Bandog Opinion by Jeff Oehlsen (Speciality: Mondio Ring, Predominant exp. in Rottweilers and Malinois)

Quote: "because hello, 'sport' is designed for herders and isn't something bandog's excel at..."

This statement is pretty much the heart of any argument against these types of dogs.

I am not stirring the pot, but just pointing out some basics.

The mentality of bandog and mastiff types owners is for shit. I do not think that it takes some super herder to do "sport" AND in my experience, when a dog breaks down at the lower levels of "sport" there is a good chance that protecting you at home is out of the question. Luckily, most people are afraid of these dogs based on size alone.

Since I have seen these dogs work at some level, and think that I wouldn't mind seeing them get over that weird nerve, or even worse their high thresholds.

Plus, too many people spew out the word "sport" as if it was a bad thing.........and many of these people have dogs that couldn't do basic levels of these sports, and that is what makes it so bad.

When bandog and mastiff people can come up with their own version of a test, then maybe the rest of us "herder" people will at least listen. Until then, it is not going to be taken seriously.

The dogs I worked were started by someone else, and I did not agree with the training at all. There is too much macho shit going on with these dogs, and it is a shame, as there are a few I wished I could have been the one to put the foundation work on the dog.

There is a weird nerviness that I see with pit crosses that I feel comes from biting a human. It is not scaredy cat as much as it seems to be a "I am not supposed to be biting people" thing. Then they add in a lot of defense to counter their own insecurities and they get hectic dogs.

Thresholds are the other thing that are way to high. It is not that they do not have drive, just that their thresholds are too high to get past them. When bandog people figure out EXACTLY what you are looking for, and have definite breed goal (you might have them, just I do not know about them LOL ) Then I think you might have something interesting.

Originally posted on Longwoods Working Dog Club Message Board