Muzzle – Edict for Germany - 

 

 

Unbelievable but nevertheless true anyway:

A dog-club in a free democratic country – as far as our knowledge goes, Germany is said to be a free democratic country – released this special kind of "muzzle",

 

This special "muzzle-edict" is valid for 2 individuals 
who dared and dare furtherone

to ask questions conc. health-matters and historical matters on the breed

to point out clearly and criticize (if they thourght/think there are reasons to do so)

breeding- and healthmatters, kind of dog keeping and any other matters related

to dogs

 

There are 2 individuals on the one side – there is a large institution 
(with the necessary financial background and influence) on the other side; 
sounds pretty much like the

"David - against - Goliath - battle", doesn’t it !

 

Dog-keeping (and breeding as well) became more and more complicated within the last few years in Germany.


The newspapers report quite regularely about

"accidents with dogs, dog bite kids / owner / visitors etc."


Well – no Leonberger was involved as far as our knowledge goes, but there is a very clear trend towards the opinion

"the bigger the dog the more dangerous it is/might be/ must be".

Many breeds, amongst them Rottweiler, Doberman, German Shepherd, Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Fila Brasiliero, Bullterrier, American Staffordshire Terrier but also others like Great Dane are said to be "potentially" dangerous.

Several really terrible accidents, nearly all of them due to human failure, happend in the recent past and had been reported in newspapers and TV as well.

Due to that private dog-keeping became more complicated, there is a so-called "Kampfhundeverordnung" (owners have to proof that they are able to handle their dogs), there is furthermore a discussion about muzzle and leash as a MUST in each and every situation and all this led and leads finally to a


rather critical and suspicious picture 
of large and giant dogs in the public.


For dog-clubs, cynological associations, dogbreeders and dogowners this means, that they ALL are responsible to re-create another picture of the Canide-species, the picture of

"humans best friend(s)".

 

That’s how we want our dogs to be seen – but to achieve this once more, 
it means

 

 

And this requires that breeders do the combination under other (new) 
aspects than they did in the past.

This requires even more that they choose the new families for puppies very carefully and make sure that the new dog-owner is able and willing to pay the necessary attention to the dog (esp. for proper training and socialisation), not solely for attending expos and running for titles and cups due to promotion for both, breeder and owner.

This requires too that a breeder is there to help in case of any problems, to give advice and assistance.

 

And it requires as well to think about the fact that

Germany is a rather small country (compared to several other European and

especiall US- and Canadian states);

Germany has not that many areas where dogs still can run free;

Germany has many areas where people live rather close together with their

neighbourhood (this can cause problems if training and socialisation had failed)

 

All the above mentioned (and there is even some more) is valid for each breed 
but especially for large and giant breeds, and the Leonberger belongs to the giant breeds.

I suppose at least in that we have all the same opinion.

 

The 2 individuals who should get muzzled – btw. it didn’t work – are both involved in animal-rescue-matters with a high dedication towards animals in generally, esp. dogs and esp. the breed Leonberger.

There was a breed-portrait in a German dogs magazine, issue May 2000; if there had not been the critical comments of one of this 2 individuals, one had read a "fairy tail" which goes like that:


The Leonberger is a breed WITHOUT any health-problems,

the Leonberger is always easy to be trained and handled,

without any problems etc. etc. etc.


We truly love the breed but we do not see the need to draw an "idealistic" picture; a dog is a dog and there are always Pro’s and Con’s, for each breed and as well for training, socialisation, dog-keeping, healthmatters.

Why not to tell the truth and to let people know that a club with it’s breeders is aware of the problems and working towards a solution.

Despite the fact that the average lifespan is too low – there are exceptions, yes, but we talk about the average -, despite the fact that dog-keeping didn’t become more easy, despite the problems

"the 2 individuals share their lifes with Leonbergers, the decided for the

breed and will stick to it in the future but they are anyway able to face

reality and try to work for the betterment of the breed".

 

And honesty about the advantages and disadvantages, that’s all what is asked for; those who felt in love with the breed will stick to it anyway !

And as far as historical research is concerned, the muzzle-edict is just ridiculous; the history isn’t owned by the club or by one individual – and we will find our ways to get the necessary information anyway – as there is

NO LAW IN NO COUNTRY against historical research !!!

 

To read some more on this very strange edict,

pls. go to the Website of Uwe Hermann.

May 21, 2000