It would be easy to think this is child’s play. Bella stares intently at her master, sits up, lies down, and gallops toward the ball at the slightest command.
In the absence of clear instructions from Bernard Bretignier, dog trainer authorized by the prefecture to provide training for dangerous dog owners, the American Staffordshire Terrier does not flinch. Even with a treat in front of you.
“Anyway, with any dog we can impose anything”, assures the coach. And it is not Bella – categorized 2 – who will prove the opposite.
For several minutes the dog continued his act of obedience under the admiring gaze of three future owners. Seduced by the skills of the Callassians, they came from Avignon and the Paris region to be trained one day in the training of their young mastiff at “La Claw du Dragon”, in Callas.
“Everything is played from 2 to 8 months”
In another life, Bella could have been very different. Without proper training, “she would definitely be unapproachable” Today. Because this exemplary behavior is not achieved by working “fifteen minutes a day, as some quacks can sometimes promise”squeals Bernard Bretignier, also an American Staffordshire Terrier breeder.
The process is long and demanding. “Everything is played between 2 and 8 months of agehe measures and relies on his 25 years of experience. During this period, the puppy will test its owner by climbing on him or licking his hand. If the master does not understand that this is a game of dominance, and if he is too affectionate without ever reminding the animal of his place, he will gain more and more confidence and, ultimatelywill reverse the dominance relationship.”
This is what interns want to avoid at all costs. For month after month, the dog’s behavior will gradually freeze into habits, good and bad. “Between 1 and 4 years, it is already much more difficult to make up for a bad education. After this turnaround period, it is the final maturity period. At that point, there is almost nothing to do.”
One attack, few solutions
It will then be sufficient for the slightest frustration, incomprehension, for the poorly trained dog to growl at his master or even bite him. “In order to prevent the worst possible scenario, it will therefore be necessary to constantly remind the dog of its proper place, with a voice with a clear and strong intonation. Each time it will be necessary to repeat the desired action through a playful activity to condition that. And that, without forgetting the treats! It’s give and take.”
It is difficult to interrupt Bernard Bretignier as he knows his job by heart. But at the mention of the terrible attack by the two rottweilers, which took place on Wednesday 11 January in Draguignan, he took a short break.
“When a dog bites or behaves aggressively, it is always and solely the owner’s fault.he assures. A Rottweiler has essentially been bred by humans to be a herder of cattle, known as a shepherd. They have very strong guarding instincts and they took this man for a threat.”
However, the coach is not looking for any excuse for such a tragedy. “These two animals have no training, that’s for sure. It’s not a question of whether the dog is cute or not, as some people like to say. He’s trained or not trained, last point.”he condemns and criticizes the regular absence of leash or muzzle due to owners “irresponsibleand outlaw”.
A “tracking book”
What could François Giannesini have done alone against two category 2 mastiffs? “It all depends on the topography and the behavior of the dogs at the moment T”, admitBernard Bretignier.
In the case of the incident that took place in early January, the best would have been “having a pepper spray available and spraying it in the eyes of the animals”.
But without such equipment, “continuing to jog and ignoring them might have worked, though I can’t be sure. Or at worst quickly running off to sit in a tree, if of course there is a tree…” A challenge.
But as a great dog lover, the dog educator refrains from putting everyone in the same bag. “A poodle or any biting dog rated with a maximum danger level of 4 by a licensed veterinarian will be categorized as dangerous dogs in the same way as a pit bull, he remembers. If a Rottweiler or an American Staffordshire Terrier is very well trained, he will be at level 1 of dangerousness, despite the fact that he is categorized by default due to his powerful morphology.
Puts the responsibility of the master back in the center. And the responsibility of the public authorities… “Instead of setting up a categorization of dog breeds, all dogs over five kilos would need a minimum of hours of evaluation with specialistssuggests Bernard Bretignier. A logbook too, with all the hours of training the dog has followed, stamped and signed. Who assumes the responsibility of the owner to ensure that he controls his dog.”
Bernard Bretignier is available for the slightest problem or question from dog owners.Photo Florian Escoffier.
Why they chose to breed a categorized dog
The case usually folds very quickly. “It’s simple, I refuse 90% of the requests for the acquisition of categorized dogs”, reveals Bernard Bretignier, breeder of the American Staffordshire Terrier, a category 2 breed among dogs considered “dangerous” due to their physical strength. “I only need to hear the intonation of the voice and some motivational elements to make up my mind.”
What makes a person want this type of dog? The restrictions are important and may apply: muzzle required on public roads; obligation to keep your animal on a leash by an adult who has passed a certificate of suitability for keeping categorized dogs, and therefore has a license, not to mention the many administrative papers, with liability insurance, birth certificate proving that it is a the racer for category 2, the Icad card (electronic chip) in the owner’s name; rabies vaccines; register the dog at the town hall to obtain the temporary detention permit; then several steps to obtain the final permit.
“It’s a lot of work in the beginning”
Much more is needed to deter Katia and Thomas Lomgueserre. Because for this couple from Avignon, having a “Staff” is the culmination of several years of reflection. “We waited until our kids were teenagers to decide before it was too much work and risk.”
“It is a dog that has a very family temperament,” adds Jérôme Robert, who came from the Paris region to take the training. But the main reason, “is the very aesthetic physique of this dog. All muscles and shiny short hair”the details, stars in their eyes.
Furthermore, Aude, assisting Bernard Bretignier in his work, specifies that in the case of the American Staffordshire Terrier, “Once it’s trained, its behavior is very stable over time. It’s a lot of work at first, but then you’re soft.” A quality that is also found in the Rottweiler.
Only the judgment of the people will remain. That Thomas Lomgueserre brushes aside: “I don’t care what other people look at.”
