Page 106 - ShowSight - September 2020
P. 106

                century predecessors were the English Mastiff (English Dogge, where “dogge” refers to mastiff type) and what was then known as the Wolfhound. These approximately 28" tall dogs were bred by the German nobility from the 17th century onward as chase dogs not intended to capture or catch. They were used to hunt big game such as wild boar, bear, elk, and deer, and were commonly referred to as the German boarhound. An infusion of other breeds, including the Souliot hound of Molossia/Northern Greece in the 18th century, added to the stature of the boarhound. With the advent of firearms, hunting as then practiced was inalterably changed and the number of boarhounds, along with other dog types that hunted in a similar fashion, decreased precipitously.
In or around 1878, the dog type that was alternatively known as the Ulmer Dog, Deutsche Dogge/German Mastiff, or Great Dane coalesced around the name “Great Dane.” The origins of the word “Dane” have many historical interpretations depending on which line of literature is followed. Despite this, the breed continued to develop, but not with its original hunting intent. Further develop- ment of the breed focused on its use as a companion.
That the Great Dane has strayed far from its original usage is a given. However, its substantial changes from the type of the 1880s through 1930s-40s, to what we know today, are remarkable. The head alone has made significant changes to emphasize what is described as a brick on brick structure with pendulous lips in the place of previously much tighter-lipped specimens. Substance, body depth, rear angulation, and emphasis on elegance has increased to the point where the breed may not be able to initiate or maintain a hunt, given the opportunity.
The Dogo Argentino is a very recent entry into the AKC Work- ing Group and has its developmental origin in Argentina, as evi- denced by its name. It was conceived by a doctor and huntsman (Antonio Nores Martinez) in Argentina beginning in 1928 to be used as a big game hunter. This gentleman was seeking a dog type that not only could hunt, but exhibited exceptional bravery, would willingly protect its human hunter/companion, guard, and be a loyal family pet. The now-extinct Cordoba (Argentina) dog was the basis for the breed with admixtures of Great Dane, Boxer, Spanish Mastiff, Pyrenean Mastiff, Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Pointer, Dogue de Bordeaux, and Irish Wolfhound.
This white, smooth-coated breed made its appearance in the US in 1970 with the importation of six Dogos. Its Molosser and bull breeds ancestry is unmistakable, especially considering the ancestral breeds that formed the breed as we know it today. Its prey drive is second to none and it is used by wild boar hunters in many areas of the US, as well as in its native Argentina. The only dif- ference between a hunting Dogo and a show Dogo in the US is how long ago it was out in the field! The hunters are proud to show their Dogos and many exhibitors keep the hunting traditions alive. Hopefully, it will stay that way.
While the Newfoundland and the Portuguese Water Dog are found within the AKC Working Group, these two water-working breeds are well divided in the FCI realm. The Newfoundland is within FCI Group 2 and is classified in the Mountain type sub- group. The Portuguese Water Dog is categorized within FCI’s Water Dog type sub-group of Group 8 (Retrievers, Flushing Dogs, Water Dogs).
Originally bred as working dogs for the fishermen of the Dominion of Newfoundland, now part of Canada, the island’s namesake breed descends from the indigenous Lesser Newfound- land/St. John’s Dog and has strong ties to the Retrievers of Can- ada as evidenced by DNA analysis. It is thought that Portuguese fishermen brought a Portuguese Mastiff type dog to the area and
these were crossed with the indigenous dogs of the Newfound- landers. The smaller St. John’s Dog became the foundation of modern Canadian Retrievers, whereas the heavier Newfoundland was known as the Greater Newfoundland. The Lesser and Greater Newfoundlands both pulled fishnets, though the Greater New- foundland pulled equipment carts as well. The breed made its way to the European continent and the UK where it graced the estates of well-to-do families.
Water rescues by Newfoundlands are legendary and are recorded as far back as the 1800s. Their strength and love of water is well- known, along with their very good-natured disposition. The par- ent club maintains water work (rescue) and draft work testing and titling programs, each with increasing levels of difficulty. Since 1985 and through 2017, approximately 522 Newfoundlands have earned the parent club’s Versatile Newfoundland title which must include each of the following per dog: AKC championship, AKC obedience title, NCA Water Rescue Dog title, and NCA Draft Dog title.
The breed has changed in its ring presentation over the years, mainly in coat presentation. Much to the protective detriment of its flat, water-resistant, double coat, many exhibits are blown dry to the point where the hair stands on end.
The Portuguese Water Dog could be found up and down the coast of Portugal in centuries past, and was later concentrated and refined within the Mediterranean-facing Algarve region of Portu- gal. This super intelligent swimmer and diver was the companion of fishermen, performing many tasks, including guarding and pro- tecting the boat and its contents, retrieving lines, lost tackle, or bro- ken net, and ferrying messages from boat to boat or boat to shore. Due to European hygiene regulations, dogs are no longer allowed to work on boats (since January 2012).
PWDs almost became extinct, but in the 1930s the breed was revived by a wealthy Portuguese shipping businessman. His work was later carried on by several others in Portugal and eventually the breed had its introduction to the US in 1968. There does not appear to be an appreciable difference between images of the revived breed in Portugal to those we see in Continental or US rings today.
There are two varieties based on coat, but shown as one breed. The first has a long and wavy, slightly woolly and shiny coat, and the second has a dense, shorter and curly coat forming compact cylindrical curls. The style of coat exhibited on the Continent (in particular, on the Iberian Peninsula) and that found in the US are strikingly different. In the US, the more common coat trim is the lion cut with a tightly-packed curly coat, whereas among EU coun- tries the more common coat trim is the lion cut with a long, wavy fall to the coat.
The parent club maintains a water work program with working trial titling available in five sequentially difficult levels. The tests include various degrees of difficulty covering retrieving/carrying, retrieving from shore, retrieving from a boat, swimming with han- dler, etc. Each of the levels requires exercises using differing equip- ment that would be expected to be on fishing boats.
Are we paying attention to the original intent of the breed when observing it? How conscious are we of these real and perceived dif- ferences when we make our judging decisions, be they in the show ring, working trials, water work, or in breeding? Is there a diver- gence in type or morphology? What are we doing, as breeders and judges, to close the gap?
I’ll look forward to your commentary and questions on this article, as well as the ones that follow in this series. Feel free to send your comments to info@aramediagroup.com or to me at jollytime- hounds@northstate.net.
BREEDING WITH INTENTION
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