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Excerpt of Expert Opinion on qualification and behavior of the dog Donar from the Burning Mountain (English Mastiff – 17 weeks old) with regard to aggression and danger towards people and other animals.

Note: This test was done upon request of the competent local authority and in accordance with the Bavarian regulation on dangerous dogs (existing since 1992). Under this law 5 breeds (Bandog, American Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bullterrier, Tosa Inu) are always considered to be dangerous fighting dogs and require a permission (which is hardly ever granted), 9 further breeds (Bull Terrier, Bullmastiff, Mastiff, Mastin Espanol, Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, Mastino Napoletano, Rhodesian Ridgeback) are considered to be dangerous fighting dogs until, on an individual basis and by means of an expert opinion, the handler provides proof that the dog does not exhibit increased aggressive behavior. Upon passing this test, the dog receives a negative certification from the local authority and is thus no longer considered to have fighting dog characteristics. A permission is no longer required, additional obligations (permanent leash and/or muzzle) may however be imposed. Usually, before a negative certification is issued the local authorities also consult the public veterinary authority, which then sends a public veterinarian, who again examines the dog within his home and his neighborhood. Cost for this expert opinion together with costs for issuance of negative certification and visit of public veterinarian amount to up to DM 700 (~US$ 350).

 

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4. Behavior of the Animal

• 4.1 Behavior of the dog towards other dogs

  A 16-months old leashed Boxer female is taken near Donar. At a distance of 6 m (~20 feet) the dog is slightly interested and attentive. His behavior is signalled by his body language, position of tail and ears. The dog expert lets the female go all the way to the male. Donar displays the dog ritual of getting acquainted. The Boxer female gets slightly aggressive. The male is a bit impressed and steps back. The female threatens him more massively. Donar urinates, becomes increasingly subdominant and wants to hide behind the handler. A while later the female tries to get the male to play. It seems very likely and obvious that both dogs would play, if they were not leashed. During the entire test, Donar shows no type of open counter aggression towards the female.

  A 5.5-year old aggressive leashed Boxer female is taken to Donar, who is also leashed. At a distance of approx. 4 m (13 feet) the male is interested, yet reserved. The expert lets the female go to the male. Both dogs first investigate each other with interest. Donar reacts reserved to careful. On voice command, the Boxer female becomes massively aggressive, which is signalled through growling and the try to snap at the male, who is visibly impressed, backs away and shows insecurity and subdominance. His body language confirms this behavioral pattern. The Boxer female goes after him. Donar displays flight reaction and hides behind his handler. After a short time the female becomes open and more friendly. Donar responds with reserved friendliness. At no time did Donar show any aggressive behavior towards the female.

  A leased 2.5-year old Giant Schnauzer male is taken to the leashed Donar, who again shows interest paired with insecurity. Donar turns into subdominant behavior, which at times changes to submissive behavior. Donar’s behavior is signalled by his body language, ears and tail. The Schnauzer male now investigates Donar, who is insecure and backs away and wants to avoid the uncomfortable situation by escape. At no time Donar shows any aggressive behavior towards the Schnauzer male.

• 4.2 Behavior of the leashed dog during natural aggressive behavior of a human:

  At a distance of approx. 10 m (33 feet) the expert displays towards Donar a natural threatening behavior by means of staring at the dog, standing tall and displaying weapons (raised hands). At this distance, Donar shows a slight interest without counter aggression. Upon the expert coming closer, Donar already shows signs of subdominance and a retreat tendency. The expert now comes nearer, threatening the dog massively, also by means of a whip. The dog is visibly impressed and immediately displays avoidance behavior, hiding behind his handler. The expert hits the dog with a socalled softstick on the flews as well as forehead. Donar is heavily impressesd and submissively hides behind his handler. The expert here hits the dog again once on the back and on the thigh. The dog shows subdominant to submissive behavior. His behavior is confirmed by his body language. His tail is between his legs. In this situation the dog is hindered from fleeing. Even now the dog does not try to defend itself. The expert now comes so close to the dog that he can slightly hit the dog with the flat unprotected hand on the head and muzzle. Also now the dog does not show any open counter aggression, resorts to avoidance behavior. His tail and ear setting signal insecurity up to strong submission.

  After the expert stops the aggression towards Donar, the dog immediately turns into calm but careful behavior and allows the expert to pat him.

• 4.3 Behavior of Donar with prey stimuli

  The purpose of this test is to evaluate how the dog reacts to panicky movements and on the other hand whether the dog has already undergone a Schutzhund training. The expert for this purpose takes prey objects as used in dog sport. The expert comes towards the dog with quick panicky movements of a socalled bite roll. The dog is strongly insecure and tries at no time to go after the bite roll. Donar does not know this type of situation. He tries to hide behind the handler and avoids the situation by escape.

  Now the expert uses a padded sleeve used in the dog sport. Also here Donar does not try at any time to grab the sleeve offered to him. He does not know this type of situation and is insecure. Donar shows strongly submissive behavior, ears, tail and body confirm this behavior.

• 4.4 Behavior of the dog in every day situations

  The test area is the busy market place in Hersbruck, we get there using the owner’s car. The dog sits in the back of the jeep. Donar allows the expert to get into the car without any problems and is calm and friendly during the whole drive.

  Donar shows friendly behavior towards traffic and people, extraordinarily calm and traffic-proof. No character weaknesses can be detected by the expert. The dog is walked past a group of persons with several child buggies. Donar shows friendly behaviour and allows a woman to touch him. Further persons walk past right next to the dog. Donar is very relaxed, even disinterested. Several cars drive by at a distance of only 2 m (6.5 feet). The dog does not show a reaction, takes no interest in traffic. The male sees several pidgeons on the market place. He is interested for a moment, however, follows the commands of the handler. Donar walks well on the leash. A bike goes right past Donar. Donar does not try to run after the bike rider or to snap. At the expert’s request, the dog is tied to a lantern and the handler walks outside the dog’s vision. Donar is very relaxed, without exception looks into the direction to which his owners left. An elderly couple walks over to the male and pats him. Donar allows this action and is absolutely friendly. At no time Donar becomes a safety threat. Donar does not take any interst and does not show any open counter aggression.

  During the entire tests, the dog does not show any type of open aggression.

5. Opinion

Based on decades of experience with dogs and dog issues the expert draws the following conclusion:

• Donar does not have an increased aggression and danger towards people or other animals.

• In normal every day situations the male acts towards people friendly and open. This reveals a correct socialization towards people at puppy age.

• During natural threats of a person towards the dog, he reacts subdominantely up to submissively. His natural defense behavior, which allows aggression for every dog, at the moment is rather under average for a dog or a member of his breed, i.e. towards aggression signals the dog reacts with passive aggression characteristics (avoidance reaction, subdominance).

• In situations unknown to Donar his character shows: He prefers to go into an avoidance reaction and seeks protection from his handler. If the situation gets frightful for him, he reacts submissively.

• The male is 17 weeks old at the time of the temperament test. A grave change of character may easily be effected through intended conditioning or learning by own experience. Character is composed of genetic predisposition as well as environmental influences. Based on the young age, it is certain that Donar’s character will change in the future.

• Behaviour towards other animals is normal, also normal considering the age. Donar at the moment does not start any confrontations with females. Towards adult males Donar reacts subdominantly. At the moment fear-biting may be almost certainly be excluded.

• The dog did not receive a Schutzhundtraining. All key stimuli of dog sports are unknown to him-. Every animal is tolerated to be aggressive. It needs aggression to survive. If aggressive behavior turns into danger, regulatory measures are justified. The dog is considered to have increased aggression, if he, either by conditioning or genetic disposition, considers a human or animal to be an aggressor and reacts with open uncontrolled counter aggression. Durin agonistic behaviour between animals, the drive aim is inner balance and intactness. This aim may be achieved by avoidance behavior (escape, subdominance) or fight. Thus, a dog that gets hit and reacts with open counter aggression, possibly hurting a human, is not to be considered highly aggressive or dangerous. A dog that is attacked by another dog and reacts with counter aggression (biting), is not to be considered as increased aggressive. As an example, I would like to mention the regulation on dangerous dogs of Northrhine-Westphalia, according to which a dog is considered dangerous, if he has bitten a person without having been provoked by hits or similar or if he has injured an animal without having been attacked by same.

  According to the Bavarian State Criminal Procedure Act (LStVG) the relevant administrative authority has the competence, if justified, to pass preventive measures on dog ownership as a means of preventing danger. This applies to every dog.

6. Summary and Final Remarks

The tester recommends, after weighing all facts, that the competent authority issues the negative certification for the male Donar without further preventive measures.

The undersigned person points out that, as this is dealing with the test of a living being, there will always remain imponderable events and therefore a residual risk. This will always be dependent on the further keeping, dealing with, new environment and training of the dog.

On a case basis, opinions of other dog experts and trainers were also considered in the decision making. The tester would like to point out that the temperament test of a dog this young may only be cosidered temporarily and that a positive or negative change of character regarding aggression and danger is very likely.

The writer of the test ensures, relating to his oath made as publicly appointed expert, that the test was carried out to the best of his knowledge and under observance of strictest objectivity. There is no relation or dependence to the party ordering this test.

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