lefty's random dog thread. - Page 6

Tell me about it. I lost two great Tosas to bloat.

Frankly, I have serious misgivings about the health of dogs in general, and the cost of veterinary medicine has escalated so frightfully in recent years that it has been a major reason why I have not gotten another dog.

I get a very dark feeling whenever I go by a veterinary clinic. I don't see them as centers of health, healing and wellness for dogs--I just see them as money-gouging death houses. It's not fair or rational, I know, but nonetheless, that's just the way I feel.

Actually more closely related to cats than dogs. I have been told that they make extremely devoted pets. The downside to them is that they have positively enormous appetites. Gunwriter/adventurer Jack Lott told me that you can feed a lion for the same cost as a hyena. I seem to recall that the ancient Egyptians tried domesticating them.

When it comes to genetic freaks, what are your thoughts on the Carolina Dog? That seems to be about as "natural" a dog as one can find. A woman in my neighborhood is into primitive dogs and has a dingo (although she admits her dingo may not be "pure"). She told me that a neighbor had a Carolina Dog and it seemed much more "doggy" than her dingo. I suppose the very "primitiveness" of primitive or natural dogs--genetic shyness, fear of unfamiliar situations, predaciousness, etc.--tends diminish their appeal as household companion dogs. However, you can find a lot of mixed-breed dogs at most pounds, I suspect, that closely resembled the primitive/pariah I dog. I fear, however, that many of them carry the same screwed up genes as many pure-breds.

Agree about mixed breed vitality. I would say the same about mixed-breed intelligence (or trainability, anyway, if that's not the same). I participated in a lot companion obedience work with my dogs--basic stuff and referesher courses. I always felt a lot of formal obedience work was a very good way to maintain a right relationship with a high dominance/high aggression potential dog like a Tosa. These were local classes, conducted on contract with various municipalities, and there were plenty of mixed breeds in the classes. I took maybe 20 of these classes in all with three of my Tosas. In only one of those classes was a mixed breed the top dog. As a matter of note, the German Shepherds in those classes were very unimpressive--far inferior to my Tosas. I think they were all American show-pet lines. I suspect those who got Sheps from serious working bloodlines probably gave them much more intensive training than was available in these local classes.

I don't recall having seen a Carolina Dog. I haven't frequented any ARBA shows, the most likely venue for seeing one, in a good many years.

quite amazing to see that, and it does make me smile.. allthough the dogs spine and hips should get into problems with that posture, but I guess as long as the dog is still having a good life..

I am a fan of Akitas, and am looking forward to owning one. I know Akitas can be dog aggressive but they usually have a respect for dogs of equal or larger size.


I've heard of the Hyenas appetite as well, it is a monstrous thing. I wonder exactly how much it would cost to feed one a day.

I remember the first time I saw the Belgian Malinois vid. My jaw literally dropped. It is a truly deceptive dog. When they do pair work its even more amazing.

Regarding the disparity between the more gracile Japanese Akita and the bulkier American version of the breed, I have heard the story that that some Japanese tried mixing Akitas with Tosas to improve the fighting qualities of the Akita while preserve an essentially Akita-like dog. As it turned out, the Akita-Tosa crosses were non-competitive with the Tosa in the octagon, and many of these Akita mixes were fobbed off on American servicemen who wanted Akitas, and that's why the American Akitas tend to have broader skulls, wrinkle, etc. As I recall, Semencic tells this story in one of his books.

However, I can't help suspecting that the disparity is more the result of American show breeders' obsession with size and "bone." I have never understood this "bone" business. If the dog has an adequate skeletal structure without weakness or deformity, why does the line need more "bone"? I note that the breeders of ADBA performance dogs don't seem to worry any about "bone."

on that note, any thoughts on the german shepherd dog? http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/images17...jak5months.jpg vs http://www.pioneergermanshepherds.com/greta.jpg notice the roach back of the current breed type?

elaborate please i am seriously considering getting one