Wow! How sad that people refuse to consider outcrossing when the gene pool is so small. If my breed was in that state I would be very much in favour of outcrossing to a similar breed. And as for forcing the bitch to mate.... Disgusting behaviour!
I know, it's just baffling to me. Outcrossing may bring change into the breed, but that's preferable to extinction surely? And if they can't stand the thought of that possible change, they might as well spay and nuter their dogs now and be done with it. I'm all for purebreeds and trying to preserve them but IMO, it should never be held on to, to the detriment of the dogs. And as for forced matings, think youve somed up my feelings there.
And they're deliberately ignoring her, because it would appear without fresh blood, they've no choice.:-(
Never heard of that breed before interesting it runs boars as well. Looks beautiful and I bet as intelligent as you'll get out.
There`s a lot in this article that I frankly don`t believe. The `fact` that in Europe dogs are only neutered for medical reasons for starters. I think I`d want to know what the agenda of the writer was, and also seek objective confirmation of salient facts. The Wikipedia entry gives no mention of these problems http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikoku_(dog) neither does the breed standard. http://www.shikokudog.com/standard
I was interested in reading the comments on the thread. It seems these people are very well informed experts in the breed (and others), and aren't necessarily english speaking. The article made alot of sweeping statements which were tones down in the later comments with "some" and "often" instead of "all" and "always" You do not spay and neuter nearly as much as we do... Here it's VERY rare to see a pet dog that's not neutered... infact so rare, that it might be weeks between me seeing an intact male, I wonder of there are any statistics on that... hmmmn It's pushed down our throats constantly, there's even adds on radio and tv about how much healthier it is. everyone here is being brainwashed about the NECESSITY of s&n, which, considering that 5 million dogs and cats are euth'd every year in the US alone... maybe it is a necessity
