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UPDATING...
If you have a question about dogs, breeding, upbringing or training that is not covered below please feal free to email your question. We will answer.
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Preferably training your dog should begin the moment your puppy or dog comes home. Relocation is the greatest oppertunity to train a dog to the new rules that are expected. Many people believe that a dog should be alone at the begining to accustome to the new surroundings and puppy's should be left to grow to six months of age before training begins. This is worng. The reason for the six month rule is generally due to old day training methods, remember the head master at school years ago known by all pupils by how well he could use his cane? Well the dog world is somewhat still at that level. A trainer that is not good enough or uses force for training will require a dog to be at least 6 months old to survive the ordeal! On the other hand there are dog trainers who use totally humane methods and advice 6 months plus. the reason for this is either that that was what they were taught or because they aren't good enough or as some trainers I know of have had enough of training a puppy only to be spoiled by the owner. Yes this is the only draw back of training a puppy, the traininng can easily be spoiled by the owner. However, we believe that the most important part of training is done by the owner. Dogs grow up quickly much quicker then a human being, a 30 day old dog can learn the meaning of sit and thus perform whereas this is impossible for a human baby. We believe that the moment your dog comes home training should begin, your dog should be taught as wuick as possible where he is allowed and not allowed to go, where his toilet is located etc. The sooner the better. Common sence; a dog who was allowed to toilet any where in the house hold from 2 months of age to 6 months of age is going to have a hard time to accept a new toilet rule after doing his business hwere he fealt for 4 months. It will be much easier for him to start learning on day one, thus confusion is little, and stress is out of the equation. Dogs are very quick learners. A dog can learn 10 commands in a single day! and just like a human learning a new language the same applies to dogs, the human language is very complex and a new language for them, the earlier the younger the easier it is.
A dog newly entering your household will be catious he will be wondering what the rules are, what is to be done with him, what is expected from him by the pack, will the pack be accepting him... This is why training new rules will be much easier because he is wanting to learn them.
PLEASE DO NOTE: If you have just aquired a puppy do not forget that he will be under stress, he will be afraid, allow him to explore, allow him to come to you, allow him to understand in his own way and his own time that you have accepted him and that you are his new pack not strange creatuers ready to harm him. However, he still must follow the rules. Acting as a mother to a baby is the way to do it. Not scolding or beating but by directing and re-directing, wether with treats or sweet words.
The German Shepherd Dog is a decendent from the time of the bronze age that change very little, however people in general prefer to make up their minds according to the outside look. Think about it, when you are of to buy a book isin't the first thing that attracts you the books cover. What about when you meet someone for the first time, isn't your first impression according to their appereance? What about when you are going to purchase something that you do not have a deep knowledge of, maybe a car, a fridge, a bike... When purchaseing such an item one has only the oppertunity to decide by colour and shape.
This is what happened wth the German Shepherd Dog. The Germans began selling to the French, a great income and easy money, obviously demand didn't have a chance to be covered, so all dogs, any dog wether a quality German Shepherd Dog or not was bred and sold to France. Obviously anyone who had a dog not up to their standards ddint have a chance to be sold in Germany but the French were good importers so of the dog went. The French in turn found the good cash flow of the business and began selling the dogs around the world. It didn't take long to find out that amongst all the colours dogs with a lower back side that were black and brown were the easiest to sell. This is when breeding for looks began, nobody cared about the charecter and traits the dog was supposed to hold as long as the puppy had the right looks and colour. Shows changed into beauty contests were sexiest took them all. With litterally only black-tan saddled dogs with a lower back side present in Europe these were used in breeding and to keep the so-called quality traits (I say so-called because these had nothing to do with the original breed standard) under the hood. Therefore the German Shepherd Dog changed from a dog that had a certain charecter was utile, extremely intelligent, good with children, easily trainable, great for farm or protection work that came about in a diverse range of shapes and coulours became a uniform look dog where these traits had little to no importance. Hip dysplasia and many other genetic problems were set solid in time with the ever continuing in line breeding for colour and looks. This became a no-return path, the reason for this is that even when breeders who cared about their dogs came to know the true German shepherd Dog and his qualities they didnm't stand much chance of explaining this to the general public to a market flooded by a dog with a certain colour and look, a market that now called a quality dog that looked different a half cast or simply not a German Shepherd Dog. These breeders worked hard and are still working hard to preserve the corect traits in their dogs yet satisfy the general public and survive themselves by breeding dogs with the looks and colour tthat the general public was fond of. Germany had no chance to change either breeders of this new mentality was the only way to sutrvive. However many good breeders who cared for the breed did their uttermost best to preserve the original dogs and there diverse pattern and colour range. Even so today the brindle is extinct! When the breed first took of the breed was used as a shepherd dog then as a police dog, the GSD was known as a working dog. However especially in amerika the breed has changed so much that it is only good and usefull to put on show. So the GSD becomes a trotting dog! Schutzhund tests were once devised for the German Shepherd dog that covered obedience, nose work and protection work. These tests were once upon a time used to establish wether the dog in question was worthy to be bred. These rules got easier as time passed so what was left of the breed could survive, all the way up to today where in many countries such tests are no longer required because there are hardly any dogs who could pass the ever more easier test. Think about it the GSD was the most preffered police dog once upon a time because of their utility, today they are being replaced by new breeds whome once never had a chance next to the GSD. World wide especially in the Czech republic certain breeders have continued to fight for the GSD with the knowledge that the dogs of today have mutated and have preserved the breed. These dogs are still used by the millitary and police force but their numbers have drastically droped. These dogs are known as the Working Lines decendants of dogs who continued to perform duty in different tasks. These are the dogs that have and will allways win competitions such as Schutzhund. Yes they are differnt to todays majority, but so did the original German Shepherd of a centuary ago...
Actually yes. Mange from dogs can affect and spread to humans. However it is a rare case for our bodies to not rid of it without the help of medicine we most generally have it over with without even knowing that we ever had it.
Dogs can get itchy from many different things. The most possible causes are. ticks mites and flease; mange (with its varieties); fungas (mostly ring worm that can show up on children and women); allergy (most generally through food especially wheat). However there are many possibilities but these are the most common. Generally blood checks, skin scraping etc. is required to find out exactly what the cause is but this can sometimes be missleading. If you can't find the cause a trip to the vet is a must.
The trueth is there are many ways. Don't ask how because no responcible person will tell you because making a dog aggressive is not something any human responcible person would do. With correct training your dog will protect you from dangeour but will still be social and ready to play with children (thats how they shoud be). However certain breeds and extreme passive or extreme social dogs are generally born with the gene make up, these dogs are not siutable for protection work anyway.
A very serious topic. Our thoughts are single and unchangable. Not before reaching adult age. A male dog MUST have stopped growing first. Neutering a male before reaching adulcy will cause the dog to continue growing, he will be at high risk for developing problems later in life. Do NOT take advice for early neutering. We have been told that there is no proof for this but there is. When any mammel reaches a certain period the body secretes a hormone tht says stp growing. Neutering is a stop to this. For more information research testesterone and growth plates..
Absolutely. Give us your adress and lets agree on a date and time for a meeting so we can see if your dog has a chance of successfully completing the K9 course and if you and your familly are suitable and really require the training. If so indeed. Our K9 training is true K9 training that differs only slightly world wide. There are 'institutes' that do train and title K9 but are vastly different and known by the rest of us as a con or a so-called K9. If you have visited or seen one of these dogs then please first make sure that you and we are talking of the same K9 training.
Sable is a term used when a single strand of hair has two different colours. e.g. half is grey the other halth of the hair strand is black. Sable German Shepherd Dogs generally don't have a saddle or a eye cahcing saddle on them as do show-line dogs. Sables are often used for breeding. They have a higher color viarity of gene makeup. Most working-line German Shepherd Dogs are sable or from a sable parent. Their are differnt variations such as grey sable, dark sable.. They are German Shepherd Dogs. Loook back at photo's dated 1800's and photo's of working german shepherd dogs.
A handler is the human team mate of the working dog. Helpers are people who help by holding objects such as the bite sleeve that the dog plays with. Decoys are people who represent ie. a thief. Both decoy and Handler hold the job of teaching a dog the correct way of performing a certain aspect eg. bite.
This is the breed value assessment number.
The best tool for breeders in the fight against hip Dysplasia (HD), to come along in years, is the SV's HD Zuchtwert, or Breed value assessment number (HD ZW). The HD ZW number is an estimation of the probability that a dog will produce progeny with HD.
The HD ZW value factors in many variables in the calculation, but is based mostly on the hip status of a dog's progeny. This is the critical factor in the usefulness of the HD ZW. The dogs own hip status is only one of several important variables in the equation, not the sole determinant. This is because it is possible for a dog with excellent hip status to produce a majority of progeny with HD. And conversely, a dog with Fair hip status can produce a majority of progeny with excellent hip status. Without factoring in this critical look at the dog's Genotype (what his genes pass on to progeny) in addition to his Phenotype, (what his actual hip status is) real progress cannot be made in reducing the incidence of HD.
So how does it work? Each dog registered with the SV is assigned an HD ZW number at birth, based on its Parents HD ZW numbers. After a dog is x-rayed, its own hip status is factored into his HD ZW. Upon producing progeny of his own, the results of the progeny's x-rays are then factored into the parents HD ZW numbers. The HD ZW number is not a static value. It fluctuates depending on what the dog produces! This is what is important: A dog's Genotype what the dog produces. Not his Phenotype; what his actual hip status is.
An HD ZW value of 100 has been set as the breed average. HD ZW values LESS than 100 mean the dog produces fewer progeny with HD than the breed average. A number greater than 100 means a dog produces HD more often than the breed average. So HD ZW values less than 100 are desirable. However, the focus must still be on the total Dog. Breeding decisions need to include much more than only a dog's HD ZW! Working ability and Temperament are most important!
To allow for this, the SV requires that the calculated HD ZW for progeny of a desired mating be 100 or less. So a bitch with an HD ZW of 80 can be bred to a male with an HD ZW number as high as 120! The pups of breeding like this would be assigned HD ZW values of 100 at birth. So HD ZW values less than 100 are not just desirable, they offer greater options in breeding partners. Additionally, stud dog owners can prove their dog's prepotency by accepting breeding to bitches with high HD ZW values.
For breeders in the US following the standards set forth by the SV in Germany, you must register your dog with the SV or USA/SV, and have the dog's x-ray evaluated by the SV for 'a' stamp. This also settles the Penn HIP vs. OFA vs. 'a' stamp question. The diagnostic method to determine a dog's hip status is not relevant. The most relevant data comes from a dog's actual production, "Do his progeny have CHD or not."
The puppy aptitude test is a series of tests used to determine the charecter of each individual dog more accurately giving people a cloose idea of what to expect from the puppy in the future.
We will give you a form that your vet will fill in for you. You can aquire and print a form download page to save time. We will much appreciate it.
SchHA |
Introduction to Schutzhund work without the tracking |
Bh |
Basic companion dog |
WH |
Watch Dog test for basic alertness |
AD |
Endurance test for fundamental fitness |
SchH1 |
The preliminary Schutzhund qualification in tracking, obedience, and protection |
SchH2 |
More challenging Schutzhund work in tracking, obedience, and protection |
SchH3 |
The competition level of the three phases of Schutzhund. Masters level. |
FH1 |
Advanced tracking |
FH2 |
Greater tracking challenges. Placement of articles determined by judge. |
IPO1 |
International trial rules similar to the Schutzhund test, but with some variations. |
IPO2 |
More challenging Schutzhund work in tracking, obedience, and protection. |
IPO3 |
The competition level of IPO. |
BpDH1 & 2 |
Railway Police Dog |
BIH |
Blind Leader Dog |
DH |
Service Dog |
DPH |
Service Police Dog |
HGH |
Herding Dog |
IPO1, 2, 3 |
International Rules (same as USA) |
LwH |
Avalanche Dog |
PFP1 & PFP2 |
Police Tracking Dog |
PH |
Police Dog |
PSP1, 2 & 3 |
Police Guard Dog |
RtH |
Rescue Dog |
SchH1, 2 3 |
Schutzhund titles (same as USA) |
ZFH |
Customs Tracking Dog |
ZH1, 2 & 3 |
Customs Dog |
Africa |
IWT 1, 2, &3 |
Austria |
SchH1, 2 & 3 and FHA 1, 2, & 3 |
Belgium |
Cereco1, IWR1, 2 & 3 equivalent to our IPO1, 2 & 3 |
Czech Republic |
ZVV1, 2 & 3 equivalent to our SchH1, 2 & 3 |
Denmark |
BHP1, 2 & 3 equivalent to our SchH1, 2 & 3 and SPH equivalent to our FH |
England |
PD (Police Dog) |
Finland |
SK1 equivalent to our IPO1 |
Holland |
VH1, 2 & 3 equivalent to our SchH1, 2 & 3 and SPH equivalent to our FH |
Hungary |
SZL1, 2 & 3 also ZVV1, 2 & 3 equivalent to our SchH1, 2 & 3 |
Italy |
Brevetto 1, 2 & 3 equivalent to our SchH1, 2 & 3 |
| Netherlands | UV equivalent to AD, VH equivalent to our SchH or IPO |
Poland |
ZVV1, 2 & 3 equivalent to our SchH1, 2 & 3 |
Switzerland |
SchH, SchHB, SchHC; CHD1 equivalent to our SchH1 |
Yugoslavia |
CAB1, 2 & 3 equivalent to our SchH1, 2 & 3 |
We now feed our dogs raw (2002). It took considerable research and advice from many raw feeders before we dared start. We have firm principles. People should only do what they are trained or good at doing. Being that we had no trainng or that no person was directly available who had knowledge and experience of raw feeding it has takenus many years to study and learn the subjcet. We have had help and advice from special people who have been raw feeding for many years. We still would not dare say that we know everything about the subject but we are now satisfied with our knowledge and with help we have devised our dogs their raw diets and are considerably happy with the outcome. We feed dogs with dry kibble whilst bording. We offer certain brands and any other brand required is provided by owners. Owners that wish to benefit from our raw diet experience have the opportuity of having their dogs dine on the same course that our own do.
Actually it does mean uncooked. To be honest the diet consists of uncooked meat that is purchased from the same places we aquire our own food for ourselves. So any vet telling you that chicken purchased from top chicken farms are a risk hazard of disease out to proove it because you and I are also eating he same products and the vet's themselves are quality controlers at the plants. Strange why those not offered the job have such thoughts.. Any way it's up to the vet's to proove if there is a health risk and it's up to the ranches to sue anybody telling fibs. We slightly boil vegetables that we include in our dogs diet. The reason for this is that dogs in the wild get all their requirements from a whole prey but we do not give the whole prey and being that they are CARNIVOURS they can NOT properly digest raw vegetables requiring a slight boil and mash to ease the digesting process as if somewhat pre-digested. We freeze red meat and bones for 48 hours at least before we serve them to our dogs, this process will kill most if any bacteria. Do not be played about with the internal parasite propaganda from feeding raw either. If you are a sensible person then you are giving your dog the necessaray treatments and check-ups periodically even if you are not feeding raw. Ever caught a worm? How comes if you weren't raw feeding I wonder. If you are not feeding raw then please take a proper look at your dogs teeth and decide foryour self. Use a litle common sence ever seen a wolf lighting up a barbecue? Do you have total faith in preservatives or the meat or so-called sprayed on arteficial coloring, flavouring, vitamins and proteins in pre-prepared dog foods?
