Those of us who are fanciers know that our dogs are often expected to behave in a manner that’s at odds with their nature. Our own breed, the Puli, is “sensibly suspicious of strangers,” and yet they are called upon to have even their most intimate bits examined by people they don’t know in a place that smells like hundreds of other dogs.  As we see it, trained show dogs know the difference between a show ring and their home environment. That said, good luck trying to grope the testicles of a dog in his home element. Just saying.

The Brazilian Mastiff, aka the Fila Brasileiro, is another breed that is asked to behave at odds with its nature when in a show ring. While judges are allowed to touch Filas at general and international dog shows, they are asked not to touch the dog at some Specialty shows as a way of showing respect for the breed’s true temperament, something referred to as “ojeriza,” or a wariness of strangers as stated in its breed standard. Exhibitors are asked to show their dog’s dentition, as well as lift the tail of males in order for the judge to check the presence of testicles. In our view, this shouldn’t be misconstrued as viciousness or an unsound temperament, but as a deference for what the breed creators had in mind when developing the breed.

Image: “Kalimba,” an eight month old female Fila Brasileiro whose picture was taken by her owner, Alejandro Weber