Chimera Kennels

I just wanted to share my early observations and experiences with my boy Dro (Chili x Linebaugh).  First, I did a series of "tests" to test his nerves, and I must say that his nerves are EXCELLENT.  I mean, gun shots (blank gun), pots and pans, coins in a bottle, tree branches, umbrellas, etc...he just calmly looks at it.  When we go walking, I "bang" a mailbox when we walk past it, and he just looks back--no flinching in a startled manner.  To test his limits, I did plug in the leaf blower, and he was cool, but as soon as I blew the air on him, he walked off :).   When I 1st  got him, his temp. reminded me of a a neo or a fila--in that he was not "all over me" like a typical pup.  he was more distant.  Now, while he is still not "all over me" he will follow me wherever I go--but to strangers walking by, he just stares at them until they are gone, and then continue walking.  He is not like other (breeds)pups in that he doesnt crave the attention of strangers. I have him loose while doing yard work, and the neighbors can come out, or people walk by, and he either ignores them or just stares at them.  He has not gone to anybody outside of me or the kids.  As far as prey is concerned, I would say it is good for a big dog.  I am used to my Staffords doing EVERYTHING at 100 MPH, so it does seem like he is doing it in slo mo, but then again he is a big pup and he does have prey drive (although I would say that by judging from what I believe to be true, he will be more NATURALLY defensive)--I will say that he really lights up on "rag" work.  Whenever I drag any type of rag on the ground, he engages very quickly and is enthused to bite it.  Oh yea,h, I forgot the kids--the kids love him and he is the biggest softie in the world to them--he hasnt "mouthed" them even, which most of my other dogs do in their puppy stage--although all of the other dogs were good with kids as adults(APBT, Staffys, etc).  My wife likes him b/c he is calm around the house, and really just chills.  But I tell my son so go outside and knock on the door, and then he jumps up VERY ALERT--no bark--just looking very keenly. All in all, I think this pup is exactly what Lee is attempting to breed.  I am very pleased! Cant wait until he matures.   I will share more stories as the journey continues--In the meanwhile, I will enjoy his puppyhood stage while it lasts! 

Thanks for the updates.  I noticed his temperament was very much like a mastiff except with much better nerves and more energy than a true mastiff, so although some of my dogs have a bit more prey drive probably, he should make a solid home PP dog. If you want to develop his prey, I would work him around one of your staffies (one that isn't dog aggressive) with the rag or flirt pole to develop his interest through a competiive nature. When his interest/obsession for the item peaks, let him win it, praise him, and then put the item up before he loses interest. This should help him develop his prey. Then after several sessions with the other dog, try working him by himself to see if he is more into it.

Lee, we are already on the same page.  I let him run with a 10 month old staffy female, and he does his best to keep up with her.  I did not mean to insinuate that Dro is lacking in prey drive.  Not at all.  I was just saying how it was different going from watching staffy bulls running around like a chicken w/ his head cut off, to watching a more controlled dog.  Like I said, his prey is actually good--he chases whatever I throw, he alerts to squirrels, etc....and he REALLY likes (and goes after) rags and bite toys vigerously.  He and the Staffy female play tug of war with anything.  He is a strong SOB--He actually wins some of the time (well actually a time or two--but hey, he is only 4 months old).  I agree with him having mastiffy traits--especially when it comes to his interaction of others (strangers)--he is not "ALL IN" like most pups I have owned--but he has to know you to go up to you--he just sits and stares at you.  Anyway, I will keep you up on his progress--As of now he is everything I expected!!!!!

I agree with you. I wasn't offended by your evaluation at all. My evalulation of him is the same as yours. I have some dogs that are like the "headless chicken." They are funny.

Sounds like the kind of temperament I like in a dog. You're lucky, but I am not surprised since he came from Chimera Kennels. Can you post pics? Thanks

Nico

"Always give your dogs the best possible DOG life" 

Sounds like you have a great dog there!

Hey Lee, this is pretty much exactly what we're looking for in a Swinford. Keep up the good work!

Nico, here a a couple of pics I took earlier today.Asyou know, it is impossibleto take pics that do the dogs justice--especially when they are constantly moving. Anyway, here are a couple that I captured:

The Stare:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/marcosdad123/101_1121.jpg

Him playing with Cali (staffy bull)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/marcosdad123/101_1127.jpg

Last one:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/marcosdad123/101_1129.jpg

Dro looks nice.... how old is he? do u have a weight? he looks like he will be thick and stout......

He just turned 5 months today.  I would guess he is around 50 pounds. He is coming alkong nicely.  He has already started barking at passerby's and strangers. Should be a fun dog to work with.  In Jan, I will take him to training just to watch some older dogs work--and for overall socialization in that environment. 

Who is your dog out of?  He looks great!! 

Well, here is a quick update on Dro. He is almost 6 months. He is adjusting very well. The kids adore him, and he is the biggest softie around them. My wife likes him b/c he is not always on the go around the house. He really just follows me around and lays down when I come to a rest. Whenever we have company, he just looks at them. He does not approach them, and MAY eventually go and sniff them. Outside the house , he is vocal to strangers-- and becoming more so almost on a dialy basis. Last week, I had him loose while cleaning the garage, and I heard a pretty deep bark--he was 1/2 way up the driveway barking at passerby's in an aggressive fashion. I immediately called him, and he stared at them until the were past my hoise. I realize that I will not be able to keep him off leash for too much longer. As far as his rag work is concerned, he is biting confidently and shaking with more confidence. He has improved in that area as well. I will end with a little video I shot today of Dro and my lil 1 year old Staffie gyp.

[URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/marcosdad123/?action=view¤t=101_1181.flv]

That video probably didnt work

Try this one. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKxGuuZEFo8

Thanks for the update. He looks like he has a very good friend/playmate there.

Dro at 01:37PM on Nov 29, 2009

Nico, here a a couple of pics I took earlier today.Asyou know, it is impossibleto take pics that do the dogs justice--especially when they are constantly moving. Anyway, here are a couple that I captured:

 

The Stare:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/marcosdad123/101_1121.jpg

 

Him playing with Cali (staffy bull)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/marcosdad123/101_1127.jpg

 

Last one:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/marcosdad123/101_1129.jpg

 

Nice, thank you for posting. Can't wait to see more pics in 10 months or so...

Just watched the video, he really looks nice and funny. Again, can't wait to see how he turns out in 10 + months from now.

Dro, 

You are proving to be a very respectable and dedicated owner, and I appreciate the updates. It looks like he is showing a little more of the "mastiff" side of things than most of my dogs. The "good news" here though is I have seen this on occation before in a few of our dogs and it went away around 12 months and even the "mastiffy" ones became very solid and tight once mature...and ended up not being mastiffy at all. I will post some pictures of one of my favorite up and comers that just happens to be what I am describing. his name is Jackson and is owned by Brad Medlin. At 5-7 months Jackson's stomach was just as big as his chest, and he was kind of sway backed. At a year, that dog was solid rock and pound for pound EXTREMELY TOUGH and compact!!! Ask David Ishi, he has met Jackson too. Now that he is mature, he will shake a shoulder loose when doing bitework. I hope Dro tightens up like that. Keep us posted.

Anyway, I hope you don't me judging what I see in one of our young dogs. Having those staffy's around I imagine will help him get the exercise he needs. If you don't mind me asking, what are you feeding him?  I hope you don't mind my comments here, but I would like to see him a little leaner even though he is still just a pup.

Lee, I do not mind at all any critiques, especially when they are accurate!  Dro is "Mastiffy" in a lot of ways, but for the most past, that it what I was looking for.  An athletic mastiff with good nerves and will do bite work and will protect the family.  Now, could he be more athletic?  Yep--But I have to keep reminding myself that he just turned 6 months old (and he is on the large side), so he probably wont be moving like my Staffs or my pits used to.  As far as weight, that is on me, because for the most part, he was lookin too thin, so I upped his food amount.  Also, the pics were taken right after he ate.I feed him Taste of the Wild about 4 days a week, chicken backs around 3x a week, or interchanged with Buffalo meat (a guy here in GA raises them and will process the meat for about 1,000 bucks.  Me and a few other owners get this meat and and just my portion is enough to fill up a deep freezer.  I will certainly heed your advice a cut back on his food a little.   And please post b4 and after pics of Jackson. Thanks again for you input, and please feel free to advise, critique, prasie, or question anything I am doing with Dro, because in the end, I am sure we want the same thing from him. 

@Nico, Thanks--I cant wait to see hime when he matures as well  His bite work on the jute rag is getting NICE! 

What's up Dro? I got a ChillixLinebaugh pup too...I just watched your video, nice pup, my pup isn't as thick as I'd like.  how much does he weigh now? My boy,Toro, is tall but has a way to go...hopefully he'll fill on out. Was your boy growing straight up at first, is that what you saw before you started to put that weight on him? Do you feed him raw?  

I didn't remember Dro being Chili x Linebaugh, and thought he was out of Damon x Lucile. A lot of the Chili x Linebaugh pups are pretty solid and very tight. They are some strong pups with a lot of drive. I will post some updates of them this week.

Lee, double check that for me if you could.  I could have sworn he was out of Linebaugh x Chili.  When I contacted you I know there was a male from that litter available, and after I had paid for him, you told me you would be removing his pic (as an available pup) from your site--and shortly thereafter, the pic of the last male available from Chili's litter's was gone..  Also, I was concerned it would be too late to get his ears cropped, and you informed me that he was almost 4 months and his D/O/B was July 4th, 2009.  ANYWAY, not that it matters to me one bit, as both breedings were nice IMO and Dro is turning out well......I just wanted to get my info straight. 

@ Max:  Dro was always thick as far as his bone--- and his paws were huge.  Dro was tall--and when I fed him the recommended amounts, he looked malnourished.  Dont get me wrong--I like my dogs to have that "tuck" when viewed from the side---but Dro's stomach was sunk in from the sides as well.  So about 10 days prior to the video, I upped his food intake.  I certianly dont want him fat or overdone--just not that thin as a pup.  Also, we walk .8 miles in the morning and .8 in the evening, as well as having about 20 minutes of off leash romping time with my staffs in my backyard and/or nature preserve behind my house--so maybe that is why he was looking thin.  I feed a combo of Kibble and raw  (not at the same time).

Anyway, please post some pics of Toro if you can. 

Are you the gentleman in Georgia? I must be getting old. Maybe I am mistaken. I will double check. I have all the photos on my computer at home and will let you know for certain this evening. I was thinking he was the last male from Lucile, but again I will let you know for sure when I get home.  My apologies if I am mistaken.