Customer Reviews

Pit Bulls and Tenacious Guard Dogs

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although, most of the writing appears to be accurate, the pit bull terrier is not a natural guard dog if left to it's own devices.To consider the pit bull a natural guard dog and compare them to breeds of great size that have been bred as guardians /or protectors for years is a fallacy. Guard work comes naturally to many of the breeds mentioned, specifically the mollusus breeds. However, extensive training is required for the otherwise "people friendly" pit bull to be used in this area. The breed has a deep desire to learn and a yearning to please and this combined with their athletic ability, enables them to excel and in many cases surpass other breeds with regard to it's specific training. They are not natural guard dogs however, and the true American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier without this specific training, could bark or even growl when a stranger knocks at the door. However, they will greet that same stranger with their tail wagging unless unless otherwise provoked. They are not naturally wary of strangers as the other breeds, nor should they be. They are people friendly dogs who happen to have a bad reputation due to man's interference and selfish desires.

I can say only one thing about Carl Semencic, and that is, "about time!"
I have been a big dog lover ever since my American Bulldoggue, Gator X, came into my life. People say guard dogs are dangerous. I say, yes they are, to the intruder. Here is the reason why they are. Here, also, and most important, is why they are age old and still used.
These dogs are bred to be with people.
Through research and finally pushing the envelope as to the stereotypes, the author has shown the truth behind these dogs. They are useful, loving, and intelligent animals who need the right owner to save them. He shows that the dogs need us like we need them. These dogs are not for show, nor our inadequacy problems, but for the purpose of loving us and being what we bred them to be, and that is the best of all dogs.
They are smart and protective and loving.
This book is a catalog of breeds that will do right by you if you are able to utilize their talents and show them the right attention and love. If you are in the market for a good guard dog, most of the ones I would recommend, save for the bandog and the boerboel, are here. It is the best catalog of good guard dogs in print today.
I suggest Gladiator Dogs as a follow up book.
Go big or stay home.

If you want a dog capable of being a protector as well as a buddy, but arent sure yet quite what you want, this book has chapters on most of the popular breeds as well as some not usually considered, such as the giant schnauzer. The author does a good job of giving an honest evaluation of each breed, the good points as well as the bad. He also did something I havent seen before in a breed anthology which is 'If you dont see it here, I dont consider it suitable for guard training' (paraphrased). If you can stomach the testosterone-flavored writing (ok, not that bad) it's a fascinating read, with tons of pictures of those breeds you'd love to see in the flesh, but know you never will. Definitely in the top 2 of my doggie book collection.

The first thing one notices about this book is the large amount of quality color photos filling the book. This book was purchased by me to help me decide what type of dog to get. Not only did this book begin a domino efffect that would result in dogs being a hobby but I also became enamoured with the Pit Bull. This book was read by most of my friends who were looking for dogs and I think it helped everyone. The book is ordered very logically with breeds in alphabetical order and is very straightforward about physical and behavioural characteristics of each of the suitable guard breeds. When a dog is less suitable around children, the author lets you know. It is probably my favorite dog book and I now have quite a collection.

To start let me tell you I own two Pit bulls male and female and they are great natural guard dogs, don't believe the other people that tell you they are not because the dogs are people friendly, German Shephards are people friendly that this mean they are not good guard dogs of course not, they are one of the best. I agree with the author when he says Pit bulls only love their family and friends of its family and will oppose any enemy of its family with a ferocity that was unprecedented in the world of dogs. I dare anyone to break into my home or jump my back yard fence and that will prove my point. I also love all guard dog breeds and this book gives great information on them specially breeds that are rare. Since I purchased this book I can't put it down, it has good pictures of great dogs. This book is a great book to own, buy it!

Although the author seems fairly knowledgeable on quite a few breeds he writes about, it is impossible to be an expert on all of them. Just the same, in his review of Bullmastiffs, he reports that he bred his own male Bullmastiff at the tender age of 10 months when he knew that it had a genetic immune deficiency. Hips cannot be accurately X-ray'd for displasia until the age of two years, which any responsible breeder of a large dog knows. Then he goes on to complain about the poor health quality of these poor dogs (which, by the way, would have been created by similar unethical breeding practices.) The same kind of irresponsible breeding he practices is responsible for the problems he decries in the German Shepherd (although he does have some accurate criticisms). He seems a bit illogically biased towards the APBT. He states that a Bull Terrier's size is not sufficient for stopping power, yet never brings this up with the APBT. I love Pit Bulls too, but I really don't think it's accurate to judge them on different criteria than other breeds. Pit Bulls are, after all, a people lover, and in my opinion not of the guarding calibur of breeds that have been bred for centuries for guarding and protection. Altogether, "Pit Bulls and Tenacious Guard Dogs" lacks consistency and impartiality and raises some serious questions about the author's breeding ethics.

This book focuces on the dogs diffrent pros and cons it also gives info on the availibility in the U.S. it had an article on my personal fav breed tha dogo wich is surprising it is an all around source of info a great book for the rare breed keepers library.

The book arrived in the condition listed and the book was interested reading. I DO have a problem with the entry on the American Bulldog, it was the SHORTEST write-up and that is MY sole purpose for purchasing the book, more information about the American Bulldog. I also think that TOO much credit for toughness is given to the pitbull, Semencic sings the praises as if this is THE toughest dog in the world and canNOT be defeated, (I KNOW dog fighting is illegal).

I own all of Semencic's books, but his rants, bias, constant opinions and sidebars about apbts, got old in his first book. However, I am thankful there are people such as him who chose to write about these type of dogs. It is enjoyable reading about the lesser known breeds. However, there are many outstanding reps of the gsd working in law enforcement, the military, czech border patrol, and even homes, so to consider not even including them is a joke. Name another dog with their history as a protector. And no, I don't own one. Also, to not include the Malinois or Dutch Shepherd is laughable. How about the Black Russian Terrier, Kangal, Caucasian Mountain Dog, Boerboel, or Central Asian Shepherd? No offense, but I would prefer about any flock guardian breed over an apbt, and I agree with others here, wasn't bred to be people aggresive or serve as a guard dog. He is more objective than someone like Stratton , who makes it seem as if a pit can whip a lion, outswim a lab, and outrun a greyhound. Again, I'm thankful he wrote the book, and he obviously worked hard at it, but does everything have to revolve around pit bulls, especially when it's them that could debatedly have been left out of this book? Heck, around here, they get stolen all the time, and believe me, I've seen some sorry examples of this breed, too. If you find a deal, the book is worth buying, though.

I am a guy who loves nearly all of the breeds described in this book. In my humble unbiased opinion this is one of the best sources for the novice guard-dog enthusiest in existance. I own a fila brasileiro (a large mastiff type guard dog), and this book was a great book for helping me to decide which guardian breed suited me best. If you can find this book and you like guardian breeds this will be one of your favorites!