Тестовые испытания волкодавов

Выкладываю перевод на английский моей вот этой статьи. Огромное спасибо Анне Фруминой за сотрудничество! 

The temperament and behavior of the Central Asian is uneasy to describe. This multivariable breed includes different populations. Some are aggressive, while some are completely loyal to human; aziat may be very active and temperamental, or may be lazy phlegmatic turning into a rapidly fast dog only if vitally needed. One thing is definite: Aziat must not be coward. 

One of the ways to test the temperament of the Central Asian Shepherd is to enroll one into so-called “fighting test”, even through I prefer to call it a fight. There are numerous admirers and opponents of such, while I prefer to stay in the middle , - i.e. I visit the fight tests, sometimes enter my dogs, and will prefer to used a fight tested male for stud, but unlikely will aim to train or prepare my dog for fight Championship trial. 

Essentially, I am speaking about Central Asian Shepherd fights, and have nothing to do with pit-bulls. I liked what I’d observed at tests. Definite rules, dogs are separated as soon as the winner is determined. Many owners of young dogs stopped the fight before the winner is determined: the dogs started the encounter, the temperament is clearly visible, and that’s all we needed. Had never seen anything around like betting money or gambling. Had never seen anything that looked like a serious injury. Most dogs are leaving the grounds with somewhat wet hair, that’s it!, while horrifying pictures of dogs covered with blood, often used for animal rights supporters speculations, just tribute to a blood from a bitten tongue, mixed with saliva, - this is the reason it looks like there is a lot of blood. I’d seen this often enough in my yard, when my dogs sometimes decide to clarify their relationships. Actually, I do not separate my dogs to stop the fight, unless the German Shepherds started it. Germans Shepherds fight without rules or decency, and their fights may be dangerous. Anyhow, I wait until Central Asians determine who is who, and carefully check them throughout one by one. Looking at one from a distance, how horrible, there is blood allover her. Looking for wounds, - none. Just minor scratches on the tongue or gums, if any. Therefore, all fairytales about “ poor dogs that are fought and injured”, “blood rivers” etc, - nothing but a provocation. I know what I am talking about, I was at the test fights, and enrolled my dogs, unlike green and other animal rightists. 

A few examples: dogs I personally enrolled: 

Example 1. Male, just over 2 years of age. Was raised by the breeder as a part of a group of dogs (living together), was purchased for protection at 1 year of age. Proper temperament, the dog was actively protective against human intruder, including on a tie-out and off leash, while controllable. A few times accidentally fought with other dogs on premises, did not show any fear. We brought him to a fighting test. Outside the ring he was growling, and looked overall like he is going to “tear the all apart”. Entered into the ring, started to look for a way out. Encountered the contender ( a bit older dog, of lesser weight) , squealed at the first bite, and run away from the ring. Neither this dog, nor the contender had any scratches, just a bit of saliva. This male surely was disqualified from breeding. 

Example 2. Male, 3 years old, same background and ownership. The difference, more loyal to people, he was protective only on a tie-out and on his premises, while was rather friendly towards people outside the territory he was protecting, sometimes even excitable. When I walked this dog into the ring, I initially was under impression that he was going to refuse to fight, as he was happily jumping around the ring. Until he spotted the other contestant, a fight test rated male of same weight. My male started the low growl, and went to attack the contestant as soon as I released him. He shown a great fight, was up and down 3 times; lost the fight by “making noise” (* at Sredneaziatskaya Ovtcharka fights, the dog who whines, squeals, or makes otherwise undesirable sound, is excused from the ring), but that’s irrelevant. One can see what the dog is about by watching the fight, and a good dog will not turn bad, if she loses. Shouting from the crowd “Lady! Nice dog u got!” and congratulations from others and the owners of the opponent dog after the event is the honest and the best evaluation or the dog. After the fight, my dog had a minor bite mark on the lip, the other dog did not have any, and there was no blood at all. 

Example 3. Test fought our year and a half old male against 2 years old American bulldog. Dogs had muzzles on, because the owner of the bulldog was concerned to avoid injuring dog’s long ears. There was no actual fight: the bulldog started to back up, walk away with his tail down. Aziat was following him for some time, than stopped, aziat claimed the victory, put his front legs on bulldog’s back, stood up in this position for some time, than returned to me. Central Asian does not attack a passed rival. 

I observed these 3 dogs for a year following the event. Their behavior did not change much, just the male described as Example 2, became somewhat quieter (he actually is very temperamental). Aggression is an inborn trait of a living creature, and no dog can became totally un-aggressive without harmful changes of psychological functioning (feel free to read Konrad Lawrence if you doubt this ). And the creature needs to have an outlet for this aggression. Fight is a great way to implement this potential, sometimes even greater than a protection training. Fight is not a game, and the dog has an opportunity to realize herself to the fullest extent, relieving from negative energy. 

Actually, I dealt with fighting Central Asians. First Central Asian Shepherds I met were fought on regular basis. They were two littermate males and a female (the female was not fought). After meeting and communicating with these dogs I got dogs of this breed myself. These two males were participating in test fights not once or twice, but on regular basis. The third male out of the female I mentioned joined them later, and he made it through up to the fight championship trial participant. I handled them at dog conformation shows. And I walked these “horrible creatures” , on a thin show lead. I walked them near other, “non-fighting“ dogs, that were barking nonstop. Near toy breed dogs, continuously attempting to bite the “fighter”. Somewhy Show Judges always rated these “fighting dogs” as “ perfectly show trained ”, and they were able to check teeth, testes etc with ease; dogs followed the lead and stacked without any complications, ignoring growling males in the same ring. The male exercises an opportunity to explore the understanding of his own strength via fight, further leading to development of true nobility of character typical of strongest personalities. 
Consequently all fabrications of overly active animal rightists about “dogs became unstable after fights” - delirium and profanity. I know, because I work with these dogs. Unlike greened from their own stupidity clueless degenerates who possibly had seen dog fights on TV, if ever. 

Fight is an excellent test of the dog’s attitude. First, the trip, sometimes, a long one. New strange place, and a lot of strange dogs. Actually, a lot of contenders, - Aziat is not unintelligent, he can determine that surrounding dogs are rivals of equal strength or stronger, not a lay group of St Bernards and Toy Terriers. Dog listens to the sounds of the fight, and realizes that her turn will come. Add-on, owners’ and spectators’ emotions. Ringside entrance is broad and open, unlike at the dog show. A lot of attention, everybody is looking at this dog. All this builds up yet minor, but already sensible psychological pressure. Some dogs leave at this stage, while walking towards the center of the ring. Weak nervous system does not keep up with the pressure of the close attention, and the dog is making an attempt to run away with his tail down even before facing the other dog. Next, the actual fight. This is a serious check-up. Initially, a test of anatomy and physiology, and secondary, of the nervous system sturdiness. I already mentioned that the dog completely wears himself out during the fight. The dog needs to think straight, while under a great physical and nervous pressure from the rival. Besides being very strong, he must have perfect nerves and be in an excellent health in order to keep his mind completely clear during encounter. 

Instead of further description, I’ll list one by one undesirable breed traits that can be determined and disqualified via fight. 

1. Excessive weight and height. 

2. Anatomical faults (excessively short - or long bodied dogs, too short or too long extremities bones) . 

3. Weak ligaments and joints, underdeveloped muscles. 

These 3 attributes restrict dog’s ability to fight. She will either fall down and will not be able to stand up, or will be insufficiently fast, strong, nimble. As far as we remember, the Central Asian Shepherd is a "Volkodav", wolf control dog. The wolf will instantly kill such a controller. 

4. Thin, or excessively loose skin, excessive subcutaneous tissue. Besides being definite grounds for excessive wounds, what will lead without a veterinary help eventually to dog’s death ( aziat is there in the middle of nowhere to fight wolves as far as we remember, who else is there to provide urgent veterinary help? The wound will get infected, and good-bye) these skin structure is typical for dogs that show tendency to chronic ear infections and eczemas. 

5. Weak cardiovascular system and respiratory system. Fight puts a lot of pressure on both. Aziat is hard working while fighting, and winning the fight not so much because of his teeth, but primarily because of his body durability and endurance. What exercise stress level will he possibly tolerate if he has a weak heart? I can imagine a Central Asian Shepherd that got a heart attack while moving sheep between fields at local heat, and he laid down to rest for some time. He will not rise to stand up again. 

6. Nervous system faults. A definite coward will be visible right away, he will either run away, or scream. Further, one can see how the dog starts the fight. Indecisive or somewhat coward dogs tend to “attack teeth upfront”: click teeth, grin. Excessively hyper dogs “make noise”, yelp or squall. Misbalance between processes of excitation and inhibition as well as cowardice are unacceptable traits for a livestock protection dog. One needs to understand that “attack teeth upfront” after a long , stiff fight is very different from the case when the dog starts to click teeth, protruding her eyes, as soon as the contender touched her. First case is an example of a dignified lose, second is a cowardice. 

7. Insufficient intelligence. Dog needs wit, ability to extrapolate and ability to keep effective thinking under stress during the fight. Otherwise, the rival will figure out the tactics in a fraction of the second and get a strong hold. The wolf will simply kill. 

I agree, the fight test is not the only available and not the only necessary one. A dog that is a great fighter but poops on itself at the first sight of a robber with a stick is not a Central Asian Ovtcharka, therefore dogs need to be tested for protectiveness against human intruders as well. Nobody dismissed the mandatory check-up for reaction for a gunshot. Dog’s temperament stability is a complicated thing, and keep continuously checking it by one and only one test is senseless and harmful for the reason that the results will be single-sided. Therefore stud dogs need to be fight tested, along with other existing tests. Livestock protection dog needs to be capable to withstand against another dog as well as against a wild predator. 

One can say, that the fight against a wolf is very different from the fight against a dog. That‘s true. Aziat fights a wolf like a foe, seeking to kill , while he fights a dog like a rival, looking to win over. Simply, an Aziat may be a good fighter, while a poor wolf stopper. However, Aziat that fears to fight another dog is definitely not a wolf stopper, and will never become one.
 

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