CONFESSION: I once had the most VICIOUS dog
that ever graced the face of this Earth.
I got him from the Nashville Pound, the one that used to be at the Hwy 100 & 70 split. They didn't know what he was, except his mother was a German Shepherd. The local vet identified him as half Basenji. Basenji's are one of the earliest dogs known to man but one of the latest introductions to North America. A friend of mine who shows Basenji's told a story of a Basenji bitch that he wanted to get rid of. When you take the puppies away from a Basenji bitch, she never forgets and never forgives you.
The breeder had a potential buyer of Doberman's who wanted proof of their "viciousness". To prove that the 2 Dobie's he had were truly vicious, he threw in the Basenji bitch (that he didn't care about anymore) so the 2 Dobie's could tear it apart and prove how mean and vicious they were.
Within 2 minutes, both Dobies lay dead. It seems that the Basenji managed to get underneath them both and gutted them with her sharp teeth.
In any event, I did have a "crisis point" with my dog. Despite all my training, there came a point when my dog challenged me as the Leader of our "pack". I had to hold him down on the ground by his throat until he stopped struggling - proving that I was the undisputed Leader. After that, he never questioned my commands - although there were times he tried to "out-smart" me (I have stories that will make you LOL, and say "no way!".
This was the dog that would always find a way out of his fence whether by finding a way underneath or by climbing over - until we put up an electric fence - and then getting a handle stuck in his collar and sitting still in the middle of the yard afraid to move until I cane and "freed" him.
This was the dog that would sit and watch every move you made, and then when you reached out to pet him would snap so quickly that you never saw him move - but you heard it and he had you counting your fingers - even though he was still in the same position and you would swear he never moved.
He was protective. He never let anyone on "his" property without his permission - and I was the one who determined what "his" property was. He never had to attack anyone. Some visitors told me that he allowed them them to walk on the property barking the whole time, but when they reached the bottom of the steps to our house he let them know in no uncertain terms "you are not going any farther".
When I showed up and told him "it was ok", he let them into the house without argument.
I have a Pit Bull /Bull dog mix now - I only WISH he was a quarter as "vicious" as my previous dog.
I miss you, Asimov. You were the best dog, ever.
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