Were the shepherds who were present for Jesus’s birth German?
Ha, Rocky’s funny.
But seriously, no. LMAO.
How to Choose a Puppy
Choosing a new puppy to bring into your home is a big decision. Here are some helpful hints and tips to making sure your new puppy is the right one.
The first thing you need to consider is research! This is the one step that is so often ignored when choosing a puppy, but is perhaps the most important step.
Too often people choose their new puppy based on emotion, and not the facts.
First things first, research the breed you want. I would recommend getting an all breed dog book at your library or local book store to help you in choosing a puppy. Get a book that gives details about the breeds temperament, energy level, adaptability, size, trainability, etc. Many people will pick up a dog magazine to check out the dogs for sale advertisements in the back. The problem with using this method to choose a breed is that these ads are designed to sell you on that specific breed from a specific kennel. Instead of choosing the right breed for you, you may be swayed by a nice layout and a professional ad.
When researching dog breeds, take everything into consideration. For example, some large dogs do better in apartments than certain small dogs. Some small breeds do better with room to run and play and despite their small size wouldn’t do well in an apartment. Some dogs are very independent and are more difficult to train. There are grooming requirements to consider. Some dogs are prone to certain health problems. Learn these things about the different breeds before you choose which one to purchase. When choosing a puppy, there is no such thing as too much research.
Once you have settled on the right breed it is now time to really buckle down and do your research. Now you’ve got to decide where to get this perfect dog. At this point it is important to note that there is typically one place where you don’t want to get a new puppy. That place is the pet store. It is not always the case, but dogs from pet stores often come from puppy mills. A puppy mill is a business that someone has set up to basically manufacture dogs. Puppy mills are notorious for overcrowding, lack of sanitation, health problems both from external causes and from poor breeding practices. Female dogs in a puppy mill will give litter after litter until their body is no longer capable. Owners of puppy mills give no thought to what makes a good dog, both structurally and mentally. The sole desire of a puppy mill is to make money, not to maintain and improve the gene pool of a certain breed. Don’t be drawn in by the cute puppy in the pet store window. It is very likely that behind that cute puppy exterior lurks genes that will make an unbalanced and unhealthy dog.
So where should you go about choosing a puppy? The answer is simple: from a reputable breeder. However, while the answer is simple, it isn’t so easy to go about finding that breeder. They aren’t always easy to find. Here are some tips for finding the right breeder:
- Don’t start out in the classifieds. Too often the classifieds section of your local newspaper is inhabited by ‘backyard breeders’. A backyard breeder is often just as dangerous as a puppy miller. The backyard breeder breeds his dog because ‘We wanted her to have a litter before we got her fixed’, or ‘We wanted the kids to see the miracle of birth’, or ‘Well, we had a German Shepherd and so did the neighbor, so it just made sense’. Shelters nationwide are filled with dogs resulting from these breedings. If you want your dog to have a litter ‘just because’, don’t do it. If you want your kids to witness the miracle of birth, rent a documentary. If you breed your dog because your neighbor has a similar one, have you considered the temperament, genetics of the parents, etc.? Probably not. Choosing a puppy from a backyard breeder can have regretful consequences. Avoid backyard breeders.
- Talk to a breed association. Nearly every dog breed has an affiliated association. Some of the more popular breeds have several national, regional, and local associations. These associations should be able to provide you with guidance on where to find reputable breeders. Many even specialize in helping new owners in choosing a puppy.
- Talk to local dog trainers and veterinarians. These professionals will often have contacts that may be able to help in choosing a puppy.
- Look in the back of the large dog magazines. There will often be many breeders. You will have to do your due diligence as any breeder can make it in the back of a magazine if they have the money to spend. It can be a useful resource for finding several breeders, though.
- Use the internet as a way to find breeders. Don’t be ‘sold’ on their website alone. Make sure you to do your due diligence.
Once you have a pool of several potential breeders from whom you are considering choosing a puppy, get in contact with them. A good breeder will actually interview you. A good breeder will want to know who you are, how you live, why you want the dog, and many more other things to make sure that you will properly care for something they have put so much work into. Answer these questions honestly. Hopefully, you will have a long relationship with this person.
As you go to their kennel or breeding facility take note of the conditions.
Good breeders are fanatical about sanitation.
Make sure things are well kept and maintained. Depending on the age of the puppies that you go to see the mother still may be around. Try to get a feel for her temperament and look. If the father is available, insist on seeing him too. The parents should be strong, healthy, and confident. They shouldn’t shy away from you or exhibit other behaviors that indicate a weakness or genetic problem.
Observe the puppies. They should be healthy. Make sure, when choosing a puppy, that you are looking for a puppy that is confident, large, and social. Don’t fall in the trap that many do by selecting a small, sickly puppy because they feel bad for the little guy.
Don’t be fooled by certain behaviors, either. A growling, nervous puppy is not going to make a better watch dog. He is growling out of an intense fear, not watchdog material. Keep in mind that the dominant puppy may be too much for you if you aren’t used to working with dogs.
Above all, use common sense. I know they are cute, but try to make a decision based on logic and reason, not because that little puppy hiding in the corner is so cute the way he trembles when someone goes near him. Choosing a puppy should never be a snap decision.
As is often the case, you may find that the best breeder with available puppies isn’t in your local area. In a case such as this you have a few options. You can travel to them, observe the facilities first hand, and purchase your puppy. This often isn’t reasonable for most people. Or, you can get references and thoroughly check out the particular breeder by phone and internet. Then, once you are satisfied that you will get a quality puppy, an arrangement can be made for choosing a puppy through photographs and breeder recommendation, and then get your puppy shipped by air freight. If you do this well you can have a great experience. I have been involved with the remote purchase of many dogs from as far away as France and the Czech Republic and have been very satisfied with the results because of doing proper research.
Just remember, when choosing a new puppy, do your homework and you will be grateful for the life of your dog
Angel Announcing the Birth of Christ to Shepherds, framed black metal, white matte. Beautiful Highest Quality Frame, Solid Finish, LOW SHIPPING!!! Price includes price of print Poster. Framing includes dry mounting, acrylic glazing. Comes ready to hang. and is a better quality then your local framing store Guaranteed….
Angel Announcing the Birth of Christ to Shepherds, framed black wood, white matte. Beautiful Highest Quality Frame, Solid Finish, LOW SHIPPING!!! Price includes price of print Poster. Framing includes dry mounting, acrylic glazing. Comes ready to hang. and is a better quality then your local framing store Guaranteed….
Angel Announcing the Birth of Christ to Shepherds, framed black metal, white matte. Beautiful Highest Quality Frame, Solid Finish, LOW SHIPPING!!! Price includes price of print Poster. Framing includes dry mounting, acrylic glazing. Comes ready to hang. and is a better quality then your local framing store Guaranteed….
Birth of German Shepherd Dogs (GSD) Dutchess gives birth
Border Collies were originally bred in the borderlands between Scotland and England as herding dogs. They were selected to be able to work long days on rugged terrain, have excellent herding skills, instincts and intelligence. Over time, this led to the Border Collie’s astounding energy, trainability and ability to reason. Border Collies are still used universally as herders.
Poodle
Though they are known more for their appearance, Poodles are actually some of the world’s smartest dogs. The air of dignity and elegance with which Poodle’s carry themselves accords with their highly above-average intelligence and trainability. Though Poodles are usually show dogs in the United States, they have served as police dogs in other countries.
German Shepherd
German Shepherds are noted for their versatility, stability, energy, strength and intelligence. Shepherds are known not only for their intrinsic smarts and trainability, but for the multitude of roles they can fill, such as family pet, police dog, herding dog and TV and movie actor.
Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers were originally bred by an upper-class Englishman who wanted a hunting dog that made a great companion. A mixture of the Irish Setter and several types of Spaniel, the Golden Retriever was bred to find and retrieve downed birds and be a good companion. Today’s Golden Retrievers are just that -attentive, loving dogs that will chase down anything you throw them.
Doberman Pinscher
The Doberman Pinscher originated as a police dog in 19th Century Germany. These dogs are top-notch watchdogs, guardians and protectors, as well as guide dogs and military dogs. Doberman’s were bred for their loyalty and intelligence, and the modern version of the breed continues to show both those traits. Dobermans are working dogs and do best with a lot of structured exercise.
Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland Sheepdog, or “Sheltie” was bred on the Shetland Islands of Scotland to herd sheep. These small, agile dogs resemble collies and are widely regarded as highly intelligent. Shelties are also renowned for their trainability, even temperament and loyalty. They are very active and do best with lots of exercise.
Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers come from unknown origins but are now the most popular dog breed in the United States. These, active, affectionate dogs are highly trainable and intelligent. Many Labrador owners comment about their dogs’ seeming “humanity.” Labrador Retrievers make great family pets, drug-sniffing dogs, hunting dogs and seeing-eye dogs.
Papillon
The Papillon a small, long-haired dog breed considered by most to be a lap-dog or show dog. Despite this reputation, Papillons are athletic, active and very intelligent. They’re known to be people-centered and enjoy social situations with lots of humans in attendance. Recently Papillons have emerged as agility champions.
Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle Dog or “Blue Heeler” is another intelligent, active herding dog. These medium sized dogs are noted for their spotted orange or bluish coats. Australian Cattle Dogs thrive when given a complicated task such as an obstacle course, tricks or other dog sports. Australian Cattle Dogs have excellent fine motor skills and will meticulously shred their toys.
About the Author
Barkbusters.ca provides in-home dog training
and puppy training all across Canada for all breeds and ages of dogs that comes with a written lifetime guarantee. www.barkbusters.ca
German Shepherd World Championship SV BSZS-2006 Oberhausen
german shepherd art Miniature horse training problem?
I have a miniature horse http://razzledxo12.deviantart.com/art/Gracie-snow-storm-3-2-114637630
and we have the basics down, jumping, walk, trot, lope, in hand. Now, she has a habit of pulling me and getting away. We have a vicious German Shepherd next door, we dont need that. Any exersizes I could practice on this nice day?
if she tries to pull away from you just give her a sharp tug on the reins,lead rope,etc.this normally works for me and are you saying that she gets out of her fence???if so then there might be a hole in the fence so you might need to go around the property and look for it and fix it because your right an adorable little pony like that doesnt need to get involved with a dog like that…also it could be that she just has too much energy you could try lunging her for a minute then train her some more,another one is you can walk forward and if she starts to get ahead of you then make her be patient and wait
hope this helps!!!!
Will Electronic Arts Spore DRM Be the Demise of the Video Games Industry?
Hordes of video game lovers, many of whom were devoted to the widely popular Sims video games, waited anxiously for Electronic Arts newest video game release called Spore. Electronics Arts did not disappoint it’s many fans as the $49.99 regular version of Spore, the $9.99 Spore Creature Creator and the $79.99 Galactic version of Spore were released without a hitch and were quickly snatched off the retail stores shelves. Although Spore’s sales didn’t quite match the volume of sales of video game monoliths Guitar Hero III or Grand Theft Auto IV, it did very well. It is usually about a week after a video game release when the people who bought the game begin flooding the Internet with either their personal praise or damnation of the video game. They talk about things like game play, graphics speed and resolution, end game, online play, character building etc. Not this time! With Spore, the talk was all about its DRM!
What is DRM? The copyright protection called DRM is an acronym for Digital Rights Management, a term used to describe the different techniques for restricting the free use and transfer of digital content. DRM is used in a number of media, but is found most often in music and video files. Many of people believe that DRM should stand for Digital Restrictions Manager being that it manages users restrictions while taking away their rights. Companies like Apple began using DRM under the auspices of fighting piracy. Has it worked? You tell me. After the news of the type of severe DRM Electronics Arts put on Spore spread to future buyers, it took only days for over 500,000 illegal copies of the Spore video game (without DRM) to be downloaded from P2P BitTorrent sites on the Internet. Does DRM work? No! It ticks people off. If you don’t believe it, ask Amazon.com, where thousands of people unhappy with Spore’s DRM restrictions gave the new video game a lowly one star rating. Thanks to DRM, Spore has become the most pirated game ever.
So, what was so bad about Spore’s DRM to get so many people in an uproar? Here is what it is all about and I am going to tell you from first hand experience because I purchased the $79.99 Galactic version of Spore and after one more download, the game will be worthless. Because my video card was not set perfectly to run Spore, I received a warning message after the first installation that I needed to change my video card settings and reinstall Spore again or the game would not work. One installation used. I did what was required and reinstalled Spore again. No error messages this time, the game works wonderfully. Two installations used. So why am I counting installations? You see, with Spore’s DRM restrictions, the purchaser can only install the game three times. After the third installation, your bought and paid for game of Spore will be nothing but a worthless piece of plastic. You can play it, but you will never be able to install it again. So you pray nothing goes wrong with your computer because you won’t be able to install Spore to a new one. If I would have known about Electronic Arts DRM restrictions for Spore, I never would have purchased it and I may have gone as far as joining the other 500,000 so-called pirates visiting a free game downloads site to download a DRM-less version.
Some folks say that a company should be allowed to protect their copyrighted products, and I agree as long as they don’t take the rights away from the new owners, the people who have purchased those copyrighted products. I want to first say that I don’t necessarily hate the idea of copyright protection but I do hate the way DRM is being abused by the companies. When a person buys a copyrighted product, the copyright should now belong to the new owner along with the product. As far as I am concerned, when I purchase something it should be mine to do with as I please. As long as it does not involve harming, torturing or killing a living creature, I should have complete and total rights to do what I want with that product. Here are some examples of what I mean. If I were to purchase a German Shepherd dog ($800), it is mine. If I want to either sell or give my dog away to someone else, I have every right to do so. If I buy a car ($25,000) and a week later feel like selling it or giving it away, I can because I have the every right to do so. If I were to buy a house ($200,000) outright for cash (I wish), that house would be completely mine to sell or even give it away if I choose. If I have complete and total rights to do what I want with my dog, my car and my house, will somebody please tell me why can I face criminal charges and punishment for doing what I want with my $79.99 game of Spore or any other video game for that matter. Heck, with EA’s new DRM restrictions imposed on my Spore video game, I can’t even install it more than three times. In truth, Spore still belongs to Electronic Arts even though I forked out my hard earned cash for the rights of ownership. Therein lies the true crime my friends. And the video game industry is wondering why more and more normally honest folks have turned to pirating.
Sadly, video game companies like Electronic Arts are unwittingly causing the downfall of the video game industry with their abuse of DRM restrictions. Piracy paranoia has already taken a huge bite out of the PC and Mac game industry. Remember when stores like Egghead and Electronics Boutique used to be stocked wall to wall with computer games for your PC or Mac. Then they come up with all of these unjust anti-piracy rules that if you open the games packaging there will be no exchanges or refunds allowed. Are you kidding me. With all of the different computer configurations out there due to lack of standards within the industry, you were lucky not to run into a conflict when installing or playing the game. How many of you remember buying a $50 computer game only to have it not work when you installed it. Remember how you felt when you tried to get your money back for a $50 game that you never even got to play only to be told by the suspicious salesman at the stores counter, Too Bad, No Refund, No Exchange Policy Here! A lot of people remember. That is the main reason good honest folk turned to P2P download sites for their computer games in the first place. No risk of losing their money through no fault of their own. Thus began the downfall of the video game industry for PC’s and Mac’s. Now when you go into a store looking to purchase a game for your PC, all you will find is a little rack of about fifteen computer games tucked away somewhere in the back of a video game store.
Don’t look now, but the video game industry is following that same path of self destruction as before, and the DRM restrictions they are putting on games like Spore will be their undoing. If the fact that the Spore DRM policy has caused it to become the most pirated video game in history does not bring about changes in copyright policies, then they will be in deep trouble as an industry. I realize I am ranting but I tend to get ticked off when I am being ripped off and I am not alone here. Head over to CNet or Amazon.com to see what people are saying about the Spore DRM policy. The video game makers had better listen too, because they are on the path of causing their own demise with such a draconic DRM policy. Electronic Arts, the maker of Spore especially had better open up its ears, because over 500,000 people downloading DRM free versions of the video game from Free Game Downloads sites in only a few days makes a thunderous sound. The release of Spore was supposed to be a happy day for all. Instead, EA’s punishing DRM policy may have begun the downfall of the video game industry, and that would be a sad day for everyone.
About the Author
Neil Gerstein writes informative articles on various subjects when he isn’t busy building and promoting his own websites. He currently have several websites that are great for content. At Movies, Music, Games & More
he reviews the best unlimited free download sites for movies, music, zune, iphone, psp and more as well as Unlimited Free Game Downloads
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This is a professional open edition giclee print by artist DJ Rogers.
Printed from an original watercolor painting and hand signed on the front by the artist. The detail and color are outstanding. The artwork measures 8.5″ x 11″ and will fit nicely into an 11″ x 14″ frame with mat….
“Although I am of German descent, I only bark with an accent when I am in Germany. I AM A GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG and I AM INVINCIBLE and don’t you forget it.”…
Taxi Driver reproduction Approx. Size: 11 x 17 Inches – 28cm x 44cm German Style A mini poster print Pop Culture Graphics, Inc is Amazon’s largest source for movie and TV show memorabilia, posters and more: Offering tens of thousands of items to choose from. We also offer a full selection of framed posters.. Customer satisfaction is always guaranteed when you buy from Pop Culture Graphics,Inc…
Full Title – 100 Hymns & Songs Of Inspiration. UK box-set featuring 100 tracks performed by Britain’s finest Cathedral Choirs including, Gloucester Cathedral, Norwich Cathedral, Sheffield Cathedral, & many more. Five standard jewel cases housed in a slipbox. Castle Pulse. 2003….
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Set in early twentieth century Spain, a young dancer becomes the romantic interest of a peasant and a ruthless marquÂes who diverts water from his own…
German Shepherd Greeting Card is measuring 5.5w x 5.5h. Greeting Cards are sold in sets of 6 or 12. Give these fun cards to your frieds and family as gift cards, thank you notes, invitations or for any other occasion. Greeting Cards are blank inside and come with white envelopes….
German Shepherd Greeting Card is measuring 5.5w x 5.5h. Greeting Cards are sold in sets of 6 or 12. Give these fun cards to your frieds and family as gift cards, thank you notes, invitations or for any other occasion. Greeting Cards are blank inside and come with white envelopes….
German Shepherd Coffee Gift Basket is measuring 9×9x4. Contains 15oz mug, BONUS free set of 4 coasters, biscotti and 5 blends of gourmet coffee. French Vanilla, Kenya AA, Decaf Colombian Supremo, Chocolate and Italian Roast Espresso elegantly presented in our signature black planet coffee gift box. A very nice and thoughtful gift for any occasion….
Dog art by Carlos Aleman -drawing of german shepherd mix
german shepherd paw prints Dirty paw prints on deck would polyurethane help this?
I stained my deck a nice darker brown color. But my German Shepherd is leaving paw prints all over it (a lighter brown mud color). I can’t even sweep it off, I’d have to scrub it off with broom and water I suppose. But don’t have time for that every day. So my question is, would a top coat help to keep dirt from sticking on the wood?
Yes, a polyurethane sealant is going to make it considerably easier to clean.
20 Facts You May not Know About Dogs
1. All dogs, from the German Shepherd to the Poodle, are direct descendants of wolves. They can all breed together and produce fertile offspring. Technically they are of the same species.
2. The oldest reliable age recorded for a dog is 29 years, 5 months for a Queensland Blue Heeler called Bluey in Victoria, Australia. The average dog lives to around 15 years of age.
3. Dogs naturally have a wonderful sense of smell. They have many more sensory ’smelling’ cells than a man’s 5,000,000. A Dachshund has 125,000,000, a Fox Terrier 147,000,000 and an Alsation has 220,000,000.
4. Newfoundland’s are great swimmers and divers because they have webbed feet. Bassets can’t swim.
5. Alaskan malamutes ears face backwards when running. This was so they could hear the commands of their master while running with a sleigh.
6. There are two dogs that do not bark. They are the Basenji and the Australian Dingo (or native dog).
7. Dog’s nose prints are as unique as a human’s finger prints and can be used to accurately identify them.
8. Dogs have twice as many muscles for moving their ears as people.
9. Dogs’ only sweat glands are between their paw pads.
10. Only dogs and humans have prostates.
11. Some dogs lick their paws and then rub their paws on their head to clean themselves, much like a cat.
12. Obesity is the #1 health problem among dogs.
13. Greyhounds are the fastest dogs on earth, with speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.
14. When a dog bays at the moon, it is following a basic urge to call the pack together.
15. Three dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic – a Newfoundland, a Pomeranian, and a Pekingese .
16. Dogs prefer to play keep-away rather than fetch.
17. Most dogs really don’t like to play dress up.
18. Dogs don’t understand pointing. They focus on the tip of your finger, not the item you are pointing at.
19. Female dog bites are twice as numerous as male dog bites.
20. The bible mentions dogs 14 times.
About the Author
Di Ellis is a dog lover, and co-owner of the website BestDoggieTips.com, where you’ll find loads of dog tips, dog recipes, and training tips. And, when you sign up for our free dog newsletter we’ll send you our own Dog Recipe Book.
Showcase your affection for the German Shepherd breed with this unique 14″ square accent pillow. The 100 percent wool needlepoint face depicts a seated tan and black German Shepherd, mouth open in a doggie grin. Velveteen reverse….
German Shepherd Dog Alsatian Puppy Lying with Paws Crossed is digitally printed on archival photographic paper resulting in vivid, pure color and exceptional detail that is suitable for any museum or gallery display. Finding that perfect piece to match your interest and style is easy and within your budget!…
License Plate Frame made of Aluminum Metal with BLACK FINISH Measures 6 x 12 inches (Standard Size) Fits any car or truck. 2 holes in the top of frame allow easy installation over existing license plate….
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The Design/Saying is printed on the front of the product, we use the newest & best technology to print the design with great inks that are cured into the product. This new high tech way of producing garments is very fade resistant. WE DO NOT USE TRANSFERS. It is great, since you dont have that thick transfer feeling. The feel is very smooth and comfortable. T-ShirtFrenzy offers over 30,000 de…
The Design/Saying is printed on the front of the product, we use the newest & best technology to print the design with great inks that are cured into the product. This new high tech way of producing garments is very fade resistant. WE DO NOT USE TRANSFERS. It is great, since you dont have that thick transfer feeling. The feel is very smooth and comfortable. T-ShirtFrenzy offers over 30,000 de…
The Design/Saying is printed on the back of the jacket, we use the newest & best technology to print the design with great inks that are cured into the product. This new high tech way of producing garments is very fade resistant. WE DO NOT USE TRANSFERS. It is great, since you dont have that thick transfer feeling. The feel is very smooth and comfortable. T-ShirtFrenzy offers over 30,000 desi…
German Shepherd puppy 15 Weeks – Socialization at Dog Fair
german shepherd gait Difference between German Shepherd and Alsation.?
A German Shepherd has a shorter nose and longer jaw gait and an Alsation has a longer nose and shorter jaw gait…..
Alsation is a place in Germany and both breeds have short and long coats…. German Shepherds and Alsations originate from Germany.
The difference is WHO bred it and why, plus “Alsations” don’t exist except when people like me wish to sneer at an Alsatian (the “O” is much easier to sneer on than is the “a”).
As usual, non-experts supply wrong information instead of keeping quiet and waiting to LEARN a thing or two – some of them so “expert” that they can spell neither “German Shepherd Dog” nor “Alsatian”.
And in this version of your question you got almost NOTHING right!
I have not the faintest idea what a “jaw gait” is, and imagine that you don’t, either.
The true name of the breed is “die deutsche Schäferhund”, which translates section-by-section as “the German Shepherd Dog”.
In Britain a few had arrived before WW1 but there was no Breed Registry available for them, no CC points towards a champion title. They tended to be known as “French Police Dogs”; if shown they were lumped in with other breeds that had no Breed Registry in the UK, and listed as “Other Breeds”.
During WW1 several were captured by British officers and brought home to England.
The breed’s first British club was formed in 1918. In an attempt to hide the German origin, they named the breed “Alsatian Wolf Dog”, and so the club was The Alsatian Wolf Dog Club. “Alsatian” derives from the province of Alsace-Lorraine which was sometimes German, sometimes French. The “Wolf” was probably a combination of implying that the dog had to protect the sheep from wolves (although the German wolf was effectively extinct by 1899, apart from some specimens in zoos), and because Germans use “wolf” to describe the grey-sable colouring common in early GSDs, but it backfired with rumours of wolf-crosses. The breed has had many changes of name in Britain – “Alsatian”, “Alsatian (GSD)”, and currently “German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian)”.
(The German Shepherd Dog Club of America had been formed in 1913. Anti-German feeling in the USA saw the breed renamed and its club became The Shepherd Dog Club of America from 1917 until 1931.)
Now, the differences according to who breeds it:
The GSD is (everywhere except Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and the USofA; even in those countries there is a thriving group of breeders who produce genuine GSDs) bred to fit the International Standard of the GSD: http://www.fci.be/uploaded_files/166A1991_en.doc.
The Alsatian deviation is bred to be too tall, especially to be too deep in chest and long in back and long in stifle.
The NAmerican Ski-Slope Dog deviation is bred to be all of those plus to have a steep front and a weak, sickle-hocked hind-quarter so that its top-line will be as straight as the main part of a kiddy’s slide, and almost as steep.
To see some of the many deviations from the GSD, plus some genuine GSDs, click: http://www.leabashiba.com/fashion.vs.GSD.htm
Les P, owner of GSD_Friendly: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/GSD_Friendly
“In GSDs” as of 1967
Bilateral Hip Replacements
I admit it. Before the demise of my hips and their cartilage, I wasn’t quite sure what bilateral meant. I always just assumed that it had something to do with lying next to a man who wasn’t out of the closet yet or maybe a different type of lens for your bifocals. But worse than this, I didn’t care to know. Put it this way, I was more than willing to go to the grave without ever having uttered, let alone discuss the implications of the word bilateral. For the two people out there who can relate to this ignorance? Bilateral means both sides.
In the world of hip replacements, otherwise known as THRs, bilateral means you’ve had two new hips installed. Often, once one hip deteriorates, the other soon follows. It makes sense. In my case I had hip dysplasia, a word every dog lover knows. And even though I am a bit further up the food chain, my hips were shallow in their sockets and lasted about the same length as a purebred German shepherd. Before I turned 44, my athletic lifestyle had pounded away all of the catelage in my right hip. In half a year I was hobbling as I walked. In two more months I couldn’t sleep due to radiating pain. Hips are known to cause crippling pain. They also come in pairs. So, having such miraculous relief from my first hip pain made my second THR decision easy. Two years later, the hip that had always LOOKED worse on the x-rays but that had never caused me any problems (go figure. brains have a funny way of dealing with pain. WIthin six months I was back to my gimping gait and sleepless nights. I waited until my one remaining hip started keeping me awake all night and the next day I booked my surgery. Some people agonize a lot more over whether to do it or not. Once you have one THR and feel the fabulous effects, it’s easy to go bilateral, baby. Often my spinning students call me the Bionic Woman but I just smile and tell them my preferred name. I tell them that I’d rather be called the bilateral woman. So if you are under forty years old and your active lifestyle is being affected by hip pain, don’t worry anymore. Find a doctor who has a great reputation and who does THRs all day, every day and make your appointment today. Time to get back to your workout routine.
About the Author
Penny Hoff, 20 year fitness professional, who has had two total hip replacements, is the author of the revolutionary CD workout program”Does My Marriage Make Me Look Fat?”, an eight week fitness program for couples to radically change your body and reawaken your relationship.You can find her at http://www.newhiptips.com
german shepherd breeders michigan GSD in Michigan?
Does anyone know where in Michigan I can find German Shepherd pups? I have looked at a lot of places, but haven’t really found for what I am looking.
I am looking for a DARK SABLE FEMALE.
I am willing to travel to surrounding states, for the right pup.
Is there anyone in the area that knows of GSD breeders that have this specific pup? THANKS!
FYI: This is a dark sable GSD: http://www.narniakennels.com/pics/onnet/large/yra.jpg
I would prefer registered. I don’t want a mut.
you wanting a registered German Shepard? Or just a half mut?
Try if your looking for a registered one go to AKC.org..
and look there.. GOOD LUCK
How do I find German Shepherds from German lines, the ones without the slanted hips?
The American show ones have more slanted hips and the German working lines have less of a slant, am I correct?
How do I find a good German line GSD breeder in Michigan?
Start going to local GSD shows, talking to breeders, contact your local and national breed clubs.
german shepherd alberta Good german shepherd breeder in edmonton alberta
Contact one of the area Kennel Clubs for referrals. The links to them follow http://www.northernaltacanine.org/ and
http://www.edmontonkennelclub.ab.ca/
The both will have members who own German Shepherds and likely breed them as well. The Edmonton Kennel Club used to also run a rescue program.
where can I get a free German Shepherd puppy in edmonton alberta?
You could try the SPCA to see if they have any there, but since you are looking for a certin breed that isn’t mixed it might be harder to find one there. You also look in the classfieds, people who can’t take care of their dog anymore will often list it in the newspaper, or on websites. Also check out Craiglist, they might have a free one.
Check out kijiji.ca, and look under the pets section, there are free dogs posted there.
Night had fallen, and behind us 18 stories of lighted glass and steel atrium glowed like a colossal moon. It was July 3, and my old college friend Jean and I were just about to join a group of boaters from Occoquan, Va., at the end of National Harbor Marina’s A dock to watch the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center’s first ever July fireworks show. But first she wanted to take a few pictures. As usual. Jean was using her underwater camera, which she had packed for our sailing trip up the Potomac River because she hadn’t been sure whether this kind of sailing would involve as much tipping over and getting wet as sailing Sunfish in college had—the last time she and I had been on a sailboat together. I understood. We had tipped over a lot.
But Jean didn’t understand. I don’t mean about the tipping over. She got that now. No, what she didn’t understand was the whole idea of National Harbor, which she was having trouble putting into perspective, despite the fact that we had now been here since the end of June.
“I mean it’s crazy cool in an alternate universe kind of way, but I still don’t get it. What is it really, and why is it here?”
Big questions indeed. How to explain?
We were standing on the dock as Jean turned away from the river to snap pictures of the thousands of spectators that had gathered along National Harbor’s shoreline in anticipation of the fireworks. Finally, she stopped and pulled a brochure out of her pocket and began reading off its facts and figures. “National Harbor is built on 300 acres, has six hotels and about 20 buildings,” she said. “When it’s completed, it will have 7.3 million square feet of mixed use community space, 4,000 hotel rooms, 2,500 residential units, 500,000 square feet of class A office space (whatever that is), 1 million square feet of retail, dining and entertainment space and 10,000 parking spaces.”
“Yes,” I said, “it will be bigger than the Mall of America, the world’s largest shopping mall.” “Then it’s supposed to be a giant shopping mall?” “Um, I don’t think so.”
We walked slowly toward the end of the dock; the lights on the atrium moon changed from white to red.
“I think it’s supposed to be a kind of all-purpose destination, where you can spend your whole vacation or use it as a base for visiting Washington, D.C., which is a kind of uber-destination. Or you can make sidetrips to Alexandria or Mount Vernon by boat. At least I think that’s the idea.” I tried a little history. National Harbor’s developer, Milton Peterson, wasn’t the first one to think that this old gravel pit on Smoots Bay, in the shadow the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the Beltway, would be the perfect place for something really big. In the 1970s and 1980s there were several big projects for the property that ultimately fell through. One of them was called Bay of Americas and another PortAmerica. “All very grand-sounding too, like National Harbor,” I said. “But this was the one that came through—not that it didn’t take an act of Congress.” (In 1999, Congress passed legislation that exempted National Harbor from Federal review and protected it from environmental lawsuits—though there’s no reason to believe any lawsuits would have occurred.)
We greeted our new Occoquan friends—we’d met earlier in the day when they had trickled in for their Fourth of July weekend rendezvous at National Harbor—and watched the city of Alexandria’s fireworks arc silently into the jet black sky across the river. I reminded Jean that the tree-lined boulevards and specially commissioned public works of art, the hotels, restaurants, shops, water taxis, tour boats, bass charters, art works, and even the fortune-teller’s kiosk, were all meant to give visitors plenty to see and do. “There are just more of things and they’re just bigger than we’re used to, at least around here. Hey, you live in Orlando, you should be used to this kind of thing.”
“That’s a point,” she admitted.
“Take these folks from Occoquan,” I went on. “They understand it.” They had told me earlier that they’d made the trip to National Harbor four or five times already. “They can get in their boats and spend an hour or two coming upriver, pull into their slips, take out their deck chairs and relax. They barbecue, shop, listen to a calypso band, walk their dogs and go soundly to sleep in their own beds. When the weekend’s over, they pull in their docklines and go home.”
“We used to anchor out in the river for the fireworks,” volunteered Alan Gross, who was sitting at the edge of the group with his German shepherd Schatzi and had overheard our conversation. “But then we had to get back to Occoquan in the dark with all that traffic. It was nuts! This is so much better!”
The first rocket shot into the air off a barge out in the river and exploded into a shower of color above our heads. Behind us the Gaylord atrium changed from red to blue.
Jean and I had arrived at National Harbor on a sunburst Saturday afternoon in late June aboard Snipp, my Albin Vega 27. After a week of zigzagging lazily up the Potomac against a persistent headwind (is there any other kind?), we had finally eased Snipp out of the Potomac’s main channel and into National Harbor Marina. We were glad to get there.
We had spent the previous night at Smallwood State Park on Mattawoman Creek, where we had run smack into a hornet’s nest of mid-tournament bass fishermen—men with steely eyes and gritted teeth and only three things on their mind: catch bass, catch them fast and catch them big. They had no patience for people on sailboats. We, on the other hand, just wanted to get off the creek and check into the marina. The problem was that we became so wrapped up in not running aground in the narrow channel into the park that we fell into the clutches of the many headed Hydra of marine vegetation lurking just beneath the surface. It caught us fast. Were it not for heroic action with a boat hook, a paddle and a Swiss army multi-tool, we felt we would soon have been sucked under to join other hapless wanderers. Once freed, we docked—as per earlier phone instructions—then had to undock because we couldn’t get to the office from the dock. (There was a padlocked gate at the end of the dock.) We redocked near the office, where we were assigned a slip where we couldn’t dock because it was shallow enough to ground a bass boat. We picked out a deeper empty slip and re-redocked. This slip naturally turned out to belong to the Seatow guy, so we re-undocked and re-re-redocked opposite a sailboat sunk at the dock. It was not an inspiring evening.
The stretch of Potomac above Mattawoman is crowded with things to see. First there’s the broad entrance to Occoquan Bay on the Virginia side, with lovely Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge on the bay’s north shore, and then a good long view of George Mason’s handsome Gunston Manor, high on a bluff looking down on Gunston Cove and the Potomac. The river narrows here to a friendly size, and the channel moves restlessly from one bank to the other.
Soon we had our first view of Mount Vernon, that most familiar of American stately homes, as we crowded the edge of the channel to give a three-story-tall tour boat a wide berth as it bustled toward the Mount Vernon channel. Jean was entranced—as well she might be—but I stubbornly insisted that she pay less attention to the scenery and more to spotting floating logs and other debris that often litter this bit of the river. Soon after, Fort Washington loomed above us on the Maryland shore, and then finally we could see the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and beyond it, the Washington Monument, a sight that never fails to thrill me.
Between Indian Queen and Rosier bluffs, the channel bellies up to the Maryland shore. Here ?it was just Snipp and yet another very large tour boat, both of us enjoying an all-too intimate moment between the closely placed red and green markers, and so close to the shore that we could just about touch the red clay and maples. But before long we had shot through to follow the channel toward the middle of the river, where it lines up for the trip through the center span of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Not that we were going as far as the bridge. But I need to mention the channel because it’s here—about the time you reach the middle of the river and just as you clear South Point—that National Harbor is suddenly, without prelude, just there, like Xanadu or the Emerald City. It’s enough to make you feel like either Kublai Khan or Dorothy—I’m not sure which. Either way, it’s straight out of a storybook.
“Good heavens,” Jean exclaimed from the bow, “what on earth is that?”
“That is National Harbor, of course, silly girl.” “And what you are particularly exclaiming over, no doubt, is the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center, which is three times the size of everything else.” I had been to National Harbor with friends in the spring and so was in a position to be annoyingly blasé about the whole thing. But really there’s no denying that it’s a stunner.
A moment later, however, something else had caught her eye. “Look at that gigantic sail!”
“You are referring of course to the eight-story tall semitransparent glass mainsail that decorates the front port side of the Westin Hotel.”
She shot me a dark look and abandoned the binoculars in favor of her camera. Click.
“Jean,” I called forward, “what’s our next marker?” Click. Click.
“Sheesh,” I said (or words to that effect), “find the next marker!”
I sympathized with Jean’s desire to take pictures because the approach to National Harbor from the water definitely has it all over the land route for impressive views. But Smoots Bay is shallow and our charts, though pretty new, were not new enough to show the new entrance markers to the marina. And suddenly we also found ourselves rolling in the wake of a lot of very big powerboats. Did I mention that this was a Saturday afternoon? Click. Click.
“Jean, stop that!”
She sighed and put her camera away, then scanned the bay. “There . . . red,” she said, pointing to a marker just off South Point.
I made a sharp turn to starboard and immediately asked for the next marker, which turned out to be two markers, a red and a green, just beyond. We continued to follow the markers as they skirted the shoreline until we had reached the outermost dock, which is also the fuel dock. There we turned in to look for our assigned slip: B17. An apropos number because the slip was almost big enough to hold a B-17 bomber. I roughly calculated that it would also hold eight of my Albin Vega 27, if you rafted them up two deep. I don’t mean to say we felt a little out of place—no place could have been more welcoming—I mean that National Harbor is just the kind of place where you have to keep readjusting your sense of proportion.
Click. Click. Jean was at it again. But this time I didn’t object, because we were tied up in our slip and had already been greeted by the congenial partiers on the boat next to ours. So I left her to it and went off to find harbormaster Eric Bradley. I found him in his office/kiosk on the outside dock, deftly juggling fuel fill-ups and assigning slips to boats looking for a few hours of parking or an overnight stay. A small battalion of dockhands moved efficiently between A, B and C docks, making fast a steady stream of arriving boats.
“Wait until the July Fourth weekend!”?Bradley said when I remarked on the congestion. “We’ll be completely full, and we’re expecting three yachts of more than a hundred feet on the north side of the main dock.”
Before coming to Washington to open National Harbor Marina, Bradley was dockmaster at Annapolis Landing on Back Creek in Annapolis. “It’s an entirely different set of boats,” he said. “[In Annapolis] we had predominantly sailboats and transients from up and down the East Coast. Here we have predominantly large powerboats, most of which never go south of the U.S. 301 bridge. They’re happy right here.”
A large part of the marina is given over to annual slipholders—they had about 60 percent occupancy by mid-summer—but a generous number of slips are set aside for transient boaters—both overnights and hourly. “We are getting more and more boating and yacht clubs holding their rendezvous here.” The groups especially plan their events around special programs scheduled by National Harbor nearly every weekend, like wine-tastings and a Beef and Suds Festival, or seasonal events such as Oktoberfest and repeating Christmas Market, which runs weekends from Thanksgiving until Christmas.
“I was thinking this would be a great place to come around Christmas,” I said. “Do you stay open all winter?”
“We move boats off the C dock in winter, because we get a lot of ice pushed up against it by the river, but we keep the marina open all year.” Eric explained that there is a breakwater under C dock to protect the inside docks from at least some of the wind-blown chop that builds up across the exposed water of Smoots Bay, especially during the winter.
At this point in our conversation, three boats pulled in and idled at the dock, waiting their turn, so I walked back to B dock, wondering idly whether Jean had used up her camera battery yet. Click. Guess not.
“Shower,” was all she said. I held up the electronic key to the slipholders’ facilities and smiled. We dove into the cabin for a couple of reasonably dry towels and some fairly clean clothes and went looking for the showers.
“Whoa, what’s that?” Jean stopped suddenly and stared at a small beach, just to the left of the main dock, where a giant face, legs and hands poked dramatically out of the sand. Over, under and around the Volkswagen-size body parts, dozens of children scrambled eagerly, as dozens of parents snapped photos with equal enthusiasm. Click. Jean did too.
“That’s The Awakening,” I said, trying not to sound too annoying. “For about twenty years it was at Hains Point, there on the other side of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in the middle of the Potomac, and practically zillions of people came to see it.” I pointed vaguely in the direction of Washington and East Potomac Park, five miles upriver. “But somebody in his or her wisdom decided it didn’t fit the image of the park, so it was put up for sale, and Petersen, National Harbor’s developer, bought it and built a beach for it to rise out of.”
When I finally got Jean moving again, we crossed a courtyard, which looked as if it doubled as a small stage, and turned right down the first street we came to, National Plaza. There, just across the street from the Westin Hotel and next to Olympia News, was the entrance to the harbormaster’s office and the marina restrooms, laundry facilities and showers. Showers!
As I emerged sometime later, I ran into John and Betty Lockard of Arlington, Va., who keep their boat Irish Ayes at the marina. The Lockards had gotten their slip the previous May and their boat that June. “We love it!” they enthused. “The only issue is that we need to remember to make reservations at a restaurant if we want to eat dinner when we’re here on the weekends.”
Hmm, good thought. As we waved goodbye, I pulled out my cell phone.
All cleaned up, it was time to explore this all-American Oz on foot. The first thing we did was head for the Spanish steps.
“Spanish steps?” Jean asked.
“Yup, Spanish steps,” I replied. “Probably because they lead to American Way, National Harbor’s Main Street, which,” I continued quickly because I could see this was making no sense, “is modeled after a main shopping street in Barcelona called Las Ramblas, which Petersen apparently fell in love with and so wanted to copy here. So,” I continued, “like many southern European cities, it’s a boulevard, shaded by a canopy of plane trees. This makes it a cool and shady refuge in the hot summer sun and bright and warm in the winter, when the trees are traditionally pruned back, practically to stubs.
“I know, I’ve seen plenty of European boulevards” she replied a little coolly, “I grew up in France, remember.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“And the Spanish Steps are in Rome, not Spain.”
“Oh, yeah.”
Fortunately, by this time we had reached the steps, which are flanked by two large mosaics placed in the walls on each side. Both mosaics are by Washington, D.C. native Cheryl Foster and depict Marylanders, especially those who’ve made a living on the water.
At the top of the steps is the belvedere. “A place that commands a view,” I parroted. This belvedere is a large platform that overlooks the beach with the awakening giant, and beyond that the marina, the Potomac, and finally Alexandria on the opposite shore. A “view” by any standard. But Jean wasn’t admiring the view. She had her head down and was meandering this way and that over the belvedere, studying Maryland artist Steven Weitzman’s 1,600 square-foot map, which portrays the early American history of the Chesapeake Bay. The piece, Chesapeake Journey, is made of Fotera, a kind of structural concrete, like terrazzo, that Weitzman developed for public art pieces.
“Enough of this,” I said finally, “let’s go shopping!”
And so we did, wandering up one side of each of National Harbor’s half-dozen streets and then down the other, sometimes cutting between streets through cunning little pedestrian passages. On Waterfront Street, we dawdled through Art Whino and Fossil. On National Plaza, we sampled gelatos at Aromi d’Italia. And on American Way we browsed through South Moon Under and Govinda Gallery, then carried off an espresso from Mayorga Coffee Roasters and continued up the street until the shops, restaurants, hotels and residence buildings gave way to coming soon signs and a fenced-in dog walk area. We peered hopefully into the fortune-teller’s kiosk, but it was empty. I guess they didn’t know we were coming. The plane trees have a few years to go before they make a canopy over the street, but the center boulevard is already dotted by various arrangements of stones, brought from New England and shaped and sometimes polished. The effect is a little like southern Europe’s old fountains, which often anchor their old main streets.
Before our walk up American Way came to an end, we passed the site of the future home of the National Children’s Museum. This 150,000-square foot, Cesar Pelli-designed building is projected to open in 2013. It will be within easy walking distance of another project: a Disney hotel. Just before we arrived at National Harbor, Disney had announced that it had purchased a 15-acre site at the end of American Way, where the company plans to build a 300-room resort hotel at a date yet to be named.
Oh yes, all that, and we hadn’t even gotten to the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center. So we did, and spent another few lazy hours marveling on what you can do with 2,000 rooms and nearly half a million square feet of convention space. We learned that you could hypothetically use the 800-foot-long convention hall to store the entire Washington Monument, if you laid it on its side. And, we were able to answer the question: What can you do with a cavernous 18-story atrium? Aside from the obvious answer—enjoy the view—you can actually build a small Colonial-style town chockablock with shops and restaurants, including a sports bar with a 30-foot-high video wall. You can also run a small stream through the atrium and out into the gardens in front of the building. And you can build fountains inside that shoot 65 feet into the air and dance to the music between 7 and 10 p.m. each evening.
Whew! Thank goodness it was time for dinner. Jean and I were able to summon just enough energy to pick our way out of the atrium and into the gardens. Then we walked along Harborwalk and back into “town.” We found Rosa Mexicano restaurant on Waterfront Street, and collapsed happily into chairs on the terrace overlooking the marina. We could see Snipp, which looked a little lost in its colossal slip, surrounded by a phalanx of sleek big-boy powerboats.
Several cold beers, a couple of tortilla soups and mole dishes later, we zombie-walked back to the boat and tumbled into our bunks. But not before Jean had taken just a few photos of National Harbor by night as seen from the bow of a small sailboat in slip B17. It was a beautiful sight . . . and very big . . . and maybe even a little strange.
“Maybe tomorrow everything will fall back into perspective.”
“Sure. Good-night, Jean.”
About the Author
By Jody Schroath, Senior Editor for Chesapeake Bay Magazine. For more great articles and photos on boating, sailing, fishing, and cruising, visit http://www.ChesapeakeBoating.net
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