an expensive tool...

To brush your dog. Items like the Furminator are a scam. They cost so much money, and there are so many inexpensive ways to groom your pet. The brush I have costed me three dollars at Wal-Mart, and it took me about five minutes of brushing to do all this:


So, before you go waste money on an expensive grooming tool... realize you don't need to. Just a normal brush will suffice. Expensive stripping and grooming tools really aren't necessary unless you show. I even got down to Aero's undercoat with just this REGULAR brush, and it hardly took any effort. You can go to Petsmart and pick out a topcoat brush and an undercoat rake for about a quarter of the price you'd spend on an item like the Furminator and similar commercial brands.

Idiots at the Park...

This is exactly why I won't bring ANY of my dogs to a park. There are so many irresponsible owners with aggressive dogs that visit, and, more often than not, when their dogs bites and or attacks, the owner refuses to take responsibility for it. Here, we have an example of some psychotic woman trying to justify just WHY she brought an aggressive dog to a park, let him off lead, and when he bit someone, her excuse is that he has "issues". Fuck that, lady. YOU have issues. Be responsible. If you know your dog is uncomfortable around other people and/or dogs, then the dog park nor the public park are not the place for you. If your dog habitually bites you in the vagina and goes after people, it's time to be put to sleep. She says when she "sees people, she tells them to run; the dog bites!" THEN DON'T BRING IT OUT IN PUBLIC!

I once took my Schutzhund pup to a dog park - where some lady promptly let loose some little un-neutered Chihuahua. The dog ran around humping and attacking everything in sight, and she sits there and watches with her kids. Now MY show dog has canine aggression issues - since the day at the park, where he was bitten and harassed by said dog. Thanks to asshole owners, they've potentially screwed over my chance at competing with Donovan (seen at left) - our Schutzhund trainer told us to come back when we worked through his aggression issues (mind you, this is a FIVE MONTH OLD PUPPY who now has behavioral issues. It's been a long, hard haul and he still holds on to the fear that all dogs he sees WILL bite him, so he has a "get them before they get him" mentality). All it takes is ONE negative experience during puppyhood to set up a ticking time bomb. Between ages eight weeks and six months, a puppy should be exposed to all types of activities, people, and dogs. A negative experience in this time frame is likely to come up troublesome at a later date. It's documented that all experiences during this time frame will have an impact on how the dog's behavior is moulded, so anything negative should be dually noted and avoided when raising your puppy.

Please be responsible at the dog park, and when taking your dog to a park in general. If your dog isn't friendly with people or other dogs, it's not the place for you. Go hiking or trail walking, but don't impose your problem on other people. I have a fear-aggressive dog and a human aggressive dog (trained for guardian purposes) that I wouldn't DREAM of bringing to a dog park, because I don't think people there deserve to deal with that kind of bullshit. If I want to take them out, I take them to an isolated park, ON LEAD, and let them play on the soccer field or hike in the local hills. There are other ways of draining your dogs energy, and if your dog isn't good around other people or dogs, it can and WILL cause them a lot of stress, which can exaggerate any behavior your dog is predisposed to.

Here's a good video on how to stay safe at the dog park. Make sure you've got all your doggy manners in a row before visiting the park - be a responsible owner!

Happy Saturday! Now, it's time for me to go back to my warm bed.

WTF.

Again with the APBT. I see SO many of these every day it isn't funny. THAT is NOT a dog, and that's not the way the APBT is supposed to look, or be bred. This dog is massive and fugly, and more than likely, costs an arm and a leg (these guys kind of display them like they're going to take an arm or a leg... literally).

The reason I've featured so many "pit bulls" on my site so frequently is that there's a neverending supply of dumbass breeders whose genitals I would personally like to go Lorena Bobbitt on and feed to said dogs.
Can you even IMAGINE what a hard time these dogs have breathing? Especially in the heat... dead dog, anyone? Collapsed trachea? I'm SO tired of seeing shitty breeders like this. Breed dogs for form and function, not looks! This dog's muzzle is far too broad, which could (and more than likely will) cause them several breathing problems. Take a look at the muzzle of a
standard APBT - still broad, but with length, unlike the dog featured at top.

Directly from their CL ad:

"IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR BIGGG BIGGG AMERICAN PITBULLS LET ME KNOW FOR ME AND MY PARTNER HAVE THE BEST AND BIGGEST PITBULLS PERIOD.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED CALL ME OR EMAIL IS GOOD TO
AMIR 001-480-747-43-02
OR amir_kohandiaran@hotmail.com"

So, there's his e-mail, bash away!

DUMBASS! Maybe someday people will stop breeding shitty dogs... or maybe thats just my wishful thinking.

If you're considering breeding...

Please visit the following link:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=uqYxvlfxvnk

You can follow the series. It really hits home and shows you what is going on in the world of pedigree dogs. In response to the idea of designers/miniatures, this is a good movie on exactly WHY not to breed. It's kind of heartbreaking, seeing what man has created. And W_T_F is with the eugenics idea?

Thanks to Susan Moore for the link.

I'm very busy, and this is just a quickie. I may post later.

My God, is your penis miniature too?

If there's one thing I can't stand, it's Miniature and Teacup breeder. There is NO such thing as a good Mini or Teacup breeder. These dogs are created by breeding undersized, below substandard, more-often-than-not unhealthy dogs. And hell, just for variety, these breeders are known to throw in several other breeds to create the ideal "mini". Many smaller breed dogs are plagued by problems like slipped discs, horrible tooth decay, heart problems, and, shockingly enough, BEHAVIORAL ISSUES. Gasp! Who would have known that throwing a bunch of random breeds together for cutesy-wootsy puppies without any knowledge could go so horribly wrong!

So, congratulations, George and Karen Brausen of Dakota Winds Ranch, you guys are the BYB'er of the day!

Not only do these people pop out more puppies than you can shake a stick at, they also breed fugly grade draft cross horses. But if it's profitable, let's make as many Mini Aussiedoodle puppies as we can and sell them off for a grand... that is, if they have preeeety colours. If they're plain, they're only worth $800. But HEY, look at the sire on the top we have here! Holy shit, I better grab one quick, because the sooner these ones are bought for ungodly prices, the more dogs in shelters who are EXACTLY like him and his offspring will be euthanized. Oh, and the puppies of all dogs on the site "may or may not be used for breeding" depending on circumstances. How about speutering instead? Sound pretty f'in awesome.

These people also breed Mini Saint Bernards. Lord above, give me a break. If they can find something to shrink, they will. Too bad it isn't their gene pool shrinking away. Rather, like many designer breeders, they will come forth and multiply. These types of people have the idea in their head that they're giving people a lifelong companion as well as getting some cash in their own pocket, and its just abhorring. If you're going to try making a decent mix, look for dogs that are compatible and could have an actual purpose. Like the Alaskan Husky, for example. A robust crossbreed with known and controlled ancestry, they're bred for their jobs - not to cost you money. So many miniature breeders over-breed it isn't even funny. There are so many genetic and hereditary problems within the purebred ring, so why is it a good idea to breed something that, more than likely, couldn't even pass a standard OFA test? That is going to cost someone SO much money when they have to bring in their Dakota Sheepdog and when they have to pay thousands for displaysia they inherited from mom, it's no skin off the breeder's nose. It's just a dog, and for fuck's sake, if it makes you money, who cares? Arrogant people piss me off. Poor breeders piss me off. These guys have WAY too many dogs, too many horses, and too little experience in dealing with genetics and the problems miniaturizing dogs causes. But hey, gotta love their reasoning! If I hear one more "hybrid vigor" argument, I'm going to vomit. I agree to an extent; by introducing different alleles in a gene pool, you have a slightly smaller chance of outcrossing negative traits, but with so many ignorant breeders not testing their dogs, harmful genetics are going to surface. Just because a dog is a mutt doesn't make it any less prone to disease.

Here's a very informative page on diseases in dogs:
Genetic Disorders by Breed.


So, having said all that, I'll leave you with a picture of another fugly called the "Ori-Pei" produced by Dakota Winds Ranch. What makes you think it's good to cross a dog that's known for being brachycephalic and prone to tracheal collapse with a breed of dog that is overly sensitive to temperature changes? I doubt the retardation will end. When will people learn that miniatures and teacups are nothing extraordinary, but rather the poor traits of a few breeds all slapped together? *sigh* I guess I'll just never know the appeal. Even the money couldn't lure me into this business. I'd probably be too buried in vet bills.

Thank you, FHOTD!

Well, since the subject of the day IS the American Pit Bull Terrier, let's show you a shitty breeder who doesn't even match up the UKC standard! Their website is called Danger Zone Horses. Not only do they ride like a sack of potatoes trying to jockey a bag of oatmeal into submission, they breed APBTS and horses... Poorly. Pet material, if at all. The bitches look withered and dried up... just look at poor mama.

Dear God... One litter of puppies and her nipples are dragging? I don't think so. How about a bath? They've been invented for a while and it'll endorse your animals better. But wait, don't we all want a dog from a thin, raggedy, dirty mother? Her jowls and skull are too narrow even for the female standard, and she is barrel chested and beyond that, has no muscling that I can see. She's also egg headed... isn't she supposed to be an APBT?




And then there's Lady Brenna. She's cute, but definitely far from standard. The prick ears are adorable, but they're an undesirable trait in APBT's.

"She has had two heat cycles and has not been bred".

Heard of spaying? I hope you're not planning on breeding her *headdesk* until she's had two more; three to be on the safe side.

What's with the pink? I'M BLIND! But hey, the puppies name makes up for it... Shorty Squatty Stubbs. LOL.

Gotti Breeders... Why?

Every reputable breeder in the American Pit Bull Terrier knows what and what not to breed - and unfortunately, some asshats have selectively bred APBTS with overexaggerated traits. On the right, we have a beautiful example of an APBT stud who sticks to the old fashioned regulations - perfect body condition, nicely barreled chest, a suitably-blocky head, and beautiful muscling. I do admit, he has a tad excess cheek muscle, but other than that, he's wonderful. These are the types of APBTS we should be breeding - the ones that stick to the breed standard and don't try to glam things up. He's a beautiful stud, and he's definitely what we need to produce more of.

And then, we have the monstrosity that is the Gotti-lined APBT. These dogs are bred for size - their heads often reach measurements of over 24" around. Imagine squeezing THAT out of your vagina. The dog below looks so stiff it could barely take a shit. But hey, if it can hump, let 'im loose!

These dogs are so far from the standard it's incredible - the UKC states "The American Pit Bull Terrier must be both powerful and agile so actual weight and height are less important than the correct proportion of weight to height. Desirable weight for a mature male in good condition is between 35 and 60 pounds. Desirable weight for a mature female in good condition is between 30 and 50 pounds. Dogs over these weights are not to be penalized unless they are disproportionately massive or rangy." Gotti-lined APBTs regularly reach weights exceeding 110. Can you imagine the BYB'ers that pop these dogs out in masses? I think the only way heads that large are going to come out is through ceasarian.

So let's see - these dogs were bred for sport. Look what Gotti breeders have done - it's almost as if they've created a new breed in their own right, but not in a good way. People are already initimidated enough by the APBT - so why do these people find it necessary to slap on spikes, leather, studs, and chains to a a breed of dog that is even moreso feared because assholes want to breed a big, mean-looking dog? At right, we have a Gotti-lined APBT - a far cry from the stud above. And look, the boy on top doesn't need any "bling" to bring attention to him; he sparkles on his own. It isn't necessary to place more hype on a breed of dog that already gets FAR more negative attention than desired. People fear the STANDARD sized APBT, so how do you think they're going to feel when you're toting around a 120+ lb APBT with a two foot around head on a ten-pound chain with a spiked leather collar? I know that sounded stereotypical, but I've seen it more often than not. I'm denoting the look, as I've met several friendly GL'ed APBTS. But why put more negative hype on the breed?

For comparison, here are a few old-fashioned breeders of APBTs:

This will be edited later. After snooping around the pages a little more, I realized that there were only a few APBTS up to standard on each site.

I will look for more reputable breeders and list them sometime today. Thanks everyone, for pointing stuff out.

I'm always up to learning new things, so if I'm wrong, feel free to correct me. I still have years of studying to do, and the more I learn, the better for me in the long run.



And now, a few Gotti/Razor's Edge breeders:

http://www.calistylepits.com/index.htm
http://www.newenglandgottiline.com/yates-aka-mr-olympia-gotti-line-pitbull-males.html
http://www.homegrownkennels.net/index.htm

Notice the difference in the Gotti/Razors Edge structure as compared to the normal APBT? Oddly enough, most APBT breeders, regardless of whether or not they are reputable, have some pretty lame pages. I think I'd be more pulled in if your page didn't have lame music and glitter and sparkles and whatnot. My brain just can't take it all in at once. But, IMO, I'd go for the dogs that aren't massively mutated through inbreeding/linebreeding and aren't bedecked in spikes and harnesses (unless they're for pulling, of course!).

And you just know with heads that large and bodies that stocky, breathing is going to be a problem. Why not try to breed out health problems rather than try to make some business opportunity out of poorly bred dogs?

I'm a fan of all dogs, regardless of other people's views on them. I believe strong, consistent training is the key to any happy, manageable, healthy dog, and the difference starts with the owner. I'm not writing this post as a bash on the APBT, but I am saying that the breeding of Gotti/Razor's Edge-lined APBTs has pulled the breed down a few notches. The OLD APBT needs to make a comeback and quick - the dogs of tomorrow will no longer be the dogs of today.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!