The Bankhar dog (Buryat: Hotosho, Mongolian: Bankhar, Russian: Бурят-монгольский волкодав), is a landrace livestock guarding dog. Originally bred by the Buryat people, their success contributed to their spread across Buryatia and Mongolia and into adjacent regions before they were nearly annihilated in the mid-20th Century. Bankhar dogs are prized for their intellect and perseverance even in hostile weather conditions. They are loyal and affectionate with their families, but formidable against intruders, including humans, wolves, eagles and snow leopards.
While undoubtedly an ancient breed, genetic analysis indicates that the Bankhar dog is a basal breed and may be the progenitor of all livestock guardian dogs. Buryat legend states that the breed appeared as a huge ferocious dog that accompanied a giant descending from the mountains. The descendants of this dog are the Bankhar dog. Bankhar dogs are alleged to have participate in the raids of Genghis Khan, instilling fear in people and helping to capture villages and cities.
Marco Polo was so impressed with the Bankhar dog that he brought one back home to Venice. Erich Von Salzmann describes this shepherd as a big, beautiful dog similar in size to a German Shepherd. It has a dark coat and is very fierce; the Buryat-Mongolian Shepherd attacks strangers mercilessly. Wilhelm Filchner gives an interesting account of a wild, big dog-monster the size of a bear. Children can play with these sensitive dogs, but these same dogs are not afraid of wolves and bears.
The only native breed of Mongolia, Bankhar dogs maintained their genetic purity through geographic isolation. As infrastructure and travel made the Bankhar dog's native regions more accessible, non-native dogs began to intermix. During the Communist era of Mongolia, Bankhar dogs were let loose or exterminated to forcibly relocate nomadic groups into socialist-style settlements. Bankhar dog pelts became fashionable for stylish Russian coats, and the largest dogs were killed to feed the growing dog coat industry. By the 1980s, the breed had almost disappeared.
There has since been renewed interest to preserve the breed in Russia and Mongolia; however the breed is still endangered.[4][7] The decline of effective livestock guarding dogs has caused nomadic herders to resort to shooting or poisoning any threats toward their herds. As a result, there has been a significant decrease in the populations of gray wolves and snow leopards in these regions.
Bankhar dogs are a large, formidable breed with either a short or long coat in red, black, and black and tan. Darker dogs with light spots above the eyes are preferred, these are known as Mongolian Four Eye Dogs. The distinct markings help to distinguish dogs from wolves in low light conditions and Mongolian legend states that these dogs can see into the spirit world. Despite their size, they should be athletic, fast, cheerful, energetic, courageous and tireless dogs. In Buryat, they are called "hotosho", which means "yard wolf," and in Mongolian they are called "bankhar" meaning "chubby, fat, fluffy." Despite this name, Bankhar dogs are not a fat breed, just big a 50-60 kilograms (110-132 lbs) with a height of up to 75 centimeters (29.5 inches.) Bankhar dogs have low calorie needs for their size. Despite their appearances, Bankhar dogs are only distantly related to the larger Tibetan Mastiff.
Bankhar dogs are comparatively long-lived, averaging 15-18. Hip dysplasia and other joint issues are very rare. Bankhar dogs breed once a year.
Source: WikiPedia The Free Encyclopedia
Livestock Guardian Dogs: The Protectors of the Flock
Livestock guardian dogs are an ancient breed of working dogs that have been used for centuries to protect livestock from predators. These dogs are intelligent, independent, and fiercely loyal to their charges. They are bred to guard sheep and other livestock from predators such as wolves, coyotes, and bears. The primary function of the livestock guardian dog is to stay with and protect the flock. They are not herding dogs and do not drive or move the flock in any way.
Livestock guardian dogs come in many different breeds, each with its unique characteristics. The most common breeds used for livestock guarding include the Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd, Kuvasz, Maremma Sheepdog, and Tibetan Mastiff. These breeds are all large, powerful, and protective.
The livestock guardian dog's primary function is to protect the flock from predators. They are territorial animals that will defend their charges against any perceived threat. As a result, they will bark loudly and fiercely at anything that they perceive as a threat. This behavior can sometimes be mistaken for aggression, but it is merely an expression of their protective nature.
The Livestock guardian dogs are not aggressive towards humans, and they are usually friendly towards the people they see every day. Given their size and strength, they can be intimidating to strangers, and this can be an advantage for the farmer or rancher. These dogs are often used as a deterrent against thieves or trespassers.
Other than their protective nature, these dogs are also low-maintenance animals. They do not require regular grooming or exercise. They are independent animals that will spend most of their time patrolling their territory, ensuring that nothing harms their charges.
Livestock guardian dogs have proved to be quite effective in protecting livestock from predators. Although their methods of protection may seem aggressive, they are the best way to ensure the safety of the flock. They are a valuable asset to farmers and ranchers who depend on their livestock for their livelihood.
In conclusion, the Livestock Guardian Dogs are the protectors of the flock. They are smart, protective, and fiercely loyal to their charges. They are not only effective in protecting livestock from predators, but they are also friendly and low-maintenance animals. They are the perfect partners for farmers and ranchers who depend on their livestock for their livelihood. These dogs are a testament to the idea that nothing beats the value of a loyal, hardworking animal.
Full Disclaimer: I did not write this article. If you have read all this way to the bottom you will be surprised that all I did was simply ask the AI tool ChatGPT to "Write me and article about the Livestock Guardian Dogs" I was amazed at how accurate it came out. This article took the AI computer about 15 seconds to produce. Times are changing.
If you have a scientific mind you can read get a lot from this article.
Diet has a key role in the homeostasis of the gut microenvironment, influencing the microbiome, the gut barrier, host immunity and gut physiology. Yet, there is little information on the role of early diet in the onset of inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders later in life, especially in dogs. Therefore, the aim of the present cross-sectional, epidemiological study with longitudinal data, was to explore associations of companion dogs’ early life diet style and food items with owner-reported chronic enteropathy (CE) incidence in later life. Food frequency questionnaire data from Finnish companion dogs was analyzed using principal component analysis and logistic regression.
We found that feeding a non-processed meat-based diet and giving the dog human meal leftovers and table scraps during puppyhood (2–6 months) and adolescence (6–18 months) were protective against CE later in life. Especially raw bones and cartilage as well as leftovers and table scraps during puppyhood and adolescence, and berries during puppyhood were associated with less CE. In contrast, feeding an ultra-processed carbohydrate-based diet, namely dry dog food or “kibble” during puppyhood and adolescence, and rawhides during puppyhood were significant risk factors for CE later in life.
Vuori, K.A., Hemida, M., Moore, R. et al. The effect of puppyhood and adolescent diet on the incidence of chronic enteropathy in dogs later in life. Sci Rep 13, 1830 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-27866-z
Story by Colin Drury
Even two decades on, Georgia Wood-Lee still remembers with unerring clarity the day a dog attacked her. She still has the scars.
She was 20 and had just started working in a pub near Wrexham. The landlord had asked her to come upstairs to meet Bruno, the German shepherd that lived there.
As she ascended the steps, the six stone animal was already on the landing above. It was growling and straining at a leash the landlady was struggling to hold.
In this article by John Anderer, he delves into the effects that owners have on the temperament of their dogs. One of his conclusions is the male owners are twice as likely to have aggressive dogs. fascinating new pup-centric research out of Brazil reports canine aggressiveness is likely influenced both by the dog’s prior life experiences and their owner’s characteristics and lifestyle choices.
Why are some dogs more aggressive? Blame the owner, study suggests (studyfinds.org)
In the linked Dec 2015 article by Benjamin McRary, the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC) Director of Judges Ron Ramos gave his insight into the conditions of the Bully World. Mr. Ramos' professed expertise and standing in the Bully world has met with great criticism from some Bully enthusiasts. There are some who agree with his outlook on the status of the Bully and many who disagree. Perhaps some of our members can read the article and share some comments here on MD.
Pets require a different treatment, to understand which it will be better to begin at the beginning. We will suppose that a puppy six weeks old, and of a breed not exceeding 151b. weight, is presented to one of our readers What is to be done? First of all, if the weather is not decidedly warm, let it be provided with a warm basket lined with some woolen material, which must be kept scrupulously clean. The little animal must on no account be permitted to have the opportunity of lying upon a stone floor, which is a fertile source of disease; bare wood, however, is better than carpet, and oilcloth superior to either on the score of cleanliness.
In the winter season the apartment should have a fire, but it is not desirable that the puppy should lie basking close to it, though this is far better than the other extreme. Even in the severest cold a gleam of sunshine does young creatures good, and the puppy should, if possible, be allowed to obtain it through a window in the winter, or without that protection in the summer. It will take exercise enough in playing with a ball of worsted or other material indoors until it is ten weeks old, but after that time a daily run in the garden or paddock will be of great service, extending to an hour or an hour and a half, but not so as to overtax its limbs. After this age, two or three hours a day, divided into periods of not more than an hour each, will be of service; but it is very seldom that young pet dogs can reckon on his amount of exercise, and, indeed, it is not by any means necessary to their healthy growth. Until after the tenth week, cow's milk is almost essential to the health of the puppy. It should be boiled and thickened at first with fine wheat flour, and, after the eighth week, with the mixture of coarse wheat flour and oatmeal.
The flour should be gradually increased in quantity, at first making the milk of the thickness of cream, and, towards the last adding meal in quantity sufficient to make a spoon stand up in it. If the bowels are relaxed the oatmeal should be diminished, or if confined increased. This food, varied with broth made from the scraps of the table, and thickened in the same way, will suffice up to the tenth or twelfth week, after which a little meat, with bread, potatoes, and some green vegetable, may be mixed together and gradually introduced as the regular and staple food. The quantity per day will of course vary according to the size of the puppy; but, as an approximation to the proper weight required, it may be laid down that, for each pound the puppy weighs, an ounce of moderately solid food will be sufficient.
From the time of weaning up to the tenth week it should be fed four times a day; then up to four months, three times; and afterwards twice until full grown, when a single feed will, in our pinion, conduce to its health, though many prefer going on with the morning and evening supply. When the puppy is full grown, meat, bread, and vegetables (either potatoes, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, or parsnips), in equal proportions, will form the proper diet, care being taken to avoid bread made with much alum in it. Dog biscuits, if sound, answer well for pet dogs; but the quantity required is so small that in most houses the scraps of the bread basket and plates are quite sufficient. Bones should be supplied daily, for without them not only are the teeth liableto become covered with tartar, but the digestion is impaired for want of a sufficient secretion of saliva.
If the above quality and quantity of food and exercise are given, in combination with the protection from cold recommended, the pet puppy will seldom require any medical treatment. Sometimes, in spite of the most careful management, it will be attacked by distemper contracted from some passing dog infected with it; but with this exception, which will not often occur, it may be anticipated that the properly treated pet dog will pass through life without submitting to the attacks of this disease, which is dire in its effects upon this division of the canine race.
If care is taken to add oatmeal and green vegetables to the food in quantity sufficient to keep the bowels from being confined, no aperient will ever be required; but sometimes this precaution is neglected, and then recourse must be had either to castor oil or the compound rhubarb pill the dose being one drop of the former or half a grain of the latter to each pound the puppy weighs. If the oil is stirred up with some milk the puppy will take it readily enough, and no drenching is required; but care should be taken that the quality is good, and that the oil is not the rank stuff sometimes used in the kennels of sporting dogs. The compound rhubarb pill may be given by opening the mouth with the left hand, and then dropping in the pill. It must be boldly pushed well down the throat as far as the finger will reach, no danger being risked in effecting this simple process. If the liver is not acting (which may be known by the absence of the natural gingerbread colour of the evacuations), from half a grain to a grain of blue pill may be added to either dose, and repeated, if necessary, every day or every other day till the desired effect is produced; or from one-sixth to one-third of a grain of podophyllin, which has a similar effect on the liver.
Very young puppies should not be washed even in the summer season, as they are very liable to chill. After they are three months old, however, a bath of warm water, with or without soap, will do good rather than harm, provided that care be taken to dry them well afterwards. For white dogs, white soap is required to give full effect to this operation; and it may be either " curd " or white soft soap, whichever is preferred, the latter being most effective in cleaning the coat. Long-haired dogs, such as spaniels, the Maltese and Skye terriers, require combing and brushing until they are dry, which should be done in the winter before a fire; and in the latter breeds the coat should be parted down the back with the comb in the most regular manner. If the hair has become matted, a long soaking will be necessary, the comb being used while the part of the dog submitted to its teeth is kept under water, which will greatly facilitate the unrolling of the tangled fibres. After the coat is dry, where great brilliancy is demanded, a very slight dressing of hair-oil may be allowed occasionally; but the brush is the best polisher, and when " elbow-grease " is not spared, a better effect will be produced than by bear's grease at half-a-crown a pot.
With the exception of fleas, pet dogs ought never to be infected with any vermin. Sometimes, however, they catch from others either lice or the ticks which infest the canine race. The appearance of the first two parasites is well known to everyone; but the tick is not among the things commonly presented to the eye, and we may therefore mention that it may be known by its spider-like shape and by its close adhesion to the skin by means of its legs, with which it digs into the surface. In size it varies from that of the head of a small pin to the magnitude of a small grain of wheat, but not being so long in proportion to its width. The colour changes with that of the dog and with the quantity of blood imbibed, which always gives a greater or less tint of bluish-red; but in very young ticks the colour is a pearly grey.
In destroying fleas, the best remedy is the insect-destroying powder sold by Butler and M'Culloch, of Covent Garden, by Keating, of St. Paul's Church[1]yard, and most chemists, which may be well rubbed in without fear of consequences. Lice and ticks require a stronger drug to destroy them, and this should be used with more care, as, being a mercurial preparation, it is liable to be absorbed if the skin is wetted, and then produces serious mischief, accompanied by salivation; or, if the dog is allowed to lick himself, this effect is still more likely to follow. The dog should therefore be kept carefully from all wet for at least twelve hours, and during the application of the remedy it should either be carefully watched and prevented by the hand from licking itself, or it should be muzzled.
The remedy is white precipitate, in powder, well rubbed into the roots of the hair over the whole body, and left on for six hours, after which it should be brushed out. At the expiration of the week the application should be repeated, and possibly it may be required a third time but this is seldom needed.