Do we need dogfights?

[Hermes]

Et perspektiv fra en annen verden:

DO WE NEED DOGFIGHTS?

Ilgam Gasymzade and Namik Azizov

Azerbaijan

Are dogfights a form of entertainment for spoiled people or is it a necessity? In this article, we express our strictly personal opinion based on observations during several dozens of years. Dogfights are necessary as a test for those animals, which carry guarding duty and must possess necessary fighting skills. This is very much of concern when breeding Caucasian Mountain Dogs and Cenral Asian Ovcharkas, major purpose of which is fighting wolves.

According to evidence from many historical documents, all researchers agree upon one point, Caucasian Mountain Dogs and Central Asian Ovcharkas, in addition to their basic job as herders, were also used in ancient armies and this was continued until XX Century. Medieval rulers used them in battle fields; dogs guarded forts and castles, attacked enemy soldiers and scouts and killed them. In the first half of XIX Century, a commander of Russian troops in Transcaucasia Tsitsianov created special guarding detachments, which used only Caucasian Mountain Dogs in conquered cities, castles; the dogs were successfully fought against soldiers on foot or on horseback. At a later time, when Transcaucasia became a part of Russia, these dogs continued to serve along borders with Iran and Turkey. In time of peace, these dogs guarded sheep herds and homes and fought not only human thieves, but also wolves and other big predators, such as lynx, bear, leopard and tiger. Cases, in which several dogs attacked tiger in Azerbajan, occurred before 1953, when Turan tiger became extinct.

In one issue of “Droog” magazine (in Russian) in early (year?) there was an article about wolf fighting dogs of Caucasus and Central Asia (reference ?). Apparaently, authors are not well informed in history of wolf fighting dogs, which is excusable, because it is impossible to grasp all the breeds. They put in doubt the ability of the Caucasian Mountan Dog to overpower a wolf. In the magazine “Aboriginal dogs of Caucasus and Central Asia” there was an article describing how a pack of wolves attacked a sheep herd and all dogs run away, except one, which had been tested in dog fights. We can agree with this. There are known some champions, which proven themselves in both show ring and in dog fight. A noted cynologist A. Ryabinin described a story of one Caucasian Mountain Dog, which lived in 1930th, its name was “Topush”. “Topush” is in the stood book among elite dogs of the former Soveit Union. He alone fought three wolves and during his entire life killed 100 wolves. Many modern cynologists this story may cause a smile of disbelief at best. However, the described story has a simple explanation. Bites of the Caucasian Mountain Dog and of the Cenral Asian Ovcharka have cutting and strangulating effects. When fighting with several foes, the wolf fighting dog is using his cutting bite ability. At present, number of true wolf fighting dogs has declined.

In Azerbajan and in Caucasus in general, since late 60th to middle 90th of past Century, state of the aboriginal dogs became threatened. Even in Caucasus, puppies were imported from different parts of Russia, Ukraine and other republics of the former USSR.

Most surprising was fact the fact that puppies out of parents up to 90 cm and taller at the shoulder, after they had been raised in Azerbaijan, became closer to the aboriginal standard.

During recent years, situation of the aboriginal dogs improved. Young chobans (herdsmen) keep and select dogs by using old-fashioned ways. Their dogs protect sheep herds and their masters against wolves very well. Being eyewitnesses, we can tell that in 1977, one wolf fighting dog killed two wolves.

Returning to our topic, if we need dogfights, we answer yes! People of any ethnicity have traditions, which have a common wisdom and practical purpose. This is true about dogfights of Caucasian Mountain Dogs.

During dogfights we can find which dogs is the best, especially if they would be used as sheep guarding dogs. During this kind of fighting contests, we can find most fit and high spirited competitive dogs. This makes selection for best quality easier. In our country, in Transcaucasia, rules of conducting of dogfights were developed for centuries. Dogfights are conducted during holydays, emphasizing the tradition. Only Caucasian Mountain Dogs are used in dogfights.

There was a peculiar system of determination, which dog is the best. In order to become a champion among other Caucasian Mountain Dogs, the dog must win during entire season. Absolute champion is determined one time per year upon closing dogfights during holyday. Legends about past champions were passed for generations. Outstanding dogs became spiritual values and there were no money, which could buy them.

Acording to rules of dogfights, which are still conducted in Azerbajn, the dog, which was inactive or cried during the fight, or just snarling, is considered a looser. There are numerous facts, when experienced fighters, certain favorites stopped the battle and never fought again. Owners of such dogs (not particularly literate ones from the stand point of professional cynologists) insisted that their enemy snarled. Now, thanks to video cameras, and the dogfight judge could repeatedly view the movie to make certain that one of the dogs really snarled. This is an indication of intelligence and noble nature of the Caucasian Mountain Dog, which understands the snarl and would not kill the opponent. Under natural conditions, when the dog fights the predator, there would be no mercy.

What we can tell about so-called professional fighting dogs, such as Pitbulls, American Bulldogs, etc.? They are certainly interesting animals, although opinions among cynologists about them are strikingly controversial. Good qualities developed in these dogs by selective breeding, such as endurance, persistence and ability to fight to the end, as well as blind hatred to entire dog Dom, served them not very well. In minds of many ordinary people fighting dogs are associated with bloodthirsty, hateful gladiators and some countries introduce legislative prohibition on breeding of this kind of dogs.

Nevertheless, comparison of Pitbull with gladiator is incorrect. Gladiators died at the circus arena, whereas these unfortunate dogs die in a pit and many of them die aftermath, because of injuries and because of exhaustion.

Fighting for several hours are tiresome and cause thrill only in dog’s owners, who are driven not as much by interest of the dog fighting as sport as much by financial interest. Besides, the very system of organization of dogfights and determination of the champion seems strange at best. We saw that dogfights of Cuacasian Mountain Dogs and Cetral Asian Ovcharkas allow finding out the best dog of the region. However, it is hard to tell what in particular valuable can be found as a result of Pitbull fights. Therefore, in our view, too cruel rules of Pitbull fights should be softened and regulated.

In one of video tapes showing fight of outstanding Caucasian Mountain Dog named Gabo (we thank I. Semenov for such a dog) with a Pitbull, it was hard not to be stunned by cruelty of the owner of the Pitbull (we do not remember his name). He did not stop the fight, although his dog was actually dead. What kind of sporting interest is it? What kind of a love to his dog, which gave his life for his whim?

Generally, this is a very subjective matter comparing Pitbulls with Caucasian Mountain Dogs or with Central Asian Ovcharkas and this would be incorrect to do. Nature of fighting qualities of Cuacasian Mountain Dogs and Cneral Asian Ovcharkas and modern fighting dog breeds are absolutely different. Caucasians and Asians are natural warriors. Their fighting qualities were developed for millennia and for strictly defined purposes. Therefore, the Caucasian Mountain Dog has innate ability to analyse situation, calculate further actions and inhibit its aggression for a satisfactory result, which is unlike blind furry of Pitbull and alike breeds.

During the fight of Pitbull with Caucasian Mountain Dog, the Pitbull many times snarls and squeals and the Caucasian naturally inhibits his aggression and lets him go. However, everything starts again and again. The Caucasians becomes bored and leaves the ring; he does not loose, he simply leaves. Watching video records with mixed fights such “leaves” are observed several times.

Yes, the Caucasian Mountain Dog should be trained, although this is very difficult. It is possible to teach dog of any other breed, but wolf fighting dog can be taught many cultured things. He has wonderfully developed guarding qualities and training to increase the aggression he accepts quickly. If the dog is pushed towards increase this quality, he can become unruly. One Cauucasian Mountain Dog, which I know and which lives in suburbia of Baku, attacked tow thieves got into the yard. The dog killed one of them and crippled the other one.

Dogfights are necessary and they must be conducted, but only under conditions of ancient traditions and rules for conducting of dogfights. In such a case, they would be like tournaments with inhibited aggression, which allow finding out champions and forging dog’s psychological preparedness to fight under real fighting conditions.

Dogfights, which become bloody battles often with fatal end of two dogs brought by their masters to state of frenzy is a disgusting form of entertainment.

Kilde: http://new.pads.ru/en/newsletter11/

[Hermes]

Selv syns jeg dette var interessant å lese, men er ikke enig. Å argumentere for hundekamper fordi det er tradisjon blir litt som å være for kjønnslemlestelse fordi det er tradisjon. Jeg kan forstå behovet for hunder som kan forsvare husdyr fra ulv og andre rovdyr, men syns ikke dette forsvarer hundekamper.

Andre innspill? Hva sier bullefolket, som har lest litt om bakgrunnen for hundekamper i Europa og USA?

[Ine]

Jeg synes det er helt forkastelig, på lik linje med hanekamp, tyrefekting og andre sporter der dyr blir påført smerter og skader og nesten alltid må bøte med livet. Couldn't care less at det er tradisjon eller andre bullshit grunner de nå enn måtte ha for å rettferdiggjøre dette. Dyr skal ikke skades og tortureres slik. Noensinne. Kjenner jeg blir helt sint inni meg bare jeg tenker på dette.

[Grim]

Gadd ikke lese mer enn første avsnitt, det blir for dumt.

[Malamuten]

Nei, jeg er ikke enig. Det finnes helt sikkert andre måter og trene de på, og hvis ikke så får de la det være..

[Emilie]

Hehe, lam argumentasjon. Men jeg leste riktignok ikke hele artikkelen, så shame on me. Trening og testing av egenskaper går an å gjøre på helt andre måter, utenfor "pit'en".