Life With German Shepherd Dogs - The Good The Bad And The Ugly

You need to know as much information as you can about any breed of dog before you adopt one. And, since the German Shepherd is a lot of dog, you need to know a lot of German Shepherd information before adopting or purchasing one! Not all dogs are alike. If you've never lived with a large dog or a very active dog before, then you are going to be in for a surprise with a German Shepherd. Hopefully, this will be a welcome surprise.

German Shepherds are not a placid, sedentary breed like the cavalier King Charles Spaniel. In order to be healthy, happy and respond to training, they need to be exercised regularly every day - including a walk of at least a half hour, plus a romp in the yard. You live in an apartment? Then you really should consider another dog. Otherwise, they will damage your apartment in boredom and to burn up excess energy.

Daily life with a German Shepherd should include a lot of interaction and fuss with your family and your dog. They love to be in the center of the action and are strong enough to force their way to the center of the action if not supervised. Keeping the dog exercised, including games and playing in the yard will help to keep his or her energy levels down. German Shepherds are not vicious by nature, but they can play rough, just like puppies do.

You will need to brush your German Shepherd every day to keep out tangles and to keep shedding to a minimum. Most German Shepherds have thick, double layer coats, although there are many with single layer coats. Bathing the German Shepherd Dog too often can result in shedding and dandruff production beyond belief so only bathe when absolutely necessary. Train your dog to be still when brushed and do it after exercise.

German Shepherd dogs need to feel they have a job in order to be well-adjusted. They love company and to be part of the family. They hate being left out of anything. They use their intelligence to find ways of doing things they think you will like and praise them for. Whether you will like these actions is another matter. German Shepherds need supervision and training.

Because of their popularity, German Shepherd Dogs have been over bred, which has lead to health problems. Although responsible breeders would not breed an animal with health problems, which can be inherited by their puppies, many still do. The most common health problems with German Shepherds are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and cancers. Even though many of these health problems can be easily treated, the previous owners do not want to or cannot pay the vet bills and instead abandon the dog. When you get a German Shepherd keep in mind that they may need frequent visits to the vet.

German Shepherd Dog History and Characteristics

German Shepherd Dog Temperament

The German Shepherd dog is amongst the most intelligent of dogs and its versatility and excellence in performing all manner of activities has secured its eternal position in the hall of fame when it comes to policing duties, search and rescue, military functions such as bomb sniffing and even as sight-seeing dogs for people who are blind or those with impaired eyesight. The German Shepherd is a quick study and due to their innate high intelligence are very easy to train.

These dogs are active, alert and like many other animals of a high intelligence and active nature the German Shepherd needs to be constantly challenged and stimulated both physically and mentally to avoid becoming a nuisance. That said, this dog breed makes a great companion and is both brave and loyal. Though some dogs tend to be somewhat aloof and wary by and large this dog breed makes for a great family pet and they generally get on well with children. Occasionally certain dogs may become a tad domineering with children which may manifest in the form of the German Shepherd trying to herd them about; in keeping with its breeding pedigree.

German Shepherd dogs have excellent watchdog ability and are typically wary of both strangers and other dogs. Early socialization is a must if your dog is going to be around other animals. As far as climate tolerance is concerned these dogs adapt fairly well to moderate cold as well as moderate heat, though extremes in either direction don't go down well.

German Shepherd Dog Grooming & Exercise Requirements

The German Shepherd boasts a high energy level and thus this dog breed requires plenty of exercise on a daily basis. Its grooming requirements however are not quite as demanding and its coat only requires brushing once or twice a week. The German Shepherd is a moderate to heavy shedder and thus is perhaps not the best choice of dog for allergy sufferers.

German Shepherd Dog Appearance

The body of the German Shepherd dog is typically longer than it is tall and in the modern variant when the animal is standing the body slopes downwards as though the dog is poised to spring off of its hind legs. This was not always the case, the early variant of the German Shepherd dog having a squarer body and less slanting haunches. The tail is usually bushy and hangs with a slight curve.

This dog breed boasts an athletic build and erect ears atop a head with a pointed snout which enhances the alert appearance of the dog. Coat color may vary and includes the following: black, black and tan and sable. From a show dog perspective white-coated dogs are not allowed although of recent there is a movement for such specimens to be represented in their own sub-category.

This dog breed has a double coat with a thick outer coat comprised of close lying medium-length hair that may be straight or slightly wavy.

Weight: Males: 75 - 100 pounds

Females: 60 - 80 pounds

Height: Males: 24 - 26 inches

Females: 22 - 24 inches

German Shepherd Dog Health Issues/Life Expectancy

This dog breed on average has a lifespan of 10 - 12 years. Due to rather intense in breeding over the years the German Shepherd dog suffers from a number of genetic disorders which include the following:

Major Concerns:

CHD

Elbow Dysplasia

Minor Concerns: Panosteitis; vWD; Degenerative Myelopathy; Cauda Equina; Skin Allergies; Hot Spots; Neoplasms; Pannus; Cataract; Gastric Torsion; Perianal Fistulas; Cardiomyopathy; Hemangiosarcoma

German Shepherd dogs are also extremely susceptible to a potentially fatal systemic infection from the fungus Aspergillus.

German Shepherd Dog History

The modern German Shepherd dog is the end result of a concerted effort in the late 19th century to breed the perfect German sheep herding dog. Up until that time each district boasted its own distinct herding dog. To achieve the perfect herding dog various dog breeds from the north were crossbred with those from the central district ultimately resulting with the forbearer of the modern German Shepherd.

The goal of the German Shepherd dog breeding program was to produce a dog that could watch out for and control straying sheep from the rest of the flock without spooking the entire flock. Thus unlike cattle herding dogs it was undesirable for the German Shepherd dog to exhibit leg nipping and neither could it control its wards by barking at them because either one of those attributes would more than likely cause the entire flock to panic!

In essence the German Shepherd dog breeding program had to come up with an extremely intelligent, versatile, swift and independent thinking breed of dog that executed its duties in a precise, swift, calm and steady manner.

Between 1899 and 1901 a specialist breed club was established and was originally headquartered in Stuttgart before moving to Munich and then finally ending up in Berlin. This club was known as Der Verein Fur Schaferhunde (SV for short), and this organization's primary goal and purpose was to oversee the continued positive development of the German Shepherd dog breed.

Within a decade of its breeding the German Shepherd dog had soon become one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. Its rising star in popularity was slightly marred by the occurrence of the two world wars, when it was considered prudent in both Britain and France to refer to the dog breed as either an Alsatian or simple the Shepherd Dog to avoid the inevitable backlash at the time associated with the word German incorporated in the dog breed's name.

Labrador Retriever - The Right Dog For You?

The Labrador Retriever, more commonly known as "labs" are the most common breed of dog in the United States. Labs are large dogs, normally around fifty to seventy five pounds.

Labs come in three colors - black (Black Labs), brown (Chocolate Labs), and yellow (Yellow Labs). Yellow labs can vary from nearly white to fox red, but the other two colors are pretty much all the same.

Labs are excellent swimmers, and most greatly enjoy the water, even in the winter. For this reason, labs make great duck hunting or fishing dogs. A lab's coat is relatively resistant to water, which helps it in water activities.

Labs are very friendly, loving dogs, and generally love being around people and children, making them a great family dog. Being large, active dogs, Labrador retrievers need plenty of exercise and activity.

Labs are generally easy to train and very responsive. Labs are rarely overly aggressive (though they will normally bark at intrusions), hyper, destructive, or overly territorial. They are great to get along with.

Labs do like chewing on things, so they often must be trained to chew on the correct things and not your furniture.

Labs, as mentioned before, love people. Most labs can't get enough human attention. Labs especially love retrieving, whether it be a ball, stick, or whatever. Most will continue bringing back a ball as long as you will throw it for them.

Labs generally live about twelve to thirteen years, and are not overly prone to many health problems. Labs do have some susceptibility to hip dysplasia, ear infections, or knee problems. Probably the most common problem is gaining too much weight, though. Labs love to eat, and their food intake must be controlled carefully.

Overall, labs are an excellently well rounded, even tempered dog. Really, they are great for anyone, as long as you can give them enough exercise.

The Ideal Family Dog - Labrador Retrievers

The Labrador Retriever, affectionately known as a Lab, or a Labby by their owners, was originally bred as a hunting or gun dog but are now considered by many to be the perfect family pet. Lovable and excitable by nature the Lab is highly dependable, extremely obedient and of course gifted with a multitude of 'doggy' talents.

Labrador retrievers are statistically one of the most popular dog breeds in the world with a huge proportion of dog owners having a lab at home. Its friendly, placid, bright, and bouncy good nature makes it a wonderfully delightful companion as well as being perfectly suited for other tasks outside the home such as police work. Labs are also extensively used as assistance dogs for the blind and also the physically handicapped. Labradors are often used in rehab and therapy work as they seem to be able to transmit their loving nature to any human being.

Labs are tremendous swimmers and fittingly have an otter-like tail. Their coat is grown in an interweave pattern, making them ideally suited to spending time in the water.

Labs are of course bred to be retrievers and they will retrieve just about anything they take a fancy too! But don't panic if you can't find your reading glasses and discover your Lab has 'retrieved' them. Your specs will be safe as Labs have remarkably soft mouths.' Apparently, a Lab is able to carry an egg in its mouth without breaking it though I have to say if my Labs got an egg in their mouth they would simply eat it. They have capricious appetites!

In general Labs are not markedly prone to having some of the negative traits found in some breeds. These include but are not limited to being hypersensitive, aggressive, insecure, pining nor territorial.

Labrador retrievers are especially wonderful with children because the Lab has an intense desire to not only please, but its desire to play is almost equal with its desire to eat!

Children can spend hours playing catch with a ball, or a Frisbee, and the dog will appear to be tireless. As far as a Lab is concerned 'more is best' and they never get bored of playing or being with their human masters.

Because of their need for attention and the way that they respect children 'left in their care' Labs also make an excellent 'cart dog' for tiny children, much to the pleasure of the laughing child.

Labs, as a breed, are exceedingly intelligent making them highly trainable though it is certainly true that they have great independence and can be quite stubborn in their behaviour.

Labrador retrievers are also immensely inquisitive, investigative and dearly love company, and they will follow both people and interesting scents for attention, food, and sometimes just because they want to!

Unfortunately, because of their trusting and adventurous nature Labs can often go walk about or be tempted away from their homes. Because of this it is highly recommended that Labs be micro chipped as well as having the name, address and phone number of their owner on their collar.

Labs are basically a healthy breed, though they are highly prone to becoming overweight as they have a tremendous talent for begging or finding food. But, like all dog breeds, Labs are susceptible to certain conditions and they can be prone to hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis and other joint problems as well as suffering from diabetes.

But, those minor health concerns aside, it has to be said that, for many of us, Labrador retrievers are as close as you can come to having the perfect family pet!

Pitbulls Are Great Dogs

Pitbull's are not killers they are beautiful and friendly dogs. Pitbulls are just as nice and genital as a lab if brought up right. Just like all other dogs pitbull's have a past. Used for hunting and fighting, but they have a better history of being great family dogs and not killers. If you find a owner of a pitbull and ask them how does their dog hold up against any other dog they will say no dog can compete, pitbull's have it hands down. Ill give you a few reasons and scenarios that will change your mind.

In 2008 testing showed that pitbulls have better temperaments than your so called family dogs, such as your labs, shepards, they even went up against lapdogs and won. To even end all claims more pitbulls were used for the testing than any other dog. Thousands of pitbulls were used and they had a passing percentage of 95%. With the other breeds they had an average of 92%. Pitbulls are great friends and any one that is thinking about adding a new member to your family a pitbull is the way to go.

If you look back into the pitbull history you will find out that the pitbull was first seen coming off of a boat and they were the best all around looking dog. A pitbull is a very athletic dog they love to swim, run, jump, and eat. They can be a hand full but if you are ready they can change your mind alone. Check one out. If you have a dog park in your town go hangout for a day and see how the pitbulls in your area act. You can and will be amazed with them. Thank you and good luck with finding your new family member.

Pitbull Dogs - Characteristics of the 3 Most Popular Breeds

There are three main breeds of Pitbull dogs: American pitbull terrier, America Staffordshire terrier and Staffordshire bull terrier. Although these breeds of dogs were all originally bred from bulldog and terriers, these are registered as different breeds due to their characteristics and bloodlines.

Origin

The different breeds of pitbull dogs hail from England where these dogs were bred for fighting and other sports and later for farm use. After these sports were banned, breeders started developing pure breed for the purpose of developing the muscular strength and obedient characteristic of these animals.

These different breeds of pitbull dogs are characterized by different clubs (like the United Kennel Club, American Dog Breeders Association and American Kennel Club), which formed between the late 19th century to the early 20th century. The main objectives of these clubs are to develop pure pedigrees and register dogs that belong to a particular bloodline and are not crossbred from another breed.

Characteristics

There are some common characteristics that all breeds of pitbull dogs and some that are only specific to certain types of breeds. The common physical and behavioral characteristics include:

· Muscular and lean body structure
· Energetic and require to be taken to regular walks everyday
· Intelligent dogs
· Aggressive behavior that can be tamed by proper training
· Ears are often cropped to given the dogs a characteristic look
· Loyal and attached to humans.

The physical and behavioral characteristics that are specific to each of these breeds of pitbull dogs are elaborated below.

American Pitbull Terrier

American Pitbull Terriers can have different colors and are:

· Length is 18 to 22 inches
· Weight varies from 30 to 60 pounds
· Short coat which is thick and shiny

AmericaStaffordshire terrier

This breed is a medium-sized dog, which was earlier known as Staffordshire Terriers, later distinguished from this breed due to its heavier size, and named America Staffordshire Terrier. It has the following characteristics:

· Life expectancy is 12 to 16 years
· Health problems include congenital heart disease hip dysplasia, cataracts, thyroid problems and other infections.

Staffordshire bull terrier

This breed is also known as English Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Stafford, Staffordshire, Staffie, Stafford, Staffross or Staffy. The characteristics of this breed include:

· Medium size body
· Length varies from 13 to 16 inches
· Weight varies from 23 to 38 pounds
· Energetic Courageous intelligent and obedient dogs
· Prone to health problems like cataract, hip dysplasia and breathing problems

Tips for Raising and Training Pitbull Dogs

Pitbull dogs are aggressive dogs that need to be trained at an early age. Untrained Pitbull dogs tend to become very aggressive and disobedient. Nothing is worse than owning a dog that is a nuisance at home and pose a danger to people around them

These intelligent dogs enjoy training and excel at sports like agility, obedience training and other competitions. Training pit bull dogs encompasses positive methods in which the dogs are rewarded for their good behavior. Training includes teaching these animals housekeeping, strength training, obedience training anal that is required to make these pitbull dogs obedient and able companions.

If you are looking for more information and articles about pitbulls you can find these at our Pitbull Blog. Want to know more about pitbulls? Check out the complete guide at www.pitbull-dogs.com.

Chihuahua Dog Origins

Chihuahua Dog History

The Chihuahua dog is perhaps best known for being the world's smallest dog breed, narrowly inching out the Yorkshire Terrier for the distinction (though it should be noted that a Yorkie (Yorkshire Terrier) actually holds the title for the world's smallest dog ever. Surprisingly as well known and popular as the Chihuahua is the world over, the origins of this tiny dog breed remain somewhat shrouded in mystery. What is known without any shred of doubt is that the dog is named for the Mexican state where it was first encountered by American travelers in the late 19th century. Other than that the Chihuahua's true origins are a mish-mash of conflict.

There are a number of different theories covering the origins of the Chihuahua and they include the following:

Theory One of Chihuahua Dog Origins: The first theory about the origins of the Chihuahua speculates that this dog breed is a descendent of one of the ancient American Indian dogs. Giving weight to this theory is the prevalence of tiny dogs in Toltec history as well as that of the better known Aztecs. According to people who favor this theory, the Chihuahua descended from a small mute dog of the Toltec people called the Techichi, a dog that is said to have existed as far back as the 9th century.

Much like the people who conquered them (the Aztecs) the Toltecs often sacrificed the Techichi dog during religious ceremonies. The Aztecs used to in fact cremate their tiny dogs with the deceased owners. They believed that those tiny dogs acted as spirit guides for the soul of the dead through the journey across the afterlife. Legend has it that the blue-coated variants of the tiny dogs were revered as sacred and potent religious symbols while the red coated dogs often ended up being entrusted with the lofty burden of supporting the sins of the dead and having the dubious honor of being thrown upon a funeral pyre as part of that burden!

Theory Two of Chihuahua Dog Origins: The 2nd theory speculates that the Chihuahua dog originated from Europe, having been transported to the Americas around 1520s, following the victorious conquest of the Spanish armies of Hernando Cortes over the peoples of the region. According to this theory it is believed that the wives of colonial officers charged with governing the new provinces most probably took their beloved pets from their homelands in Europe to help ease their settlement in their new homes located in the unknown lands of the New World.

Eventually some of those new dogs imported by the well-to-do settlers from Europe would have migrated off the great estates of the colonialists and associated with the local people of the surrounding regions. Adding some ounce of support to this theory is a Botticelli painting done at least ten years prior to the conquest that clearly illustrates a Chihuahua-like dog. There are those who also postulate that the Chihuahua truly originated from Malta and is a direct descendant of a tiny dog breed that existed there centuries ago, known as the Maltese Pocket dog.

Theory Three of Chihuahua Dog Origins: The third and final theory hypothesizes that the Chihuahua descended from dogs that hailed from China and was transported on Chinese trader ships. Support for this particular theory is to be found in the assumption that China has traditionally favored small, flat-faced dogs; a description that the Chihuahua dog certainly adheres to.

Rise of The Chihuahua

Whatever the true origins of the Chihuahua dog, the one fact that is under no dispute is that by the late 19th century the dog breed was irrevocably associated with Mexico, specifically the state in which it was discovered by American travelers. Circa 1880 several Chihuahua dogs were transported back to the United States as exotic pets. The Chihuahua was officially registered as a purebred breed in 1903 and by 1923 the Chihuahua Club of America had been established.