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.

A well behaved dog is a pride and joy to the owner. A dog which lacks basic training is indeed a matter of embarrassment and can be a real pain to the surrounding people. Even though the owner may think an untrained dog can be cute, let me warn you many times it can be a danger to itself and the people concerned. For example, a dog that does not heed to the command of the owner can run loose to an approaching car or motorbike and cause an accident to itself and to the occupants of the vehicle.

The most crucial part of training is to start of early because it is easy to train a dog in early stages when it is not exposed to much of established habits and inappropriate behaviors. Before we start let us all remind each other that we are not exactly the dog whisperers.

Dog training books can help the owners to smooth the relationship with their pets. Such training books cover variety of topics from tips on hose braking to appropriate dog foods for varied breeds. Regardless of which ever canine breed you possess, most of you will be struggling with issues like aggressive behavior, house training, establishing who is the alpha (dominant person in the home) and setting boundaries. Here it is important to understand the size and breed of your dog has nothing to do with basic dog training.

Dog your dog is not always an easy task simply because of the fact that it is hard to earn the respect of your dog. It may sound quite absurd, but in many situations it can be the sole reason for unacceptable behavior. It will take much more than reading dog training books systematically.

Following are few basic dog training tips or advices:

• Always be patient and positive with your animal- always remember the fact that dogs are great attention seekers who loves to be praised and appreciated now and then. Use verbal as well small treats in the initial stages of training, when your doggie behaves perfectly the way you taught them to do so.

• Be firm and friendly with your pets- Use a friendly tone when you teach them to heel or come. However use a much stern and firmer voice to make them sit. The animal should understand that you mean business

• Engage in shorter session of dog training- Keep your sessions for fifteen minutes or so and end it with a positive gesture. Do not force your doggie to undergo prolonged sessions as this may make them restless with the entire sessions. Also remember to spend some extra time playing with your pet after the dog training. This helps to strengthen the bond between the master and the pet.

• Avoid distractions- do not train your dogs in busy parks or crowded outdoors. Also keep your other pets away while engaged in dog training.

• Finally remember dog training can be real fun. It is the perfect time to understand your dog’s behavior and let them know you care for the animal. This can be a rewarding sessions for many out there.

A trained dog can better help us in family life, and become a good family companion dog. However, many parents in the process of training dogs may don’t careful to use the appropriate method. Remember the following points should not do during training process and let training work more smoothly.

1. Don’t severe punishment for dog To the dog not to promote use corporal punishment. Same as child, there are a lot of dogs will produce negative mentality from the pain, it is easy to backfire. Severe punishment will only let the dog do more severe on next behavior, and the wrong behavior more frequently. If the dog bite bad things, first of all to make sure that the dog’s teeth growth or not, if it is, you can buy some molar items for dog using, that can reduce the bite frequency of other items. However, parents beat dog which use bite broken item, if this item is parent’s clothes and will let the dog do remember the smell of this item, and dog probably will continue to bite the parents of other things.

2. Don’t easy shouting with dog not obedient The dog can’t understand the human language, but it can understand people’s mood. When parents down the order to dog, but the dog do not understand, only can vaguely in situ looked at parents. At this time, some parents will try so hard and may shouting, and that will only backfire.

3. Don’t force dog when it can’t understand order Give order to dogs, the dog may not able to absorb, if parents give high pressure may make it produces self-abandoned and bad mood. This will be a vicious circle, let the dog more and more nervous, even can’t do parents given order.

4. Don’t pull up dog collar; too much force will damage the dog’s neck A big size dog should choose belt material collar; a small size dog can use plastic buckle collar. But no matter what material collar, you can pull up hard, because this will get serious damage on dog cervical vertebra, even cause life risk.

5. Don’t punish dog late when they make mistakes The dog intelligence is lower than human being; usually they don’t know that they make the troubles. If you really want to give dog a lesson, must do it on time when done something wrong, so the dog can understand and remember.

6. Don’t use the way of jejunitas to punish the dog Don’t give food or water to punish dog which has great harm to dog’s health; especially the young and old dog, so don’t suggest use this way into the training process.

If you want to be a good dog owner, you should treat them kindly and tender, and you also should shop cheap dog beds for them. And dogs need dog raincoat when you training them outdoor. Talkaboutpet also has cat sweaters with big discount!

Ashley Starling of Canine Tutors in San Luis Obispo County

When it comes time to search for the best dog obedience training in San Luis Obispo, the choices can sometimes be overwhelming for a dog owner. Thanks to an exclusive offer by Ashley Starling, owner of Canine Tutors Dog Training, residents looking for a San Luis Obispo dog trainer now have the opportunity to take advantage of a free evaluation and consultation before making a decision to enroll in classes. In addition, Starling extends an invitation to enjoy the very first dog obedience training lesson at no cost to the pet owner.

Many dog owners wonder how they can get their untrained dog to interact in the real world. I find by making this free offer, dog owners are able to see for themselves what is possible, says Starling. I can train any dog, but for most people they just have to see it to believe it.

Starling uses advanced training techniques and presents them in a simple fashion for the average dog owner to understand and utilize. Canine Tutors Dog Training specializes in getting dog off leash and under control even when experiencing severe distractions all while helping the dog maintain a happy and positive demeanor. In fact, Starling and his fellow trainers at Canine Tutors have long been considered San Luis Obispos off-leash specialists.

I have a no-conflict policy, says Starling. I never argue with the dog; I give them the tools they need in order to live with people. I work from the wow factor I keep their spirits up high and I keep them super motivated.

With years of experience in the industry, Canine Tutors Dog Training has been helping dog owners throughout San Luis Obispo County handle their pets most frustrating and challenging behavior issues with guaranteed results. Taking methods learned from dog trainers such as Bart Bellon, Ivan Balanov, Michael Ellis and Ed Frawley, Starling and his friendly, patient, and skilled team of dog trainers use positive, innovative techniques to deliver commands in a clear, concise manner. From getting a dog to come when called, sit and lay down to helping dogs break habits such as dashing out the door and jumping on guests and family members, Starling and his professional crew have provided guidance to hundreds of dog owners.

Summer in San Luis Obispo County means spending more time outside with one lesson from Canine Tutors Dog Training, owners will learn how the possibility of taking a leisurely, stress-free walk on the beach or hike along local trails with their dog can become a reality. Just in time for the summer months, Canine Tutors Dog Training is offering some warm weather tips for dog owners:

Dogs should not be shaved during the hot summer months; fur helps to protect dogs from the heat and provides insulation. Instead, opt for a good grooming session. Purchase an inexpensive hard plastic kiddy pool for dogs to splash around in. Be sure to place large containers of water within dogs reach & take extra water along when traveling or venturing outdoors. Use training tips several times daily for short periods of time 3-5 minutes at a time for a total of around 15 minutes is ideal. Keep in mind that a dogs energy level drops when temperatures reach about 70 degrees dont be alarmed if your dog is not as active during warmer weather.

For more information on private training and upcoming seminars and to take advantage of a complimentary first lesson, call Ashley Starling of Canine Tutors Dog Training at (805) 400-8309 or submit an online contact form at http://caninetutors.com. See Canine Tutors Dog Training on Google+.