CYNOPHILE  OF LIBRARY

Twenty so years ago, a spaniard of my land (Catalunya) said me by telephone, "no, I am not breeder, my sister is the one that breed, I am cynophile of library". This phrase (I am cynophile of library) left me stupefied, and I have never forgotten it. How  is possible to be cynophile of library? It don´t  want to say a barbarism, but cynophilia, apparently, has to do with the breed, selection, training, and study of the behavior, etc. of the dogs; cynology is something as well as the study of the origin, evolution, behavior, etc. of the dogs.
The Cynophilia and the cynology closely are related, to such an extent that sometimes steps on the field. And it is clear that both would not be nothing without the practical experience, the live study, of the dog, the different breeds, the functions that fulfill and others in the complex society of the men.
I bring to collation the memory of the Cynophile of library because one day and another also, not few cyber-cynophiles show their snout in the forums dedicated to the dogs, I am not going to say of library (that it would be much to say) but of canine announcements, of article of magazine (canine), of conversation between undocumented fans, aspirants to collectors of dogs -I say aspirants because due to the precarious economy everything remain them in mere aspiration, in the best one of the cases must conform with a unit of a breed and another one of another one, exotic both, for them, clear, because for the citizens of the countries of where those dogs are original nothing has of exotic), of trainers that never trained dogs, or they began to train yesterday, or before yesterday (some after doing an intensive short course of fifteen days, others nor that), and with their quilted suit splendent from the feet at the top, make made them photograph, one and another one, and again, to see in which of snapshots, has left more favored (dog hanging of the sleeve, or to the croup, bitten full mouth.)
These cynophiles are those that, without circumspection of no species, say (making an effort in pretending one absolutely authority) the Fila Brasileiro is thus, the Dobemann is thus and thus, the Greyhound of the Paragüay is this way, the Mastiff of Mars, due to the lack of selection for the work in the last years is not good in the guard and defense of cattles, the Rottweiler is very good dog, but due to the massive bred for the commerce it has degenerated and as consequence many units have problems in their head, the Presa Canario Dog is better than... or it does not serve for nothing, and a Pit Bull can put him down.
In short, that is pleasant to have to do with this type of cynophiles.
The true breeders, the true trainers, the (true) students of the canine breeds, its behavior, the functions that fulfill in their respective means, or in the tasks that are entrusted to them, are, neither of distant spot, so rotund in their opinions, nor generalize at the time of speaking of such-and-such breed. Because all the canine units pertaining to a breed are not equal, overall in its behavior. Between the behavior of one Presa Canario Dog and another one it can be an abyss, just like between a Mastiff of the Pyrenean and another one, between a German Shepherd and another one, a Mastiff of Mars and another one, etc., and not only by the differences of genetic origin, that exist, is evident, but by the way to raise to each unit. A dog psychically perfectly balanced of birth can be turned in a true delinquent (to say it in some way).
The dog is a social animal with one psyche extraordinarily complex (and each dog has its peculiar complexity). A dog bred in an UNNATURAL atmosphere (unnatural for the psyche of the dog) will be able to develop undesirable behaviors (aggressive reactions overall) in certain circumstances, with other animals, their congeners, and the humans. Not thus if one grows up him in an atmosphere relaxed between people who treat him well, overall in its familiar atmosphere.
On the other hand, known it is that the dogs acquire, in certain way and until certain point, behaviors that has much to do with the way to be and to live of their masters, specially when between the dog and the human exists a narrow and continued relation.
The Cynophilo of library of reference has written several booklets on several canine breeds, has written and published articles, has managed canine publications, has given conferences. All that lacks value. Cynophiles of library are many in official Cynophilia, and hold much power.
Draw your own conclusions.

 

Published in Canidapresa December-January 2002

Manuel Curto Gracia