My dog is kinky

[serijules]

I cant take him anywhere unless I plan on being there for a long time because he attracts so much attention. He loves it though, and if someone doesnt oooh and awww over him he gets his feelings hurt.

I own great danes, and have two of them. I walk them a few times a week (we have an acre fenced yard so the walks are just for a change of pace and obedience practice) I have to say sometimes I really hate walking them. Rather than go through neighborhoods where there are a lot of loose dogs from stupid owners, and a lot of kids playing in yards, etc....I walk them on the service road along side the highway through our town as my house is right on the highway/main street. This causes less distractions from loose dogs/kids and allows me to condition them to cars and traffic...but it gets me a lot of attention too. I have NEVER walked them in my life without at least 2-3 people turning around and coming up the service road to stop me to see the dogs or make lame comments like "wheres the saddle??". As if I haven't heard that 200 times...

Anyhow, the girls LOVE it...I HATE it lol. The whole point of walking them is exercise, you can't get much exercise if you keep stopping. Plus, every time someone stops, I have to work the girls into a sit stay, which is hard because people don't respect or understand my need to keep them under control and not let them just wiggle and go crazy and jump on people, even though they think it is "cool" when they do. I don't. Those are my 150+ pound dogs that I have to live with; I expect them to behave and I expect myself to keep them under control. Walking two danes, as obedient as they are, is a challenge no matter what.

I love my breed and I understand that they are neat and rare in this area so people want to check them out, but I wish they would respect my space when I'm walking them. It isn't an invitation to come and pet my dogs :/ I've gotten to the point where I just have to be rude and keep walking and say "sorry, can't stop!" and keep going because otherwise a 30 minute walk would take 2 hours.

 

[Seduce]

Heh... you must really despise me for my choice of pet then....

I think you missed my point, I dont despise you

Pyirenees are nothing like Tibetan Mastiffs, and I wanted to say that some breeds are just not made to be pets, however the breeders may proclaim them to be and owners want them to be.

In fact I was refering to another breed, but was not sure you would know about it. It is a sheep watch dog (not the gathering kind but really the one that watches over and protectes from wolves) called in my language Sharplaninac and coming originally from Macedonia.

Those dogs were breeded in masses and made larger and larger to look like some huge teddy bear, but in the process they developed all sort of bone and other deformities because they were not meant to be so huge.
All just because they became popular and everyone wanted to have them as a pet, even those that coudnt provide them with exercise and all that breed really needs.

I do hope you agree with me that Irish Wolfhound is not a good breed for someone living in one room apartmant and not having more than half of hour daily to walk a dog........ but Chihuahua may be?

And I wouldnt recommend Komodor if you are not completely sure you know how to behave with them.
I used to have Tornjak (still waiting to be approved by FCI) psyhically much alike Komodors and I may tell you, however wonderful dogs they are, they are not easy to handle.

 

[DustyWolfe]

I think you missed my point, I dont despise you

Pyirenees are nothing like Tibetan Mastiffs, and I wanted to say that some breeds are just not made to be pets, however the breeders may proclaim them to be and owners want them to be.

In fact I was refering to another breed, but was not sure you would know about it. It is a sheep watch dog (not the gathering kind but really the one that watches over and protectes from wolves) called in my language Sharplaninac and coming originally from Macedonia.

Those dogs were breeded in masses and made larger and larger to look like some huge teddy bear, but in the process they developed all sort of bone and other deformities because they were not meant to be so huge.
All just because they became popular and everyone wanted to have them as a pet, even those that coudnt provide them with exercise and all that breed really needs.

I do hope you agree with me that Irish Wolfhound is not a good breed for someone living in one room apartmant and not having more than half of hour daily to walk a dog........ but Chihuahua may be?

And I wouldnt recommend Komodor if you are not completely sure you know how to behave with them.
I used to have Tornjak (still waiting to be approved by FCI) psyhically much alike Komodors and I may tell you, however wonderful dogs they are, they are not easy to handle.

Actually I was joking for the most part, though some people do think I'm crazy for having a Pyrenees as a house pet. But actually, the Great Pyrenees isn't a herding dog. They do the same things as Tibetan Mastiffs, Kuvasz, Maremma, Akbash, etc. They all serve the purpose of the protecting the flocks from wolves.

Sharplaninac do look ALOT like a Tibetan Mastiff. Do they have the same personality? That's horrible what they did the Sharplaninac, sounds like the ruined the breed in order to make more money off of them. That really saddens me. That ranks right up there with Midget Cats, which I think is cruel. Breeding them down to have short legs so they cant climb and get on furniture. That's part of their instinct! Grrrr

Yeah, I cant imagine having a wolfhound in an apartment. I couldnt imagine having Sam in an apartment. It just would not work out.... I think the only large breed that would work in an apartment would be a greyhound.

I remember reading that Komondors are very stubborn/willful and therefore extremely difficult to train.

I really do wish that people would do research on a breed before adopting/buying. So many dogs end up in the pound or being mistreated because people dont know what they are getting into ahead of time. Knowing about a breed is another big part of responsible pet ownership.

 

[sunfox]

Komondors are so odd, pretty but odd. I wonder how you groom them ...

What kind of dogs do you breed/show?

You keep Komondors clean, and the coat starts to cord on its own at about a year of age. From there, you just break the mats up so that they are no bigger around than your finger, and let them grow out, keeping them clean. The breeder said it is a bit of work, but I'm at home when I'm not training/showing, so it's not a chore for me to spend time grooming a hairball.

I love all dogs, and generally don't get the same breed after I've lost one to old age, until I've had time to get over missing that dog... I am always afraid of comparing the new one to the lost dog.

Currently, my show prospect is a young red Doberman Pinscher male from a working breeder a few hours from my house. I own a retired German Shepherd dog who was imported from Germany.. he was a Schutzhund dog and obedience dog for a number of years, and and now busies himself keeping the peace around the house with our four dogs, and herding our horses. (read: Making himself an annoyance to the horses, who largely ignore him.)

My dobe will be the next Schutzhund dog, most likely, but I won't be disappointed if we end up just doing obedience and agility, with a bit of SAR work thrown in there for variety. He's a bright boy.

 

[sunfox]

Seduce,

I was the one who had been considering a Komondor.. I'm thinking you thought Dusty had? I've owned and trained a number of flock guardian breeds over the years.. it wouldn't have been my first. In fact, my first was a Tibetan Mastiff originally imported from Tibet.. a beautiful, and extremely difficult, protective and aloof dog.

They are infinitely not for everyone, but I enjoy them... of course, I've also been a professional trainer for over ten years, so they're not much of a handful for me. They're a challenge, and bright.. stubborn, and independent, and fabulous for me, since I live on an eighty acre farm. I opted for another doberman because I was ready for one again, and I was looking for a new obedience dog for demos during classes... Komondorok are not the best option for that. *laughs* I had intended to show the Komondor, but in the new house with all our mud.. not a good plan. So we'll wait a while.

I wish some of the breeders of the flock guardian breeds would be as particular as the breeder I was going through was.. those are breeds not suited for the average owner or living situation, and it's always worrisome to me to see them in a casual owner's hand. So many breeders only care about the money.

 

[serijules]

So many breeders only care about the money.

I agree, when I purchase a dog from a breeder, if they don't grill me until the sun goes down, I walk away myself. I want a breeder that truly cares where their puppies go. The money is the last thing we talk about.

With my rescued pregnant dane and her litter, I had to place 4 of the puppies. It was the hardest thing I've ever done, finding homes that really were truthworthy and could handle a dane. Nice people don't always make good pet owners, and for the most part I did an OK job placing them, but in hindsight now, if I knew now what I did then, I wouldn't have placed two of them with the owners I did. They take good care of them and keep in touch with me (my contract required it) but they have some troubles with the dogs due to not being honest with me about what they could handle and what they were capable of. Nothing drastic, but not a choice I'd make again. Not that I ever had any interest in breeding, but after that experience, I certainly wouldn't want to go through that again. I worry about those puppies every single day. Thank god there were only 5 lol.

As a groomer, I see people every day with breeds completely not suited to them. My 'heart breeds' are corgis and danes. I know tons of people with corgis that claim they are nasty, hyper, etc...but expect them to be apartment or house dogs. If I was a herding breed and forced to be a housedog, I'd be nasty to, heh. My corgi is a working dog and a house pet, and he's the most well adjusted dog I've ever owned.

 

[Seduce]

Sharplaninac do look ALOT like a Tibetan Mastiff. Do they have the same personality? That's horrible what they did the Sharplaninac, sounds like the ruined the breed in order to make more money off of them. That really saddens me. That ranks right up there with Midget Cats, which I think is cruel. Breeding them down to have short legs so they cant climb and get on furniture. That's part of their instinct! Grrrr

I never really owned Sharplaninac, except for one puppy. I had her for only a short time unfortunatelly, and she was fresh from mountains and very untamed. Took me almost two days of patience just to get her stop growling at me and she got uder my bed and wouldnt get out. But she was lovely once she gained trust in me...... I am too sad I had to give her away
As much as I know they are quite similar to Tibetans.

What they did to that lovely breed is really horrible. They just selected for their appereance and didnt care one little bit for character, and not only that we now have sadly deformed dogs but also very mentaly unreliable ones.
In my opinion it is a crime.

Seduce,

I was the one who had been considering a Komondor.. I'm thinking you thought Dusty had? I've owned and trained a number of flock guardian breeds over the years.. it wouldn't have been my first. In fact, my first was a Tibetan Mastiff originally imported from Tibet.. a beautiful, and extremely difficult, protective and aloof dog.

They are infinitely not for everyone, but I enjoy them... of course, I've also been a professional trainer for over ten years, so they're not much of a handful for me. They're a challenge, and bright.. stubborn, and independent, and fabulous for me, since I live on an eighty acre farm. I opted for another doberman because I was ready for one again, and I was looking for a new obedience dog for demos during classes... Komondorok are not the best option for that. *laughs* I had intended to show the Komondor, but in the new house with all our mud.. not a good plan. So we'll wait a while.

I wish some of the breeders of the flock guardian breeds would be as particular as the breeder I was going through was.. those are breeds not suited for the average owner or living situation, and it's always worrisome to me to see them in a casual owner's hand. So many breeders only care about the money.

I know it was you, I was just too lazy to copy right ....... sorry

I cannot say I am very familiar with Tibetan Mastiff, except from what I found in books, but for years I had another breed whos ancestor is Tibetan - I am speaking of Tornjak.
I was never really a breeder and just owned dogs for my purposes, but a friend of mine is actually still breeding them.

They are very much what you say about Tibetans, extremely difficult but wonderful dogs. Still I can see some people tend to make them into something they are not. I was very sad to observe the man who should be one of the leading breeders holding one of his puppies that was shaking with fear....... something a true Tornjak should never do however young it may be.
I even heard that the same man was mixing them with Kuvasz to improve their head proportions...... something really ridicolous for the breed that exists for 2000 years untouched.
Etc. etc. etc....... I could write stories about things I saw and heard, but I am just getting angry and there is no use.

My beautiful and loyal Mitra is gone and I am not part of that kennel world anymore..... I will get another dog from my frined as soon as I can (her first dogs were his brother and sisters so I can get the same blood), but I am never going to dog shows or breed again.
Some people are just beyond words......

 

[sunfox]

Arctic-stranger:

Siberian huskies are a breed, and have been for a very long time. -Alaskan- huskies are a mix, though as you said, they're becoming recognized, though I think that quite a bit of outcrossing still goes on to preserve type.

serijules:

I completely agree.. we haven't bred up to this point because I have trouble settling on a breed since breeding my favorite breed, dobermans, is not really in the cards for me. (I think C realizes we'd soon have hundreds of dobermans, because I could never sell one. ) But when we do (bull terriers is our plan.. we have a breeder lined up for a few years off, when my child is big enough to be more safely bumped around by the muscular buggers), we'll have probably an eight page contract for our puppy buyers. My dobe's breeder had a six page one for show/work prospects, and I talk to her nearly every day through email, along with every other owner of one of her pups.. we're in a email group. I appreciate that kind of support, and think all reputable breeders should try to stay in touch somehow or another.

Seduce:

I love large, protective breeds.. they have so much to offer someone with the time and patience to socialize them and raise them properly. They can be a difficult type of dog to have.. most people want dogs that will play with friends that come by, and a lot of the guardian breeds and mastiff breeds simply don't have that temperament.. they are not the kind of dogs that will make up to people that don't live in the house with them.

It's very sad to me to see cases like the one with the presa canario dogs in California that were set on a woman in an apartment building (first of all, what in the hell made the owners think it wasn't cruel to keep them in an apartment? Ugh.) and killed her. That kind of bad ownership leads to the sort of bad press that the bully breeds have, and that saddens me.. I've owned two 'pit bulls'.. one AmStaff, and the other an American Pit Bull Terrier, and they were sweet, intelligent, patient dogs that were excellent with children. Now, if I'd left them on a chain, or beat them, or injected them with drugs, or starved them.. of course they would have bitten me or someone else. I would bite someone too if they treated me that way.

The law just doesn't punish the people.. it only targets the dogs, and they're as much victims as the people bitten by the poor fearful things.