zebo

To stangers he might not have been trustworthy. All his bites were to strangers I believe.

Now please let me emphasize I am not saying Zebo wasn't a biter. My point was that he wasn't the slavering, crazed man-eater ppl make him out to be. From all the accounts I have come across about him seem to say all his bites were trigger bites.

 

I've read accounts that he was a BAD man-biter. I remember reading that he would "bite a person the way he bit a dog, he get a hold and shake".

 

The guy I talked to said he was sitting on the couch and Zebo was there, too. He said Zebo looked at him and growled. He said he looked right back into the dog's eyes and growled back. That's balls right there.

 

From the Complete Gamedog. I'll type as much of it as I can. Pardon any typing errors.

"The first time I saw Zebo, he bit me." Mr. Hughes began.

"Me and William Cable ahd come to Lonzo's house to look at his dogs. Lonzo had his dogs tied alongside a narrow path, and if you got one step the wrong way, they could reach you. I started walking along the path behind Lonzo towards the dogs and stopped and asked him if any of the dogs could get to us. 'No, and they wouldn't bite you knowhow,' he answered, and we kept on walking.

We went a few steps farther and a black dog hit the end of his chain and grabbed me by the arm. I swung my fist and punched him in the jaw, knocking him off, and that was the first time I laid eyes on Zebo.

Willie Brown was there with his wife and daughter, and he and Lonzo were rolling out a bunch of dogs. They rolled one of Willie's bitches on Lena -- that was Zebo's sister, and then they rolled Vindicator and Zebo. It was a short roll, the way those dogs were hurting each other, it couldn't have gone very long without them killing each other. Vindicator was really punishing Zebo's front legs, but Zebo was hurting Vindicator's nose putting holes in his muzzle the size of my little finger, and blood was running all over.

Vindicator was Lonzo's favorite, but I asked Willie privately which dog he liked better, and he said he'd seen them both rolled before and he liked Zebo the best. I liked the dog real good, but I didn't buy Zebo, that day.

I went back a couple of months later, and Lonzo had rolled Zebo on a dog that weighed about eighty-five pounds, I believe his shoulder had been messed up really bad."

Mrs. Hughes adds, "His one leg was just sort of hanging there, it looked like it had near about been tore right off."

"I bought Zebo and took him home. Wiliam Cable took him to his ve'ts and had his shoulder reconstructed. The surgery cost seventy-five dollars, which was a ot of money, back then.

Lonzo let me have Zebo on time; I paid him so much one month, then so much another month, until it was all paid. He still leads people to believe I still owe him for Zebo, but I paid him every penny. At a later date I went back and bought four female pups from Lonzo, off Mike and Angie, and paid for those on time, too, but I held back twenty dollars on each pup when I paid him because Willie Brown had told me I'd never see the papers on them, that Lonzo wouldn't spend the money to send for them, and that's the story of the eighty dollars I owe Lonzo Pratt.

Out of the five dogs I bought from Lonzo, I got three really good ones, I give him a plus for that. Any time you buy five dogs from a man you are more likely to get five curs than three good dogs. Lonesome won two, and another bitch was dead game and died in a kennel fight. Of the two tha didn't work out, one was cold and the other won (sic) fought fifteen minutes and quit. After his shoulder was all healed, I matched Zebo. His first fight was an easy one, the match was against a friend of mine that I'd been in the service with, at forty pounds. The dog he brought was really about a thirty-five pounder that weighed forty pounds, and Zebo killed it in seventeen minutes.

Bob Finley had a two-time winner called Pete, and we matched at forty-two pounds. Pete had won his fights at a higher weight, and Zebo came in at forty-one and three quarters, which was too heavy for him. He was a good, strong, hard-biting dog or he'd have been in trouble. Zebo killed Pete in twenty-six minutes.

His next was into my friend from the service again, and that was a pretty good fight, but Zebo won in about thirty minutes and that dog died, too. His dog was real game and would have scratched at the end of the fight, if he could have. I don't believe that man messed with any more bulldogs after that; he was into the law pretty heavy-- still is if he hadn't retired, and I don't mean he's a deputy sheriff or anything like that, he's up in the top bracket of the law.

Junior Bush called and said he had a match for Zebo in Alabama, against a feller by the name of Eslinger that was into the dogs pretty heavy at that time. We turned 'em loose, and when that feller seen what was happening I saw he kind of felt like he'd been set up. He walked over to where I was standing and said, 'That one can kille a dog, can't he?' and I replied 'Yeah, just recently he killed two, and if you don't pick up yours, he'll kill him, too.' And Zebo did, winning the fight in twenty-three minutes.

***to be continued***

 

Dave and Roger Adams had saw Zebo that day he foguht in Alabama. Dave looked him over, pointed to his back end, and asked me why he didn't have any scars there. I answered, 'As far as I know, no dog has ever got to his back end.' He called me after that match, wanting to buy Zebo and I told him I didn't want to sell the dog. He made me an offer and I made him an offer that I did not believe he would pay for hte dog, and that was the end of the conversation. I was eating breakfast the next morning and looked out the window to see Dave Adams' car pull into the yard. He'd come for Zebo.
He wanted to get Zebo off the chain himself; a few moments later I saw him running away from Zebo's spot, Zebo had almost bit him and ran him off. I had to load Zebo into the car myself. They hadn't brought a box or crate with them, and when they left Zebo was riding in the front seat between them, looking out the window. I was wondering if by the time they got to Ohio either of them would have any face left!"

Mr. Hughes shakes his head, laughing, and continues, "They matched him into that Greaser dog, who I believe was a four-time winner, and there was a good story behind that, each side trying to set the other side up. I was supposed to drive up and see the match, but my car broke down somewhere in Virginia, so I turned around and went back home.

About three in the morning, the phone rang, and it was Dave Adams. I thought Zebo had quit and jumped the pit, and he must have been really mad at me, to call at that hour. He said 'You're never gonna believe what ol' Zebo did!' and before he could say anything else I told him 'Well I like him so just send him back to me if you don't want him!'

What he'd called for was to tell me that Zebo had gone three pounds uphill and won in just under two hours. After that was when Dave Adams' son got hurt, and Zebo did bite that boy--I saw his face and Zebo'd bit him pretty good, and he sold Zebo to a feller named Johnson. I believe Zebo won two more after that, one against a nephew out of Cush, in eighteen minutes.

Zebo was the hardest-biting dog I ever saw, and liked the chest. Once he'd get in the chest, one wasn't gonna get him out of there, and if it did, it would be so weak from the punishment it couldn't do much of anything else anymore. When a dog was going down, Zebo would get on the front legs and shake so hard it would look like the dog wasn't even touching the ground. HE could adopt any style a dog had; if a dog fought the mouth, it woiuldn't sta there for long, Zebo bit so hard the dog would get out of hte mouth pretty fast and try something else.

When I got him, Zebo's teeth were worn down flat, but his cutters were as long and thick as my little finger to the second joint, and I'm not exaggerating. He'd kill a dog, and there wouldn't be a drop of blood. I don't remember seeing much blood in any of his fights--I don't believe there would have been much competition in the Greaser match, i fhe hadn't had so much of a weight advantage over Zebo. They say he survived and was retired to stud, and maybe he was, but I never did hear anyone much more tell of him, or any pups off of him.

Zebo would bite; he'd bite you or he'd bite a stranger. Not every time mind; there'd be times he'd be just as friendly as a puppy. But if you walked up to him and his eyes got real wide and round, the only way to keep from getting bit was to get the hell away from him fast! When he bit, he didn't just chomp and turn the hold loose, he'd work it like he was on a dog, hold and shake.

One time some big ol' boy from South Carolina was here to look at hte dogs with some friends. I guess he weighed two hundred and figyt pounds; big, all muscle, you know? We started to look at the bulldogs, and he went right towards Zebo. Back then we had him chained out there by the old apple tree. I called after him, 'Don't touch that dog, he'll bite you!'

He answered, 'I train dogs for a living, and there aint a dog in the world I can't pet.' And I told him, 'Well, you can't pet that one.' He looked at Zebo and said, 'this little dog is friendly, look at hte way his tail's a waggin'!' I said 'he's just anticipating how good he's going to enjoy biting you!'

Me and the other fellers walked up the hill towards the other dogs, and we didn't get but about ten feet before I heard that boy scream. He was holding his arm up, and there was Zebo hanging from it, shaking. I had to get a breaking stick to get him off, I don't believe there was any way that boy, big as he was, could've got Zebo off, and eventually Zebo would've got him down."

 

We all laugh and Mrs. Hughes talkes about Zebo. "Zebo was our house dog, that was before we had any children, and he used to ride with us in the car. I'd put him in the back seat, but he'd never stay there. He'd jump into the front seat and sit in my lap, looking out the window and popping his jaws, you know how they do that when they're excited or nervous? He'd scare me sometimes doing that, his head just a few inches away from my face and those jaws just popping and quivering. It woiuld get so I couldn't stand it anymore, and would throw him back in the back seat, but he'd just jump right back up between us and climb into my lap again.

One day we were on our way home somewhere and I was throwing him back and he was jumping back into my lap, over and over again. Lester got so mad at the two of us fightin' so, he hit the brakes, turned around and went back home. He let us both out of the car and drove away!"

"I don't believe you could have reached out wit your hand and touched me on the shoulder before Zebo'd have your finger," Mr. Hughes goes on, "I was walking him in the parking lot before the fight in Alabama and Junior Bush came up to shake hands with William Cable. When their hands met, Zebo had both of them by the hand--didn't put much pressure, just grabbed their hands quick." Mr Hughes turnes to his wife. "What match was it I brought Zebo home and put him up in the room in the barn, and he tore everything up and at the telephone?"

Mrs. Hughes thinks about it, and answers, "I don't remember, but I do remember the time you brought him back from a match with his head swollen up like a melon and his eyes swollen about shut. We had a little black cat at the time, and it was somewhere in the house when Lester carried Zebo in. We didn't think Zebo could see at all, but as soon as Lester set him down he was off!"

"Him a-tearin' after that cat, and me after him tryin' to catch him before he caught the cat!" Mr Hughes adds. "Another time a bunch of us were driving back from a match with Zebo. Everyone but the driver fell asleep, and we'd left Zebo loose, figuring he was hurt so bad he'd just lay there and rest. When we woke up, Zeobo had chewed his harness and ate part of it, and chewed my belt right me while I was asleep and ate part of it. It tickled William Cable to death, he thought it was really funny till he looked around for his sweater to put on. He had one of those expensive sweaters with the leather patches on the elbows. Zebo had ate every bit of the leather off, and ate the collar of it, too. Willaim wasn't laughing anymore after he found his sweater!

One time I didn't have much bet on one of Zebo's fights so I gave Evelyn all the money to bet. I knowed nobody much was gonna bet against me, and you know how people are, they see a dumb-lookin' woman trying to bet and they'll take the bet." Mrs. Hughes continues, "I'd never bet on a fight and didn't know how. Everyone was calling out bets and I just stood there. Zebo won in less than a half hour, and I hadn't got a single nickel bet!"

We asked Mr. Hughes what Zebo produced while he had him, and why, in his opinion, Zebo is not known as a very good producer.

"I never bred Zebo to any outside bitches while I had him, but I did breed him to two or three bitches here. I bred him to a bitch of Bruce King's and we got some good ones. One got poisoned, one hung itself, and two accidentally drowned. I believe they would have been winners. I bred him to Lonesome, and got a bunch of good dogs that I never could get matched. They were all about his size. Gator was one of them, and he was about the closest thing to Zebo I ever saw, as far as mouth went. I rolled him on his brother Blue, who was another good one, but Gator ruined him--he literally tore off part of his muzzle, teeth, bone and all. Blue never recovered and I finally had to put him to sleep.

 

I remember the first time I read these stories in TCGD I laughed my butt off. Every now and then I go back and read them again and yes I still laugh. Maybe it's the way it is written, in a good ol country boy type style. The book is the best IMHO and a must have for every bull dog owner.

May Zebo rest in peace because it looks like there wasn't a moment of peace when he lived. LOL!!

 

great read

 

I wonder what would have happened
had he gone into gr ch boomerang..
It would have been hell in the box.

 

i believe boomerang was a 38-39lber where as zebo was 40-41lber, so i believe he would have done pretty much the same.

but if you look at how the breedings went back then, boomerangs sister was art's missy who was snooty's dam, alot of breeding was done with the vindacator /rosie stuff who in turn were zebo's littermates.

 

boomer & missy wasn't littermates. i highly doubt zebo would of stopped him like he did everyone else. especially after he went into greeser. AG gunner was out there as well & would of given both a run for the $. what could of been lol.

 

They was going to be matched but the owners couldn't agree on terms.Boomer was a 40/41 lb dog.Zebo could come in at 40 also.Zebo was a bad man biter and threw man biters.Those dogs would grab u like you was a dog and try to shake u down to the ground.

 

Very cool readings. I learned a few things. Anybody have anything off Zebo? Here's mine with some Zebo through N. Toby:

ONLINE PEDIGREES :: [439373] :: BAD TWISTA

He's only over a year and showing his horns. Great house dog. Was a little worried about him being man aggressive when i first received him. Hasn't shown a hint of aggressive towards members in the household. He does bark like crazy and wants to investigate anything strange outside the house. Kinda like that even though he's not meant to be a protection dog. Tell you what he's hot when it comes to anything four legged.

 

havent learned how to post anything yet, but if you can take a peek at: A&J'S PATCHES, she's a 50/50 cross thru PANTHER there still are some quality indaviduals coming from this bloodline you just have to know where to look, then be lucky enuf to get some.

 

i met mm personly in 98 when we got miss homer off bulllocks buferd and heard the story fist hand

 

@ Ben, what's the story on Missy?
I heard the different ways Boomerang was bred.
Do you think Fox & Susie were related to them (Boomerang /Missy)?

 

i think there's a story about it in frank rocca book. anyway he called baker davis on boomerang & told boomerang was really off ironhead. i believe missy is bred as shown.

 

Yeah I read the book also, and remember that part too, then I listened to the Ed Crenshaw tapes and he says something totally different (not to hijack this thread) .
Thanks.

 

The rumour that Boomer is off Ironhead has been around but they never say off which bitch. If it is Ironhead, who was the dam?

 

Why is every great dog off Ironhead but only a dew selected ones? Was told by an ol timer, whoever the mystery dog is, its not Ironhead, he was at the time believed to be sterile.

And Zebo wasn't a manbiter, he was a predator. Everything that moved was prey, man woman child horse or dog.