Dog fighting
|
|
This article is about two dogs fighting; for aerial combat between military aircraft, see dog fight; for the Vietnam war film, see Dogfight.
Dog fighting is a blood sport that pits dogs against one another for entertainment, and sometimes for gambling purposes. The sport was popular in England in the 1700s, along with bullbaiting. Many modern breeds were developed from these fighting dogs' lines, as well as from the lines of traditional fighting dogs from other countries.
Dog fighting has been made illegal in many countries, including England and the United States. Even though it is illegal, dog fighting still occurs in many cities across the globe, often in connection with drug dealers and other criminals. The dogs these people use and breed contribute to the negative image of pit bulls in the media.
Many dog breeds once bred for fighting have now evolved into companion breeds. These include the Akita Inu, American Pit Bull Terrier, and Shar Pei.
Japan
Dog fighting began in Japan before the end of the Kamakura period. According to historical documents, Hojo Takatoki, the 14th shikken (shogun's regent) of the Kamakura shogunate was known to be obsessed with dog fighting, to the point where he allowed his samurai to pay taxes with dogs. At this time, dog fighting was called inuawase (犬合わせ).
Dog fighting was considered a way for the Samurai to retain their aggressive edge during peaceful times. Several daimyo, such as Chosokabe Motochika and Yamauchi Yodo, both from Tosa Province (present-day Kochi Prefecture), were known to encourage dog fighting. Dog fighting was also popular in Akita Prefecture, which is the origin of the Akita breed.
Dog fighting evolved in Kochi to a form that is called Tōken (闘犬). Under modern rules, dogs fight in a fenced ring until one of the dogs barks, yelps, or loses the will to fight. Owners are allowed to throw in the towel, and matches are stopped if a doctor judges it is too dangerous. Draws usually occur when both dogs won't fight or both dogs fight until the time limit. There are various other rules, including one that specifies that a dog will lose if it attempts to copulate with its opponent, which is called hentai. Champion dogs are called yokozuna, as in sumo. Dog fighting is still legal in Japan, except in Tokyo, and can be seen in Kochi. Currently, most fighting dogs in Japan are Tosa, which is a breed that was developed in Kochi. Dog fighting does not have strong links to gambling in Japan.
Afghanistan
Dog fighting has a long history and tradition in Afghanistan. During the autumn and winter in the Chaman-e-Babrak district at the northern end of Kabul every Friday, dogs are placed in rings. Crowds can reach 10,000. Gambling is common. Children vend refreshments. The ring announcer holds a purple wooden stick to beat back out-of-control dogs.
The fights were banned during the rule of the Taliban, but since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, dog owners have started up the fights again.
External links
- Japanese dog fighting page (http://www.pskochi.co.jp/senkyo.html) (in Japanese, with some rules, match results, and pictures)