German Shepherd Dog Training

german shepherd hero dog
Does anyone else see the irony in the dog who became a hero on 9/11 – a German Shepherd, is to be cloned in .?

South Korea.
Why should we play God and recreate/replicate life, and of all places for a dog, S. Korea.

Dude, it’s a dog not a human, I see no problem with it and no irony..

The World’s Most Extreme Waves – North America

“Outracing the exploding lip of a breaking wave is like ski-ing in front of an avalanche” says Sean Collins.

Since the ancient Hawaiians first slid shoreward on their hand-carved Olo boards, riding the biggest wave of the day has continued to be one of surfing’s most revered accomplishments. But while the professional surfing circuit has blossomed over the last two decades, offering millions of dollars in prize money to agile small-wave performers, there has been no regularly-offered reward given to some of the true heroes of our sport -the BIG WAVE CHARGERS.

Surfer Pete Cabrinha surfin the biggest wave measured at 70 something feet.

NORTH AMERICA

Maverick’s

Maverick’s is a famous big-wave surfing spot off Half Moon Bay south of San Francisco. It is a world-famous surfing location in Northern California. Located approximately one-half mile (0.8 km) from shore in Pillar Point Harbor it is just north of Half Moon Bay at the village of Princeton-By-The-Sea. It occurs after a strong winter storm in the northern Pacific Ocean. Waves can routinely crest at over 25 feet (8m) and top out at over 50 feet (15m). The break is caused by an unusually-shaped underwater rock formation.

Mavericks is a destination for some of the world’s premier big wave surfers. Very few riders become big wave surfers; and of those, only a select few are willing to risk the hazardous conditions at Maverick’s. An invitation-only contest is held there every winter, depending on wave conditions.

Do you know how Maverkick’s got its name? In early March of 1961, three surfers, Alex Matienzo, Jim Thompson, and Dick Knottmeyer, decided to try the distant waves off Pillar Point. With them was a white-haired German Shepherd named Maverick, owned by a roommate of Matienzo. Maverick was used to swimming out with his owner, or with Matienzo, while they were out surfing. The trio left Maverick on shore, but he swam out and caught up with them. Finding the conditions too unsafe for the dog, Matienzo paddled back in and tied Maverick to the car bumper, before rejoining the others. The riders had limited success that day, surfing the tail end of the break and generally deeming the conditions too dangerous, but they decided to name the point after Maverick, who seemed to have gotten the most out of the experience. It became known as “Maverick’s Point”, and later simply “Maverick’s”.

Ghost Tree, Monterey Bay, California

A small crowd gathers on an idyllic knoll to watch Ghost Tree awaken.

This picture was taken in on March 9th 2005 when Ghost Tree went huge and perfect and very very dangerous. At first light, Ghost Tree saw a 17-foot swell approaching from due west at 20-second intervals. Roughly two hours later, Don Curry, the man who named the wave, and his partner Ed Guzman rolled up on the channel just in time to watch a pair of 30-foot wave faces boom over the spot’s infamous boneyard and into Stillwater Cove. The swells continued growing until they were well over 45ft. Surfers were arriving from all over hoping to ride the wave.

It was first surfed in 2005 and sadly claimed a life in 2007. It is supposed to be scarier than Maverick’s and heavier than Waimea and is one of the most dangerous waves in the world. The height of the wave can reach 70ft with an incredibly long tube.

Nelscott Reef, Oregan

Nelscott Reef creates a reef break (where waves spill over to create whitewater) that is known as the only place on the Oregon Coast with the right conditions for tow-in surfing and it is the only spot to consistently produce double overhead waves, thus the event brings in big name surfers. Before 2003 no one had been able to paddle out in this region due to the shallow water and undertow, but it has now become recognised as one of the worlds premier tow in waves and will easily hold 30ft+ waves.

CORTES BANK, San Diego

Cortez Bank is a 17-mile underwater mountain range which rises to within 6 feet (2 m) of the surface and is marked by a nearby warning buoy. It was named for the clipper ship Stillwell S. Bishop that struck the rock in 1855 (and with a patched hull made it to San Francisco). This place has been known to ocean-going ships and fishermen for years. The waves there signal danger on the underwater rocks and are so big they show up on radar.

This wave is truly in the middle of the ocean. You have to take a 100 mile boat ride out to it. To get the biggest waves at Cortes Bank, you need light winds, low tides, and big storm swells from the northwest all at the same time. When it happened on January 19, 2001, California big wave riders scrambled to test their skill against the biggest, baddest wave ever ridden. These waves move so fast that surfers can’t catch them by paddling, so you need jet skiers to tow with a rope until they are moving fast enough to catch the wave.

This spot is for worldclass surfers only. It is dangerous.

About the Author

My blog, www.xtremesport4u.com concentrates on the extreme aspects of some sports. Surfing is a wonderful sport but when it becomes big wave surfing then it really is in a niche of its own. I find this fascinating.

Hero Dog Leads Police to Fire

BS PHOTO bft-597 Dog German Shepherd Hero Of 1974 $9.00

1986 Press Photo Hero Dog King German Shepherd Perkins $27.88

german shepherd elbow
What Should I Look For In A German Shepherd Puppy?

Tell me anything I should look for when I pick out my puppy. I know the hips and elbows need to be ofa certified, but what if they are just prelimbed? Is that just as good or is that bad? I am planning on getting a female and breeding her.

[Kimberley]: The tail should NOT touch the ground. It should reach to the heel or SLIGHTLY further, when the dog is standing naturally.

[Kirbee]: I cannot approve of your “shepard” invention. Nor of your failure to accept that we NEED the useful breeds (of which the GSD is THE most versatile, when bred to the International Standard of the GSD) to be produced in order to aid paraplegics, guard military bases, guide the blind, help police & customs agents find contraband & hold felons, herd livestock, search for & rescue avalanche victims & lost folk, etc etc.
My country’s police kennel accepts donated dogs (which are usually equivalent to what’s in rescue), but almost none graduate – VERY few dogs not carefully bred FOR a task are actually capable of performing that task.
What my friend in the Catskills uses to patrol & guard her sheep LOOK and BEHAVE very differently to what’s seen winning at Westminster or as Can&Am.Grand Victors – HERS are genuine GSDs, the others exaggerated NAmerican Ski-Slope Dogs.
Yes, SOME rescued dogs are GREAT – after being supplied 4 unsatisfactory “guide dogs” in a row (unhealthy, or under-trained & temperamentally unsuitable as guides) my blind pen-friend in Texas gave up on professionals, rescued a young GSD then trained it herself (with assistance from a sighted friend for the traffic awareness aspects). But that pair are rarities.

[bowhunter]:
You don’t yet even know which field of endeavour you wish to aim your future puppies at, so can’t possibly know which kind of breeder to aproach.

Puppies are NOT xrayed – but need their parents & grandparents to be. A pooch’s OWN xrays have little relevance (except to guide surgeons attempting to correct afflicted joints) – what counts is the WORST score detected in the CHILDREN of each one.
The world’s good schemes refuse to read plates taken at under 1 year, but all Certificate at 1 onwards – no “prelims”. Dr Willis collected data on the age at which HD was first detected. Plates taken at 6 months detected only 16% of GSDs that developed HD. At 12 months it rose to 69%, at 18 months to 83%. OFA won’t certify until 95% of eventual HD is detectable. Which might seem great to a newbie, but newbies don’t understand the 2 functions of xrays.
• To guide the surgeon – I HOPE that such dogs aren’t used for breeding!
• To inform breeders as to how risky the PARENTS are. To understand how BIF-scoring does that, you need only know that it uses a 0=”perfect” to 106=”oh my gawd!” scale and that the GSD average in Australia is 13-to-14, then click http://www.gsdcouncilaustralia.org/schemes.htm#GSDCA%20Hip%20and%20Elbow%20Dysplasia%20Control%20Scheme scroll to “GSDCA Hip Dysplasia (HD) and Elbow Dysplasia (ED) Control Schemes”, click the most recent “Report” link in each section.
If you can’t understand the significance of those figures – especially the “worst” score per sire and the percentage of his pups with high scores, you are not yet mentally equipped to be a breeder – you would be yet another ignorant BYBer damaging my breed’s hard-earned reputation.

Do you even recognise a genuine GSD, as opposed to what we sneeringly term AlsatiOns, German Crouchers, NAmerican Ski-Slope Dogs, Prick-Eared Bassets, Titanic Tail-Tuckers? See http://www.leabashiba.com/fashion.vs.GSD.htm

• Decide WHAT field you want to aim your pups at.
• Add http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/The_GSD_Source to your browser’s Bookmarks or Favorites so that you can easily look up such as feeding, vaccinations, clubs, weights, teething, neutering, disorders, genetics.
Click its Links => Defining_a_GSD & start studying to see what genuine breeders do to prove their GSDs breed-worthy.

• If it IS actual GSDs that you want, learn FCI#166 off by heart, and start attending events run by organisations catering for genuine GSDs. In Britain you need clubs that belong to its Breed Council, in Canada the GSSCC, in the USofA either the USCA or the WDA – all have head office contacts in the Links => GSD_Clubs section of the group above.
It’s partly to develop your “eye” for the qualities of genuine GSDs, partly to start learning which kennels consistently produce bitches WITH those qualities.
• If it’s a deviation that you want, attend events conducted by ITs organisation, for the same reasons.

• Join some of the 400+ YahooGroups dedicated to various aspects of living with GSDs. Each group’s Home page tells you which aspects & use they like to discuss, and how active they are. Unlike YA, they are set up so that you can have an ongoing discussion with follow-up questions for clarification. Most allow you to include photos.

• Once you identify some suitable-seeming breeders, contact them (maybe through their web-sites) then compare them using Choosing_a_GSD.doc downloaded from the above group’s Files (you have to join to access Files, but acceptance is instant), then discuss your top candidates with experienced members of your groups.

YOU don’t choose the pup, unless the breeder thinks that there are 2 equally suitable for your stated needs. A breeder good enough to pass everything I’ve listed above KNOWS how his/her pups will develop, so won’t let you choose an unsuitable one – he doesn’t want YOU ruining his kennel’s reputation by showing an ugly mutt or failing in SchutzHund with a timid mutt, he doesn’t want YOU producing such with HIS kennel as the bit.ch-line!

I hope that, if your wish isn’t just a childish whim, you choose TRUE GSD type – the world NEEDS typical GSDs, GSDs with the right agility & attitude & behaviour & biddability & courage & determination & endurance, but it DOESN’T need more crap that ends up in rescue groups because of poor attitude or health or untrainability or outright cowardice, or gets shot for biting.
Les P, owner of GSD_Friendly: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/GSD_Friendly
“In GSDs” as of 1967

The German Shepherd Dog Breed Profile

The Alsatian, commonly known as the German Shepherd Dog, is a working dog breed that often acts as military dogs, guard dogs, police dogs, or search and rescue dogs. They are used because they can be trained in protection and obedience easily and they like to please their owners.

German Shepherd Dogs are large, strong dogs that have coats with either long or short hair. Their coats’ colors vary, but are mostly seen in tan and brown. However, there are some German Shepherds who are completely black or white. German Shepherds’ ears stand up erect and they also have long tails.

There are several lines of German Shepherd, all of which have different looks, behavior and skills. The international working line of German Shepherds are bred as working dogs. They are quite tough but their appearance varies. The North American show line of German Shepherds are bred for their appearance, which is unique to them. Their backs are more angled than a typical German Shepherd’s and unfortunately this can be bad for their backs. They are also believed to not have the working dog traits of the other lines. The international show line of German Shepherd Dog also is bred more so on appearance, so they typically look the same.

German Shepherds tend to develop great loyalty and are very obedient towards their owners. Due to their strong teeth and jaws, they can be trained to attack. Unfortunately, they can also become too aggressive or become fearful if not bred properly. Many of these types of dogs, who are either poorly bred or have owners who don’t train them properly, end up in puppy mills. Since German Shepherds are frequently used as attack and police dogs, they have received an image of being quite dangerous. However, most German Shepherds make great pets for families and are not aggressive.

German Shepherds are very emotional dogs and are quite loyal. They are sometimes used as guide dogs, but that is on the decline as they can get separation anxiety and trauma. As stated earlier, different lines of German Shepherds vary in temperament. Working dogs have more energy and are more obedient. They are intelligent and become upset if they do not get enough exercise. They like to have a job to do, which is why they are often used as rescue dogs. North American lines of German Shepherd Dogs are more fitted for the role of companions.

Due their large size, German Shepherds can suffer from elbow problems and hip dysplasia. They may have skin allergies or have von Willebrand’s disease. The average life span of a German Shepherd is twelve years.

German Shepherd Dogs were discovered in the late 1800s by Captain Max von Stephanitz and were meant to be a diverse working dog. American and British soldiers of World War I then brought German Shepherds to their homes and they became popular dogs. They were used as family pets and as working dogs.

German Shepherds are very versatile in the type of things they can do. They are highly intelligent and like to please and protect their owners. For this reason, they can become great guard dogs, rescue dogs, or police dogs and also make good pets for families.

About the Author

For more information on the german shepherd or a complete list of dog breeds visit this Dog Behaviour website.

Elbow Dysplasia in the German Shepherd

German Shepherd Puppies Kitchen Towel by Fiddler’s Elbow $3.99

Fiddlers Elbow German Shepherd Puppies Kitchen Tea Towel Leslie Anderson/Ellay $11.00

FIDDLERS ELBOW DOORMAT GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG ON PORCH FED105 DECORATIVE DOORMAT $29.88

Tote Bag Oil Cloth New by Fiddler’s Elbow German Shepherd $24.99

Dog Puppy Mouse Pad Fiddler’s Elbow David Kiphuth *NEW* Free Shipping Mousepad $10.00

Fiddlers Elbow German Shepherd Cotton Kitchen Tea Towel Art by David Kiphuth NEW $11.00

BOXED Note Cards by Fiddler’s Elbow-GERMAN SHEPHERD $6.99

BOXED Note Cards by Fiddler’s Elbow-GERMAN SHEPHERD $6.99

FIDDLER’S ELBOW KITCHEN TOWEL GERMAN SHEPHERD NEW $7.95

german shepherd watchdogs
Dog breed that meets these criteria??

My family is looking for a dog that is good with kids. We have a toddler and a 9 year old. We also want a good watchdog and a fairly intelligent breed. We have a small, fenced in yard but we would be willing to take daily walks. We also both work 8 hrs a day so the dog would be alone. We have a housecat too.

No get a small dog if you have a small yard, I suggest a wiener dog

Dogs — Natural, Instinctive Guardians to Humans

Dogs are not only devoted companions but also natural, instinctive guardians to humans since the beginning of time. They have always taken the roll of protecting the humans. One of the earliest duties of the domestic dog was to guard the property of its owners, whether that property be land, livestock or his owner’s home; and even today their protective nature make them ideal to alert a family. Various breeds of dog naturally show different characteristics. These include a sense of the dog’s territory, aggressiveness, bulk, strength, courage, resistance to counterattack, as well as the tendency to protect the dog’s adoptive family and the propensity to be properly trained. Aloofness to strangers is also regarded as a virtue because as aloof dogs are not swayed by superficial attempts at friendship.

However, each dog comes with varying degrees of natural ability to protect their owners; a watch dog is typically a member of a breed that barks when strangers approach. A good watch dog doesn’t have to be big or aggressive; he or she just has to possess a strong bark that lets the family know someone is approaching the house. Any breed, large or small, can be trained as a watchdog dog and almost any dog that barks when something unusual happens can serve as a watch dog. For Example -

The Papillon — This is a small toy breed (weighing from 9 to 10 pounds, and standing from 8 to 11 inches), which is overprotective and possessive in nature. A keen barker, this breed makes an effective watchdog which is also quite possessive and standoffish to strangers. They act like big dogs in small dogs’ bodies and are fiercely loyal of their owners – to a fault. Papillon Puppies are a great choice if you want a small but efficient watchdog.

The Weimaraner — The Weimaraner is considered a medium size dog breed (standing at 25-27 inches tall at the shoulders and weighing 70-85 pounds), which makes an excellent watchdog.  Although not dangerous, it will make a vigorous effort to get its own way.  He is aggressive and quite fearless. Utilized in various capacities such as police work, search and rescue, and tracking he has both the intellect and energy to accomplish almost anything. Blessed with intelligence and a willingness to learn Weimaraner Puppies are a best choice for the family who want more than just a watchdog.

There are also some dog breeds known as guard dogs that have been especially developed or selectively bred for their natural inclination to guard and defend the territory and people they consider as having under their custody. They not only watch and alert but also threaten the intruder to the point of retreat. They possess the physical capability to render a would-be assailant incapable of harming the dog’s owner either through restraint or injury. Bull Mastiff, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiller, German Shepherd, Mastiff etc. are some dog’s breeds which serve as guard dog.

The Rottweiler – Rottweilers are known to be fiercely protective of their property and their families and are vigilant about protecting what they love. Possessing a combination of strength, confidence, and courage; they serve well as guard dogs. They tend to be aloof to strangers and are not swayed by superficial attempts at friendship. Rottweiller Puppies can make a great addition to a family who want a great guard dog.

About the Author

For more information about Puppies please visit http://www.pets4you.com/dogs.html

German Shepherd Watch Dogs

german shepherd elbow dysplasia
Pet Insurance for GSD- Congenital/Hereditary Defects?

I’m getting a new German Shepherd puppy and having mainly worked with kelpies and border collies before, I’ve never considered pet insurance. However, with my last beautiful Kelpie dying as a result of a snake bite, I’m thinking of getting pet insurance to cover us in case of something like this again. Also, I am concerned about hip/elbow dysplasia. Does anyone know of an Australian company that covers this, and whether it covers the condition for life? Also, I’d like to go with a company that would cover the operation. I know they exist but so far have not had the time to go through every comprehensive guide. Please let me know your thoughts.
Thanks all

Brilliant decision.
It may seem a little strange to buy insurance for your pet- but- as you say- a breed with so many congenital illnesses- its better to be safe than sorry.
I live in Australia and I just purchased pet insurance for my American Bulldog (another breed which can be prone to health problems…)

http://www.petplan.com.au/

And this is what I chose after much consideration.
This policy covers the dog for life… after 3 years, and does cover ongoing medical conditions- provided that they werent present before the cover started.
This is also the only policy that covers you for liability- so that if your dog for whatever reason causes damage to property, or injures another dog or person- they can cover the expenses.
I did quite a bit of research, and chose this one because it was one of the cheapest covers, and because it offered so much more- including the liability which is exclusive to this plan.
You have a choice about how much excess you would have to pay- you can either pay the excess + 0% of the vet bills, or excess + 20%, which makes the premium cheaper.
I believe the GSD will fall under ’select’ breed (like my AmBull) which means that after the age of 7 (I think it is 7 instead of 10) the dog is classed as a senior and you will have to pay a higher amount- the excess + 30% of the vet fee (or + 50% if you choose the cheaper option)
You can download the PDS from the website and read through it to check that you are covered for everything you need.
Good luck with your pup! Hopefully you wont need insurance!
I would love a GSD!

Does taking glucosamine harm dogs over a long period of time? My puppy had elbow surgery and now he takes it.?

My male german shepherd puppy had elbow dysplasia. He had surgery and stayed on rimydil for a few weeks after surgery. Now we give him glucosamine on the advice of the vet. Is this potentially harmful to him over a long period of time? He is doing very good since the surgery.

No it does not hurt, but look into Dermcaps, the cheapest place to get them is Valley Vet Supply, not only are thee great for their coat, reduces shedding to minimal, it helps with brain functioning, lubricating joints etc. Dogs like them too, you can even get a spray that u just spray on the food. Get enough to last though, I listen to this vet on the radio each week and many many people recommend it, I do as well with a shep husy mix who is 9 and acts like a puppy. I am sure your pup may have future issues glad you caught it early

Choosing GSD Puppies – German Shepherd Puppies