What is a modern dogman?
 

I see the term dogman thrown around and was wondering what people mean my that when they are talking about people of today. I understand historically what a dogman is, but are they the same ting today or is the term used to describe something different. PS. Sorry for the misspelled words. My iPad won't let me got back and fix words without erasing everything http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/mad.png

the term dogmen and dogwomen depending on who you ask will have there own meanings of the word. the term dogman has deep roots in the sporting venues of the breed. since times have changed the term dogman/dogwoman to me is someone who displays proper animal husbandry in owning there dogs and tries to make them better if they are breeders. just becoming a breeder does not make you a dogman/dogwoman it takes more than that. just being a breeder just makes you a BYB but being a breeder of Champion and grand champion dogs in legal venues classifies you as a dogman/dogwoman to me. a dogman/dogwoman tries to breed these ch's and grch's to make a better dog in the venues they are in.

The opposite of v(d)ick head

Maybe someone who contributes there whole life to better a breed of dog whether it was historical or yesterday.

I agree, and the term doesn't only apply to pits. There are cur dog lines down here that go back a hundred years through one or two families.

Do you know what it's like to live, eat, sleep, and breathe dogs? To put every ounce of spare money and time into the dogs you raise? To do everything in your power to ensure that you're preserving the breed you're raising, preserving every key characteristic?

That's what a dogman is.

I do that, other than the 'preserving the breed' (I'm assuming through breeding) thing. That doesn't make me a dog man.

the term does not only apply to APBT's, but this is a APBT site and historically dogmen were the ones who worked there dogs for sport and to better the lines performance(gameness) and by doing this they kept the breed true. i do know a few things on cur dogs and they are a old breed with their own dogmen, but we arent talking of the same dogmen with the same goals in breeding. there are still APBT DOGMEN in these times that keep the breed true, but in the times we live in its not too wise to be a true DOGMAN as the word is used in the APBT community historically. being politically correct the term dogman to me is someone who sets out to breed dogs that are only worthy to bred on in legal manners that are titled Ch or Gr Ch or better(2xgrch etc) that also pay close attention to temperment of the sire and the dams regarding HA while doing so. these people that set out to do this are dogmen and dogwomen in every seance of the word for the times we live in because they are living breathing dogs and breeding only worthy dogs for the events they are in.

thanks, for the responses. I guess it really depends on who you talk to AND what you are talking about, historically or modern. dogmen are what help keep this breed and others true to their form

In today's world, an outlaw.

Doesn't mean an outlaw to me. IMO in the truest sense, a breed steward, often with their own bloodline or one handed down and composed of healthy and proven (legally) dogs. Something I'll never be nor aspire to and something that is as scarce as hens teeth around here, but perhaps one will chime in and let us know their opinion.

If you want to get to nitty gritty of it, APBT enthusiasts use dogman as a term for the ones who helped make this breed what it is and preserve it as such today. Do all dogmen pit their dogs? Well, that depends on how you want to look at the term. When I speak of dogmen of the past, yes, I do speak about the pitmen. But a modern dogman will usually prove the worth of his dogs through legal sports. Some say you can't prove an APBT this way. Personally, I think that the APBT has adapted to changing times. Most dogmen will say that the APBT cannot remain true to itself this way. And maybe it can't. But it's still been the foundation for something wonderful.

To me a dogman is just someone who works to improve the breed and takes good care of his dogs in the process. Someone who takes damn good care of his dogs but does nothing to improve the breed is not a dogman and someone who's great at breeding best to best and producing good animals but who allows his dogs to live in squalor and treats them ill is not a dogman.

My grandfather was called a great dogman, in the Greyhound world, and while it's more cherished in the APBT world, I think that it is quite a compliment in any breed...

x2

I'm loving reading all these opinions. I've often wondered this same question myself. I've heard the term thrown around at dog shows and I know at least some of the people do not fight their dogs. I agree with Cliffdog and others who made similar comments.