See Spot banned

In what seems to be a first (to myself at least), the Maremma edges towards being considered a dangerous and banned breed:

Dog Breed Bans in Germany

While the situation seems to be fluid, here's a snippet of what is being talked about:

Category II dogs - potentially dangerous dogs that can be owned, imported, bred, and sold if they pass a temperament test and are free of aggressive actions for three years - include Akbash, Briard, Beauceron, Bullmastiff, Doberman, Komondor, Kuvasz, Maremma, Pyrenean Mountain Dog (our Great Pyrenees), Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler, Tibetan Mastiff, and more than 15 other breeds that are virtually unknown in the US.

As this blog entry states - there is some question as to when this was originally discussed or proposed. The original posting was by the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA). I can't claim any knowledge of the group or it's intent.

Personally, I consider comparing the restriction of dog breeds to the Holocaust as distasteful, if not down right wrong. Yet the question as to why Maremma (and some of the other breeds mentioned) need a three year behavioural review process should be asked. Especially considering their role.

Does anyone know if this is going ahead in Germany, or had the Interweb once again dragged up something which is very much long dead and burried?

Is this a little spoilt?

In a brief snippet titled A dog's reward, John Andersen of the Townsville Bulletin writes


"They're worth their weight in gold so in order to keep them happy and fed it was delivery by chopper of the dog nuts."

The mind boggles.