k wrote:HAH! how much time have you spent truly looking at purebred dogs? regardless of breed or original function, those that are no longer bred for performance of some kind are universally less sound than those that still earn their keep.
I can tell you that I own a dog who is decidedly
not game by the dog fighter's definition, and tempermentally, he is probably the most sound dog I've ever met.
I know Elmo isn't what a dog fighter would call "game", because when they got through the fence and were being beat up by my neighbor's dogs, by the time I got out there, Elmo was trying desperately to get away, and wanted no part of the fight that was still going on. (I doubt he ever wanted any part of it in the first place, he was just caught in the middle) His injuries weren't life threatening, but they hurt, and he didn't want any more.
He also impressed the vet with how incredibly sweet and easy to work on he was while she was patching him up, despite the pain he was suffering. He's impressed any number of professional dog trainers with his steady temperament. Aced the TT, and the main evaluator for the ATTS suggested I do therapy work with him because he's so unshakeable.
So no, I am far from convinced that anyone needs to fight dogs to preserve their stellar qualities.