Dog training equipments are of real importance to a dog trainer as without equipments it is hard to train a dog efficiently with in a stipulated time. You may be a good trainer who have enormous tenacity and patience and may be experienced too but it is a matter of fact that it will take more time in comparison to a special training where proper dog training equipments are used along with guidance. Here are some special dog training tools and equipments which are very popular and effective in deed-

Collar

Collars are very popular and effective. Wide varieties of collars are used like spoke, chain, electric, shock etc.  are used. All these collars have different use and you must have fair idea before trying a collar. It may not be that you spend some amount for collar and it will do the rest for you. It is just a tool or rather equipment which enhances training. Nylon, fabric or leather can be used as the base material for a collar.

Harness

It is very much like collars and can be used as an alternative of collar. You may also use both of them at the same time together. The main use of harness is pulling a dog backward. When harness is used the entire pressure is distributed evenly. So the neck of the dog is not injured at any case.

Leash

It is used as an alternative of collar. It creates a loop inside dog’s neck and makes the use of collar optional. But when the dog is aggressive or ferocious leash are of very much required. You may restrict the dog from doing anything ridiculous.

Muzzle

Muzzle prevents a dog from biting someone. Some dogs own the habit of unnecessary biting. It creates a cover in front of dog’s mouth and prevents it from biting something. You can wide variety of muzzles in the market and depending on the shape or material you can choose the best suitable one for your puppy.

Halter

It is training equipment too which can be used as an alternative of collar. Halter is tied to the back of muzzle and forces the dog to change its movement depending upon trainers’ requirement. This equipment is very worthy and in the long run makes a dog understand the value of any instruction shouted by either by trainer or you. So to make your dog obedient you have to take help of dog training equipments.

There are several other equipments like bait pouch can be used for some specific purpose. Before you choose any equipment make sure that you will be able to use it with your own. You may take help of an expert and ask him/her what dog training equipment to use and when.

German Shepherd is a kind of breed that caused different oppinion among different peple. While some see it fierce and threatening, some others, especially who had a German Shepherd look at it much more tenderedly.

The German Shepherd is often aloof – they don’t often walk right up to a stranger but size them up, as if silently figuring whether you are worth their time. Some dogs take longer than others to warm up and create a bond, but once that bond is made is a dog that will face any threat imaginable to protect their family.

It is this loyalty and sense of duty that has made the German Shepherd a dog that willingly guided the blind, works as law enforcement, herds livestock, competes not only in shows but in dog sports, is a friend to the military and performs countless duties in homes throughout the world.

In the late 1800s cavaly officer Capt. Max Von Stephanitz sought to perfect a dog for farm work. As with many animals bred for function, what was needed locally was different than the dogs available. The breed today takes the look of a defined breed but not all are the same. A dog developed as a show dog might look very different from one developed for police work, which may have a different body type from one working on the farm.

American soldiers brought the breed to the US after being introduced to the breed in the military. The breed is still today used to assist soldiers throughout the world.

By the standard, the male should be 24-26 inches at the shoulder with females 22-24. They should be longer than they are tall, with an image of power and grace. Disqualifications from show include: cropped or dropped ears, nose not mostly black, undershot jaw, docked tail and all white dogs. There are many many dogs that are larger than the standard, or all white dogs, as well as all black dogs, that are still fully German Shepherd. For those interested in details of show conformation requirements they can be found at http://www.akc.org/breeds/german_shepherd_dog/

In early development it was felt the GSD should be above everything utility and intelligence. The breed is still today a working machine…functional in the ability to cover ground easily whether after a loose cow or an escaped criminal. They are distinctive in appearance and although known by different names are the same breed throughout the world.

The GSD is one of the breeds some pet food companies have developed special formulas for. They are also many people who feed a raw meat and bones diet. An important factor in feeding German Shepherds is food selection. Do not feed for fast growth – it does not necessarily mean a bigger adult but can mean a weaker adult. High energy food that boosts fast growth should be avoided especially in the rapid growth time of 3-8 months of age. This reduces the chances of displasia later. While selection of breeding dogs and testing hips and elbows before breeding is certainly a factor, equally is diet.

Many things vary within this breed. One GSD charges fearlessly into a conflict that includes gunfire while another trembles in a thunderstorm. Some have been guilty of biting while others would never except under extreme threat threaten a human. Some are bold in any circumstance, some are borderline fearful. Handling and breeding can make an immense difference in this breed. Additionally the breeding and genetic markers for disease can affect an otherwise suitable working dog. Genetic issues affecting the eyes, skin, heart, neurological system, digestive and skeletal systems are all possible within the breed – and most are found by testing before breeding.

It is this testing and the maintaining of healthy, tested clean lines that makes a good GSD an investment. A few health issues to watch for besides the hip and elbow displasia include thyroid disorders, skin allergies, Addisons, vonWillebrand’s disease, heart murmurs, cardiomyopathy, epilepsy, wobbler syndrome and spinal bifida can all affect the breed. Many problems show up at under 2 years old. A condition called EPI, Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, is another issue that can be overlooked.

A more complete list of the health issues that can affect the breed is at http://www.awsaclub.com/healthgenetics/caninegen.htm – and remember that although it can look like they are prone to every disease known to canines, many of these can be eliminated by genetics.

Although not genetic, owners of GSD should be familiar with the danger of bloat. Like many deep chested dogs, GSD is susceptible to this critical emergency that needs immediate medical attention. This condition is fast-striking and fatal.

Do not be deterred by the list of health issues in the breed – instead, use that to choose your dog wisely. Understand that without testing you have the risk of losing a dog you’ve become attached to – and it may well be worth $ 700-800 for a dog that has a healthy genetic family rather than getting one of unknown background for $ 150 then spending thousands treating problems that are lurking unseen. For a tested, working and show type dog bred for temperament, trainability and soundness do not be shocked by prices $ 1,500 or $ 2,000 and up. Many of these come with health and soundness guarantees.

Dogs of 12-15 years are not uncommon. With a reported average litter size of eight, it’s important to choose mates wisely.

The trainability of the German Shepherd is well documented. The movie “K-9” and it’s sequels revolved around a German Shepherd, as did the infamous Rin Tin Tin. The first seeing-eye dog in 1928 was a German Shepherd. The GSD is one of the most intelligent dogs in the canine world, in one test just behind the border collie and poodle. John Kennedy, Roy Rogers and Franklin D. Roosevelt kept GSD.

Schutzhund, a competition not for the faint of heart, is but one thing the GSD excells at. This competition tests the dog’s intelligence, soundness, tracking abilities, willingness to work, courage and trainability. While photos from these competitions show dogs scaling obstacles and making spectacular leaps to latch bites onto the arm of a “suspect” it’s important to remember these dogs are highly trained. They are not vicious…they are trained to get to a suspect, restrain them and ideally get them on the ground for the safety of their handlers.

No dog, German Shepherd or otherwise, should be teased or mistreated to induce aggression. The difference between an aggressive dog and a trained K-9 is extreme. A K-9’s training is based on play – an aggressive dog is based on survival, and this difference is critical to understand. It drives an aggressive dog to unspeakable acts and reflects poorly on the many great dogs of the breed that are highly trainable.

A good dog with obedience training doesn’t need special training for protection. These operate from a position of defense of the home – and the bark of a GSD is often enough to change the minds of someone who thinks they want to do harm. The natural protection instincts of a good GSD is normally sufficient to deal with a threat.

It is no surprise that there are many heroes in this breed. Ceasar, a K-9 handled by Corporal Mark Sarna of the Shaker Heights Ohio Police Department, had a resume that included drug detection, tracking suspects as well as being a certified therapy dog and friendly with children. Griff, a K-9 with the Summit County Sheriff’s Department, and his handler Deputy Kathy Wilmot is another awarded dog and a great illustration as to the unknown these dogs and their handlers can face. Called to a domestic disturbance where the suspect was threatening to burn down the house of a girlfriend with her and her kids in it, Griff tracked the suspect through freezing rain. While he wanted to continue, the humans insisted on returning to the command unit and before long a second call came in. The suspect returned to the home and was becoming violent. A very dangerous situation evolved with the suspect assaulting the dog and handlers, attempting to kill the dog hands on despite being tazered. Griff not only never gave up but never shifted position – he put himself between the suspect and his handler, willing to lay down his life if need be. After the incident was over it was learned the suspect had commited an armed robbery just hours before, was out on bond and had a previous stint of 13 years in prison.

In the dangerous work of police and military work many German Shepherds have paid the ultimate price for their instincts and training. They serve faithfully and have confronted the worst of humanity, not only on a daily basis but also in events such as the World Trade Center and Oklahoma City bombing.

Because these are bold, intelligent and trainable dogs they must have a home that will TRAIN them. Select a good, healthy dog and put the time into training them. This doesn’t take 6-8 hours per day…it’s teaching things in small ways on a day to day basis. Left to their own devices they will be unhappy and find their own means to entertain themselves, and you probably won’t like it. A bored, untrained dog can destroy vehicles, homes and lives. Once trained then you can sit back and enjoy your beautiful, functional, intelligent and well mannered dog.

For the right home the German Shepherd is a wonderful companion and security that doesn’t fail with power outages. If yours is the right home, do your homework and find the best dog for you. They’re a wonderful breed with a big heart.

Garmin/Tri tronics PRO 550

Dogs Unlimited is excited to introduce 3 new products from Garmin that are sure to light a spark in the world of hunting dog trainers and dog training enthusiasts.

The recent purchase of Tri-Tronics by Garmin has ushered in a new lineup of advanced electronic dog training collars. These three new collar designs–the PRO 550, PRO 70, and PRO Trashbreaker–are based on Tri-Tronics’ iconic Field and Pro Series systems, and use proven Tri-Tronics technology. But Garmin has added its own twist to make them an even better dog training tool than their predecessors.

A new feature that Garmin has added to this class of dog training collar is the built-in BarkLimiter, a no-bark collar built into the Dog Device collar itself. The BarkLimiter is activated by the Dog Device and features Autorise technology which automatically adjusts to the appropriate correction level to help stop unwanted barking.

Alan O. Davison, owner of Dogs Unlimited comments, “Garmin just upped the ante with its recent introduction of these three dog training collars. It’s absolutely ingenious of them to include the BarkLimiter. It’s something that our customers have been asking for. When it comes to their customers, Garmin listens.”

While similar in appearance, these electronic dog collars are actually very different in their overall functionality to the user. Below is a brief description of each collar’s features:

PRO 550 – 1 mile range, train up to 3 dogs at once, total of 21 levels of momentary and continuous corrective stimulation, vibration and tone correction, the ability to activate available accessories from the transmitter, and an LED Beacon Light on the Dog Device that can be seen up to 100 yards. PRO 70 – 1 mile range, train up to 6 dogs at once, 6 levels of continuous corrective stimulation, tone correction, and an LED Beacon Light on the Dog Device that can be seen up to 100 yards. PRO Trashbreaker – 4 mile range, train up to 9 dogs at once, 6 levels of continuous corrective stimulation, tone correction, and an LED Beacon Light on the Dog Device that can be seen up to 100 yards.

Garmin is always on the cutting edge of whatever they do, and electronic dog training collars guarantees to be no different. Proven Tri-Tronics technology and the addition of exciting new features show that Garmin is serious about taking electronic dog training collars to the next level of performance.