Originally Posted by
CYJ
In the Cajun rules you do not have to scratch to win or to a dead dog to win. If a dog is counted out, dies in a match for any reason it is the automatic loser. If a dog jumps the pit and feet hit the ground is a automatic loser. If there is a scratch to win agreement, the referee should know and the spectators.
When your opponent will not pick up a losing or dying dog. If one ask you to scratch to win may be hoping your dog will not scratch to a dead dog or has seen a fault in your dog. Unless you have a deep game high predator drive dog. Best to decline and remind that person of the rules.
One should never have a person referee that does not have a book of the Cajun rules and knows all of it. I have seen sore losers pick up their dog, let your dog slam into the corner wall on scratch to win or courtesy scratches.
Another reason some will leave a losing dog down is in hopes of killing your dog as well. From the excessive exertion and drawing the match out to long. Sometimes the winning dog can go into shock.
This sort of thing stays in the mind of dog men a long time. When Burton refused to pick up his badly hurt and dying dog. The Con trying to be pulled, was the scratch to win or scratch to continue. A good Referee should have stepped in reminded him of the poor sportsmanship he was displaying. That soon as that dog is declared dead. He loses and the party is over. Which did happen but was drawn out way to long.
I seen this sort of thing maybe once or twice. The good dog men shunned them and would not match them. When the other dog is counted out and you want a courtesy scratch ask for it and tail scratch your dog. There is a smart part of match making. If you saw a bad fault in the winning dog and you have that weight. Try to match into that dog at a later date.
It is not good policy and bad manners to jump up in the crowd and loudly challenge the winning dog. Best to let all winners have their day, shake hands and be friendly. Earl Tudor said a match well made is a match well won.
Overtime I saw the dog game go from a wonderful dog fraternity to grudge matches between the different dog camps. When the dope dealers, big money gambling, gangsta groups showed up. The sport became less fun and more violent. Was no longer about game dogs only money, pride and power.
W. T. told me the last bad thing he saw not to far back was a little bitch that had given her all and fell forward on her scratch line. Could not get up, was counted out. The owner in front of the group forced her head down into a bucket of water and drowned her. Hopefully that guy owns no breed of dogs today. Cheers