My first Publication CC April Edition-19-High Resolution | Page 27

(D)
African Wild Dog
A
frican Wild Dog- Th is powerful hunter dog is now listed
as being threatened with extinction. It is specially known
for not having dewclaws. It was classifi ed as endangered in
2016 by IUCN.
II
Fighting and Baiting
F
ighting and Baiting- though it was a treachrous thing to do with
dogs, but it sadly persisted throughout America and Europe. Th e
game was that a bull would be tied so that it could move only in a
radius of 30 feet. Th e dog’s part was to agitate the bull to the extent
that it moves further towards it. Th e dog was used as an object
to immobilize the bull. Aft er bull baiting was prohibited, people
started using dogs for bear baiting. Mainly, Mastiff s were used
for gladiatorial combat purposes and they were specially bred for
fi ghting sports. Th e Old English Bulldog is an extinct breed of dog.
Historians are fairly confi dent that the Old English Bulldog is
derived from ancient war dogs, such as the old Mastiff  or Alaunt.
Another dog called Th e  Dogo Cubano (Cuban Dogge) is a the
mix of a Cuban Bloodhound and Cuban Mastiff  is an extinct dog
breed  from  Cuba. It was of the  Bullmastiff   type  and was used
for bull  and  dog fi ghting. Th e breed was introduced in Cuba to
capture runaway slaves. Aft er the abolition of slavery, they ceased
to exist in time. Th e Cuban Mastiff developed from several breeds
of bulldogs, Mastiff s and cattle dogs, becoming an ideal fi ghter and
property guardian.
III
Herd Keeping & Small Game Hunters
W
here in America, Rome and Europe, Mastiff s were used for bull baiting; in
Afghanistan, Japan and Turkey, they were used as herd keepers. Th ey were kept
to guard their fl ocks from wild animals or thieves. Th ey fell under the category of Sheep
herder and Cow herder. Th ere were dogs, which were kept as Small Game Hunters. One
of the specie that is rare to fi nd is Mahratta Greyhound. Greyhounds were also used
for racing for almost a hundred years.Th is particular Greyhound is unknown outside
its province of Mahratta, India. It is a compact sighthound, well muscled, deep chested
and strong backed.
April 2019 • Vol. XII • Issue 4 • Noida
27
| Creature Companion