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Does anyone use these breeds for what they were originally bred for?

fbulnes

Active Member
Spanish Mastiffs are still used to protect cattle vs predators (wild dogs, bears and wolves) in Spain. Lately the number of wolves has increased and due to the very cold winter, the packs are looking for food near / in the cattle ranches so spanish mastiffs are having a big demand. Also tibetian mastiffs, kangals and most middle east cattle guard dogs are used for its original purpose.
In the US there is a lady who breeds spanish and pyrinean mastiffs (not Great Pyrinean). The name of the breeder is Cinco Deseos Ranch Livestock Guardian Dogs...
 

DDSK

Well-Known Member
Agreed!!!
!
All breeds are watered down versions of what they originally were designed for.

This is true but it is also a true statement for human beings, you don't see many of us shepherding flocks of goats or sheep along the rocky hill sides or driving cattle to market
 

fbulnes

Active Member
Maybe thats why the spanish mastiff / pyrinean mastiff / kangal / breeds are not as popular as other mastiffs.. This is why also these dogs are not as popular as these dogs have still very strong instinct.. very independent..
 

GaMei

Well-Known Member
Well for the most part Dogo Argentino is still used at least in South America for what it was breed for "wild bore hunting"
 

Molossers R Us

Active Member
The only bm breeder I know of who comes close to using their dogs as they were intended is Nyx Bullmastiffs. Their dogs are a part of the family, but also roam their acreage, protecting the property. I think he said they have a problem with coyotes, and they also raise prize cattle. Their dogs also are champions in the show ring. Very nice man. <a href="http://brindlebullmastiffs.com/About.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nyx Bullmastiffs</a>

I too, employ a Bullmastiff as a ranch guardian here at my rural homestead. He was a little slow to catch on, LOL, but now he is one determined S.O.B. when it comes to enforcing the "Absolutely No Trespassing" policy here! I used to suffer heavy predator losses of my chickens from coyotes, stray or feral dogs, bobcats, etc. Now, they know better than to come around here looking for an easy meal. My BullDogo drilled a bobcat earlier this year, and the Bullmastiff learned by watching. He can cover some serious ground at a higher speed than my other dogs and is surprisingly agile for how big he is. Coyotes used to bounce right over the perimeter fence, but now they know they cannot outrun him, so they stopped trying after several semi-violent encounters with my pack. So yeah, Mastiffs still working on the job here.
 

fila4me

Well-Known Member
In the US Dogos are used to hunt hogs as well as in other countries.
Filas are used on farms to work cattle and protect, in the US and other countries. My breeder uses hers on her cattle farm.
 

Esand

Well-Known Member
Leia's breeder has had Filas since he was a kid growing up in the Missiones Province of Argentina near the infamous triple border with paraguay and brazil. At that time communist guerrillas and drug cartels were regularly hacking people up with machetes and his parents who owned a cattle ranch decided that they were going to get some of those "perros malos de brasil" to keep things under control.

We were looking for a guard dog and a friend of ours who breeds polo ponies and has 3 filas ward off human predators was a huge influence. After meeting her dogs we fell in love, they really are the greatest breed.
 

goatnipples2002

Well-Known Member
I use my dogs for what they were intended for security. I didnt get a Corso for anything but security. My family likes the companionship but again I like the security.
 

Yamizuma

Well-Known Member
Well, as the DDB was bred to guard the castle, mind the children and help plow the fields...and I don't have kids, live in the city, and my house is wee... She may not be fulfilling her original breeding mandate, but she sure works for me!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

Caleb

Well-Known Member
Maybe thats why the spanish mastiff / pyrinean mastiff / kangal / breeds are not as popular as other mastiffs.. This is why also these dogs are not as popular as these dogs have still very strong instinct.. very independent..
I didn't read this entire thread, only the OP and skimmed through and found this post, which touched on what I was thinking. The answer to the OP is a basic "no". The function has been bred out of most of these dogs and they are bred nowadays for the "look". Dogs such as the Kangal, and Anatolian aren't as popular because they don't have that bully look, but are very independent, and more dog in terms of performance and temperament that most people desire. Where I was once sold on the Cane Corso, I've become fascinated with the Kangal....a true big dog that can run 35 mph and jump a 5 foot barbed wire fence like a deer, engage its oppressor and kill it. These dogs don't get much hype on colorful websites but are the real deal,and haven't been ruined by the masses yet. These are very impressive, handle with care dogs. As far as mastiff type dogs...not so much. They are people pleasers, so they are easy to be around and want to make you happy, and make decent deterrents....and some people consider that work. The only ones working are there because breed fanciers are lobbying for it, and not because they are being sought out. Even the Rottie with their work drive are being seen less and less and more shepherd types are being used as law enforcement and service dogs.
 

Caleb

Well-Known Member
Fila's on the other hand are known to have a harder temperament for engagement than a lot of mastiffs. I think that most of us would be a little surprised at how most mastiffs would behave it they were faced with an immanent threat as manstoppers have to be truly tested. Fila's would be a good bet in a nasty situation as well as a Tosa. Dogos are used like crazy in the circles that I used to run in, but you already mentioned hog hunting. That's quite the job though and a true test of the grittiness of a dog. All depends on what one considers work.
 

al capone

Well-Known Member
I think my Cane Corso does his job very well as a guardian dog. I've seen some signs that he will bite someone one day. Now my country ,El Salvador, has the highest murder rate in the world . This doesn't make me proud but you never know when somebody will attack you for your cel,wallet ,car,whatever.
Today we were walking with the short leash ,close to my office,my car was parked about one meter from a wall,a guy was coming in front of us and we met right by my car. Al Capone jumped over him,no noise,no growls,just jumped over, with an open mouth,I pulled back the short leash and thankful nothing happened. The guy was freaked out,I was scared also. The guy turned back and walked away,only thing he said was " shit he's mean " . My dog is 18 months old. I guess he was breed by his original job. I hope he will get bite next time.
 

Caleb

Well-Known Member
My Corso has almost had me in a bind a time or two as well. He will definitely get someone. I know 2 other Corso's that are bred from show lines and have more correct type than my big boy and they have the temperament of a basset hound.