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.

There different SAP courses to choose from

 Financials

 Human Resources

 Customer Relationship Management

 Supplier Relationship Management

 Product Lifecycle Management

 Supply Chain Management

 Business Intelligence

The courses are valid for at least four months or 120 days while some courses will take longer than that. You can take the lessons as many times as you want while your subscription is active. If you still have questions on your mind regarding the course, you can always go back to the part of the session where you had a hard time understanding.

There are also SAP demonstrations for one to be able to see how the SAP courses really work. The demo provides online quiz afterwards so as to assess your learning acquired and once you fail to answer the quiz correctly, there is no harm done but the site will even tell you the correct answer so there is no way not to understand the lesson, unless you don’t take it seriously.

There is no technical requirement for you to be able to apply in online SAP training courses. All you need to have is a computer and internet access. You may use any computer and use them anywhere you want. High speed internet is not a requirement but is recommended for more continuous and hassle – free sessions.

Some consider a job opportunity after SAP course the possibility of developing a career as an SAP consultant. Lots of companies are introducing ERP software in their activity and are looking for a person capable of offering them the necessary guidance and help in implementing it. Getting an SAP certification can open unexpected career opportunities because it allows you to combine planning and execution in a manner that can only be in the best interest of the company.

Benefiting of a job opportunity after SAP course is nothing difficult, especially for someone already a professional in his or hers field of activity. SAP courses are available to be attended by anyone interested in expanding their horizons. Getting certified after finishing the course is also simple and it would be a shame not to take advantage of all the perspectives that the certification can open in your professional life.

All you have to do is to consult with the SAP training associates to know that which course would be better for me and how it will be advantage to be me.

For more information on SAP Training Courses you van visit http://www.sapware.net/

A Dog Training Lesson

Are you looking for some dog training tips?  Perhaps you have some dog problems that you just can’t figure out how to handle.  Maybe you’re in the middle of training a puppy.  Training dogs can be frustrating and a lot of hard work, but it is so worthwhile.

I’m by no means an expert in dog training.  But through my many years on this earth I have always had dogs in my life.  Most of them have been rescue dogs.  I would suggest rescue dogs for anyone interested in getting a new dog.  It’s a wonderful feeling and you will never regret it.

Now, on to the purpose of this article and this short dog training course. Over the years I’ve tried many different dog  training techniques to deal with dog problems that I’ve encountered.  Many times with rescue dogs, especially older rescue dogs, they might have some bad habits that their previous owner just didn’t want to deal with.  Those are the dogs I love to take because they end up being so lovable and sweet once you deal with the dog problem.

One dog training technique that has been very successful for me has been something so simple and yet so effective.

What I do is take a small tin can and put a few pennies in it.  Sometimes I will have a few cans around the house so they are handy when I need them.

When your dog exhibits a behavior that is not welcomed, just give the can a shake and at the same time say “No!”  This catches the dog’s attention and startles them.  They don’t like the sound of the pennies in the can, and after doing this a few times, you’ll see  that the unwanted behavior stops.  So what you are doing is conditioning the dog  to know that when they do the unwanted behavior, they will hear this noise that they don’t like, and therefore after a few times they will stop the behavior.  After a few times, you won’t even have to use the can but only say “No!” and they will stop the unwanted behavior.

This is why I have a few cans around the house because you want them handy so you can shake the can immediately when the dog is doing the unwanted behavior. 

I’ve used this technique on a number of dog problems that I’ve had through the years.  It’s been especially helpful in stopping dogs from barking too much.  One of my dogs was a very yappy dog until I tried this technique.  After a few shakes of the can, he now does not bark all the time and is much more pleasant to be around.

Another dog problem I’ve handled with this technique is a disgusting behavior of eating their own feces.  I know, so disgusting.  Two of my dogs now have done this in the past and I was so happy when this technique worked for them.  I would have to watch them while they were outside for a few days and keep a window open.  Then when they started going toward their own feces with an eye to eating it, I would shake the can from the window and that was enough to stop them.  It only took a few times.

I hope you will try this technique and let me know if it works for you.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Also, I have found another great dog training book that has some great simple ideas to help with dog problems that you might want to try.  The title is Secrets to Dog Training, formerly known as SitStayFetch.  It’s a great resource, PLUS you get six bonus books with it.

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Even the best dog in the world, a.k.a. your dog, will from time to time exhibit behavior that is unacceptable. The thing to keep in mind is that the bad behavior or bad habit is not done to annoy you. There is usually something specific that triggers the behavior. Finding out the cause of the unwanted behavior should be the first step. If the cause can be identified, you can begin training to change the unwanted behavior. Whether you want to get rid of bad behavior or just want your dog to learn something new, it will take some time, effort, and patience. Whatever the reason, training should be an enjoyable experience for you and your dog,

The earlier in your dogs life you start training the better. You can start training as early as 6 to 8 weeks and maybe even earlier. However, remember that dogs are intelligent and it is never too late to train your dog. Your dog needs strong but kind leadership. It is important that your dog always knows that you are the leader in this relationship.

Training Tips:

1. This is a learning experience for your dog but is also a time of bonding between you and your pet. The time you spend training your dog should be fun for both of you.

2. The training sessions should be fairly short, between 10 and 15 minutes. It is better to have short, frequent training sessions rather than long, infrequent ones.

3. Training should be a good experience for your dog so you should not use negative reinforcement. Determine whether food or praise is the more powerful reward for your dog. If food is the main motivator, try to schedule training sessions before meal time. If praise works better, try to train at a time when your dog is craving your attention.

4. Use short one or two word commands. A good place to start would be with some basic commands sit, stay, come, and heel. Reward your dog immediately after a correct response to make sure your dog makes the connection between correct behavior and reward. Gradually increase the amount of time your dog has to obey your command, for example, in the STAY position before you give a reward.

5. Initial training should be in a quiet place free from distractions. Once your dog has progressed, you may want to move the training to an environment with more distractions.

6. Use a leash when you start the training. As your dogs responses to your commands improve, continue to increase the length of the leash between you and your dog until your dog obeys your commands without using the leash.

German Shepherds first started being developed in the late 19th century by a man named Max von Stephanitz. Stephanitz is still today credited as having fathered the entire German Shepherd breed. An admirer of the German sheep dog of the time, he chose to breed selectively to procure his most desired traits and weed out those that were unnecessary or undesirable. Stephanitz bred his dogs for years, creating the founding root of the German Shepherd breed and eventually become the dog we know today.

When the German Shepherd was brought over to the United States, the breeders in America changed up the bloodlines of the breed by mating it with other types of dog. It is still up for debate whether these breeders aided or damaged the development of the German Shepherd, as American breeders were working towards a show-quality dog while the original German Shepherd was intended primarily for work.

German Shepherds in the United States have coats that are on the shorter side of medium, usually brown and black, tan and black, or cream and black, but not uncommonly producing an all white or all black variety. The truly German variety of the breed has a longer coat which is occasionally (but rarely) seen in the U.S.

German Shepherds were initially developed by Stephanitz as a working breed. To this day, even with the American cross breeding, German Shepherds excel in the work force as hunters, farm dogs, service dogs, narcotics dogs, and law enforcement dogs. German Shepherds are an exceedingly agile, strong, and athletic breed, with a very malleable temperament. They can be trained to work as aggressive guard dogs or be gentle helpers on the farm.

In their native country, the breeding of German Shepherds is so meticulously monitored that a registered shepherd must have had both its sire and damn Shutzhund certified, which means that they have been evaluated for temperament and ability by professionals. Shutzhund certification pays no mind to the size, coat, or general appearance of the dog, which is vastly different from the American variety of canine judging.

The primary visible difference between true German Shepherds and American German Shepherds, besides the length of their coat, is the lack of sloped hips. True German Shepherds have hips level with their shoulders, as the original breed was intended to. American German Shepherds have a distinct slope at the back of the torso into the hips. Sloped hips are argued over by many international breed enthusiasts, being the desired trait for showmanship in America, but also leading to an earlier onset and more significant risk of hip dysplasia.

Whether you are choosing to acquire an American German Shepherd or seeking out a true German Shepherd, you must research your breeder thoroughly. Because of the popularity of this breed and its potential for strength, there are many unethical breeders out there who are trying to turn a quick profit by mating irresponsibly. With proper research, either variety of German Shepherd can provide you with a loyal worker or a loving family pet.

Before you finally decide to train your dog with a Prong collar, you have to do a careful research to determine whether or not it is proper to use to your dog.

A Prong collar is made of interlocking metal links. Each of these links has two prongs that stick out inwards. So when the collar is placed over your dog’s head, the prongs sit against its neck. Prong collar training works like this: When the dog performs a bad behavior, the trainer tugs on the leash, as a result the prong collar tightens and pinches the dog’s flesh.

The use of such collar for training is in fact a controversial subject in many animal welfare organizations’ debates. However, prong collar was basically designed only for dogs who failed to respond to other training methods.

Many dog owners are mistaken in the use and fitting of Prong collars. It is very important in such collar training that the owner perfectly understands how to use the collar.

– This kind of collars should never be left on your dog all the time. Such training tool must be put on and taken off before and after training sessions.
– A comfortable fit is required. Try to remove some links so that the collar fits snugly.
– Positioning of the collar is important. Place it right behind the ears and up under the jaw and NOT down at the shoulders of your dog.
– Attach the leash to the dead-ring for normal to average training. This will allow the collar to remain the same size during training while providing less force.
– Allow your dog to become comfortable with the collar. Place it about 20 minutes before training and remove it about 20 minutes after the training as well.

If you are considering purchasing this training tool, take extra effort to learn its correct use. Also, prong collars are not supposed to be permanent collars. Never use this type of collar all the time as your dog might develop a tolerance and you’ll effectively eliminate any training value of the collar. On regular days, just use an ordinary collar. Do not leave the collar on your dog when you are not training.

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.