Salukifan

I wouldn't describe Boxer temperament as being like the other two breeds. What sort of temperament DO you like in a dog - can you describe it?

No, not the same as any breed. Statistically, dogs of fighting origin ARE going to be more combative than many breeds developed for other purposes. Dog aggression is something that they have a lower trigger for and if it's on then they'll finish it, ice it and put the little sprinkles on a dog fight. They are also very powerful animals. That DOES NOT make them "bad dogs" - just dogs that need to be managed differently from some other breeds and no amount of training and socialisation will change their hard wiring. You do see bull breeds that are amiable, social butterflies but I'd never make that assumption about one. Personally I think ignorance of key breed characteristics creates issues for quite a few breeds. That's what happens when bred by people who neither understand the breed, nor bother to sell them to people that they've vetted thoroughly to ensure that they understand what they're buying. Don't even get me started on what can happen when you combine different breeds into a very unpredictable and sometimes quite dangerous cocktail of characteristics

Some use it to describe the flap of skin that joins the torso to the hind leg. Not uncommon in some breeds to trim the hair back to the skin to give a cleaner finish. Whippet showies tend do.

Are you sure you don't mean pounds, not kilos? 40kg is a BIG dog!!!

Wouldn't be the first time a dog as seen a human fight as a chance to sort out some pack dominance issues.

It does not look good for Max at all. After two attacks on people, sorry but there won't be tears from me if the dog is put to sleep.

At least it would take the pressure off the dogs and onto the owners. Licensing drivers works... mostly.

If noise and dog aggression are two things you want to avoid, I'd not recommend a terrier. Any terrier.

This isn't just about you. Maybe you need to look beyond your own perspective and consider society in a wider sense. "Nonce regulations" infringe on our "civil liberties" every damn day and most of us profit from them. Speed limits, gun ownership, limited usage of land, liquor licensing, brothel licensing, noise laws. These all restrict what people can do because given free rein, some people are selfish pr*cks that make the lives of others hell. Society needs to be protected from others. Dog ownership is, quite frankly, no different. As far as pet ownership goes, some people shouldn't be permitted to own a goldfish. And if you're an exemplary dog owner, where's the issue?

Why? Dog ownership is a privilege not a right. People have demonstrated time and again that they can't exercise responsibility for the dogs they own. So if you have to demonstrate some knowledge and your licence is conditional on you exercising responsibility for your dog, what's the issue? We already restrict the dogs people can own anyway.

Me too. It could ensure that owners have to pass at least a basic test of knowledge before being allowed to own an animal. I've hit cases of ignorance about basic dog husbandry that were nothing short of gobsmacking.

Whippet!!

Back on the original topic. Would I warn a potential buyer away from a breeder? Yes, but not in public. I'd be giving facts as I knew them not general comments though. And I'd probably be more focussed on steering them towards the better breeders than away from the others.

Or "companion" breeds. I do genuinely believe that some breeds are entirely unsuitable for novice or ignorant owners. Maybe it should be like motor cycles. You have to cut your teeth on a less powerful one before you can be licensed for the big boys.

I'd be far more inclined to suggest that the supposed "pitbull" was crossbred.

Let loose, I'd say the Whippet zoomies could be lethal to bystanders. My dog warms up for the ring by wrestling his half brother or it's owners Bedlington Terrier. All are entire adolescent males. Some dogs simply aren't that interested in fighting. That's how they've been selectively bred. You can't have two hyper aroused coursing dogs let loose on prey to have them turn on each other before OR after catching it. Ditto scent hounds - bred to run as a pack of entire dogs.

It would be the same weight as a Rhodesian Ridgeback

It's actually not uncommon. Well not in the Hound ring anyway. Dog aggression is a serious fault in many hunting breeds. You often see bunches of Whippets of both sexes held by strangers while handlers help run each other's dogs in the ring. I have yet to see a dog aggression incident in the Hound Ring although I"m sure it does happen. I can't comment on other rings.

*zooms into thread and drops in the quote from Karen Delise's book: *zooms out again*

Maybe we are just lucky in this area Bjelkier. I had a show buddy come up from Albury to do the October shows. She said she'd had the most pleasant show weekend she'd had in a long time. :)

There are heaps on one dog owner, non-breeders in the ring around here. I should know, I'm only showing one dog. Very few "pros" in our show ring in this country. Nearly everyone does it as a hobby. From where I sit, the less else you have in your life, the more invested you are in your dogs' results. Most of the folk I know are pretty philosphical about the whole thing.

Well I will say one thing about showing. If you have a thin skin and are low on determination. It's probably not for you.

It's also a great day out with friends who share your passion for dogs. It simply comes down to who you choose to associate with There are toxic types whenever there is competition. Whether you decide to let them colour your experience of the show ring is up to you. All I can say is don't knock it till you've tried it. I wasn't meaning to "knock it". Of course it can be a great day out. Just saying that it doesn't interest me due to some of the things I've heard from people who are involved. Pity you hadn't heard more positive things then. I've made some fabulous friends and learned a he'll of a lot about dogs from my involvement. I hate to hear of people turned off by those who paint it so blackly when frankly it's sometimes how those people choose to approach showing that colours their view.

It's also a great day out with friends who share your passion for dogs. It simply comes down to who you choose to associate with There are toxic types whenever there is competition. Whether you decide to let them colour your experience of the show ring is up to you. All I can say is don't knock it till you've tried it.

I was poking fun at myself there.