Beauty or functionality?

Written by Paolo Consolandi

Thursday, 18 January 2007

The image on the left represent a reality in front of which it is impossible to be indifferent, it is the change in the shape of the Bull Terrier head caused by fifty years of breeding selection mastered by show exhibitions. It is a simple yet effective proof of the serious and deep consequences caused by the show ring and of his negative impact on the functional characteristics of working breeds -- and the Presa Canario was originally intended as a functional dog before any other thing, this is history and nobody will be ever able to change it. I chose to present here an interesting article with the title "Rosettes to ruin", written by an enthusiast of Terrier breeds, family in which many races has been deeply changed by the world of the show exhibitions (or better said "show competitions") in their original physical and character traits. The proof of that is that the number of the breeds that can still do the work for which they were originally bred is persistently decreasing; this is the point that looked interesting to me and that I hope that may let think about it not only the Terrie enthusiast but also, and especially, the Presa Canario enthusiast. Our breed was not originally intended for trampling on the lawn of a show ring, but in order to to his work of guardian and defensor, in a rustic and rural world. His beauty resides thus in his skill to do his work everyday and in preserving the original temperament characteristics, like the loyalty to his owner, the bravery, the distrust towards strangers. This is the genetic pool that we must safeguard, of which we are responsible in front of the future, as custodians and not as "owner" with the right to transform everything. Finally, I just invite you again to read the excellent article written by Patrick Burns.