It is my belife that in the days that the night dogs were being used, little else was know about canine pshycology. Therefore physical abuse was the resort that was taken. We have dogs today that perform a much higher level than the dogs old ever did. We have learned so much about canine behavior since the dark ages. Guard dogs of the days of old were simply put out into a large estates or plantations, and left to guard. Military dogs that perform under unimaginable stress, are never beaten nor are police dogs. In the old days for one to own a mastiff it had to be hobbled for public safety. Hobbled by cutting off all but a few toes. This is a testament to both the training capacity of individuals, and the idiocracy of lawmakers. We know so much more now than we did then. Beating a dog or abusing one mentally. Will do nothing more than create a unstable and potentially dangerous animal. I can introduce you to many dogs that were showered with nothing but love. Dogs that have never seen a PP trainer, yet will eat the arms off of anyone that would dare oppose their owners.