The town of New Bedford Massachusetts has come up with what is actually a good law in regards to dangerous/vicious dogs. Basically, the law is structured to focus on “the deed, not the breed”. That is, the law is geared to imposing penalties and restrictions on individual dogs that show signs of being dangerous/vicious.
“It goes after the deeds of the dog, the temperament it is showing,” said Mr. Maciel. Drafted by City Councilors Linda Morad and Jane Gonsalves along with Mr. Maciel’s office and various animal control groups, the ordinance avoids being breed-specific.
Instead, said Mr. Maciel, it allows animal control officers to judge a dog’s aggressiveness and actions before slapping restrictions, requirements and increased possible penalties on owners who ignore the rules.
He said a dozen dogs are now on the “dangerous and vicious” list, and only three are pit bull mixes. The others include a boxer, three German shepherds, a Rottweiler, Labrador retriever, “mini-pini” (Doberman)-chihuahua mix “and, unfortunately, a Boston terrier, the state dog,” he said.
This is exactly the right approach. Any dog can be vicious and size and breed are at best questionable guides in that regard. Take for example the chihuahua. Most people think that is an okay dog to own because of its small size. Even a young child could probably handle a chihuahua. However, chihuahuas are some of the most animal aggressive and human aggressive dogs. They also tend to be rather excitable and their small size could make it easier for a small child to injure or hurt the dog. While the latter might look like a possible benefit in terms of the child dealing with an aggressive chihuahua it could also mean that children will be more likely to have problems with this type of dog. Will a chihuahua kill a child? No probably not, but still it could inflict a nasty bite and since children like to do things like cuddle with dogs, that could mean getting bitten on the face or some other part of the body besides the ankle. So in this case, size is not a good indicator as to danger the breed poses.
At the same time a larger dog like the labrador retriever tends to be a stable even tempered dog. This dog passes temperment testing at one of the highest rates (and if we go with breeds that have had more than 200 dogs tested it has perhaps the highest pass rate). But this dog is also a medium sized dog and around infants and toddlers even an accident could send the child to the ground, off a chair or bed leading to injury.
A large part of the problem with dangerous/vicious dogs is that people often do not know how to behave around dogs and make for irresponsible owners. Did you get a cute little puppy that you failed to get neutered, licensed and usually spends the majority of its time alone in the backyard? I don’t care what breed you have, chances are your dog is more dangerous than the person who owns a rottweiler who has neutered his dog, licensed it, and the dog is well integrated into the family strutcture and well socialized around other people. Yet, most people would have the knee-jerk reaction of looking at the rottweiler as a death machine and the other dog as a lovable family pet.
Then there is the issue of training our children how to approach and deal with dogs. Dogs are ubiquitous in our society so it would be prudent for parents to periodically remind their children what do around dogs. Things like,
1: Never approach a loose/stray dog.
2: Never surprise a dog.
3: Always ask the owner for permission to pet the dog.
4: Let the dog sniff you before you try to give a hug.
5: Never surprise a dog (e.g. wake it up by running up to pet it)
6: Never run from a stray dog.
If more owners would spay/neuter their dogs, make sure they had a secure dog run, kennel, crate or back yard, socialized their dogs (and to be sure this is a continuous process), and train them in basic obedience there would be far, far fewer dog bites and
maulings.
And for God’s sake treat your dog like a dog. I hate it when I hear peopel say, “They are babies,” or “I can’t help it, I spoil them.” Sorry, but you are a complete idiot. These are dogs and they should be treated as such. Trust me, the dog and you will be happier that way. It doesn’t mean you can’t love your dog, that you can’t buy it treats, or even let the dog sleep in your bed or take it with you when you go on trips. What it means is you should establish yourself as the pack leader, you should be set rules and boundaries for your dog, and when you give a command it should listen and follow the command. And if necessary, you may have to give the dog a job, even if it is something as mundane as carrying some water bottles in a doggie backpack during your walks.
And if you aren’t up for doing all of the above, then don’t get a dog. Get a cat, or even better get some goldfish. When you go out and get a dog you should be prepared for the commitments that such an action entails. Dogs are social/heirarchical creatures. They do well within the family and they languish and suffer outside of it. If you aren’t prepared to have a dog in your life, then you aren’t prepared to own a dog.
Still there are some bad parts to that article, IMO.
Dr. Dodman said any legislation ought to target breeders who purposely develop aggressive dogs. He cited the Doberman pinscher as one example of a dog that had a bad reputation, but has since had the aggressiveness removed through good breeding.
Karen Harght, co-owner along with Joan Hopkins of American Canine in Westport, concurred.
“When I was a child, Doberman pinschers had a horrible reputation. They were very aggressive, like pit bulls were. Then they kind of fell out of favor. And over the course of the last three decades the aggressiveness has been bred out of them. Now I see a lot of Dobermans that are sweet as pie.”
I don’t think that aggressivness has been breed out of the doberman, my guess is that since the breed is no longer the fad breed the many of breeders are responsible/reputable breeders who view themselves as “stewards of the breed”. These breeders are careful in what dogs they breed. First they’ll look at the overall health of the dog, then the temperment and only the best dogs with good marks in both areas will be bred. The rest will be spayed or neutered and placed as pets. Further, these breeders tend to be very rigorous when placing a dog. When the dog is in a fad phase every idiot with an unfixed dog looks to turn a quick buck through breeding their dog(s). They don’t worry too much, if at all, about health, and temperment isn’t even something they can judge. All dogs are placed with people unfixed and there are no conditions about taking the puppy back if things don’t work out. In this situtation you get badly bred dogs, dogs that wind up on the streets because their owners abadon them or lose them, and you have a much larger population of that dog. Hence dog attacks by that breed increase and they show up in the paper and you have the new “demon dog de jure”. This has been seen time and time again. Dobermans were the bad dog. Then german shepherds, St. Bernards, and Rottweilers and now pit bulls.
On the other hand, she said, “If I see an Akita, I turn around and go the other way.”
While the Akita isn’t a dog for your novice/first time dog owner this is just ridiculous. While there are quite a few dog bites every year (several million) there are tens of millions of dogs. And fatalities are even less frequent. Given this, the above attitude is emblematic of people simply not evaluating the risks correctly. If you get so nervous around an Akita that you head the other way, you probably should never go near a car, a pool, or take a bath or shower. Your risks of death/injury with all of these “safe” items probably far outstips any dangers posed by an Akita.
In New Bedford, Mr. Maciel said, the ordinance may require a succession of precautions to restrain and confine troublesome dogs, and fines for breaking the rules can be heavy, up to $600.
Bad dogs will be spayed or neutered and have a microchip implanted under the city ordinance, and annual licenses will cost more, along with the secure enclosures the city will require — and inspect.
Preventing the dogs from reproducing is the most important component, he said. “We don’t want them breeding and the offspring having the temperament of the mother and the father,” he said. “That way our community becomes safer.”
Somebody in the local government of New Bedford is guilty of having a brain.
AVOIDING HARM FROM DOGS Properly trained, even aggressive breeds won't attack.
Experts say injuries can be avoided when animals understand their place.
From Freep.com (Detroit Free Press) ~ Detroit MI ~
September 15, 2007
BY AMBER HUNT
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
One dead baby. Two dead adults. One euthanized dog, and four more possibly will face the same fate.
It didn't have to be that way, animal experts say.
"Most dogs are very stable underneath it all," said Cindy O'Malley, a Howell dog trainer who goes by the moniker Canine Whisperer. "Ninety-nine percent of the time, it's the owners."
Everyone should use caution when approaching a dog on foot, especially larger breeds, O'Malley said.
Jackie Takacs of Huron Township's Obedience Laboratory said it's important to learn how to read a dog's body language. If a dog's ears are back, tail is tucked and eyes are glaring, back off, Takacs said.
"When a dog is looking like that at you, the dog is clearly telling you, 'I'm afraid,' " she said. "Just leave it alone."
Plenty of so-called aggressive dogs -- even the often-maligned pit bull -- can make great pets, Takacs said. The problem, she said, usually lies in lax or improper training or people having too many dogs that end up forming packs.
"If you leave multiple dogs just out in a yard not supervised by humans, when they break loose, they'll go as a pack," she said.
Michigan State Police said it was a pack of dogs that killed a 91-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman Thursday in Livingston County. Those deaths have been blamed on four dogs identified as American bulldogs.
Even dogs with aggressive reputations, such as pit bulls and rottweilers, often can be trained to be trusted when their owners are around, area dog trainers said. Among the tips they offered:
. Make it clear you're the boss. That means training your dog to let you answer the door first and refusing to let the dog sleep with you so it doesn't think it's your equal.
"A dog will work its way to the top of the pack, and if you're not going to be pack leader, then your dog will be pack leader," O'Malley said.
. Begin training early, especially if you have a dog with aggressive breeding in its past. Heather Armbruster of the Birmingham Dog Obedience School recommends at least at eight weeks, with brush-ups as the dog gets older.
. Never leave a dog alone with a baby or child, even if the dog is loving and playful when you're around, Armbruster said.
. Don't assume an aggressive dog will ever have 100% of that aggression trained out of it, said Karen Vaden, who runs Attaboy Dog Training in Pinckney.
On the flipside, any dog can be trained to be aggressive, said Doug Whitman, chairman of the psychology department at Wayne State University.
"It fundamentally comes down, not to the pets, but to people," he said. "You can teach any creature to attack, and you can teach any of them not to."
Many pet owners would say their animals - sometimes seem human, but when a kitten is orphaned, you might expect it to be adopted by another cat. Not so in Lockport, where a dog has begn nursing a kitten.
Three year old Jade is a rottweiler with a soft spot for cats. Her owners say she's always had her share of feline friends.
"She's always loved cats. She thinks she is a cat basically," said 13 year old David Stanley of Lockport.
These days, she's acting the part. She's adopted a hungry little kitten.
"She thinks it's her baby. It is actually. She just didn't give birth to it," said Stanley's mother, Bonnie Donaldson.
Donaldson says Jade's never had any puppies of her own, but she's decided to become a mom anyway. Much to Donaldson's surprise, Jade is actually nursing.
Donaldson says Jade took over after the kitten's mom, Lulu, was hit by a car. At the time, there was a litter of five.
"And then she started to develop milk, and they just started feeding on her," said Stanley.
"I'm glad she's doing it. She survived obviously, which is good," said Donaldson.
Veterinarian Dr. Stephanie Wolf says it is possible for a dog to produce milk without having babies of her own, but it's "very rare."
"The actual lactation process is not associated with the breeding process. It's a completely different set of hormones," said Wolf.
Bonnie has been supplementing Jade's milk with bottle feeding, and says Jade has become so attached to the little kitten, she just can't bear to separate them.
"I think she'd be lost if I didn't have a cat in the home," she said.
Halloween is for humans not dogs. Screaming, running, spooky children in masks make many dogs uncomfortable, nervous and frightened. <<<Not to mention igniting PREY DRIVE>>
Halloween costumes are fun and are meant to disguise our normal appearance. Dogs do not understand this change in appearance and may become frightened. Costumes that change the way a person walks, stands, or their general appearance may cause a dog to react different then usual even with those they know.
Keep in mind that children on Halloween night are excited and doing their best to be scary. This is not a fair or safe situation to put even the best of dogs in. Even the normally terrific tolerant family dog can find this night hard to handle.
Along with costumes being frightening to a dog there are some that may become interesting too. Swords, tails and dangling things may be fun for an excited dog to chase and toddlers certainly won't appreciate that.
Every child and every costume is a new opportunity for different reactions from the same dog.
I recommend setting up your dog with their own private Halloween bash in a safe quiet spot with a yummy treat of their own. Here are some tips to help make this safe haven most comfortable.
1.Stuff a food dispensing toy with yummy mush and freeze it until it is Halloween time.
2.Use a fan or radio for white noise. Something consistent is best.
3.Be sure the blinds are down or the dog is not watching kids coming and going by the window. This will only frustrate him and allow him to practice barking and carrying on at the window.
Chocolate is toxic to dogs. Put candy in a safe spot.
Many dogs are stolen, poisoned or injured by Halloween pranks. Keep your dog safe and sound inside your home.
Two strangers brought together by cancer developed a bond that would give a little boy battling the disease something to look forward to. FOX 9’s Scott Wasserman has their story!
Click image (outside link) to see the video of Chopper(owned
by Pat Kinch) doing his job!
To AKC Judges:
Are You Part of the Problem?
Are You willing to be Part of the Solution?
It used to be that the purpose of dog shows was to showcase
your best breeding stock. In my opinion those days are mostly a thing of
the past. It seems that shows today have become so political and so money
oriented that the dogs themselves have gotten lost in the shuffle. Sadly,
the dogs are often stripped of their dignity by the “win at any cost” tactics
put upon them. With that said, I believe it is reasonable for all
exhibitors entered at a dog show to have the expectation that their entry will
get an equal and unbiased assessment by the judge based on their breed
standard. An exhibitor has the right to expect that their entry has an equal
chance of going Best of Breed whether their entry is a class dog (that includes
6-9 puppy!) or a Special. The AKC Judges Guide tells judges they should,
“Always judge dogs solely on the basis of their condition as they are
presented in the ring on show day.” (emphasis AKC). The judge is
responsible for judging each dog by the breed’s standard. (emphasis mine)
In most cases, entry fees are the same for all dogs
entered. (Some clubs will give price breaks to puppies and bred
by). The judging guide does not state that if there are price breaks for
certain classes that those entries receive less consideration and are not
eligible for Best of Breed. In fact, no where does the guide state
that the Winner’s Dog/Bitch shall receive less consideration for the award of
Best of Breed.
In theory, since a dog show judge’s duty is to select the
best representative of the breeds exhibited to them, you would expect a dog
show to be an equal opportunity sport. You would expect that every
exhibitor should feel confident that they are getting a fair shake, but are
they? With the above facts in mind:
Are you a judge who, if you disagree with a breed
standard, will not hesitate to award your personal preference, even in some
cases when your preference is a fault? Just two examples are:
1.
having a preference for a specific color and never putting up other equally allowed colors.
2. ignoring the breed standard for minimum/maximum heights
If you answer “yes”.
You are part of the
problem.
Judges should be professional and their personal preferences
should be set aside. The breed standard is the rule not a
guideline. If the standard states that there is no color preference, what
right does a judge have to assert their preference for color? It is unfair to
the exhibitors that have paid their money for equal assessment.
Judges should not penalize dogs for size when the size of
the dog is in standard. Statements like, “I prefer them bigger” (who
cares?) is fine as long as the “bigger” is equal or better and preferably In
the standard. Too often, that is not the case. For example, if
a Samoyed looks to be the same size as an American Eskimo, that probably means
that you have a Samoyed bitch at the bottom of the standard. The bottom
for Samoyed bitches is 19” and the top for the American Eskimo male is
19”. Both are correct, neither should be penalized just because you
dislike one end of the standard more than the other. In the case of the
Samoyed, a judge will often put up a dog or bitch out of standard, (on the big
end) or a dog of lesser quality rather than reward the more correct dog that
looks like an “American Eskimo”. This is not judging a breed by its
standard and it hurts the breed when judges insert their personal preferences.
Are you a judge who believes you have the right to
interfere with a dog owner’s right to decide what is best for their dog by
withholding the award the dog deserves? In other words you have a dog/bitch
that should win BOB, but you have decided that the dog is too young, too old,
the owner too novice, etc., etc. to go to the group?
If yes, you are part of the problem.
Judges are to judge dogs in their ring based on their
standard. Whatever might happen in the Group should not be of any concern
of the breed judge. The breed judge is supposed to award BOB to the best
dog. That is what exhibitors expect and that is what they pay for.
Exhibitor’s do not need nor want judges denying their dogs the award they
deserve due to the judge’s personal speculations on who is ready for the Group
ring. A judge who does this interferes with the dog owner’s right to make
their own decisions regarding their dog. Judges who do not just judge
dogs, but insert their personal feelings as to who might look better in the
Group actually change the outcome because the Group judge is deprived of
actually judging the best dogs.
Are you a judge that knows or has
strong suspicions that a dog has been groomed illegally and you ignore
it? Examples might be wigs in poodles or over trimming in the Golden
Retriever and Pomeranian, etc.
If yes, you are part of the problem
Judges have the obligation to investigate any
suspicions they may have. The AKC guidelines state, “In reviewing a class, avoid
excessive rearranging of a dog's coat, whistling, gesturing or baiting.
However, do not hesitate to feel out a suspected fault beneath a highly groomed
coat.” Over grooming has become epidemic. Almost everything in
a breed ring today is “sculpted”. A friend of mine recently relayed
a phone called she received from a friend of hers who is a Field Rep. The
Field Rep. asked, “what the %&*#@ is going on with Newfoundlands? She
was very angry and said, “They all look like cookie cutters in the
ring!!” Frankly, I don’t know why breeders and handlers make more work
for themselves on dogs that should be shown in a clean, groomed and natural
state. If judges would not reward this, it would not continue.
Are you a judge that faults a dog based
on your speculation of what the dogs height, bite, or color might be later?
If yes, you are part of the problem
The Guideline states, “Give absolutely no consideration to
what a dog's quality may be at some future time, or what a dog's condition
might have been were it not for some disease or accident” Enough
said.
Are you a judge who, regardless of the
quality of competition, always puts up the ranked dog even though it may not be
the best on that day?
If yes, you are part of the problem
Please stop it. This common practice is a total disservice to exhibitors and to the sport of
purebred dogs!
I have heard some lame excuses for this.
One is they do it out of respect for the dog’s show record. They do it
because of all the money spent on advertising. IF there is a
better dog, please do the ethical thing and award that dog what it deserves on
that day. That is a judge’s duty.
Are you a judge that will not put up a
dog unless it “asks” for it?
If yes, you are part of the problem.
Not all breeds are the bubbly, crowd pleasing,
free stacking stars that “ask” for it. Several standards state that the
breed is reserved/conservative with strangers or when out of their territory.
(Judges are strangers!) Some of those breeds are Rottweilers, Kuvaszok,
Samoyeds, Clumber Spaniels, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Caanan Dogs and Anatolian
Shepherds. The Rottweiler standard specifically warns judges not to
penalize dogs that are aloof or reserved, “as this reflects the accepted
character of the breed.” The Mastiff standard states, “Judges should also
beware of putting a premium on showiness.” If there have been a few dogs
in one of these breeds that were exceptions to the standard’s description, that
is all it is, an exception and the rest of the breed should not be judged and
compared to the “exceptions”. Since the “exceptions” are not displaying
the typical character/demeanor as described in the “breed standard” some might
consider that in itself a fault. Judges should be mindful of the breed
standards and the descriptions of character and temperament. Frankly, I’m
tired of hearing, “well, it is a ‘show”. Unfortunately, it
is that kind of thinking that has turned the purpose and priorities of dog
shows (including the character and temperament of some breeds) up side
down. As an experienced breeder, who would select the dog that simply has
to “ask for it” over the dog that has the best overall qualities of the dog
you’re looking to breed to? Not all breeds are going to “ask” for it, but
are still exquisite representatives of their breed and should be appreciated
and rewarded when they deserve it. That is a judge’s duty.
If you answered “NO” to the above questions,
most of us probably already know who you are and appreciate your dedication to
our breeds and more importantly to our breed standards. It takes an
honorable and ethical person to set aside personal feelings and reward the
exhibitor what they deserve on that day.
If you answered “YES”
to the above questions, one has to wonder why you decided to judge. You
are taking too many liberties with the standards. People spend their
hard-earned money for that "equal opportunity” in the breed ring. Please give it to them.
Be part of the solution. It’s just a
thought…
Correct breed type is disappearing!
The powerful bone substance and definitive masculinity of the Rottweiler we once apprized is now hard to find. Replacing these traits are pinheads, fine bones, distilled facsimiles. Not only is breed type on the decline, so is correct working Rottweiler temperament. In its place we now have, shy, soft, little to no “willingness to work” temperaments. Few Rottweilers in the show-ring and outside it could make the transition from that to the working arena.
At the conformation/working spectrum, with rare exception, what we encounter are the extremes; they are beautiful show specimens either with no working temperament or on the working side, great working temperaments with poor structure and marginal breed type. How did this happen?
When enthusiasts decide to purchase a new puppy or a breeder selects breeding partners for their future litters, they draw conclusions and evaluate their choice from a narrow perspective using only a specific aspect of the breed as their criteria. For example, some breeders only seek to use the construction of the Rottweiler as their mark of excellence. They demand only the best angulated, the most correct fronts and rears as their guide for breeding partners omitting other important aspects that comprise the whole picture. Some only use health certifications as their guide. They will only breed or keep dogs that have attained all the necessary certifications such as OFA, heart and CERF clearances, dismissing from the formula, breed type, construction and gait. From a long-term breed viewpoint, this single-aspect criterion is myopic and disastrous. Is there a guide to facilitate a comprehensive approach to the breed without sacrificing one aspect for another? The answer is yes.
Euclid, the Greek mathematician, stated in his axiom, “the whole is equal to the sum of its parts.” Despite this being of mathematical relevancy, we can apply this statement to help guide us in a more complete understanding and evaluation of the Rottweiler. By using a “Rottweiler Pyramid”, where each element of the Rottweiler is prioritized in a hierarchal order of importance, Breed Type, Temperament, Construction, Locomotion, one can view each part on its own merits. Once a thorough understanding of these related elements is achieved, a complete and balanced picture results. It should be the goal of every breeder to incorporate all of these aspects into a breeding program.
(Note: For this essay, I have distilled the topics down to their basic, large block ideas. I also have omitted health clearances from the pyramid, since they are a
prerequisite for breeding, showing and training. It would be foolish to pursue a show/sport career with a dog that possessed dysplasia or other serious health issues further than as a personal companion)
1.
Breed Type
Number one in the pyramid is Breed Type. The description of it comprises 85% of the standard, its major and defining aspect. Its correct understanding is the foundation of any breeding program, evaluation for judgments in the conformation ring and the first rung on the ladder for the
complete understanding of the Rottweiler. In this area, some prefer to take shortcuts by reinterpreting the standard and taking liberties with its translation, instead of traveling the more difficult path by reading and completely understanding its blueprint. Without a thorough and broad perspective about breed type (or any other segment of the standard), one can only build a house of understanding that is incomplete. This argument, that many do not understand or know what “correct” breed type is, can easily be proofed with the fine boned, narrow muzzles, pinhead, absence of masculinity exhibits we now encounter in the show ring and obviously on the street.
An excellent and easy test for “knowledge of breed type” is asking the simple question, “What is Breed Type?” Many have great difficulty with the answer. When asked this question exhibitors and owners have articulated breed type as “excellent gait”. Some say it is “correct temperament”.
Yet others define it as “performance on the working field”. None are correct. Breed Type should be defined as
“the essence of characteristics that distinguishes it from
others."(1) In simpler terms, it is the appearance of the breed, which separates it from others. Is that not what first attracts us to the Rottweiler?
In the show ring, where we should see only the best examples of type, save for a small percentage that is not, we see the lack of correct breed type abundantly demonstrated. Currently here in the states, many exhibits do not possess the minimum essentials in head and body type. In fact, many heads and bodies are at best, only sufficiently correct and do not possess the implied masculinity of the breed. The most defining aspect of correct breed type, the Rottweiler head, the breed’s icon, should have great prominence. The standard devotes detail to its description with its
“Broad between the ears, broad muzzle at the base, moderate arch of the
topskull, pronounced stop, zygomatic arch and specified 3 to 2
skull to muzzle ratio.” In essence, the head is powerful, substantial and impressive. Yet, so many exhibits now possess
the opposite of what is correct, a long, soft in appearance narrow muzzle, shallow zygomatic arch and stops. This creates a head
type, which recedes in to the body having no prominence. The power and strength specified in the standard for the muzzles and topskull is not there; the heads are hound-like.
In correlation with the details of correct head type, are the details of correct body type. The standard specifies,
"His bone and muscle mass must be sufficient to balance his frame, giving a compact and very powerfulappearance." The standard is direct with its specifications on body type with the key words of compact, powerful and muscle mass.
The bone should be ample in proportion to the size of the body, the muscles mass should be strong and well defined and the body length should appear to be short and compact. There should be not doubt in appearance concerning the amount of bone mass, muscle mass and compactness of the body. However, what we encounter are fine and spindly bones, long bodies, little to no muscle mass and definition.
The underlying theme in the standard for the Rottweiler is masculinity. Correct breed type requires it. The standard does not specifically mention this word; it is implied. Even the bitches should possess power and substance without weakness. Softness, slight in build, refined, feminine are not words to use when describing or having a mental picture of the breed.
2.
Temperament
The second tier on the pyramid and essential aspect of the standard is temperament. Without correct temperament, all other aspects or traits, even if they are of superior quality, have little value! It is important to understand what correct temperament is and how to evaluate it. From the standard,
“The Rottweiler is basically a calm, confident, courageous dog… A Rottweiler is self-confident and responds quietly and with a wait-and-see attitude to influences in his environment.
He has an inherent desire to protect home and family, and is an intelligent dog of extreme hardness and adaptability with a strong willingness to work, making him especially suited as a companion, guardian and general all purpose
dog.” What is correct temperament? How can we recognize it? We must take our template from the standard. Ideally, he is a calm, confident, courageous dog of extreme hardness and adaptability with a strong willingness to work. Few Rottweilers fit the ideal of the standard, which can demonstrate all of its positives. More likely, they measure up or down in differing levels. Because he is working dog, we must test and evaluate these differing levels of temperament through his work.
Albeit, the show ring is largely popular here in the states and in the international community, many rely solely on a dog’s behavior within the show ring as a demonstration of temperament. This is dangerous because it does not give us any keen insights to the complete spectrum of temperament; its main purpose is to evaluate conformation. Some would say that the show ring does give us a window into the dog’s nature. However, exhibiting and gaiting in the conformation ring can only demonstrate the extreme problems in a dog’s temperament, such as the inability to stand for an examination, shy, nervousness or viciousness. It has extremely limited value when assessing the complexity of temperament.
The Germans use the term “Belastbarkeit”, a dog’s capacity, whether high, medium or low, to sustain its drive, tractability and nerve under the conditions and pressures of work. In Germany, they place a high value in the dog’s level of courage and its ability to deal with stress. There, the minimum test is the Zuchttauglichkeitsprufung (breed suitability test where the dog is tested for its courage and stress level); one cannot breed their Rottweiler unless it has passed the “Ztp”. They also believe that the attainment of a working title is a demonstration of
Belastbarkeit.
By putting a Rottweiler through its paces in its attainment of a working title, be it a CD, CDX, Tracking,
Sch, etc., we gain valuable information about the strengths and weakness of its temperament. In some countries, the attainment of a working title is so highly prized, that a conformation championship title is only awarded when a working title has been previously achieved. Assessing character, the dog’s ability to deal with corrections, stress, and its level of enthusiasm while working, tells us much about its mind-set. Without this knowledge of temperament, one cannot have a complete picture for a breeding program.
3.
Construction
Third in the pyramid is construction, a balanced, harmonious
musculo/skeletal system in accordance with the blueprint of the standard. Understanding the construction of a Rottweiler is analogous to the building of a house. The builder (breeder) must adhere to the architect’s design (the standard), maintain a stable foundation and alignment of walls (the skeletal system), while creating continuity so that all the segmented parts of the house work together harmoniously (the locomotion of the dog).
As a breeder, owner or exhibitor, it is important in the complete understanding of Rottweiler construction, to acquaint oneself with the skeletal anatomy of the dog.
The standard dictates how the proportions and ratios, angles and layout of the skeleton should be so that the Rottweiler can gait with the highest efficiency in harmony with its breed type. This insures that its architectural design will best suit the Rottweiler for its task as a multi-purpose working/guard dog. A house must have structural integrity. Walls must be plumb, materials used in the construction must have strength to withstand ware and tear, and parts must work. This applies to the Rottweiler as well. Front and rear legs must be balanced, strong and straight, the back must be firm but flexible, angulations must be ample enough to support proper reach of the front and drive of the rear. There should be symmetry and harmony of the working parts as well as a defined amount of muscle mass to support the skeletal frame.
Like temperament, correct construction is the by-product of a thoughtful, careful, breeding program. A Rottweiler cannot develop good construction from within. With the exception of building stronger or larger muscle mass via a weight gaining and conditioning program, when a dog possesses an incongruity or imbalance in the skeletal system, it cannot be corrected. A short upper arm, long in the back, shallow sternum, east-west feet, low pastern, poorly angulated croup, etc. impedes efficiency. These problems are inherited from the pedigree.
We have often heard exhibitors and breeders say, “Don’t worry, he’ll out grow this or grow into that.” Unfortunately, ugly ducklings do not become swans! Problems related to the skeletal structure are indelible and take many generations to improve or correct. The most direct path for correct construction is to breed with pedigrees that possess it.
4.
Locomotion
Fourth in the pyramid is locomotion. Because the Rottweiler was used for driving cattle, its modality for locomotion is demonstrated in the trot. Unlike the other aspects in this pyramid, construction and locomotion have inexorable linkage in that; exemplary gait is the result of outstanding structure. When a Rottweiler is correct in construction, according to the blueprint of the standard, this balanced skeletal architecture produces an unrestricted, harmoniously flowing powerful gait.
Unfortunately, few Rottweilers possess construction with such a high degree of balance and harmony that they move with this ideal effortless grace. Similar to the levels of temperament, locomotion has differing levels of efficiency dependent upon the correctness of construction or conversely, the amount of imbalances within the dog. The more “imbalances” or incorrect construction the dog possess in its angulations and ratios, the more impedance occurs to free flowing gait.
The best perspective to assess locomotion is to view the dog, going away, coming towards and in the side gait. When the dog moves going and coming, we assess its lateral displacement, which has influence on the lateral center of gravity. A correct front and rear assembly stabilizes the dog and prevents him from excessive side-to-side movement, similar to the effect of torsion bars in a car. Incorrect construction such as, out at the elbow, east–west feet, crossing over, moving wide and fiddle fronts etc., destabilizes the center of gravity. These incongruities produce impedance, which requires more energy, puts stress on the bones and muscles and leads to fatigue.
In the side gait, we assess all the moving parts working together. Once in the trot and at a reasonable speed, not to fast or slow, the mechanics of the
musculo/skeletal structure is set in motion. Here, we can observe the reach, the drive of the rear, spring of step, amount of ground covered, and temperament in the dog’s “willingness to perform,” an important element. Within the side gait, we observe many examples of locomotion from exemplary to the unharmonious.
Occasionally, we encounter a dog that appears to be sound in structure when standing still, but during the examination of the side gait, they show a short stride of the front legs and rear legs, or a mix of this with a correct front stride, but short rear drive. Here, a problem may exist that does not easily reveal itself. That is why gaiting in a small ring or by moving the exhibits once around does not do justice for the complete assessment. Adding to this mixture is the exhibit that is pushed or cajoled around the ring. Outwardly, the dog appears good in construction and theoretically should gait correctly but for some reason it has “no willingness to perform.” This is one example of how temperament plays a factor in gait.
The field of canine gait is complex and requires a good knowledge of anatomy, mechanics, breed type and purpose. It is important for the concerned breeder and student of the breed to gain at least a proficient knowledge of these topics to understand Rottweiler locomotion.
References
1. The Priority of Breed Type in the Rottweiler, Wolfson, Steve, Steve Wolfson publisher, 2003
2. The Dog in Action, Lyon, MacDowell, Howell Book House publisher, 1982
It seems that in the news, when ever there is a story or article about a Pit Bull/ Pit Bull type dog, a Rottweiler, German Shepherd, or any dog that is seen in society's eyes as a dangerous dog, the story is negative. One of these dogs have bitten, attacked or mauled a person, another dog or other animal. These incidents are spread across every local paper and
TV News program like wild fire. Society only sees these negative images sent out by the media towards these dogs. They never see anything positive; therefore creating the disillusion of viciousness bred into these breeds, and spreading the fear and problem. Where are the good stories? The positive image of these dogs? Because, they are out there. However, the ugly images of these dogs, the shock value of these stories, sells the papers and makes the ratings. No one wants to hear the good things.
Most people will see a Rottweiler or other type of large strong breed of dog and see them as a threat and dangerous. I myself have Rottweilers, one adult and one puppy in training. I will be the first to say that this breed is not for everyone. They need an experienced dog owner and someone who is a calm-assertive leader. When people read manuals and books on getting a puppy, usually the first thing the book will tell you is to find a breed of dog that best suits your lifestyle and family. This could not be more true. It is when a dog and human are mismatched, or when a person should not even have a dog (due to lack of knowledge and commitment) that issues will arise.
My 3 year-old male Rottweiler, Xander, could be seen as one of those positive stories about the breed that is out there, but rarely heard of by society. Xander is a dog who is actually helping people. He is a registered Therapy Dog with a non-profit organization called Therapeutic Paws of Canada (www.tpoc.ca). Every week Xander and I travel to hospitals/retirement homes and homes for rehabilitating patients where we visit these people. Now, some people were scared of his size, but not his breed. But their size is a good thing. Those people who are not able to bend down to pet the smaller dogs, don't need to move much with these breeds. They are also sturdy and tolerant to those who aren't as gentle when petting; they can take the bumps and bruises. Yet, some people will walk up to him and give him a big huge and kiss.
We visit one gentleman in a home, where at first he would not make eye contact with Xander. Now to be honest, this is a man who has a very serious mental illness, and does not talk or communicate with people much. But now, every time he sees Xander he smiles, something that the nurses say he has not done in 5 years. He keeps a picture of my dog attached to his dresser mirror, and refers to him as “My Xander.” When this man feels up to it, he will brush Xander, and even throw a ball for him.
Our visiting therapy partners are Kim (a professional dog trainer) and her intact male Rottweiler, Luke. Xander and Luke are best of friends. They will give each other kisses, they love spending time with each other, and the patients love to watch. Anyone who thinks that two male Rottweilers cannot co-exist, should see these two boys play. They have done demonstrations for Therapeutic Paws and are a big success with all the patients.
Soon Xander and I wish to do volunteer work at local schools to help children who are having difficulties learning and reading. Research has shown that dogs can actually help motivate these children to read, because they relate more to the dogs than the adults that are teaching them. Also, the anticipation to have these dogs around gets the children excited to read to the them.
Rottweilers are very good with children, if they are socialized around them. Xander has been around kids from 2 years to 14 years of age, and enjoys their company. He will actually bring his chew bones over to them, so they can hold it while he chews on it. But to do such volunteer work we have to complete a whole year of regular therapy work before we can be evaluated and tested to work with these children. We have to take the responsibility to make sure that both Xander and myself are qualified and able to do such work.
Xander also helps the community by raising awareness and funds towards human diseases. He has raised over $1,000 each year towards Multiple Sclerosis (also a canine illness) and the MS Super Cities Walk. Him and I go store to store and put up posters, hand out collection boxes and when the time comes, trek the 10km around the city to prove that we appreciate all the funds raised.
Xander competes in Agility, Obedience and was a demonstration dog at the dog school we had worked at. We have volunteered our time to demonstrate his abilities as a dog at local festivals and canine exhibitions. We also make sure he is well socialized with other dogs by taking him for numerous walks and taking him to Doggie Daycare. YES, Doggie Daycare. A place where dogs have supervised playtime and multiple walks together. He loves it. Xander even has his own web site to display all of his talents and accomplishments:
Home.cogeco.ca/~xander-vk/
And Xander isn't done. As far as obedience titles, we are working towards his Companion Dog title and more.
Now, Xander isn't perfect. He is still young and growing. If he is showing signs of dominance (which is typical of any maturing male dog), it's right back into the dog academy and into serious training. I take the time, commitment and money (lots of it) to make sure my dog is well trained, socialized and his working dog nature is put into a active and positive direction. People out there who get a strong willed and muscular dog who are not willing to spend the time and money towards doing this, should not have this type of breed, or any dog. Why have a dog if you are not going to do anything with it? That's when dogs become destructive and
behavior problems arise.
I am not here to argue the point of dangerous dogs. That has all been done and said. In my opinion EVERY breed of dog, whether they are large, medium or small has the potential to bite and/or worse. If a dog is; mouthing their owners, nipping at the kids, showing distress or shyness towards people, or dominance over people and/or animals, they have the potential of biting, attacking or worse, if these problems are not seen, and solved accordingly by a professional.
Working with dogs, and assisting at a local dog training school here in my city, I have seen where people's lack of education of the dog world can create problems in the human world. I encourage anyone with a new puppy to seek out a certified dog trainer/obedience school to help socialize and train that puppy with other humans and dogs. With proper training, for both the human and dog, there should be minimal to no problems. Any breed of an adult dog who you think maybe showing signs of dominance/aggression/shyness should be observed by a trainer. Then with the proper guidance from the trainer, the owner can take steps to correct and prevent any issues. Every dog owner must take the responsibility to make sure that their family and community will accept their dog and enjoy having them around without fear or hesitation. Being a proactive and motivated owner makes all the difference for everyone involved.
Calvin - 2006 Service Dog Of The Year Submitted
by Beverly Bulson, Owner/Handler/Best Friend
Tagar’s Carbon Copy V
Blazin, CD, RE, CI, CST, AXP, AJP, PDII, EAC, O-OJC, OGC, CL3,
TT, CGC, TDIA
Calvin
with breeder, Tamra Bojarski (left)
and owner, Beverly Bulson (right)
Calvin was bred by Tamra Bojarski of Amsterdam, NY and is accompanied by his
owner, Beverly Bulson, of Scotia, NY.
Calvin began his service career as a puppy participating in educational
demos. In 2003, he became a registered therapy dog. Since them, Calvin
regularly visits senior citizens, battered women's shelter residents, and the
developmentally disabled. Calvin has developed deeply rewarding, long-term
relationships with those he visits, becoming fast friends with the
elderly residents, and even one young boy who struggles with autism.
As the owner of Rottweilers, a breed often targeted by breed-specific
legislation, Bev feels Calvin's work carries with it a special purpose, as
each visit is an opportunity to educate people who might otherwise never
know just how gentle a large dog like a Rottweiler can be.
Calvin has been a therapy dog for a number of years. We teamed together with the Schenectady Chapter of TDI. We have had upwards of 75 documented visits many of which were between 1 to 4 hours each and many that were not documented. These visits included working with Schenectady Chapter of TDI as well as demos with Schenectady Dog Training Club.
Our visits consisted of trips to the YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter, the YWCA of Schenectady, The Terrace at Glen Eddy, Alterra Wynwood and St. Mary’s Hospital. We visited monthly at the YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter and at the YWCA of Schenectady. Both of these visits were well received. The children who are staying at the domestic violence shelter very much enjoy their visits with Calvin. At times they can be quiet a handful, but Calvin works with the kids and helps to settle them. They all tell us about their own dogs that were left behind. Spring through fall, our visits were out in the yard and the children and their mothers enjoy playing ball or frisbee with Calvin and the other dogs.
Our visits with residents at The Terrace at Glen Eddy were originally scheduled for once a month, and we soon had to change the schedule to every other Tuesday. These residents just love to sit and pet the dogs. One of the residents has named Calvin “Calvin Coolidge”.
The residents greet us at the door for every visit. When we pull up, we can see their faces peeking through the windows waiting for the dogs to come in. During the summer, we have done obedience/agility/therapy visit during the day at the Glen Eddy. The residents enjoyed seeing the dogs work as much as they did petting and loving the dogs. One of the residents moved from the Glen Eddy to another assisted living facility. When George moved, his aid called and asked if we could visit at the Alterra facility. We have added the Alterra Wynwood visit to our monthly schedule. George has moved again and his aid again has requested us to visit at the new facility.
One of our special visits that we do is at a local hospital. I received a call from a Mobile Crisis Counselor who asked if Calvin and I would come to some therapy sessions with a woman who is diagnosed with schizophrenia. This woman was attached to a Rottweiler who was owned by her sister. The dog passed away suddenly and the woman was very distraught. The counselor asked if Calvin could come to the therapy sessions. We visited once a month, however we worked with the counselor and were on call for whenever the patient needs us to visit. The first time we met this patient, it was so rewarding to see the smile on her face. She just loves to see Calvin. I believe Calvin has truly made a difference in her life. He is very well received throughout the hospital. Many of the heads of the departments come to visit with Calvin while he is at the hospital. We also visit with the outpatients in the lobby while we are waiting to be escorted to our visit in the mobile crisis unit.
Many of the other visits that we do are one time requests from schools, nursing homes, and camps for handicapped children and adults. Even Boy Scout troops have requested visits. We also participate in local parades, Girl Scout days, and responsible dog ownership days. We love to participate in obedience and agility demonstrations, parades and therapy dog visits whenever possible.
Another one of Calvin’s specialties is visiting with one of our friends’ child. This child has a disease called Asperger’s Syndrome which is a form of Autism. Whenever this child is visiting at our house or we are away on camping trips together, this child looks to Calvin for a calming influence. We can tell when he is getting upset because he starts to shake his hands and gets very antsy. When he starts this, he will come to me to ask if he can go and rub Calvin. The rubbing and cuddling of Calvin causes him to relax and calm himself. It is very interesting to watch how Calvin can sense that this child needs his attention. He will sit with the child for anywhere from 15 minutes up to an hour or so. These visits are ones that are not documented by any paperwork. They are just special to us as we enjoy helping our friends in times of need.
Calvin is truly a wonderful ambassador for the Rottweiler breed. He is very gentle and loves everyone. He is the guardian and best friend to my Boston Terriers. He often sits out in the yard watching over the Bostons and their babies making sure that the hawks and other predators don’t run off with his friends. Because of his wonderful manners, he has won the hearts of many individuals who otherwise had a bad opinion of the Rottweiler breed. I am truly fortunate to have the opportunity to own and love Calvin.
Calvin has received the Seger Award from the Colonial Rottweiler Club in 2005
(which is the volunteer of the yearaward) and just recently he received the 2006 Mohawk Valley Kennel Club Service Dog of the Year Award.
Even though her dogs have their share of titles, they’re not what puts the biggest smile
on breeder Glenn Pollock’s face. The big grin comes when her Rottweilers, Asgard’s
Covergirl (Dinky) and Ch. Asgard’s Dive Bomber (Buzz), light up the
faces of the children they meet when they are in volunteer mode, giving cart rides for charity.
Every year, Pollock and the dogs offer cart rides to children at fairs and parades,
including the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life”
fund-raiser in Charlotte County, Virginia.
“We haven’t raised a ton of money,” says Pollock, “But everyone enjoys it, including the
dogs.”
Pollock’s initial interest in carting developed out of a very practical need. “We were
living on four acres in Lancaster, Pennsylvania,” she explains. “I was using a lawn
tractor to get around and pick up all the rocks on the ground. Then it occurred to me that
it might be better to use a dogcart. I had working dogs and I knew that Rottweilers were
used for carting ...” So she stopped by her local carriage store and had a wagon made.
A New Calling Takes Shape Carting as more of a dedicated pursuit really got under way in 2000, when Dinky competed
in the American Rottweiler Club’s first carting trial at the national specialty in
Petaluma, California. There, Pollock also offered the kindergarten children touring the
show rides in Dinky’s cart—and the kids’ joy told her she was on to something.
The following year, both Dinky and Buzz earned their CS (Carting Started, On Lead) and CI
(Carting Intermediate, Off Lead) titles, as well as a CST team title, placing first.
At home in Pennsylvania, Pollock took the dogs and their cart to the annual
“PawsAbilities” fund-raiser organized by Susquehanna Service Dogs in Harrisburg. Again,
the cart rides for kids—including those with disabilities—were an instant hit, and
organizers invited Pollock, Dinky, and Buzz back the next year. These days, Pollock lives in Keysville, Virginia, where she breeds under the Asgard
Rottweilers banner. This December, for the third year in a row, Pollock and her dogs will
march in the town’s Christmas parade. To get into the holiday spirit, Pollock decorates
the cart with garlands and battery-operated lights, and fills a second wagon with plush
Rottweiler toys and candy to hand out to children. It’s a festive gesture, but one with
another important purpose: “In any parade, I take the candy and weave from left to right
as we walk,” says Pollock. “The kids come forward to get the candy and it helps them get
close to the dogs as well.”
Out and About, and Into the Classroom
Educating children and the public about dog safety is one of Pollock’s passions. “Dogs
should be able to live in the community,” she says. It sounds obvious, but unfortunately
Pollock knows all too well that not everyone shares her view. When she and her family
moved from Lancaster to Keysville in 2002, she was shocked to discover that her dogs were
not given a warm welcome. “In fact, they were feared. We could not secure homeowners’
insurance due to the community’s past experiences with Rottweilers and our breed’s
reputation.” Back in Pennsylvania, Pollock had been giving her “Dog Manners” elementary school programs
for over 15 years—using the AKC Safety Around Dogs and the AKC Best Friends kits to teach
children how to behave around dogs. Knowing how effective they were, she decided to offer
the programs as a Canine Ambassador in Virginia. She is also in talks with Virginia
Senator George Allen’s office, pitching the idea of legislation that would require all
schools to offer dog safety programs. “It helped a lot when the locals had the chance to meet our dogs and see that they were
well-behaved,” she says. (Pollock’s Asgard Rottweilers contract requires puppy buyers to
complete obedience classes and to earn their CD and AKC Canine Good Citizen® certificate
on the dogs by the time they are 25 months.)
“Because of the bad publicity Rottweilers get, the cart rides and manners classes give me
an opportunity to present the breed in a very positive way,” she says. Her hope of convincing
her new neighbors that her dogs aren’t monsters has been realized through her tireless work in the
community. Many residents were surprised to see how sweet and calm Dinky and Buzz were,
especially amid the clang and clamor of a parade.
Spreading the Word
After years of winning over crowds with her bouncy demeanor, Dinky, who is 12 and suffers
from lymphangiectasia (an inflammatory intestinal disease which causes a loss of protein),
is retiring from carting, relinquishing her duties to another of Pollock’s dogs, Ch.
Acosta Mobster’s Carolina Lily, who will join Buzz for upcoming appearances.
“I’d recommend carting to anyone with sound dogs built for the work,” Pollock says, but
she does stress the importance of having the right equipment and well-fitting harnesses.
Whatever the activity, Pollock hopes that more and more breeders will become Canine
Ambassadors.
“I would love to see more people in the dog sport get involved in the community,” says
Pollock. “My feeling is: You’ve got to get your dog out of the show ring.” Not that she
doesn’t enjoy conformation, or the agility and rally events her dogs compete in. But
seeing the dogs bring joy to people outside the dog world goes a long way toward
nourishing the soul: “I find it just as rewarding as a championship.”
First
published in the December 2006 issue of the AKC
Gazette. Used with permission.
We are a nation of animal lovers. Raised on “Bambi” and “Black Beauty”, we grow up
believing in the inherent innocence and good nature of all creatures, and in the notion that
if left to their own devices, all animals would
exist in a sort of modern Peaceable Kingdom. When someone adopts a dog from a shelter or rescue agency, there is an
assumption that the dog is there solely because of some heartless negligence or outright violence.
While this can be the case in all too many situations, a more honest look at the facts will
show that most pets are given up to shelters by people who are not all that different than
the people who wish to adopt or who work at the agency in question. Job relocation,
divorce, a death in the family, loss of income, medical problems, and the threat of
insurance cancellation for the owners of some breeds are the most common practical
reasons people give up their dogs. While we are all familiar with the staggering numbers
who are turned in for real or imagined behavior problems, even that diagnosis doesn’t
necessarily jibe with the invocation of abuse that usually accompanies it. If anything, the
more common behavior problems associated with most surrendered dogs are
symptomatic of an indulgent or at worst, benignly neglectful home where no one took time
to address the issues before they got out of hand.
However, the cases of outright abuse against any animal are heinous enough to make
the evening news, and will almost always find their way into the public eye. As animal
lovers, we are horrified to hear about what a few truly brutal humans enact upon an
animal unfortunate enough to cross their path. We feel a genuine surge of compassion for
the beaten dog, the deliberately starved horse, and the litter of kittens saved from
drowning, and we want to distance ourselves from the type of person who could commit
such an act. It is proof of our empathy when such a story gets public attention in the
media and hundreds of outraged citizens line up to adopt the victim. But it is also proof of
our relative shallowness that the victim’s less notorious kennelmates at the shelter go
unnoticed and unadopted, perhaps for lack of such a tragic back story. It may be cynical
to say that many of the people who devote so much of their energy and emotion to shelter
and rescue work feel best when they feel bad, but as someone who works full time in the
shelter industry, I don’t think it’s untrue.
Based on the horrific nature of the abuse cases which actually make the news and on
the institutional support of their prevalence among some of the major fundraising humane
organizations and animal rights groups, it only follows that an animal lover interprets any
defensive, aggressive or predatory behavior on the part of his dog as being evidence of
some sort of abuse.
Abuse
vs. neglect;
and the effects of each on rehabilitation; First, what is the difference between “neglect” and “abuse”? On a very basic level, we define neglect as passive and usually a result of ignorance
rather than malice, and abuse as active and intentional. Neglect is a dog who is raised
outside, tied to a tree, hardly fed or attended to. Abuse is a dog who is struck, kicked or
otherwise used as an object of physical violence. Neglect is embodied in the dog of an
animal collector: living in a cage, parasite-laden, ignored except as a possession; a notch
on the belt of a sick person who, ironically, usually thinks he is saving the dog from a
worse fate. The local sociopath who was prosecuted for the hoarding of over one hundred
Shar Pei but who called himself a “rescuer” who “didn’t believe in giving up on a dog” is an
extreme, but telling, example. Abuse is embodied in the dog of a violent human (who,
according to sociologists, is also much more likely to abuse human members of the
family): physically threatened and beaten, with the attacks usually culminating in an
extremely sadistic event which causes the animal to finally die or be abandoned in critical
condition and/or the abuser to be reported. A female Dobe in our system who had been
corrected with a baseball bat to the jaw for barking is one of our more grotesque in-house
models of true abuse. Neither condition paints a pretty picture. Neither is better than the
other. But they are different, and I find they have different effects on the unfortunate
animals subjected to them. There is a third condition which merits more attention than
either neglect or abuse in its devastating effect on a dog. I’ll save that for last.
How does the abused dog differ from the neglected dog when it comes to behavioral
rehabilitation? To explain to new volunteers and employees at our facility, I use the
following anthropomorphic analogy. Obviously, because of self-awareness, the concept of
morality and the ability to question another's motives (among so many other things that
contribute to what we think of as human consciousness), a human psyche can be muchmore permanently scarred by the type of mistreatment we’re discussing. With that in mind,
please accept this analogy as a parable rather than a literal comparison.Three young adolescent kids are put into a progressive reform school. One has been
smacked around and verbally abused since he could answer back. One was the middle
child of a huge family, and it was hardly ever noticed if he was around or not. One was the
spoiled only son and heir of an indulgent parent. How do you think each of them will do?
The abused kid will have a hard time for awhile. He is so used to ducking his head and
cringing that it’s an automatic response. His teachers and leaders are tough, but unlike
anyone else in his previous life, they’re fair. At first, their demands on him seem too
challenging, and he assumes that he will always be punished for whatever effort he puts
forth. But as time passes he realizes that what they’re asking him to do isn’t that hard.
More importantly, it’s actually something concrete and doable. Pretty soon he starts
hearing how smart he is, and how far he'll go. Maybe he’ll never forget what happened to
him in the past. But he’s better equipped to deal with the future thanks to the trust he’s
learned. The neglected kid figures he’s just another number. He’s not used to it when he gets
called on, and he’s nervous. Sometimes he stammers. He’s afraid to get things wrong, but
he’s almost afraid to get things right, because he doesn’t know how to deal with the
attention. Sometimes he’s the opposite: he’s too overbearing and exuberant in social
situations because he’s really never learned how to deal with others. Sometimes he goes
from one extreme to the other...school is pretty overwhelming. With time he finds a middle
ground, and eventually he begins to set himself apart as an individual. He still has the
security of a big group, but he also knows his name and his place in that group, and he’s
happy with it. He’s prepared for the world. The spoiled kid has a problem. Who do all these peasants think they’re talking to? Don’t
they know who he IS? When pouting and sulking don’t make things grind to a halt like
they did at home with Mummy, he throws tantrums. Sometimes he hurts people when he
throws tantrums. No matter what his teachers do, they can’t convince him that he is part of
a team. They can never tell what will offend him and how he’ll express that offense. He is
finally expelled. And, the administrators and teachers say, it’s
a shame, because sometimes he could be such a sweet kid. But he doesn’t have what it takes to succeed in
real life.
But why does it matter if we assume the worst about a dog’s past? When one works on the front lines of rescue and animal care, one sees some real toe curling
horrors enacted by genuinely stupid or evil humans upon their dogs. Any abuse is
too much. But we owe it to the dogs who rely on us to improve their lives to recognize the
limits that abuse has on their minds and behavior. I firmly believe that any behavior or
reaction a person puts into a dog is something a knowledgeable and determined person
can remove. Dogs are far more resilient than the people who care for them. In my practice
I have worked with dogs who have been struck with shovels, who have had cigarettes put
out on them, who have been repeatedly booted and beaten, according to actual
documentation, and in all too few cases, with prosecution of the offending humans.
Regaining their trust is nowhere near as difficult as it was for their abusers to lose it. We
all marvel at a beaten dog’s tendency to adore its abuser, yet we can’t imagine that very
same dog acting normally ever again once it’s in a normal home. To blame defensive or
aggressive behavior solely on an abusive past can end up hurting the dog even more.
How?
First, writing off a dog’s inappropriate behavior as a by-product of abuse cancels out the
diagnosis of other potential reasons: health problems, ineffective training, bad genetics
are just a few of the possibilities. I have had clients in the past whose dogs suffered from
epilepsy, half-blindness, and severe hypothyroidism to name a few examples but who
went undiagnosed for months: the owners were advised by other trusted canine
professionals that their respective dogs were spooky and defensive because they had
been “abused”. They were assured by well-meaning animal lovers that all their dogs
needed was “love” and “understanding”, when what they truly needed was veterinary
attention.
More commonly, the “abuse excuse” also prevents people from training and controlling
their dogs. Convinced that their dog has suffered enough hardship, they decide to “make
up” to the dog for his past torment at the hands of lesser humans. This is poisonous, as
the overindulgence of a dog is the main reason he fails in a home. When he arrives with
an either real or supposed diagnosis of abusive treatment, the more compassionate
nature of his caregivers is to spoil him. When he responds to the lack of leadership and
structure by becoming possessive or defensive, his “abused” status is invoked and a few
more privileges are added in the hopes that he might be placated into pethood.
Suggestions to take away these freebies and to insist on serious compliance with
obedience commands are met with accusations of “cruelty” and lack of empathy. In too
many cases, this dog is literally spoiled to death: his nasty, defensive behavior finally
results in an injury to a human family member, he is turned in to a shelter or brought to the
vet for euthanasia with the reassurance that they “tried everything” and that the dog is
hopelessly unable to overcome his horrible past and is better off at rest.
Although their history may not be as colorfully violent as the abused dog, the dogs who
have been either benignly or intentionally neglected are sometimes tougher to help. Often,
they only view a human being as the bearer of a food dish and the occasional giver of a
pat on the head. When they are exposed to humans who actually want to interact with
them, to touch them and speak with them and be close, they are sometimes overwhelmed
with confusion, and can give off a number of mixed messages. This is the trait that gets
them labeled as unpredictable. In almost every abuse case I‘ve dealt with, the dog is often
a pet who has lived in the house and who suffered his fate due to some transgression of
house rules he was never taught in the first place. The neglected dog is more often a
stranger to normal human contact, good or bad. His rehabilitation tends to take longer
than the dog who has been actively, and usually by human standards, much more
abusively treated. The seriously abused dogs I’ve worked with were always a challenge. The neglected
ones required the patience of a saint. But the very worst Dobermans I’ve ever dealt with in
rescue have been the ones that came from super-indulgent homes where the dog was
allowed to rule like a privileged prince; treated as a human child; and
otherwise given full charge of the house, its contents and occupants. Unlike their
neglected or abused cousins, these dogs frequently have bitten people in their own family,
and usually more than once. To see them surrendered to the shelter with an honor guard
of teddy bears, a soft bed, special treats and a long list of requests is particularly
heartbreaking, as these are often the dogs that we are least likely to be able to help.
Rather than experiencing a specific, violent set of horrible behaviors enacted on them by a
human, or the desolate vacuum of total neglect, these dogs have been insidiously and
actively “lied to” for their entire lives. If their innate temperament is particularly defensive
or aggressive, convincing them that they must respectfully defer to kind human leadership
is sometimes impossible. They have been conditioned in such a way that they have an
entirely upside-down view of the world which is often unchangeable in a shelter setting
and which therefore makes them unadoptable. Compared to the neglect or abuse cases,
"removing" the damage done by their well-meaning past owners is a much slower-moving
process with many more risks to the people charged with doing the rehab, two conditions
which get them placed in the highest risk category of training/rehab subjects. Dig deep
enough in the history of one of these tragic cases, and you are likely to find that there was
no actual training or structure in the dog’s life, or if there was it was abandoned as being
“too mean” or because “he didn’t like it”. The owners of these dogs are the ones most
likely to call the shelter frequently, demanding a detailed update on the welfare of their exdog.
They wish to know how he's eating, how many times a day does he get run in the
yard, have we found a family "just as loving as theirs" except one without kids, other dogs,
old people, men with beards, cats, etc. When it is my sad duty to inform this type of owner
that this dog is beyond my help, it is why I will answer his angry protests by telling him that
he has abused his dog in a much more damaging way than if he had put his boot in its
side. The number of dogs surrendered to our agency with a documented abuse is slight. I
have only seen about five actual abuse cases in the past six years, out of the hundreds
who have passed through the rescue system. Severely neglected dogs often come in as
singles or groups from Animal Control cases; picture emaciated, wormy, physically
compromised animals with no normal human contact and you will understand what I mean
by genuine neglect. Sadly, we see a comparatively high number of those, compared to the
abuse cases. But the number of dogs surrendered with an over-indulged history (ie, no
training, no crating, total and unearned freedom in the house, free choice feeding,
furniture and bed access, etc) is far higher. Of the dogs with known backgrounds
euthanized for serious and irreversible behavior issues in our records, almost all come
from the indulged profile. None have a documented or even circumstantially estimated
abuse history.
More than 100
Rottweilers spent a
peaceful weekend at Onslow Pines Park. And Gaye Trevor of Hubert says that is
proof that the breed itself isn't unsafe or aggressive.
Disproving the stereotype is one factor that drives the East Carolina
Rottweiler Klub to put on its Winter Sieger Show each year.
"With the Rottweiler breed the stereotype can be a pretty bad one,"
said Trevor, vice president of the eight-member club. "This show is to
promote this as a good, friendly family dog. With the right training and
handling, these dogs can be a great neighbor."
THE DAILY NEWS / Randy Davey / Going
to the dogs: Gerard O'Shea, looking at the female Rottweilers during the
East Carolina Rottweiler Klub 2007 Winter Sieger Show, traveled from Sweden
to judge the show at the Onslow Pines Park.
Around 200 people participated in the event, which took place Saturday and
Sunday at Onslow Pines Park. Rottweiler enthusiasts came from as far as
Florida and New York to participate in the club's third show.
"It's our sport; we go wherever we can to compete," said Alex
Rodriguez of Nashville, Tenn. "I've had Rottweilers since I was 9 years
old. I have a passion for the dog."
Rodriguez, who runs a construction company, travels as far as Europe each year
for competitions - something he says is just a hobby. He entered four dogs in
this weekend's show and took best overall male and female.
"It was just a beautiful show," he said. "It's worth it."
Rottweilers, which originate from Germany, were judged for structure, shape,
color and breedability, said Trevor, who has entered her dogs in more than 40
shows. Her female Rottweilers took fourth place and her male took a second
place this weekend.
Gerard O'Shea of Ireland came from Sweden to judge the show. He has worked
with Rottweilers for over 25 years around the world.
"I love the education aspect of it," O'Shea said. "My main
passion is the breed and being able to look at dogs and people in different
cultures. I've judged dogs from eastern Russia to South America."
O'Shea gives each dog a specific critique, which Trevor says helps owners
improve for future competitions. Training is a necessity for show dogs, who
must stand still while judges inspect their teeth and other areas.
But training is important for all dogs, Trevor said, as a number of people
cite lack of obedience when they give up a large-breed dog.
"If they aren't trained, they become too much to handle," she said.
"If it's a working dog, it needs a job, even if that is just
obedience."
In this area, some prefer to take shortcuts by reinterpreting the standard and taking liberties with its translation, instead of traveling the more difficult path by reading and completely understanding its blueprint. Without a thorough and broad perspective about breed type (or any other segment of the standard), one can only build a house of understanding that is incomplete. This argument, that many do not understand or know what “correct” breed type is, can easily be proofed with the fine boned, narrow muzzles, pinhead, absence of masculinity exhibits we now encounter in the show ring and obviously on the street.
Yet others define it as “performance on the working field”. None are correct. Breed Type should be defined as
“the essence of characteristics that distinguishes it from
others."(1) In simpler terms, it is the appearance of the breed, which separates it from others. Is that not what first attracts us to the Rottweiler?
The second tier on the pyramid and essential aspect of the standard is temperament. Without correct temperament, all other aspects or traits, even if they are of superior quality, have little value! It is important to understand what correct temperament is and how to evaluate it. From the standard,
“The Rottweiler is basically a calm, confident, courageous dog… A Rottweiler is self-confident and responds quietly and with a wait-and-see attitude to influences in his environment.
He has an inherent desire to protect home and family, and is an intelligent dog of extreme hardness and adaptability with a strong willingness to work, making him especially suited as a companion, guardian and general all purpose
dog.” 
The Germans use the term “Belastbarkeit”, a dog’s capacity, whether high, medium or low, to sustain its drive, tractability and nerve under the conditions and pressures of work. In Germany, they place a high value in the dog’s level of courage and its ability to deal with stress. There, the minimum test is the Zuchttauglichkeitsprufung (breed suitability test where the dog is tested for its courage and stress level); one cannot breed their Rottweiler unless it has passed the “Ztp”. They also believe that the attainment of a working title is a demonstration of
Belastbarkeit. 
hird in the pyramid is construction, a balanced, harmonious
musculo/skeletal system in accordance with the blueprint of the standard. Understanding the construction of a Rottweiler is analogous to the building of a house. The builder (breeder) must adhere to the architect’s design (the standard), maintain a stable foundation and alignment of walls (the skeletal system), while creating continuity so that all the segmented parts of the house work together harmoniously (the locomotion of the dog). 
A house must have structural integrity. Walls must be plumb, materials used in the construction must have strength to withstand ware and tear, and parts must work. This applies to the Rottweiler as well. Front and rear legs must be balanced, strong and straight, the back must be firm but flexible, angulations must be ample enough to support proper reach of the front and drive of the rear. There should be symmetry and harmony of the working parts as well as a defined amount of muscle mass to support the skeletal frame.
Fourth in the pyramid is locomotion. Because the Rottweiler was used for driving cattle, its modality for locomotion is demonstrated in the trot. Unlike the other aspects in this pyramid, construction and locomotion have inexorable linkage in that; exemplary gait is the result of outstanding structure. When a Rottweiler is correct in construction, according to the blueprint of the standard, this balanced skeletal architecture produces an unrestricted, harmoniously flowing powerful gait. 
It seems that in the news, when ever there is a story or article about a Pit Bull/ Pit Bull type dog, a Rottweiler, German Shepherd, or any dog that is seen in society's eyes as a dangerous dog, the story is negative. One of these dogs have bitten, attacked or mauled a person, another dog or other animal. These incidents are spread across every local paper and
TV News program like wild fire. Society only sees these negative images sent out by the media towards these dogs. They never see anything positive; therefore creating the disillusion of viciousness bred into these breeds, and spreading the fear and problem. Where are the good stories? The positive image of these dogs? Because, they are out there. However, the ugly images of these dogs, the shock value of these stories, sells the papers and makes the ratings. No one wants to hear the good things. 
Our visits with residents at The Terrace at Glen Eddy were originally scheduled for once a month, and we soon had to change the schedule to every other Tuesday. These residents just love to sit and pet the dogs. One of the residents has named Calvin “Calvin Coolidge”.
Carting as more of a dedicated pursuit really got under way in 2000, when Dinky competed 
Educating children and the public about dog safety is one of Pollock’s passions. “Dogs
should be able to live in the community,” she says. It sounds obvious, but unfortunately
Pollock knows all too well that not everyone shares her view. When she and her family
moved from Lancaster to Keysville in 2002, she was shocked to discover that her dogs were
not given a warm welcome. “In fact, they were feared. We could not secure homeowners’
insurance due to the community’s past experiences with Rottweilers and our breed’s
reputation.” Back in Pennsylvania, Pollock had been giving her “Dog Manners” elementary school programs
for over 15 years—using the AKC Safety Around Dogs and the AKC Best Friends kits to teach
children how to behave around dogs. Knowing how effective they were, she decided to offer
the programs as a Canine Ambassador in Virginia. She is also in talks with Virginia
Senator George Allen’s office, pitching the idea of legislation that would require all
schools to offer dog safety programs. “It helped a lot when the locals had the chance to meet our dogs and see that they were
well-behaved,” she says. (Pollock’s Asgard Rottweilers contract requires puppy buyers to
complete obedience classes and to earn their CD and AKC Canine Good Citizen® certificate
on the dogs by the time they are 25 months.) 
