What is a bandog?
The Bandog (also known as bandogge) is designed to be a close quarter combat dog. It excels in realistic protection and can be a wonderful companion/family dog for experienced dog owners. They are quite trainable and easy to maintain. A Bandog is mainly good-natured, fond of children in general, extremely devoted to its owner, and eager to work. Bandog’s appearance is muscular, the behavior is self-assured, steady, and fearless. Bandog is basically a calm dog that transforms when a bad situation arises.
Origin :
Nonspecific
Size :
Male Bandog: 55-70 kg. (121 – 154 lbs)
Female Bandog: 50-58 kg. (110 – 128 lbs)
You might have thought that I am small. I am 1.86m height, and I weight 120kg. Bandog is BIG!
Every Bandog shown here come from Lucero’s Working Class Kennels and Thunderdome’s Kennels
– 12/01/07. Our new Bandog’s website is online. We hope that you will enjoy it. Feel free to send us your opinion. nikos@bandog.info
– From wikipedia.org. “Anyone who is in the market for a great family dog that will be an intruder’s nightmare should consider the Bandog”
History
The bandog philosophy of breeding has existed just about as long as domestic dogs themselves. Mankind developed fleet, nimble hunting dogs that fulfill the purposes of the semi-nomadic hunter-gathers, through to the large breeds that guard settlements and livestock. The progression toward breeding these heavier dogs to the smaller, more athletic dogs producing a medium type has been a natural process. The resultant dogs proving to be more flexible across a greater variety of tasks. Bandogs have been used primarily for big game hunting and as guard dogs throughout the centuries. The first most organized and well-documented approach and application of the bandog was done by the British “Gamekeepers” whose “Gamekeeper’s Night Dog” fulfilled the role of patrol companion and ‘despatch dog’ (capturing wounded game so that they could be despatched without undue suffering). The Gamekeepers Night Dog had an extremely dangerous job that often cost it its life. It had to locate and fight armed “Poachers” who would often find themselves fighting these dogs for their lives. In the 1820s, the “caught” poacher could see one shipped off to the colonies of Australia or America if they were lucky, such punishments, however, made desperate men. In France, similar types of dogs were bred to partake of similar roles, the parallels even extending to nomenclature: Chien du Nuit.
Temperament
Mentally, these dogs are the very picture of stability. At times, described as having the “British” rather than “German” canine Temperament. By which it is meant that whilst both should have high stimulus threshold and pack mentality, the British temperament does so without desire to assert rank whereby the German temperament is unflinchingly loyal to its master but affords itself as superior to all others.
When raised appropriately, this makes them utterly trustworthy with children, often becoming self-appointed custodians. Spirited when at play or at work, they are otherwise calm, composed and easy going. Shows no sign of shyness, or of needless apprehension. Always demonstrates a high tolerance as well as a quick recovery from stress. Impeccable ability in discerning between general human activities from behaviour warranting suspicion or aggression. Possessed of a true ‘On’ / ‘Off’ switch resultant from supreme self-confidence making for a highly predictable and stable dog that has nothing to prove in responsible hands.
A strong balance of drives. Pronounced Pack and Fight drive, strong hunt, prey, and defense drives. Level-headed, respond positively to stress. Switches between drives with little outward physical indication, which can require an expert eye to discern. This balance of drives does not foster the outward manifestation of aggression but should not be taken for granted as they will respond in kind when threatened, increasing their intensity in almost linear progression until the threat is dealt with.
Can prove diffident or rambunctious when young. This behavior can be linked both to the maturation rate of larger breeds, as well as to environment and upbringing. Best developed in the hands of those that understand these differences, rather than those expecting to see similar behavior to that exhibited by traditional working breeds such as the shepherd breeds.
Today’s use
The modern Bandog is primarily used as a home/family guardian but it is also the choice of an increasing number of Security agencies as a patrol and crowd control dog. It would make a good candidate for weight pulling and other k9 sports that require raw physical strength and the eagerness to please their master. The desire of the dog to be with and please its master coupled with a natural affinity toward exercise suits it to any activity. Furthermore, the very essence of the dog is that of balanced structure, free from exaggeration which greatly enhances a dog’s chances to lead to a happy, healthy, and active life as an ideal companion.
Bandog info is written in its entirety by Dan Balderson of England and Stelios Sdrolias of Greece.
Meligounakis Nikolaos
VIP Security, Personal Protection Dog Trainer-Advisor
Mobile: +30.693.88.50.284
website: www.bandog.info
email: nikos@bandog.info