I think it's awesome to see real footage of a working AA and JA. they are usually known as "couch potatoes" now, but to see this was awesome, regardless of the bear being chained.
You know, I'm kind of puzzled by just how surprised people are about Akitas working. I mean, I get that they're not used for hunting anymore, but most of the Akitas (American--I don't know any Japanese Akitas personally) are not just couch potatoes or dogs that are fussy and don't want to get dirty. Most AAs are pretty willing to do whatever there person wants them to do. years ago, I had one that I ski-jored with, and while she had little stamina, she was good with sprints. She also pulled a little sled for me, hauling in my water and groceries.
My current Akita would do whatever I wanted him to do--though we don't do much, simply because I haven't had the time. He's a decent hunter around the yard--not as good as the Shibas, but he's a lot bigger and not as fast. And while he's not a trained guard dog, he certainly is a good watchful presence, and is probably a better watch dog than my GSD, because while he barked his fool head off, he'd also welcome anyone into the yard/house if they threw the ball for him. My AA doesn't bark so much, but he's also not willing to let strangers in. And I've had similar experiences with other AAs--they may not be hunters anymore, but they're certainly just big couch ornaments either.
So I get that people aren't using them as hunters anymore, and while they're not top dog for real training in PPDs, I think they COULD do these things, if they had people who wanted to work with them and train them.
Dunno. Maybe it's just the Akitas I've had or known, but they don't really fit into the couch potato thing too me--at least not all the time!
I agree with what Shig's wrote about using a captive animal for training. I don't see using a captive animal (like a chained bear) as a tool for training, I see it as a tool for testing. It's a way to see if a dog has a natural drive to work that game in a less-dangerous setting than in the woods.
If you are a hunter and have access to breeders who you know and trust to produce dogs who have the right drive for the work you plan to do, then testing is maybe not as important. But for someone like me, who can only go on the word of the people who produced the dog, it would seem like a beneficial thing for me to have a way to test the dog (for their natural instinct) before I start training them in a more dangerous setting.
With Ike, I have no real knowledge of his background. I have what his importer said about him, but I don't know how far that goes. He's not a puppy either... So, it would be great to be able to test him on bear in a safer setting before I really expect him to preform IRL.
With Kishin tho, I've seen his parents work, and I've seen his parents siblings work. I've seen dogs from both sides of Kishin's bloodlines work... So, thanks to that first hand experience, with Kishin I may be a bit less worried about his ability to work boar. Training would be more my focus for him and a captive animal would be less important (I'd instead want to put him with a seasoned dog).
I just wanted to make it clear - I don't see working dogs on a captive animal as a training tool - I see it as a testing tool.
Just be clear. We don't train dogs with mechanical bear. The bear is just for testing if you dog would bay live bear. And the mechanical bear test is for breeds which can't take part to the real bear test.
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My current Akita would do whatever I wanted him to do--though we don't do much, simply because I haven't had the time. He's a decent hunter around the yard--not as good as the Shibas, but he's a lot bigger and not as fast. And while he's not a trained guard dog, he certainly is a good watchful presence, and is probably a better watch dog than my GSD, because while he barked his fool head off, he'd also welcome anyone into the yard/house if they threw the ball for him. My AA doesn't bark so much, but he's also not willing to let strangers in. And I've had similar experiences with other AAs--they may not be hunters anymore, but they're certainly just big couch ornaments either.
So I get that people aren't using them as hunters anymore, and while they're not top dog for real training in PPDs, I think they COULD do these things, if they had people who wanted to work with them and train them.
Dunno. Maybe it's just the Akitas I've had or known, but they don't really fit into the couch potato thing too me--at least not all the time!
If you are a hunter and have access to breeders who you know and trust to produce dogs who have the right drive for the work you plan to do, then testing is maybe not as important. But for someone like me, who can only go on the word of the people who produced the dog, it would seem like a beneficial thing for me to have a way to test the dog (for their natural instinct) before I start training them in a more dangerous setting.
With Ike, I have no real knowledge of his background. I have what his importer said about him, but I don't know how far that goes. He's not a puppy either... So, it would be great to be able to test him on bear in a safer setting before I really expect him to preform IRL.
With Kishin tho, I've seen his parents work, and I've seen his parents siblings work. I've seen dogs from both sides of Kishin's bloodlines work... So, thanks to that first hand experience, with Kishin I may be a bit less worried about his ability to work boar. Training would be more my focus for him and a captive animal would be less important (I'd instead want to put him with a seasoned dog).
I just wanted to make it clear - I don't see working dogs on a captive animal as a training tool - I see it as a testing tool.
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