THE TRUTH ABOUT CHAIN TETHERING

GR CH GAMBLER'S VIRGIL (5XW) ROM

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The Gambler purchased Virgil, at the Valley Traders Market, which is something along the lines of a country flea market, where folks get together to sell a variety of different items, many of which would not be found in th eaverage department store. One of the traders at this particular market had four, three month old Pitbull pups for sale. This fellow had been raising a few bulldogs, from time to time, but had never shown a dog, or was involved in the sport in any way. The Gambler had a partner at the time and they purchased one of the pups each, for $350.00, $175.00 a piece. The partner didn't remain all that interested in the dogs and when the pups was about 8 months old he sold his share in the dogs to Gambler.

Virgil was a fairly easy going pup, but became almost uncontrollable when he got excited, and on one occasion, while the 10 month old pup was in a rage, tried to bite the Gambler, and actually torn the shirt off of Gambler's back as he tried to get away from the angry pup. Gambler thought very seriously about putting the dog down, but instead decided to roll him. Evidently he liked what he saw and by the tender age of just over 18 months, Virgil became a 1X winner.

Gr Ch Virgil- 47lb class
1) NLK's Corrupt in :22 min. (BOS)
2) Tant's Geronimo in :36 min.
3) HGK's Big Al in :55 min. (BOS)
4) Falcon's Ch Dingo in :58 min. at 49lbs. During this match Virgil suffered severe damage to his front left leg and had to win this one on three wheels.
5) Crunch's Ch Miester(4x) in :45 min.

I had asked an eye-witness to Virgil's last match about how he looked to him, and he said he didn't look in the best of conditioning for this match and said he looked just average. I then informed him of the damage he suffered to his left leg and the fact that he couldn't be conditioned properly due to his leg. He then went on to say Meister's handler was intimidated by another dogman, in the Gambler's camp, who told them to pick up their dog, which they did. I then got in contact with the person who told them to pick up their dog and he said he told them to "pick up their dog...if they wanted to save him."

Gambler's Gr. Ch. Virgil was voted AGDT dog of the decade, Sporting Dog Journal Dog Of The Year 1999, and Bulldog Revelation Dog Of The Year 1998 & 1999.

GR CH O.STEVEN'S VIRGIL (5XW) ROM

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Virgil was born in a litter of four and he was the last one to turn on. He was rolled at eighteen months, but he was not interested. Virgil finally turned on when he was at the age of two.

In his first roll he fought against a hard biting "Eli" dog, who hit two bleeders within four minutes. Virgil retaliated by destroying this dog within the next six minutes. In his next roll, Virgil came off the chain to fight against a big strong opponent of "Boomerang" breeding, who was conditioned, and thirty minutes later picked his dog up. Virgil had done considerable damage and was about to put him away. Big Brad contacted Ozzie and set up a match with a friend of his at forty-nine pounds. Ted and Frank used a dog named Harley, who was barnstormed from the start, and was picked up in :28 minutes.

GR CH O.STEVEN'S VIRGIL (5XW) ROM

Virgil's second came F. Rocca called to inform Ozzie that Mike So. had a two time winner called Cain that nobody would match. Virgil came in heavy and Mike requested the forfeit, but was later convinced by B. Bryan that if the match was still going on a :45 minutes, Ozzie would concede. Cain was counted out at :38 minutes in a fast paced match, which gained Virgil his second victory.

Next was Grace's Ch. Elmo, who was a litter mate to Gr. Ch. Mickey and Gr. Ch. Trouble. After a debate over the scale, the match started. Elmo hit a bleeder in Virgil's muzzle and another one in his shoulder. By :08 minutes Elmo had Virgil down. Virgil came off the bottom with Elmo's chest in his mouth and pressed Elmo over his head. After a flurry by Virgil, Elmo wouldn't fight back any longer and was picked up in :30 minutes, thus making Virgil a Champion.

His fourth was into Swango and Sears' Ch. Chisohm. By :40 minutes Ch. Chisohm was in bad shape and Swango conceded at :52 minutes.

For his Grand Championship, Virgil went into Phil's Little George who was a two time winner and a deep game dog. Phil conceded this match at :43 minutes, Little George later went on to win his Championship and also become a ROM producer.

In between Ozzie had contacted Brabham and Singleton, who at the time owned another dog that had made a name for himself , Grand Champion Snake, in hopes of hooking these two destroyers into each other. Unfortunately, this match never came to.

Virgil was six years old, when he was sold to Solo, formerly with STP, where he lived until he died at the age of 11. Before his death, Virgil sired Champions Beast, Becky, Bonnie, Brenda, and Jitney

GR CH BIG APPLE'S HAUNCH

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Gr. Ch. Haunch was bred by Southern and Red Tide Kennels. He was born on September 18, 1995. and in this litter there were 5 pups. Including Haunch, there were 2 males and 3 females. One of them went on to become famous 4x winner ProsetKennel's "Ch"Maymay. These pups were sired by the great "Gr"Ch"Mayday Rom. Their dam was the now Rom bitch Red Lady(Polly). Haunch was hot as hell from an early age and would act like a maniac around other dogs as a pup. Because of this, he was rolled at a young age.

CH PROSET KENNELS MAYMAY

During his schooling, he stopped 3 dogs going uphill and they were older and experienced dogs at that. On Haunch's last roll, we set him down with a highly regarded Redboy/Vindicator dog from the Latin Connection. This dog had won some off the chain shows and was reputed to have stopped several dogs. Haunch again went uphill in this roll making the other dog quit in 14 minutes. We courtesy scratched Haunch and decided right there to hook him up for his first show.

We got a call and hooked Haunch into Winchester and Tried and True Kennels' dog named Able. The match was set for 61 pounds with the Gator Boys to ref. Haunch was the under dog being that we were a relatively unknown kennel and many good dogmen felt that Able would whip Haunch fast. We were told that Able was a rough game dog and Haunch would not stand a chance. Haunch's keep went well as he is a hard worker. The day of the show we brought our dog and our money and were confident that Haunch would prevail. When they brought Able in, he was raging at the end of his leash and was built like a walking brick-house. Both dogs came in on weight and after being washed they were brought to the square. The Gator Boyz called out to release them and the Able dog came out like a greight train. He was trying to barnstorm Haunch by driving and shaking anything he could get a hold of. The other side was assured this would end fast and started calling out bets for high amounts of money. We took any bet we could get our hands on with the philosophy if you're gonna lose you lose big or if you win you win BIG. They fought hard and fast with both doing damage where they could. Haunch fought defensively and was continuously trying to figure out Able's style. Eventually, Haunch figured out how to control the fight with ear holds and started getting chest holds that frustrated and hurt Able. In the end, Haunch began to break him down and dismantle him. Slowly but surely Able started to show the tell tail signs of a down dog as Haunch punished his head. At 55 minutes, Able was called to scratch and he quit by stumbling to a neutral corner. Haunch gave a hard fast courtesy scratch for his first win.

After this we hooked him into N.W.O. Kennels but 4 days out from the show we called to confirm the location and they forfeited. After this wasted keep we tried again to hook Haunch into anybody. Southern Kennels had put in their ad which listed under Mayday's offspring that Haunch was open to the WORLD. Unfortunately, no calls came.

Finally we hooked into Heavy Hitter's and their 1x winner Chaos. This dog came from Raging Bulls yard. We set this match for 59 pounds with Sami the Arab to ref. Haunch always got carsick and on the way to the show he threw up bile and what little fluids he had in him causing him to come in light and dehydrated. We rested him as best we could and the show was on. In this match he outclassed Chaos in every way and soundly beat him in 46 minutes. There was an out of holds called and it was against Chaos. When he was to scratch, he refused by collapsing in his corner. We courtesy scratched Haunch and he flew across making him a 2x winner.

For his Championship, Haunch was hooked into Gator Boys and Spank'em Down's Rage. They figured that they had the dog to stop Haunch. We were hearing a lot of talk about how Haunch was going to meet his match and how Rage was gonn cur Haunch etc. We took it in stride and let Haunch do our talking for us. This match was set for 59 pounds with Sami the Arab to ref again. The night of the show the dogs came in on weight and after washing them, they were brought to the square and released. The two hit like a head on collision of two Mack trucks. Two big dogs, swapping and fighting fast and hard. Rage came out extremely strong and was barnstorming Haunch around the pit with Haunch systematically breaking Rage's holds and getting in where he could. The Rage dog was fighting fast, trying to back Haunch into the corner but Haunch would not let that happen. Haunch alternated from riding out ear holds to his trademark driving in on the dog grabbing chest/shoulders holds. At the 30 minute mark, Rage starts to fade and Haunch begins to take over the show. At 48 minutes, Rage was called to scratch and he collapses and takes the count. Haunch is screaming in his corner and when released for his courtesy scratch, he flew across, making him Ch Haunch.

After this win, we decided to retire Haunch and start our yard off of him. We put him up to stud in the Journal for a short time and bred him to some bitches. We were hearing trash talk of how he looked bad in his Championship show, how Rage's keep was screwed up etc. We just shook all that trash talk off because we knew first hand what caliber of a dog Haunch really was . A few months later, our partner Zero Cool handled a dog for Latin Connection Kennels as a favor into Knockout Kennels. Knockout Kennels brought hi 2x winner that night and was trash talking Ch Haunch. He said that his Bubba dog could whip Haunch (If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that one) and that we would not go into his dog because we had pups off Haunch and we were afraid he would quit etc. Our Partner and Knockout Kennels exchanged words back and forth. Anyway, Bubba won that night making him Ch Bubba. The next day our partner tells me and our other partner about how Knockout said this and that and his trash talk had really gotten my partner heated. We decided as a team that if we were to take Ch Haunch out again, it would be into a Champion or better. We felt that if this guy wanted to trash talk against our dog and if others in the game were questioning our dog's credibility, then the only way to prove to them was by taking Ch Haunch out of retirement and letting them see who's got the bulldog and who's got the cur dog. We decided to hook into Knockouts Ch Bubba who was out of Camp's Ch Luther and a daughter of STP's Gr Ch Buck.

We set this match up for 58 1/2 pounds. We wanted 59 he wanted 58 and we finally agreed on 58 1/2 with STP to ref. We knew this was going to be the biggest match of Ch Haunch's career but we were confident as ever in him. We knew that Knockout Kennels and ourselves had a lot to lose. But in this game, there is only one way to be the best and that's to BEAT THE BEST. Haunch's keep went well and time came to decide on a spot. We knew that HAUNCH gets car sick but we decided to bite the bullet and travel a total of 2 1/2 hours. At this point we just wanted to get this show on and would have traveled across the country to beat this dog.

On the night of the match, we arrived and weighed the dogs. Bubba comes in over the weight. We gave Knockout an opportunity to try to take the weight off his dog but he was unable to do it, so he paid the forfeit. We came to beat his dog not to run with his money so we took the forfeit and proceeded with the match. we brought Haunch in to weigh and he's screaming and truying to wiggle his way out of my partner's hand and was ready to destroy anything and everything on four legs. It seems being locked up in that crate for that drive did nothing but piss Haunch off to the point of rabidness. He knew what time it was and unbelievably did not get sick in the car. We brought the dogs to teh pit and STP called face your dogs and it was on. The two Champions hit hard in the middle and immediately began to swap hold for hold, shaking and fighting hard in an all out was. The fight was pretty much even as both dogs tried to ut power the other with Haunch driving and driving into Bubba. The two dogs were fighting hard and furious by taking ear, chest and shoulder holds. Bubba had the peculiar style of turning like the legendary Gr Ch Hank, then biting, shaking and scratching. A turn is called on Bubba and the dogs continue to fight until a handle can be made. Bubba scratches hard by running into Haunch who in turn grabs him and they both fight hard to be on top. We made a good handle and Haunch scratches straight and true. The two Champions alternate in shaking the hell out of each other but Haunch starts to really dig in deep and Ch Bubba starts to sing from the pain. After six more scratches and much more damage to each other, it's Bubba's turn to scratch at the 1:50 mark. This was the longest either dog had ever fought. Haunch has never went past the hour mark so he was deep into un-chartered waters. When released, Bubba turns his face away refusing to look at haunch and quits on all fours. We immediately asked STP for a courtesy scratch and Haunch makes his scratch hard and fast by slamming into Bubba. This showed everyone present that night (all highly respected dogmen) what a true Champion looks like. We quickly worked on our dog, collected our bets and put our 4x winning Champion in his crate and made our trip home.

GR CH BIG APPLE'S HAUNCH

ED CRENSHAW INTERVIEW

GR CH LATIN FORCE KENNEL'S BARRACUDA (9XW) ROM

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It all started when no name jay went to southern kennels yard and saw barracuda as an 11 month old pup. Victor told jay that the pup had got into a kennel accident and stopped a 2x winner. Jay was impressed with the way the dog looked and acted and bought him on the spot.

Shorty after they began to show the dog off the chain against conditioned dogs. After winning four times the dog jay called southern kennels and asked for the papers on barracuda. Vic had said if they want the papers then they should start over and make him and official registered champion. This is where the career of the dog that came to be known as the “southern legend” began.

The first time they brought him out it was over before it started . Barracuda came out as if he was shot out of a cannon, and thug’s chinaman had just become the southern legends first victim. Now everyone was talking about barracuda and shortly after he was on his way to georgia for number two.

It was a five dog show that featured four champions, one of them being barracuda’s half brother ch600. First to go was cuda into ch.fatty. Fatty, a son of gr ch yellow, had the reputation of being an extremelly game dog, going over two hours twice . I knew we where going into a bulldog that night . Once again barracuda came out fast and strong and soon enough ch.fatty was picked up and made one of the gamest attempts i had ever seen.

A couple of months later he was hooked for his third at another big show in tennessee. This one will turn out to be barracuda’s hardest. They went toe to toe for an hour and fifty minutes, both dogs seemed to know that if either one blinked it would be over. Cuda found his way to the back end and at one hour and fifty four minutes soldier stopped making barracuda an official champion.

Shortly after that, no name jay, got into some serious trouble and that’s when i got the once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase barracuda. He didn’t come cheap but was the best thing money could buy. So for the next year and half barracuda was open to the world with no takers.

Then i received a phone call from my good friend the cowboy letting me know that there was this bad ass dog called ch. Big daddy that had just stopped the infamous ch. Red, who was going for his grand championship was said by many to be unbeatable. Well, ch. Big daddy completely outclassed ch red a 4x, and put on a display that had many saying he was the total package, big daddy,s owners were letting everyone know that they believed he was the best 55 in the country and if barracuda wanted the tittle he had to come north and get it. I called my friend cowboy who knew big daddy’s owners and told him we were willing to do it and bring it right to his own back yard. Sure enough they agreed and it was on.

Before that thought, there was another small matter to be taken care of. There was a guy claiming to have the dog to beat barracuda and right in my hometown of miami. Well, we set it up and in 30 minutes the 3x winner black boy was taken care of and barracuda didn’t even break a sweat. Now cuda was a 4x winner and the only thing that stood in the way of his grandchampionship and the dog of the year tittle was ch.big daddy.

Three months later i was right in ch. Big daddy’s back yard. And as it turned out, it was barracuda’s easiest contest. Again, he came out strong in the back end, front end, and 30 minutes in, it was all over. And there the status of the new legend was born. Latin force kennel’s gr ch barracuda & dog of the year 2002.

Special thanks to victor for breeding such an exeptional animal, to the cuban missing link for conditioning him for all 5 shows, to all my opponents for being frist calss acts, and also to the cuban cowboy and mike from work kennels for their friendship and hospitality.

Barracuda x Lady

GR CH CATES' NIGERINO (5XW)

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Nigerino was born in July of 1979, out of Jackson’s Wolfman, a son of Eli Jr. and a grandson of Bullyson, bred to Hathaway’s Lela, a daughter of Gr Ch Art and double grand daughter of Eli Jr. Sam Cates acquired Nigerino and his littermate sister, Bolita, from their breeder as puppies. There was a condition; that Bolita was to be bred back to her sire Wolfman.

For whatever reason, this was not done. When Bolita came in heat she was bred to Cates’ Poncho, who was out of Stompanato bred to a Bullyson/Art’s Missy daughter. Some time later, both Bolita and Nigerino were stolen from Sam Cates’ yard, as well as a son and daughter from the Poncho/Bolita breeding.

The story goes that the breeder of Nigerino and Bolita had the dogs stolen, supposedly becasue he felt the agreement had been violated. Cates found Nigerino on the yard of another Texas dogman and reclaimed hm, the two pups off Bolita (Leo and Miss Kitty) were later returned to him, but he never got Bolita back. It was rumored she had been sold to another dogman. The whole situation started a major feud between all parties involved that lasted several years.

Nigerino’s first match took place in South Texas against Peace’s Al Capone at 37 pounds, the referee was Granger. Nigerino worked the head and chest; Al Capone was picked up at 37 minutes. This amtch was part of a 5 match convention and Nigerino took Best in Show.

For his second match , he was conditioned and handled by Oklahoma Shorty. His opponent, Maddox’ Louie, was a one time winner in over 2 hours. The referee was Bobby Smith. Louie does a good job of holding Nigerino out, but Nigerino gets ahead working the chest and stifle and Louie is counted out scratching at 1 hour 20. Nigerino was once again awarded Best in Show and recieved a trophy.

His third was at 36 pounds against another two hour winner, McMillian’s Brindle. This match was refereed by Selso. Nigerino is ahead all the way and scratches to win in 37 minutes. Nigerino wins his champion title.

The fourth was against a group from Califronia who called themselves the ‘Black Attack’ the weight was 37 and the referee was Morgan. Nigerino’s opponent, Guerro’s Ranger, was counted out in his corner at 37 minutes. Nigerino’s son Sampson (out of Miss Kitty) won the same night in less than 30 minutes.

HALL'S SAMPSON 2 XW

Three years later, when Nigerino was 7 years old, he won his fifth match. The weight was 37 and the referee was DelGarza. The referee from the fourth match, morgan, had a hard biting head dog called Rowdy he felt could beat Nigerino. Rowdy was a very talented one time winner out of Ch. Tonka/Bolio breeding and managed to hold Nigerino out for the first tenn minutes, with Nigerino driving. Nigerino gets on Rowdy’s nose, then into his chest, and then to the rear end several times and rowdy was singing by the thirty minute mark. Morgan picks Rowdy up at 37 minutes. Nigerino is a Grand Champion.

A couple of months later, Nigerino died of unknown causes on Cates’ yard. Because of the incident before, there was some speculation that Nigerino had been poisoned but nobody ever really knew whether his death was due to natural causes or foul play.

Sam Cates with Nigerino