Popular RSSMon, 24 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMTThis magnificent protection breed was developed by Dominick Donovan of the New Jersey based Donovan K-9 Training And Breeding Facilities, reportedly from established working dogs such as the Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherd, American Pit Bull Terrier, German Shepherd, Japanese Tosa, English Mastiff, American Bulldog, Neapolitan Mastiff, Rottweiler, Bullmastiff, Fila Brasiliero, Akita, Presa Canario, Cane Corso, Bandog and others. Intended to be a superiour working canine in comparison to its parent components, the Donovan Pinscher is a tenacious and energetic service dog, combining high prey-drive and gameness of its bully heritage with the intelligence and trainabilty of traditional herding and guarding breeds. This powerful worker is an excellent property guardian, but due to its highly protective and territorial nature, as well as somewhat unfriendly attitude towards strange dogs, the Donovan Pinscher is best suited for experienced and responsible owners.Like most working dogs, when trained and handled properly, this mighty Molosser could make an amenable family companion, but the Donovan Pinscher is a very serious and driven breed and there aren't many specimens found as pets, if any at all. The Donovan Pinscher is an ideal candidate for competing in sports such as Schutzhund, Agility, French Ring, KNPV and so on, but this breed seems destined to become the next favorite "Super Dog" of Police Departments worldwide. Strong, muscular and athletic, the Donovan Pinscher is bred to a fairly consistent type and the future will surely bring proper standardization and possible recognition for the breed. Most working specimens have their ears and tails cropped.The coat is short, dense and flat, commonly seen in shades of fawn, tan and brindle. Average height is around 24 inches.... Read more

]]>Mon, 24 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMTThe Serbian Defense Dog is a re-creation of the old Serbian Mastiff of the Middle Ages, which became extinct during the early 20th century. Initially disregarded as yet another "cocktail" breed, the SDD is today deservedly a well-known and respected guardian in its native Yugoslavia. It was developed by Nenad Gavrilovic, a Bosnian herbalist and medicine man in the early 1980's, but the final standard was written in 1991. Using his domesticated pack of Serbian wolves, working Bosnian Tornjaks, German Rottweilers, Neapolitan Mastiffs, American Staffordshire Terriers and game-bred Pit Bull Terriers, Gavrilovic created a breed of immense physical strength, fantastic guarding instincts and impressive fighting abilities. Even though it wasn't created with the intention of being a gladiator, the Serbian Defense Dog has achieved legendary status in the dog-fighting circles for being an undefeatable canine warrior. Initial stock was indeed tested in a traditional method of matching potential stud dogs against a number of breeds, but once the bravest and strongest examples were selected for further breeding, no further competitions were held. However, the notoriety of early SOPs as excellent fighters made the breed popular with the criminal element in the Balkans, in whose grip the breed received not only some additional blood of other breeds, but also somewhat of a bad name. Routinely defeating even the most tenacious Pit-Bulls and other fighting breeds, it is believed by many to be unfair matching the Srpski Odbrambeni Pas against any dogs other than members of its own breed, but some fanciers consider this ability to actually be a detractor from other qualities the breed possesses, because the Serbian Defense Dog is a versatile Molosser, capable of handling a great number of duties with ease, as well as being a wonderful urban companion for reponsible owners.This Serbian breed was moderately popular before becoming very rare thanks to the Yugoslavian wars in the 1990's, bu... Read more

]]>Mon, 24 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMTAnother breed bearing a rather misleading name, the Bandog is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. The name Bandogge was used in the past as a synonym for the English Mastiff in Britain, as well as to describe any large dog that was tied down, probably coming from a Saxon word "banda", meaning "chain". So, by definition, the Tibetan Do-Kyi could be considered a bandog, as its name means the same thing. The bandogs of old were strictly working crossdogs of various sizes and usually coarse-haired hunters, fighters and property protectors without a strictly set type, developed from eastern shepherds and mastiffs crossed with western bullenbeissers and hounds, with a few local bloodlines eventually being established as specific types in some regions, such as Britain, Spain, Germany, Italy, Poland and elsewhere in Europe. Apart from the English Mastiff, Alano Espanol, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Neapolitan Mastiff, Cane Corso and many other working dogs of common bandog type which eventually evolved into bona fide breeds, we mustn't forget that one of the most famous bandogge programmes in England directly led to the establishment of an immensely popular and fully recognized British breed, today known as the Bullmastiff. A great number of local bandogge strains have survived worldwide and these working crosses still exist under a variety of names, but the modern type commonly accepted as the American-style Bandogge today was developed, or rather "dreamed up" in the 1960's by an American veterinarian John Swinford, who set out to create a property guardian dog superiour to all others by crossing English Bullerriers and American Pit Bull Terriers with English Mastiffs and Neapolitan Mastiffs. While Swinford himself failed in his attempt to establish a worthwhile product, his legacy, for better or worse, has inspired legions of experimenters who have produced their own bandogge varieties, with some even going as far as referring to their dogs as "Swinfords" even though ... Read more

]]>Mon, 24 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMT Not to be confused with the Catahoula Bullterrier, the Catahoula Pit Bull Dog was originally developed in the late 1800's from Irish, English and American fighting and hunting dogs, but it became virtually extinct until it was revived in the 1980's by a number of enthusiasts in Louisiana who crossed their working Catahoula Leopard Dogs with the early American Pit Bull Terrier. It can be argued that the Catahoula Pit Bull is much closer to the original Catahoula Bull Terrier than the modern breed bearing this name. Very powerful and agile, this bulldogge also makes an excellent all-around hunting dog, owing its hound skills to the Catahoula Leopard Dog blood and its terrier tenacity and prey drive to its bully heritage. However, due to the common matings between this breed and the APBT, as well as the American Bulldog and the Catahoula leopard Dog, there are only a handful of true Catahoula Pit Bull Dogs left in existence today. A capable property guardian, the Catahoula Pit Bull can also make an agreeable family dog, gentle with children and devoted to its master, but its main role is that of a hunting dog, primarily used for hog hunting. Because of its extreme dog-aggression and strong-headed nature, it requires careful handling and proper socialization. Its short, flat coat comes in many colors, but various types of brindles and merles are preferred. The average height is around 22 inches.

]]>Mon, 24 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMT(Persian Mastiff, Persian Shepherd, Iranian Mastiff) The Persian Sarabi dog is also known as Persian Mastiff, Persian Shepherd, and Iranian Mastiff is a breed of livestock guardian dog indigenous to the north of Iran. It has been used for centuries by Iranian shepherds to guard sheep against wolves, bears, jackals and other animals. The Persian Sarabi Dogs are some of the most powerful dogs in the world. The Persian Sarabi dog (Persian Mastiff or Persian Shepherd) has a solid and muscular build, they have thick necks, broad heads, and sturdy bodies. They're bred to tolerate harsh conditions, less food, and bad weather. The Persian Mastiff is rather well lived averaging 12–17 years. The under-layer provides insulation against both severe winters and the fierce summer sun, while the outer-layer repels water and snow. This combination of the coat allows it to regulate its core temperature more efficiently, while the coat is dense enough to repel rupture from wolf and bear bites. The coat is pale fawn or Grey or tan color with varying amounts of sable guard hairs. This dog has a black facial mask and black or shaded ears.it possesses size, good bone, a well-muscled torso with a strong head. Neck slightly arched, powerful, and muscular, moderate in length with more skin and fur than elsewhere on the body. Body well proportioned, functional, without exaggeration. Never fat or soft. The Eyes are medium size, set apart, almond-shaped and dark brown to light amber in color. The Persian mastiff has two kinds of hair, Long hair and Shorthair. The Sarabi dog's appearance is close to Kangal because the place of these dogs is so close but there are some differences between these two breeds of dog. There are some rare Sarabi dogs that all of their body is black. The Persian shepherd has a strong jaw and sharp teeth with a terrifying bite. The Persian Mastiff is loyal, rugged, powerful, protective and impressive, possessing great endurance and agility. A well-trained Persian S... Read more

]]>Mon, 24 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMTConsidered un-pure and inferiour by the Sarplaninac authorities, as well as by traditional Serbian and Macedonian breeders, the Albanian Qen Sharri is commonly found in the northern part of the country close to the Yugoslavian border, near and in the Shara mountain range. However, even though the name may imply Albania as the home country, the majority of the population of the so-called Albanian Shara Mountain Dog "breed" is actually found in the southern parts of Serbia (now the independent country of Kosovo), where the original incarnation was established through matings between Albanian Cattledogs and Albanian Sheepdogs with the existing Sarplaninec population, but maintained as a separate breed for many decades from all other local types by the ethnic Albanian residents of Kosovo. These large, strong reddish-brown dogs with white chests, legs and muzzles could still be encountered in Kosovo until the mid-1990's, but there aren't many left today, due to the assimilation in the new creation commonly referred to as the Deltari Ilir, better known as the Albanian Sharplaninatz.Practically non-existent in Albania, the so-called Deltari Ilir is still most numerous in Kosovo, but thanks to the great popularity of organized dog fights, many specimens can also be seen outside of its designated home region, mostly in other parts of Serbia, as well as in Montenegro and Macedonia. Some Yugoslavian Sarplaninac fanciers speculate that a number of Albanian dogs have been crossed into many show and working Sarplaninac strains, due to the size, strength, prey-drive and tenacity of Albanian fighting lines, with detrimental consequences for the pure Sarplaninac breed, resulting in uncharacteristic colourings and temperaments occasionally seen within the modern Sarplaninac population. On the other side of the issue, most Albanians consider the Yugoslavian Sarplaninac to be an Albanian breed anyway, disregarding any concern that Serbian or Macedonian Sarplaninac breeders might have, ... Read more

]]>Mon, 24 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMTThis was an immensely popular working strain of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed, developed in Ireland during the 19th century. Whereas the English dogs were primarily fighters and vermin killers, the Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier was also used to hunt wild hogs, badgers, foxes and other game. Taller and more athletic compared to its small English cousins, the breed was highly valued as a tenacious fighting dog, known for its superiour gameness. Although it is directly descended from the Irish Bulldog and the original Staffordshire Pit Terrier, this breed was also influenced by the Scottish Blue Paul, English White Terrier and the English Bullterrier, as well as various local hunting and fighting terriers. The Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier was one of the key progenitors of the American Pit Bull Terrier and is believed to had been influential in some bloodlines of early American Bulldogs as well. The breed had remained more or less unchanged for 200 years, even though Irish strains of gamebred English Bullterriers and small hunting sighthound/terrier crosses have been introduced into the working lines periodically to maintain drive and health. Sometimes referred to as "Old type" or "Sporting" Staffordshire Bull Terrier, this legendary Irish gladiator is fairly rare today, but it isn't extinct, as some believe. It is still bred and used for its traditional duties, both in its native land and worldwide. In recent years, some American Pit Bull Terrier blood is believed to had found its way back into the ISBT gene pool, bringing these two breeds even closer together. Some consider these dogs to be either actual APBTs given an Irish name designed to protect them from harsh BSL bans in the United Kingdom or simply non-standard Staffordshire Bull Terriers, but in reality the Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier is both and neither at the same time, because the APBT is basically its refined version from the United States and the modern Staffordshire Bull Terrier of En... Read more

]]>Mon, 24 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMT  Caucasian Shepherd Dog Located between the Black Sea on the West and the Caspian Sea on the East, the Kavkaz (Caucasus) mountain range of Eastern Europe represents a true melting pot of various cultures due to a number of nations calling it their home through the ages. Today these influences are still strong and a rich source of cultural wealth of the region, as well as numerous political conflicts. Encompassing the territories of Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Daghestan, Ossetia, Turkey, Chechnia, Ingushetia and Iran, the Caucasus mountains are also home to one of the oldest living Molossers, the magnificent Caucasian Shepherd Dog. In reality the term "Caucasian Dog" should stand for a group of breeds and not for a single breed or a favored variant. There is a great variety of types among the Caucasian dogs depending on their home region, but due to the ignorance of many Westerners and strong national appetite of Russian and pro-Russian dog fanciers worldwide, a single type bearing a misleading name is being favored in the show rings and literature, at the expense of truth and other breed variants. The exotic-sounding misnomer "Ovcharka" is very popular in the West, thanks to the efforts of the Russian Kennel Club, even though it simply translates to "Sheepdog, Shepherd or Shepherd Dog", making it very unpopular and often insulting among the non-Russian Kavkaz nationals and dog enthusiasts, not only because of the Russian name, but also for the fact that this really isn't a typical sheepdog, since it is neither a herding dog nor a shepherd's companion, but strictly a guardian/protection animal. Considered a Russian breed, the Caucasian Ovtcharka is part of the Troika, a threesome of recognized Russian sheepdogs, the other two being the bearded South-Russian Sheepdog and the somewhat controversial Central Asian Shepherd Dog.   In order to understand the issues concerning the Caucasian Shepherd Dog, a short historic overview is in order. Alt... Read more

]]>Mon, 24 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMTSarplaninac is a breed of Antiquity, believed by many to be one of, if not the oldest true Molosser in the World. There\'s an old Balkan folk legend that says the breed remembers the time when everything used to be under water except for the highest mountains, implying the connection to the Biblical flood, but more likely referring historically to the period when the entire region was covered by the Pannonian Sea. The Sarplaninac (pronounced Shar-Pla-Nee-Natz) is a close relative of all Balkan dogs, from Slovenia to Greece, as well as the Caucasian, Turkish and Central Asian sheepdogs. It is the Balkans where Molossers come from, having spread on all sides of the world thousands of years ago, influencing the establishment of most modern mastiff and shepherd dog breeds, leading some to conclude that the Sarplaninec is the oldest dog of this type. This breed is most commonly associated with the Sharplanina region of Southern Serbia and Northern Macedonia, which is how it got its name. However, the famous Shara is only a single mountain in the Balkans, while the dogs classified as Sarplaninci can be found in many other regions of Macedonia and Serbia, such as the mountains of Korab, Stogovo, Bistra, Jablanica, Pelister and elsewhere, lending credence to the claims that even the popular and currently official name is rather misleading and not completely respectful. Many believe that this had been the famous palace dog of Alexander the Great, while the Skilos tou Alexandrou was one of his war dogs, but chances are that it was a specific mild-mannered type of the Sarplaninac known as Zlatan that served as the great conqueror's pet, seeing how all but one variety of the breed have traditionally been very dominant and ferocious workers. Prior to the Turkish conquest of the area, all of the shepherd dogs of the Balkans were known under the somewhat romantic name of "Illyrian Mountain Dog", distinguishable as regional Molosser types, rather than actual breeds. However, thes... Read more

]]>Mon, 24 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMTThis lovely companion dog was developed by crossing the smaller specimens of the Bullmastiff breed with the English Bulldog and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Intended to be a re-creation of the old British working guardian crosses which eventually resulted in the modern Bullmastiff breed, this medium-sized bully is similar in shape and size to some Olde English Bulldogge specimens. The Miniature Bullmastiff is a misnomer, because this bandog is not a toy breed at all. This is a very agile and athletic dog, squarely built, well-boned and muscular. Healthy, smart and playful, it makes a good family pet. Generally friendly and even-tempered, the Miniature Bullmastiff can sometimes be confrontational around other dogs. The short coat is flat, dense and smooth, valued in solid fawn shades, but common in a variety of colourings. Specimens under 20 inches are preferred and the average height is around 17 inches at the withers.

]]>Mon, 24 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMTThe largest of the original English Bulldogge re-creations, the Hermes Bulldogge has been bred by the American Hermes family for three generations. Inspired by the ancient Roman arena dogs, Greg and Linda Hermes set out to breed their impressive giants to be healthy, resilient, smart and agile, in an attempt to revive the old bulldogs of the 17th century. A number of undisclosed breeds were used in the programme, although American Bulldogs, English Mastiffs, Pit Bull Terriers and Olde English Bulldogges have been suggested as the key ingredients. The Hermes Bulldogge is generally a friendly, playful and even-tempered breed, suitable for life of a family companion, while being territorial enough to act as a good property guardian and retaining a strong prey-drive, reportedly making it a fine hunting dog as well. This massive breed has a large head, wide chest and a strongly boned body, with sturdy legs and broad shoulders. The tail can be docked, but the ears are left unaltered. The mighty Hermes Bulldogge comes in a variety of colours and there is no upper height limit. They can reach over 140 pounds in weight and over 25 inches in height.

]]>Mon, 24 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMTBelieved by some to be just an Irish strain of old English bulldogges, the Irish Bulldog is one of the oldest bullenbeisser breeds and the ancestor of many modern dogs of this type. Originally a hunter, guardian and all-around farm dog, it was also used to control rowdy cattle and later as a baiting contestant, as well as a successful fighting dog. Unlike most "sport" dogs of its kind, the Irish Bulldog reportedly contained no terrier blood and is oftentimes claimed by its admirers to be THE original bulldog of Britain from which all others developed, but even though it has been celebrated for its supposed purity, this rare bulldog did receive some outside influences throughout its history, mostly from local Irish hunting terriers and fighting bulldogges from England and Scotland, aimed at both improving its working ability and increasing the gene pool. During the heyday of dog-fighting, the few Irish Bulldogge lines which were maintained pure lost favour in the "sport" circles since they simply couldn't compete with the increasingly popular game terrier crosses and eventually became extinct, while the breed as a whole slowly became assimilated into the Irish bull-terrier population, from which the Irish Staffordshire Bullterrier breed was later established. Even though it has long been considered extinct, the Irish Bulldog's name is still occasionally used for certain Irish strains of Staffies and Pit Bulls, and there are even some breeders who claim to have the original Irish Bulldog lines, but this is oftentimes simply a marketing ploy. On the other hand, many are convinced that the mighty Irish Bulldog can still be found in its homeland and that it didn't disappear during the World Wars at all. The legendary Irish Bulldog is said to be the original "red-nosed bulldogge", a bearer of a physical characteristic that was influential in the creation of the famous Dudley Terrier and presently valued in some strains of the modern American Pit B... Read more

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