Bandog

Bandog is derived from early English and refers to a ferocious large type of dog that was bound by a chain until it was released at night in order to guard property. The fact that the modern day Bandog is also large, can be ferocious, and is composed of some Mastiff and some Bulldog, as was the original Bandog, is all that the Bandog of old and the modern Bandog have in common.

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Appearance

The Bandog is a large dog ranging in weight from about 100 to 150 lb and roughly 26 inches at the withers.

Introduction

It was later in its history that the dog became known as the "Bandogge" because the breed did not exist under some other name.

The extraordinary courage possessed by these dogs is almost unbelievable. Bred from a long line of fighting ancestors, the dog was eventually developed of such ferocity and courage as to seem almost insensible to pain.

International Bandogge Standard - Draft Bandogge Standard Version 5.1 - updated 2 Jun 2006 from : molosserdogs.com

The Early History of the Bandog

It is impossible to say how the Bandogge originated, most writers are of the opinion that all dogs originated from the wolf (ancient dogs), but the development of the Bandogge still remains a mystery.

The Bandogge probably was selected from both Bull Baiting and the Guardian Mastiffs or the cross of both from the war dogs used in the Crusades (medieval battles that took place during the 11th through 13th centuries).

William Harrison, in his description of England (1586), first mentions the word in his statement, "Bandogge which is a huge dog, stubborn, uglier, eager, burthenouse of bodie, terrible and fearful to behold and oftentimes more fierce and fell than any Archadian or Corsican cur." It is assumed that the word "Bandogge" originated from the use of strong bonds and chains to secure the dogs.

Dr. Caius (1576) states that , among others characteristics, the "Mastiff or Bandogge is serviceable against the fox and the badger, to drive wild and tame swine out of meadows, and pastures, to bite and take the bull by the ears, when occasion so required".

The bandogs of old were strictly working crossdogs of various sizes and usually coarse-haired hunters, fighters and property protectors without a strictly set type, developed from eastern shepherds and mastiffs crossed with western Bullenbeissers and hounds, with a few local bloodlines eventually being established as specific types in some regions, such as Britain, Spain, Germany, Poland and elsewhere in Europe. One of the most famous bandogge programs in England led to the establishment of a recognized breed, resulting in what is today the Bullmastiff.The Early History of the Bandogge.

International Bandogge Standard - Draft Bandogge Standard Version 5.1 - updated 2 Jun 2006 from : molosserdogs.com

Modern Breed Description

A great number of local bandogge strains have emerged worldwide and these working crosses exist under a variety of names, but the breed commonly accepted as the Bandogge today was developed in the 1960's by American veterinarian John Swinford, who set out to create a property guardian dog superior to all others. Another notable developer is Joe Lucero, whose American Bandogge Mastiff is seen by many as the ideal working breed and a perfect representative of what a true bandogge should be. There are other bandogge strains in existence under different names, but the Swinford and Lucero lines are the most famous and rightfully celebrated for their stable temperaments and outstanding working qualities.

Most agree that APBT x Mastiffs crosses were used. Dogs were bred from strains that have temperament, phenotype, to do home guardian or personal protection. The Bandog is a rugged dog, heavily boned and muscled, intimidating when seen and is ferocious when provoked. Broad skull, short to long muzzle depending on the strain of Bandogge with hard bites, wide shoulder, powerful chest, great agility, intelligence and very well controlled dog.

The Bandogge, any variety, is strictly a working breed and should be a result of serious and dedicated planning, starting from careful selection of parent breeds and more importantly, appropriate representatives of those breeds, with the health and temperament testing being on the top of the list of priorities, while the uniformity in appearance is the last of the breeders' concerns.

International Bandogge Standard - Draft Bandogge Standard Version 5.1 - updated 2 Jun 2006 from : molosserdogs.com

Appearance

Height and weight will vary on strains which comprise of different component breeds.

This is not a giant among dog, but he is a massive animal, very muscular and well balanced overall, showing great strength. He should be alert and with natural guard behavior. His body symmetrical and well proportioned. The dog should have the appearance of an athlete demanding, compact, muscular and proud.

International Bandogge Standard - Draft Bandogge Standard Version 5.1 - updated 2 Jun 2006 from : molosserdogs.com

Foundation Breeding

The First Group , approximate average of 12,5-75%: American Pit bull Terrier APBT, American Staffordshire Terrier AST, and Staffordshire Terrier ST.

The Second Group ,approximate average of 12,5-75%: AKC Mastiff, Bullmastiff and Neopolitan Mastiff .

The Third Group approximate average of 0- 75%: American Bulldog, Boxer, Boerbell, Bulldog Campeiro, Bullterrier, Cane Corso, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro, Great Dane, Olde English Bulldog, Presa Canario, Rotweiler and Tosa.

OBS: To apply for registry on Bandogge the cross required F3(Generation).

Size: Males and females: Height: 20-30 Inches Weight: 70-120 pounds

Drives: Natural Guardian ability is required (the methodology of performance test will be described later).

Specials characteristic: Companionable with the family, with intelligence, loyalty and devotion with his master.

Temperament: A fearless adversary to anyone who threatens his master or property. Friendly with other animals and dogs. Display a definite preference for its family, children included, but it is not a dog that gets along very well with a visitor to the home if his master is not at present.

Disposition: Protect his master against any danger, even to give his own life to protect him.

Body: Much more typical of the Compact "Mastiffs" with a structure of a giant APBT, also retains a good deal of the agility passed on to it by the APBT.

Color:

Different colors mixed. Most common colors are: yellowish or sandy grey, any brindle color, black, golden fawn, fawn and red. Other colors are allowed too. Red nose and black nose.

Coat: Short, close and medium fine.

Ears: Cropped or natural. Neck: Very strong, muscular and robust.

Eyes: Dark preferable, but may bear some relation to coat color.

Faults: Failure to be worked, failure to work successfully, producer of genetic problems in pups, poor immune system, affected by hip and elbow dysplasia. Excessively undershot to avoid difficult to eat and some diseases related to them.

International Bandogge Standard - Draft Bandogge Standard Version 5.1 - updated 2 Jun 2006 from : molosserdogs.com

American Bandog History

In the early 1960s the late veterinarian, John Swinford D.V.M., began a breeding program, which was ultimately to produce the greatest of all protection dogs. Though breeders of Bandogs today disagree on just what breeds went into Swinford's original breeding scheme, the consensus is that it was 50% American Pit Bull Terrier and 50% "very large dog". Unfortunately, Swinford died at an early age and his Bandog was never perfected or recognized as a purebred.

Current breeding

Contemporary Bandogs are bred with different types of dogs, including American Pit Bull Terrier with either a Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, or Bull Mastiff. The intention in each case is to combine the courage and tenacity of an American Pit Bull Terrier with the large size and guarding instinct of a Mastiff. Whichever breeding plan is employed, it is necessary to cross the American Pit Bull Terrier to one of these Mastiffs each time that a litter of Bandogs is desired.

The obvious question that arises is: why don't breeders simply cross Bandogs with other Bandogs?

The answer is that, at this stage of Bandog development, when one crosses a Bandog to a Bandog, one does not get a Bandog. Bandogs do not breed true yet and it seems that Bandog breeders are far from having perfected a purebred dog.

Future

The hope is that the breeding of these dogs will finally be perfected; however, the dog is being bred by many breeders who range from the very serious and knowledgeable to the very amateurish and inexperienced, sometimes called backyard breeders. Like with all crossbred dogs the Bandog can display either the best or the worst characteristics of both parent breeds, depending on the knowledge of the breeder. Therefore, a purchaser of a Bandog must do a good deal of investigation to avoid the risk of buying a puppy that will grow to become the last thing wanted in a pet.

Miscellaneous

Pit dog

Bandogs are occasionally used as Guard dog

Guard dog

Anyone who is in the market for a great family dog that will be an intruder's nightmare can consider the Bandog.

The Bandog is considered better than either parent breed at aggressive guarding - the American Pit Bull Terrier is smaller and is not normally aggressive towards humans, and although the Mastiff is an instinctive guardian it is considered too placid and restrained. It must be noted, however, that many countries do not allow people to keep guard dogs of this calibre.