http://www.tofradogs.com/English/Litters/2001a.htm

Ch. Töfra Lagsi

7:45 am 300 grams double dewclaws

 

Shorthaired, HD-Fair (B1). Lagsi has progeny in the USA from Aldebaran Kennels but needed to change homes and is now owned by Greenstone Kennel in Canada. Lagsi had a bit of a tough start (his long plane trip in the cargo hold as an 8 week puppy did not help). Possibly due to the fact that he was de-barked as a young puppy he has developed some stress related problems and difficulty communicating with other dogs. Apparently the owner had too many dogs and the barking became a problem with the neighbours. Understandably you have to make changes in such a situation but in my opinion de-barking is not the answer, it ruins his ability to communicate (even by growling) and although he can still make a strange muffled sound it is unfair to the dog and other dogs misunderstand his signals. When buying an ISD it´s important to know that some do bark more than others, they rely on this important communication tool and if you feel barking will be a problem then perhaps a different breed is the answer. I think training needs to be the way to go with an ISD and also keeping the dog in a less stressful environment if he shows a tendancy to bark too much, being in a single dog home or with a non vocal laidback breed is probably the best solution for a dog with barking habits. Luckily Lagsi is with a very understanding owner today who loves him for his character and is willing to go the distance to give him a good life. He has undergone alot of training and been altered due to his stressed state, since we are not sure how much is genetic (his father is a bit of a barker) and how much learned behaviour. Lagsi did become an ARBA Champion with his first owner.