Dog Breeds: Old vs New, Working vs Show- with many pictures

[TytoAlba]

There's a little bit of a trick of perspective in that first picture, but even so I agree that is a BIG dog.

They're too independent for my taste. I want a dog that works with me, not by itself.

It seems like that's the case for most of the specialized LGD. I agree I would rather have a more general working dog that works with you.

 

[collie1470]

I think it's more a territorial thing than a straight aggressive thing. Aggression is without obvious reason, and over the top. In their mind, they are doing what is necessary to protect what is theirs.

 

[collie1470]

They're beautiful, but I need a dog that will take cues from us as to who is and is not safe when we're around, since we have visitors and family who comes over.

 

[dainerra]

Quote:
form follows function. the standard is written to describe the dog best constructed to do the work that the breed was created to do. the problem with the written word and human nature is that they are both going to be subject to the differing opinions of the people reading those words and human nature seems to follow the path of "if a little is good, then a lot is better" yes, some dogs have swung too far into exaggerated extremes so that they are almost caricatures of their original look. However, in time things swing back the other way. Often, however, it means that they go to the other extreme. Such as the drive to make the GSD less extreme has led some breeders (just as wrong) to breed dogs with no angulation. Conformation is to evaluate how closely a dog fits the described ideal. That dog should also be able to also do the work that the breed was created to do. A good breeder will have dogs titled in both conformation and performance events. And a correctly bred dog should be able to go from the field to the show ring with nothing more than a bit of grooming. check out UKC - they have a special title called Total Dog. the dog must qualify in a performance event and place in conformation at the same trial, on the same day.

 

[Mutt Farm]

I've heard Caucasian Shepherd Dogs are the most aggressive dog breed in the world. If a strange human gets on their side of the fence... from what someone told me, the dog won't bark or chase you, it'll just kill you right then and there.

Yeah, that's kinda what I read. I watched a special on them. Originally, they were LGD's. now, they are used in Russian Prisons for exactly that reason. It said, they were so mean, they would even kill the person who fed them. They are now being bred and exploited as killers. I googled some breeders out of curiosity. Some maintain the LGD traits, others tout them as killers. Fascinating dog to me.

 

[collie1470]

Breeding a dog to indescriminately kill is ridiculous.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Yeah, that's kinda what I read. I watched a special on them. Originally, they were LGD's. now, they are used in Russian Prisons for exactly that reason. It said, they were so mean, they would even kill the person who fed them. They are now being bred and exploited as killers. I googled some breeders out of curiosity. Some maintain the LGD traits, others tout them as killers. Fascinating dog to me.

How are they used in prisons? Do they guard it to prevent people escaping, like around the building as a sort of modern-day moat?
I've heard the dogs described as "savage" many times. They remind me of lions or some other wild predator.
Do you remember what the special was called? I would like to watch it if you know.

 

[cassie]

Yeah, that's kinda what I read. I watched a special on them. Originally, they were LGD's. now, they are used in Russian Prisons for exactly that reason. It said, they were so mean, they would even kill the person who fed them. They are now being bred and exploited as killers. I googled some breeders out of curiosity. Some maintain the LGD traits, others tout them as killers. Fascinating dog to me.

If you are referring to that National Geographic special, I saw it too. It was totally inaccurate and not up to National Geograpic standards at all. I later saw an interview of some breeders of Russian Shepherds that had seen the progaram and they were appalled for the same reason I was. One breeder said she had been approached by the producers of that show and when she found they were after sensationalism rather than accuracy she wanted no part of it. I saw a litter of pups portrayed on that special that were mean and aggressive little guys. The problem was that they were obviously totally unsocialized. They seemed more fearful than anything, which is behavior typical of puppies that haven't been worked with. Almost any breed of pup will react that way if you don't socialize them. And a dog so vicious that it will attack its own handler is useless for any purpose.

I now have a dog that is half Anatolian and half Russian Shepherd. He is a great dog but he is territorial and he is protective but he is not aggressive. I can't imagine that he would attack anyone without reason. He never has and he is not a young dog so if he were going to attack anyone unprovoked he would have done so before now. His father was pure Russian. When I saw him he was being used as a LGD guarding a herd of goats. They are big, impressive, and imposing dogs. I am sure you could make them mean, vicious, and aggressive, but they aren't born that way any more than a Komondor or other LGD is.

 

[Mutt Farm]

How are they used in prisons? Do they guard it to prevent people escaping, like around the building as a sort of modern-day moat?
I've heard the dogs described as "savage" many times. They remind me of lions or some other wild predator.
Do you remember what the special was called? I would like to watch it if you know.

Hi HG, it actually was a special on police dogs and prison dogs. I don't remember the name, It's been a while. These dogs were so stinking mean! BUT, the program I watched was all about guard dogs. Yes, they turn the dogs loose as a sentry dog. It never showed them under control on lead. The program focused on the intimidation factor.

 

[Mutt Farm]

If you are referring to that National Geographic special, I saw it too. It was totally inaccurate and not up to National Geograpic standards at all. I later saw an interview of some breeders of Russian Shepherds that had seen the progaram and they were appalled for the same reason I was. One breeder said she had been approached by the producers of that show and when she found they were after sensationalism rather than accuracy she wanted no part of it. I saw a litter of pups portrayed on that special that were mean and aggressive little guys. The problem was that they were obviously totally unsocialized. They seemed more fearful than anything, which is behavior typical of puppies that haven't been worked with. Almost any breed of pup will react that way if you don't socialize them. And a dog so vicious that it will attack its own handler is useless for any purpose.

I now have a dog that is half Anatolian and half Russian Shepherd. He is a great dog but he is territorial and he is protective but he is not aggressive. I can't imagine that he would attack anyone without reason. He never has and he is not a young dog so if he were going to attack anyone unprovoked he would have done so before now. His father was pure Russian. When I saw him he was being used as a LGD guarding a herd of goats. They are big, impressive, and imposing dogs. I am sure you could make them mean, vicious, and aggressive, but they aren't born that way any more than a Komondor or other LGD is.

Hi cassie. It was a special on police dogs and prison dogs. Not NG. I didn't see that. The program I watched was all about guard dogs and highlighted the Caucasian Shepherd Dog as a formidable sentry/guard dog in Russian prisons. It wasn't an entire program on the breed in general.