Adopting a shelter dog is one of the most important decisions a family can make. Sadly, many base their decision on emotional appeal, having little to no knowledge about the dogs breed, temperament or potential behavioral challenges. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates that 3 to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized in animal shelters every year. One of the major reasons they are taken to shelters is due to untreated behavioral problems, according to organizations such as Pet Finders and the National Council on Pet Population Study Policy (NCPPSP).

October is Adopt a Dog and Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. Animal Behavior College (ABC) encourages prospective pet owners to research and understand specific dog breed characteristics before they adopt and to provide appropriate obedience training to their new four-legged friend. This creates a harmonious human-to-canine bond that could potentially reduce the number of unwanted dogs that end up in shelters each year.

Choosing a shelter dog that is compatible with a familys lifestyle and personality is important, said Steven Appelbaum, president and CEO of Animal Behavior College. While initial emotions are good, keep in mind that this new companion will be in your family for a number of years. Unfortunately, many dogs that wind up in shelters have never received training or guidance when in reality their behavioral problems are correctable. Taking time to provide professional training will ensure many long and happy years together.

Since dog breeds have different characteristics, it is important to choose a breed that is compatible with the individual or familys activity level. For example, Airedale Terriers are independent, energetic dogs that have a propensity for digging, chasing and barking. Individuals who enjoy quiet evenings at home and little to no outdoor activity or exercise may find Airedales annoying and too energetic.

ABC offers the following 10 tips on choosing a shelter dog:

Decide what kind of dog you want to adopt by visiting your local shelter. With 25 to 30 percent of dogs in shelters being purebreds, there is a high chance that the breed you are seeking is available. To help with your decision, research breeds characteristics to determine if a particular breed is compatible with your lifestyle and personality. After finding a potential adoptee, inquire about his previous living conditions Spend time interacting with the dog in an isolated area or room Observe and note his demeanor around other dogs. Is he aloof? Does he display fear and aggression? Assess the dogs health condition by examining his eyes, teeth, hips, legs, etc. and request access to medical information Learn about ongoing medical concerns and find out if he is taking medication or undergoing treatment Find out how long the dog has been in the shelter and the circumstances for his being there (was he dropped off or abandoned?) Determine necessary follow-up services that may be needed Once you adopt the dog, make arrangements for professional training as soon as possible

Dog obedience training is one of the most important aspects of raising a dog. In fact, some shelters have volunteers from programs such as ABCs Student Saving Lives (SSL) program that provide training to homeless canine companions before they are adopted. SSL volunteers enlist more than 10 hours of training to local shelters, humane societies, or rescue organizations for the purpose of addressing behavioral and socialization concerns, giving canine companions a better opportunity of finding a loving home.

Animal Behavior College offers certifications and continuing education programs. To become a dog trainer, obtain dog-training certification, enroll in the Dog Obedience Program (DOP) or to learn more about the college or the Student Saving Lives program, visit our website http://www.AnimalBehaviorCollege.com/info.

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About Animal Behavior College Animal Behavior College is the premier international vocational school specializing in certified animal career training programs. ABC has created a powerful team of skilled advocates who are devoted to nurturing the human-animal bond The founders of ABC have spent years developing and perfecting affordable career programs, many of which combine home learning with hands-on training externships with professional mentors. To date, more than 28,000 students have enrolled in ABC programs including over 1,900 in ABC’s cat training program.

Particular Breeding Characteristics for a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Pup 
 
A main characteristic that a new owner for this breed of puppy will notice is when they take it home. The one thing that a Germany Shepherd Rottweiler mix pup has a strong desire to learn when brought home is, please as much as is possible. German Shepherd dogs have been utilized as working dogs for countless generations. No matter if German Shepherd Rottweiler mix pups are used to bring down criminals or as sniffing dogs for border patrol services, these mixed breed pups do adapt loyally. The wish of German Shepherd’s is that they do intend to, please clearly much. This is one of the most endearing of their many admirable traits. When this is combined with Rottweiler’s dynamic structure that is particularly powerful and their overall determination, an owner ends up with a special kind of dog that is thoroughly faithful in every sense of the word and totally focused. This is one of the reasons why the German Shepherd Rottweiler mix puppy is extremely popular amid the mix breeds. 
 
A highly identifying breeding quality in a German Shepherd Rottweiler mix pup is their unique leg design which is supremely powerful indeed. They not only have haunches that are unusually tough but also paw force that is actually excellent in description, and when this is combined with the agility and speed of the German Shepherd breed with the power that is extremely brute force of the Rottweiler. It does happen to be a combination that is particularly proficient. This special kind of diversity does make these perfect dogs a successful addition to any family that is active and on the go all the time. It does not matter if a person likes to hike or maybe even run a trail, being able to have a German Shepherd Rottweiler mix dog go along for fun is what does indeed produce the material that canine companion adventures are simply made of for wonderful memories. 
 
Some Tips on Training For German Shepherd Mix Pups 
 
Without a doubt, one of the most prominent of training tips that need to be put into place directly to set up an owner’s role as head of the group (pack leader) is establishing that position with the dog at once. Both the German Shepherd and the Rottweiler breed are notorious for being dogs that are most dominant in nature. When these two breeds come together, the mix pups do often come out with a superiority complex that is predetermined for them. Any dog’s natural tendency is to want to protect their leader and loved ones. However, steps must be laid down early on, when the puppy comes home to get the right chain of command started for them. When a puppy of this dual linage is trained at a remarkably early age that their owner is head of the household, the chances of encountering any behavioral difficulties from them in the future do decrease in the number. 
 
One other thing that requires training and that are to know that these dogs do have a natural want to dig. This kind of trait is exceptionally strong in pups that do have German Shepherd heritage that is particularly strong in them. Clear rules for not digging must be made clear to these puppies at an early age, they can be taught to dig where it is appropriate for them to dig and not anywhere else that is not allowed. 
 
It is only by becoming strongly aware of the characteristic traits of a German Rottweilder mix pup before adding any of them to a household, that an individual can be prepared ahead of time for any kind of possible challenges that can arise. Knowing these traits specifically assists in applying training practices long before any of the character traits do become real issues. Most importantly, do make sure that your mix pup does get lots of exercise each day. A dog that is extremely physically active is on average a dog that is happy mentally on all fronts. After all, happy dogs in every degree, do end up making for dog owners that are also real happy!

Your are better off learning how to write your own articles, and writing articles properly can provide you with more traffic than spun articles. As far as Google PageRank is concerned, I accept that spun articles can give you an initial boost, but they don’t do much for your human credibility.

If you choose your keywords wisely, you can dominate your chosen keywords and get high Google listings by writing one article every two weeks on the keywords concerned and including links to your home page plus one internal page in your resource. I don’t mean obscure keywords, but keywords that get at least from 2000+ uses per month.

That’s how I do it, and my Google listings speak for themselves. You can do it too by learning how to write articles without article spinners, get a decent name for yourself and use article marketing as it should be used – honestly, by offering articles with good informative content and the promise of more to come on your web pages.
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During the third week in May, Doggone Safe Inc., Pet At Home Sitting Services, Inc., Pet At Home, and other organizations will be calling attention to one of the nations most commonly reported public health problems: dog bites. Half of all children will be bitten by a dog by age 12 and the majority of these bites are by the family dog or other dog known to the child.

Deedra Thompson of Pet At Home Sitting Services will be presenting the Doggone Safe Be a Tree childrens program on Tuesday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. at All Paws Animal Clinic, located at 1011 North State Rd 7, Royal Palm Beach in the Regal Cinema Plaza. Bring your child and learn to be a doggie detective. The class is catered to school age children and there is no charge for the class, but registration is required. Please call All Paws today at 561-790-9225 to reserve a space for your child. One parent is requested to accompany the child.

Doggone Safe, a non-profit organization dedicated to dog bite prevention through education offers free information at its website http://www.doggonesafe.com to help promote safety messages during dog bite prevention week. Doggone Safe also promotes the Doggone Safe Be a Tree childrens program. This program is a short presentation with large photos and lots of activities to teach children to understand the signs dogs send with their body language. The central message of this program is Be a Tree. That is, stand still if a strange dog approaches or any dog is threatening or overly frisky. Children learn to be doggie detectives, looking for the clues that dogs give with body language to show how they are feeling.

Doggone Safe and Pet At Home offer the following tips for parents and dog owners to help keep kids safe:

The 3 Most Important Things to Teach Your Kids 1.Dogs Dont Like Hugs and Kisses Teach your kids not to hug or kiss a dog on the face. Hugging the family dog or face-to-face contact are common causes of bites to the face. Instead, teach kids to scratch the dog on the chest or the side of the neck. 2.Be a Tree if a Strange Dog Approaches Teach kids to stand still, like a tree. Trees are boring and the dog will eventually go away. This works for strange dogs and anytime the family dog gets too frisky or becomes aggressive. 3.Never Tease a Dog and never disturb a dog thats sleeping, eating or protecting something.

The 2 Most Important Things Parents Can Do 1.Supervise Dont assume your dog is good with kids. If a toddler must interact with your dog, you should have your hands on the dog too. Even if your dog is great with kids and has never bitten why take a chance? 2.Train the dog Take your dog to obedience classes where positive-reinforcement is used. Never pin, shake, choke, hold the dog down or roll the dog over to teach it a lesson. Dogs treated this way are likely to turn their aggression on weaker family members. Involve older children in training the family dog while supervising. Dont allow children to punish the dog. Condition the dog to enjoy the presence and actions of children using positive experiences.

The 3 Most Important Things Dog Owners can do 1.Spay or Neuter Your Dog Neutered pets are calmer, healthier and less likely to be aggressive. Neutering prevents unwanted dogs that may end up in shelters or in less than ideal conditions where they may grow up to be poorly socialized or aggressive. 2.Condition Your Dog for the World Give your puppy lots of new positive experiences. Train using positive methods i.e. clicker training. 3.Supervise Your Dog Supervise your dog at all times around children. Do not allow children to hug and kiss the dog. If visiting children are bothering your dog, put the dog away or send the children home.

About Pet At Home Sitting Services:

Pet At Home began serving pets in the community in January 2004 and is a family owned professional pet sitting service, insured, bonded, licensed and certified in Pet CPR and First Aid by the America Red Cross. Pet At Home is a proud member of NAPPS, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters and PSI, Pet Sitters International. They offer professional pet sitting service to pet owners who want their pets treated like members of their family. Beginning a pet sitting service was second nature for the owner and President Deedra Thompson coming from a family that owned and operated a small zoo in Austin, Texas. Pets are my passion, and I take the responsibility of caring for them and the security of my clients home very seriously commented Deedra Thompson. I chose to teach the “Be A Tree” program to protect children from being hurt and to protect our canine friends from being in situations that would cause them to bite. To learn more about Pet At Home Sitting Services, Inc. or to schedule the “Be A Tree” program for a school age group or organization in the West Palm Beach area please call 561-686-2900 or visit its website at http://www.petathome.com.

About All Paws Animal Clinic:

All Paws Animal Clinic opened for business in July 2002 and is owned and managed by Dr. Patricia Forsythe, Medical Director. All Paws has rapidly grown into a well-established and respected veterinary hospital. The clinic has been chosen Best of the West for veterinarian in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009 by the readers of the Wellington Forum. We are dedicated to our mission statement Quality Care with Compassion for your Best Friend. Visit us at allpawsanimal.com!

About Doggone Safe Inc.:

The not-for-profit Doggone Safe organizations mandate was based on jurors recommendations following an inquest into the mauling death of 8 year old Courtney Trempe in Ontario, Canada. Along with their many educational programs, Doggone Safe also provides victim support and administers the Courtney Trempe Memorial fund, in honor of her memory, to help provide trauma counseling (not provided by insurance) for child dog bite victims and their families. Visit http://www.doggonesafe.com

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When it comes to housebreaking, crate training puppies is probably the best method of education. Most veterinarians recommend this technique over all others. By nature, dogs enjoy having their own small, personal space. They understand how to take care of this area, which includes not soiling the floor. This is the primary reason why crate training is such a good idea when housebreaking your dogs.

In order to properly train your puppies, you must have a crate that is just the right size for them. This may mean paying a small one now and upgrading at a later date, but the size is important. You want to be sure your dog has enough room to step in, turn around, and lie down inside the crate. Having one that is too large can cause the puppy to use the restroom on one end and lay on the other, which defeats the purchasing of crate training. The location of the crate should be a quiet area, as your dog is likely to use it as a place to rest during the day and sleep at night.

The difficulty involving crate training puppies will depend on the dog. Some will love having their own place, while others will need a bit of coaxing in the beginning. Getting your dog to like his crate can involve treats if necessary. Place a treat inside the crate and command your dog to go inside. Eventually, your puppy will start to go in and look for a treat even when you have not commanded him.

Insecure puppies need a great deal of patience when crate training. You may have to begin by shutting the door and standing nearby for a few seconds, then opening it back up and presenting the dog with a treat. You can then work your way up from there. Eventually, you want to be able to shut the door with the dog inside the crate and then leave the room for several minutes without it stressing your dog out. If you have a whining dog, do not let him out while it is still making noise. Allow it to get quiet before letting him out. Also, do not make letting him out be an exciting event, or he will never want to stay inside his crate. Never use the crate as punishment if you want him to enjoy the area.

Once you have completed the crate training portion of housebreaking, you can then work on getting your dog to go out at certain times. It is important that you puppy be on a strict eating schedule if you are going to be letting him outdoors at certain times. He will learn to hold it and eliminate when he is allowed outside. Dogs can typically wait one hour for every month of their age. Therefore, a two month old dog will need to be let out every two hours to use the restroom. Do not punish your puppy for occasional accidents, especially while you are still working on getting him housebroken.

Crate training puppies is possibly the most effective way to housebreak your pet. With the crate, he will have a nice place of his own that he will not want to mess up. Therefore, he will learn not to go inside the house, and can get on a schedule of going when he is let outside.

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.

Just as every new human member of a household must be trained to behave properly, so must dogs. Everyone in the household is better off if the dog conforms to the behaviour expected of it. That applies to the dog, too. By nature, your dog wants your approval. It wants to please you (most of the time, anyway!). But it cant do that without being taught what you expect of it. During your dogs life you may decide to teach it to perform all manner of impressive tricks and tasks. Those are optional. But the following types of training should be considered as absolutely essential for every dog owner. TOILET TRAINING If your dog spends any time indoors, toilet training is an absolute necessity for very obvious reasons! Toilet training is often a time of trial and stress for everyone involved. But be patient, use the proper training techniques, and theres sure to be a happy outcome. Start when the dog is young about 3 to 4 months of age. Any earlier, and your puppy probably wont yet have sufficient bowel and bladder control. And if you start later, the training period is likely to take much longer. When you begin the training, start by confining the puppy to a fairly restricted area a single room, the length of a tethered lead, or even a crate. As your puppy begins to learn that business is to be conducted outside, you can gradually expand the area that its allowed to roam. Here are a few tips for effective toilet training: Regular mealtimes. Keep your puppy on a regular feeding schedule during toilet training. That means no snacking between meals! If its not mealtime, food shouldnt be available to the dog. Offer frequent potty opportunities. Give your pup plenty of opportunities to take care of business outside. Go outside first thing in the morning, and then every 30 to 60 minutes throughout the day. And also take your puppy outside after it wakes from a nap or finishes a meal. Familiarity breeds comfort. Take your dog to the same spot outside every time. Your dog will recognize its scent and more readily do its business. Stay out with your dog. When you take your dog outside for a potty break, stay with it until it has taken care of business, or until it becomes obvious that it doesnt need to just yet. Dont just turn the dog out in the yard by itself. Praise success! When your doggie does its duty, praise it! Offer a treat, or something the dog really enjoys, like a walk. OBEDIENCE TRAINING Teaching your dog basic obedience is also a necessity. While an obedient dog is a pleasure to be around, the opposite is also true a disobedient dog can be a real pain! You can take your dogs training to a much higher level if you choose to, of course. But at the very minimum, your dog should learn to respond to the following basic commands: Sit. This basic command helps you to keep control of your dog no matter the situation, and is a good command to teach first. Drop. This teaches your dog to instantly drop whatever is in its mouth. (Could save your dog from harm if it ever picks up something dangerous or toxic.) Stay. Teaches your dog to remain still, calm, and in one place. Heel. Teaches your dog to stay close to you as you walk, with or without a lead. Come. Teaches your dog to immediately come to you upon your command. You should begin to teach this command to your puppy as soon as it recognizes its name. This command could potentially help you protect your puppy from harm. There are a number of dog-training methods available for teaching your dog these commands, but the Australian Veterinary Association recommends positive reinforcement as the best method. Positive reinforcement rewards wanted behaviour rather than punishing unwanted behaviour. This method of training makes learning more enjoyable for your dog, and will help to strengthen the bond between you and your pet. START WITH THE BASICS Teaching your dog the basic commands of obedience will make your household a much more pleasant place. Your dog