Bernese Mountain Dog training on cart

Bernese Mountain Dog, Max, training on pulling his cart.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Bernese Mountain Dog
• Cart

[ffmedic1410]

How old is your Berner? We'd like to train our berner Samson  when he's big enough.

[LPS09LS]

@ffmedic1410 Max is 3, we did not start until we were sure he was full grown and he could safely handle the cart.

[MarkTwainsGhost]

@Saartje05 Sorry, but your first post recommended ponies instead of dogs for pulling carts, suggesting that you are fine with having them as draft animals. If you are not for such activities for horses what are yours for? You certainly must not ride them? For that is considerably more work then pulling a cart? The poor horses' back forced to bear your weight.

Perhaps you think horses are meant for ridding? Untrue, they were bred for that purpose over many generations, much like dogs and carts.

[Saartje05]

@MarkTwainsGhost I don't condone the use of horses as draft animals, I drive myself. So I don't know where you got that idea.

[MarkTwainsGhost]

I brought up the ponies only as a logical tool. You assumed that because I condoned the use of Bernese for pulling carts, something they were historically bred for, I also condoned their use as food, something you say also occurred. By the same logic, because you condone the use of horses as draft animals, something they were bred for, you must also condone their use as food and rendered into glue. In truth, I assume you do not. I simply wanted to point out the absurdity of your argument.

[MarkTwainsGhost]

Most dogs were bread for task. Even the bull dog was designed to herd animals in the slaughter house, not fight them in combat as you suggested. These strong instincts are built into the animals character, and using these characteristics to exercise and entertain the animal is not intrinsically wrong. Indeed the very reason we have these animals today is because their usefulness encouraged continued breeding. The animal's happiness is key, not your personal idea of what is acceptable.

[MarkTwainsGhost]

@Saartje05 Actually, there is still no synthetic replacement for the connective tissue found in the marrow, hooves and spines of animals and most commercial woodworking glues still contain animal parts, including horses. They are also eaten in many parts of the world, and domestic animals often find their way to the rendering plant after death.

In contrast, most domestic dogs who pull carts are not work animals at all, but family pets likely to be well treated.

[Saartje05]

@MarkTwainsGhost We're not talking about ponies, we're talking about dogs. Many people go around working themselves to death also, if we start there there's no end. And I don't mind ponies pulling carts, they're MUCH stronger than dogs. And I own four horses myself, so I do care about horses. I keep them till very old ages. My oldest is 27 years old. I don't take them to a butcher or let them make into glue (what hasn't been done for about a hundred years). They stay with me till the end.

[MarkTwainsGhost]

@Saartie05 However, I would be against eating the family pet because it is inhumane and cruel. There is a clear difference between the two things, that is why I am able to condone one and not the other.

The entire point of pointing out that you would not like me to make assumptions about your character was because you were obviously making assumptions about mine (in assuming I thought eating dogs was okay). As you stated, In YOUR words, "it says a lot more about you than me."

[MarkTwainsGhost]

@Saartje05 Ah, but in your first comment you said that it would be okay for a pony but not a dog. Horses have been made into glue for years after their useful working life has passed. I can only assume that you think this is fine treatment, since you condone them spending their lives pulling carts. Why do you not care about horses' lives as well?

I am okay with Bernese pulling carts if they like to do it and it is reasonable and moderate. It is part of their nature to enjoy the activity.

[Saartje05]

@MarkTwainsGhost And no, I woulnd't hate you for making assumptions about my character because if you do that it says a lot more about you than about me.

[Saartje05]

@MarkTwainsGhost There´s a huge difference letting dogs pulling carts (not natural) and collies herding (natural). YOU might pay attention your dog doesn't pull too much weight but many people don't give a shit (as can see on many youtube video's).