Canis Panther

An Excellent Guard Dog and Loving Family Companion But Misconstrued as Aggressive Like Pit Bulls or Doberman Pinchers

Despite its name, the Canis Panther is not a panther-hunting dog nor does it hunt any kind of game at all. It is, however, an excellent guard dog that is extremely protective, but loving and devoted to its family, and somewhat leery of strangers.

History

This breed was first developed in the United States during the 1970s by Lucas Lopez, Cleotha Jones, and Michael Stratten with the goal of creating a superlative guard dog. These breeders' efforts were very successful, utilizing such breeds in development as the Doberman Pinscher, Staffordshire Terrier, black Great Dane, and black Labrador Retriever.

This crossbreed has been named the Canis Panther, which refers to the genus “canis” to which all dogs belong, and “panther” possibly denoting the dark solid color or sleek physique of the typical panther. These dogs function as excellent guard dogs and protectors and are recognized as such by the Personal Protection Dog Association.

The dogs are controversial because they are heavily muscled, with a wide jaw and chest, and resemble Pit Bulls and Doberman Pinschers. Often misunderstood as aggressive, they have been included in breed discrimination lawsuits and have also been used in illegal dog fighting. They remain rare in the United States.

Appearance

Powerful and imposing, these dogs look much like Doberman Pinschers, with docked tails and ears, and a wide jaw and chest. Dew claws are most often removed in the rear. These dogs have short, sleek, fine-haired coats. Black, blue-gray, fawn and chocolate are common coat colors. In adulthood, the Canis Panther stands 27 to 30 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 85 and 140 pounds.

Temperament

The Canis Panther is a true "pack" animal but highly sensitive and extremely affectionate. Provided you immediately introduce your new puppy to your children and other pets, it will accept them as part of your family and will assume the role of protector for all. A loyal and intelligent dog, this breed does not deserve its controversial reputation, which it appears to have gotten because of its resemblance to the Pit Bull and Doberman Pinscher.

Further, the Canis Panther is very agile and athletic, but exceedingly obedient. Wary of strangers, this pet is naturally protective and can be dominant if not properly trained, so make sure you take the upper hand as soon as you bring your puppy home. That said, this breed is very responsive to training, and will listen to you without question as long as you provide consistently gentle, firm guidance.

Proper Environment The Canis Panther will not tolerate the confines of apartment living. You'll need to give your pet plenty of daily exercise and lots of room to run and play, especially until it is two years old. You must have the adequate time and space to devote to this breed if you want to adopt a Canis Panther as a pet. If you don't give your pet proper exercise, it can become destructive to property, chewing, whining, barking, and ignoring housebreaking training. However, with the proper stimulation and exercise, this will be a very well-behaved and obedient pet.

Because the Canis Panther is so devoted to loved ones and family, do not get this breed if you cannot spend most of your time with your new beloved member of the family. The Canis Panther suffers from separation anxiety very easily, and if you plan to leave your pet alone a lot, it's best to get a breed that can spend time alone and away from loved ones without suffering inevitable repercussions. Both your pet – and your possessions – will thank you if you can be as devoted to your Canis Panther as it will be to you.

This breed excels at obedience and agility trials, and will be very happy to work when you give it a job to do. Keep your pet with you indoors, however, when you're not outside working together. Although this athletic dog functions well outside, it should never be kept outdoors as its primary living environment. This dog’s short coat does not provide adequate protection against hot or cold in a permanent outdoor residence.

Health

The Canis Panther has no known significant health problems, although bloat is a common concern with this breed as it is with any other large, deep-chested dogs. If your pet should show signs of distress such as abdominal pain, hardness or tenderness, inability to vomit, depression, malaise, foaming at the mouth, or other signs of digestive illness, get to the vet immediately. Bloat (also known as gastric dilatation volvulus), can be deadly if not taken care of within about an hour of onset. With this, the stomach twists in on itself so that gas builds up and cannot escape. The recommended course of action for most cases is surgery, without which it is very likely to recur even if it can be resolved temporarily. The Canis Panther can be expected to live 10 to 11 years on average.

Grooming

The Canis Panther's coat is short and sleek, and should only require regular brushing. Bathing or cleaning with dry shampoo can be done as necessary, although frequent bathing can strip your pet's coat of natural oils that are beneficial.

References

Canis Panther.

http://www.completedogsguide.com/dog-breeds/rare/Canis-Panther/.

Retrieved February 23, 2014.

Canis Panther.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/canispanther.htm.

Retrieved February 23, 2014.

Canis Panther Dog Breed.

http://brainz.org/canis-panther-dog-breed/.

Retrieved February 23, 2014.

Canis Panther Information.

http://www.greatdogsite.com/breeds/details/Canis_Panther/.

Retrieved February 23, 2014.

Gastric dilatation volvulus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastric_dilatation_volvulus.

Retrieved February 23, 2014.