Tallwater is the largest framed of “Hope’s” three daughters, and for whatever reasons, has always had a strong bond with the goats; which upon realizing, I encouraged. Her mother could refrain from killing goats, and the sisters also. But Tall Water actually likes them, has relationships, favorites, even keeps the peace amongst them.
If I bring a new goat into the herd, she’s makes sure it knows its place till its one of the group. In fact the only problem I have with her as a livestock Guardian is that she’s so protective of newborn kids if a mother steps away in that first day or two, she’s liable to post up next to that newborn, and she won’t even let its own mamma near it; which is a problem, so I do have to separate her from birthing does for the first few days.
Signature shot
I chose the photos below to demonstrate how she often positions herself strategically. Our pasture borders the edge of a vast wilderness, she knows from which direction predators will come, she always seems to position her self accordingly… even for a nap
From this angle you can see how close the woods are, viewer left. If trouble comes, it will be from there.
Tallwater again
One more
Built the way I like, not too low slung, more leg than many a Boerboel bitch. The male version of her from the same litter topped 30”s at the shoulder.
A. The format is for blogs, but a blog it is not, pay no attention to the dates attached to the posts themselves, most of the time that doesn’t tell you anything except how long I’ve had a website, and oft times I play with the dates to influence the location of the posts
B. Navigation is best done by using the headings on the reader left, scrolling will only confuse you.
C. I realize copy editing is in order… but given that’s been the case for sometime now and I’m no closer to getting around to it then ever…. let’s just call it finished.
If you’re subject to trip on the occasional typo or misspelled word you’d better watch your step.
Scroll down for a quick photo trip through my Dogo’s with links to their progeny and B.A.E.R. and Penn hip tests.
Negrecha…. the bomb, at around 2 years of age here
The only remaining dog from all below, she’s my keeper. Negrecha is brave, smart, tough as nails, and an exceptional mother like Saga before her.
100 lb. female ( that would be 120-130 breeders lbs. )
Negrecha mother of “Tyra Banks” by Dane ( Magic )
Negrecha mother of ”lefty” by Kangal ( Oz )
B.A.E.R tested
Penn hipped,
Below, Negrecha as an adolescent, under a year.
And one more at about 5 weeks
Dubbed Negro Culo, by yours truly, the F.C.I. felt compelled to pull rank and renamed him, sans my consent or knowledge, Negro “Lulo” ( chuckle)
By any name this Brother to Negrecha is the owner of the single best Penn hip score for a Dogo in the world last I checked.
Penn hip .27 .27
B.A.E.R. tested also.
Negro Culo aka Lulo, again at just about one year, below
This male was exceptionally athletic, one of the things I most prize in the Dogo, a hundred plus lbs. and giving up nothing by way of speed, power, or endurance.
And one more
Audacity Saga: Dam of Negrecha and Negro Culo, below
Saga was the dog with whom I returned from my 7 week Dogo trek in Argentina in 2006 after having her bred to “Attraction” below. And from whom I had 10 pups from which to choose for myself. She was a smart dog, but wary of strangers, not as outgoing as many Dogos, but a love junkie to be sure with her people, and an exceptional mother. like many of the Antares line, which is virtually indistinguishable from Garfunkel’s Audacity kennel as the two have been working together for decades, she’s was good size bitch, taller of frame than many lines, which I prefer.
Having realized that “los Medanos” lines were disproportionately represented in the states I wanted to bring back something else, something worthy but other than, something that could then be bred TO Los medanos lines. Those in the know on Dogos understand the merit of Maria Angelica’s Antares lines.
Below you can see the litter complete with Negro Culo’s defining mark; I was forewarned that Attraction might throw “spots” I didn’t care, I was sold on his temperament.
You can see Negrecha’s black ear in the photo below, it was clear to me early on she would be my female keeper, here she is enjoying the benefits of that status
Audacity Attraction: Sire of Negrecha and Negro Culo
This is the dog that made my decision for me; after traveling thousands of miles and looking at dozens of Dogos in Argentina. The single most impressive Dogo I’ve met in all my travels, physically and otherwise. The first thing one notices about Attraction is his size; easily 31 inches and at least 150 lbs. the second is his movement, as graceful and light on his feet as an athletic dog half that size. But the most impressive thing, for me, was his temperament, his intelligence, his nerve.
Albert Garfunkel ( owner of Audacity kennel ) has more champions in more countries than any other Dogo breeder in the world, I couldn’t care less. Attraction is the dog that accompanied his wife when she went out, in a place where car jackings are so common they have a “guard” sitting in a booth whose job is watch for vehicles who’s drivers are being forcibly controlled going in or out of these gaited communites, like Alberts, within which all live in small gaited compounds, walls within walls.
Attraction was the family guardian, the one they let roam their compound at night; but perhaps more importantly also the one that was out with their children and their friends during the day. And the only dog of many owned by Albert that he chose to do Schutzund work with.
I hesitate to repeat in a public forum some of what I know about this dog; But having met him, having looked in his eyes, I would say he belongs in that rarified class of dogs unimpressed with humanity. Not an aggressive dog mind you, not at all, just fearless.
So, now that we’ve done it, we’ve thanked the president of the the Kangal Dog Club of America for his inspiration, and expressed our heart felt disregard to the Kangal and Dogo purists everywhere… what did we get ?
Mostly I’d say what we got was pleasant surprises. I kept one, “Lefty,” but I’ve gotten quite a bit of feedback from owners of his litter mates and the general picture is pretty consistent. Somehow in crossing two very serious, pretty hard, and relatively aggressive dogs….. we actually got something softer than either parent in many regards.
Who’d a thunk it ? Experienced dog crossers might. I’ve heard similar refrains with a whole slew of bandog/pit dog type crosses. It’s more art than science to be sure, but anecdotes do form patterns in numbers
But I’m going to concentrate on Lefty, because that’s what I know, first hand. And the biggest and most pleasant surprise with him is that he can be trusted as a stock guardian. I didn’t bill any of these dogs as such, nor would I, and I do crosses better suited to that end. But the fact remains with no particular training he has learned to leave my critters alone. That is a thing a Dogo really can’t be taught. If Lefty were one of Mendel’s Peas we might be tempted to say a Dogos prey drive is recessive to a Kangals lack there of, of course it’s not that simple. But for practical purposes it might as well be.
The other big surprise is he demonstrates a minimal amount of dog aggression. Given the relatively high amount of that in both parent breeds I was frankly a little concerned. Turns out Lefty, and from what I hear, his litter mates, are relative gentlemen of the Canine world. Those are the big surprises.
Here’s what’s not. He roams more than a Dogo, less than a Kangal. His coat is in between. His independence level is in between. His biddability seems to oscillate between both extremes. And he’s extremely smart, like both parents, even if his thinking is not quite like either, he is definitely a thinking dog.
Lefty is very, very good with all things small; children, puppies, goats kids etc. He seems to have gotten the protective thing from the kangal along with a healthy dose of self awareness ( won’t lick a toddler over like a dogo ) and the nurturing, licking tendency of the Dogo. I’ve witnessed Lefty dutifully clean the wound of a male dog “Mandela” between growls, as if to say hold still while I clean this, or I’m gonna kick your a$$.
Lefty does exhibit prey drive, more so than his Kangal father, in fact he goes a little crazy if I don’t let him get after anything that he suspects is lurking. Bottom line, he’s working for me here on and around my land, and he’s great out in public, I couldn’t ask for a whole lot more.
Physically he’s a very tall athletic looking dog, 30 plus inches at the shoulder, but not too heavy, with a beautiful light footed floating movement that would be better filmed then typed at ( video is on the to do list ) When people see him they think he’s some sort of Dane cross, and perhaps the best thing about him is… they’re wrong. Though he’s on the scale of a Dane, just minus any of the associated pitfalls
Kangoel x Dango =1/4 kangal 1/4 Boerboel 1/4 Dane 1/4 Dogo
aka
The Olympic Maxi-Melt
aka
Ghengis Afrikracker x Tyra Banks
This is the softest combination on the menu at the moment, for those who want a big dog, but might be a little hesitant to entertain some of the less gentrified breeds. Very large of frame, but still quite athletic, and healthier than any purebred of comparable size. A family dog first.
The coats thus far have varied from short to a sort of mid length with a substantial undercoat. Colors from red and grey brindle to black with lots of deep red, brown, grey and all sorts of subtle differences.
I raised “Quatro uno” ( seen below) to about 10 months. He was a big jolly fellow really, very good natured, an everyman dog, dog park material. I’ve got a nine month old female here now also, she’s much the same, and the feedback I’ve gotten is pretty consistently similar regards the general temperament.
You can see some photos of a few examples below.
Photos of my female keeper coming soon.
Quatro-uno
8wks
Quatro uno 10 months
Quatro uno 10 months
Below is “Ziggy” a Quatro from the 2010 litter ( photo album link below ) is also seen here at ten months, well over 30 inches at the shoulder already his owner says the vet expects him to reach 170 lbs. Stay tuned for a reference link from this owner. But I can tell you right now, Ziggy is a lover.
click Quatro litter to see 2010 litter ( see if you can spot ziggy )
click Current to see 2011 Quattro pups, available starting Mid April
