Aleksa, your information is almost the same I heard from Central Asian region. Especially about buying the real wolf-killing dog - it was (and in many places still is) next to impossible, they are priceless. Now, let us consider the value of those dogs, and the fact, that at that times winner's trofey was usually a sheep, or something of similar value. Who will risk to injure the dog, which can save hundred sheep, to get one more sheep? That was the first thing which make me doubt, that old-time tournaments were really competition between best shepherd dogs, and that they are connected with the ability to fight predators. More likely not experienced, younger dogs were used for this fights, and it was pure entertainment rather then testing. It was in the times, when real testing was done by real wolfs. And I have all reasons to believe words of one guy from Tagjikistan, that most fighting dogs are from the villages, not from the pastures. LGDs are multipurpose dogs, amd there are as many of them guarding houses, as guarding sheep on the mountain pastures.