AWWW! Fighting dogs

The New York Times today reveals that the Russians love dog-fighting almost as much as the Romanians love cats as accessories. Though outlawed within the city limits of Moscow, a particular type of dog-fighting thrives in the harsh Ural and Caucasus mountain regions.

They're called "volkodav" competitions. The translation of Volkodav is strangling a wolf, but the name has been given to dogs that are bred to police the Siberian steppes and protect livestock from wolves and other predators—"wolf-killers," if you will. These 100 to 200 pound superdogs have names like "Koba" (Stalin's nickname) and "Aldar-Tadzhy" (probably also something badass).

Mind you, this is not some backyard redneck pitbull ring. According to the official volkodav website, some "trail rules" apply.

[A selection from the rules after the jump!]

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