German Shepherd Puppies Blog

One of the standard characteristics of the German Shepherd is the erect ears that gives the appearance of being alert and confident. But owners shouldn’t be alarmed if they notice their puppy’s ears are not standing but folded down. For the German Shepherd, ears begin to stand up between the ages of 7 to 9 weeks and larger ears may take a bit longer than that.  Erect ears are due to the strengthening of the cartilage. Massaging the ears with fingers is a good way to make them stronger.

Giving the German Shepherd calcium tablets can also help but it must be done with moderation and care for the dog may suffer from rapid bone build up and Panosteitis which is the inflammation of the bones.  However some German Shepherds will not have erect ears but “soft ears” which is a genetic inheritance and an automatic disqualification in breed competitions.  Some erect ears will have wavy tips and its known as friendly ears. Not a disqualification however may not look good.

German Shepherds are considered to be one of the most popular dogs in the world. With their popularity boosted by Rin Tin Tin in his television series, people have fallen in love with this breed. A breed that is used by police and military for guarding, protecting and search and rescue assignments, they were also reliable seeing-eye dogs that efficiently assisted the disabled as well as become very loving companions. If you are interested in getting a German Shepherd for your family, then the first step is to research on what makes this canine genuine. The breed standard will say it all: These dogs have a noble look with a sturdy and lean body that is slightly longer than taller. They have long muzzles, pointed ears and almond-shaped eyes. Necks, shoulders and legs are strong and muscular with a bushy tail. The accepted coat color is black and tan, sable or just black in three hair versions: shorthaired (sometimes called rough-coated), medium-haired and longhaired. Once you think you have what is needed to go on your search, then start surveying the area. As a German Shepherd is watchful, do the same and be aware of what makes a good breeder. You must remember that quality is a top priority when it comes to getting a purebred. Read the rest of this entry »

This little German Shepherd pup is ready for a play. What a position to take!

A tiny German Shepherd puppy ready to jump! He will make a perfect watchdog when he grows up.

With no doubt, the German shepherd is one of the most popular breeds in the world. Aside from being efficient police dogs to aid officers in tracking criminals or canine rescue units, they are also television icons such as the famous Rin-Tin-Tin.

Thousands of them are being used by militaries as sentries. They are highly trained and motivated; this is not merely as hard for them to be trained for they are highly intelligent.  Having a good generation of puppies is a dream for owners and breeders alike.

However it is important to know what to expect from their first litter. It is said that they can give birth to many, some or none. The first litter can be as many as 12 puppies but then due to factors such as stillborns, sickness or accidentally squashing, several only survive. From the 12 maybe 3 to 8 puppies are in good shape. Knowing what may happen can prompt owners to take steps in preventing unfortunate events when the happy moment arrives.

Captain Max Von Stephanitz was responsible for the development and naming of the German Shepherd way back in 1899. His initial goal was to breed the best herding dog. When he retired from the military he focused on his passion for breeding. He learned techniques from the British and attended dog shows to find a dog with the most desirable traits. Eventually finding a wolf-like dog, Von Stephanitz bought an Hektor Linksrhein and then changed it to Horand V Grafeth. With this dog, he created a society, the Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde or “German Shepherd” as to reach his goal of the best herding dog.

However, his goal of having the best herding dog was side tracked as Germany was turning to industrialization. But, due to the intelligence, strength and agility of the breed, it easily found its way to work for the police and the military.  The popularity of the breed went over the top when World War I veteran, Corporal Lee Duncan brought home a puppy from France and trained him into the famous canine, Rin Tin Tin.

Dogs have become such an important part of our society, that the need for them to fit in well with other human beings and not pose a threat or a disturbance is critical to their long term acceptance by our neighbors and others around us. Not all people are dog lovers and to make sure that they’re not inconvenienced by our pets, training is essential.

Also, dog training is an integral part of a working dog’s life for them to be able to assist humans in activities like hunting and police work. Training dogs is a specialized skill since the key difficulty lies in how to communicate efficiently with them.

Dog training is a repetition of the basic principle of reward and punishment in various forms and combinations. Communication of these signals is the key to proper training. One very important thing to remember is consistency of signals. The reliability of the training depends on how well a dog is able to be sure of what your signals mean.

It must also be mentioned that different dog breeds take to training differently. Dogs like the iconic German Shepherd are very easily trained due to their high intelligence. Another important factor is the emotional state of the dog. A dog that is frightened, anxious, or insecure doesn’t train well and this reflects the importance of factors like proper socialization of puppies.

A lot of studies have shown that proper puppy socialization goes a long way towards ensuring a good temperament and receptivity towards training. Lots of handling, petting and generally being around humans in their everyday life goes a long way towards making a dog well behaved and easy to train.

Training German Shepherd puppies should not begin too early however, as there is evidence to show that before a certain age, the brains of puppies are not significantly developed enough to process complex learning.

Professional dog trainers are best when it comes to training your dog as they will ensure that the proper habits are set for life, including how to behave around strangers. For the safety of your dog, it is your duty as an owner to ensure that he or she is well trained.

Struggling with house training?

Leerburg’s 165 pages Housetraining eBook addressing the following issues might help:

1 Why Accept the Crate First?
2 Why is not Peeing or Pooping in the House the Second Thing to Learn?
3 Why is Pack Structure Important?
4 Why is Being Calm in the House Part of House Training?
5 The Benefits of Crate Training
6 Kinds of Crates
7 Puppies and Dog Crates
8 Owner’s Attitude About Crates
9 Getting the Dog into the Crate
10 Size, Locations, and How Many Crates?
11 How Long in the Crate?
12 Teach Pee Break Vs. Play
13 When Accidents Happen
14 Feeding in the Crate
15 Exercise and House Training
16 How to Take a Dog Out of the Crate
17 When to Stop Using the Leash
18 Teaching Puppy To Ring a Bell on the Door
19 When to Stop Using the Crate
20 The Umbilical Cord Method
21 A Four Week Training Program to House Train Your Adult Dog
22 Marking In Your House
23 When to leave an adult dog home alone and loose in the house
24 Difference Between Walks and Elimination Periods Outside
25 Dog Doors are a BAD Idea!
26 Obedience Training goes along with House Training in Adult Dogs
27 Old Wives Tails on House Training Dogs
28 Using Crates as Punishment
29 Crate Aggression in Adult Dogs
30 Hard to Train Dogs
31 Emails on House Training Problems

Get this fantastic eBook for a bargain price of $12!

$12.00

It is said that a cat may look at a king, but the dogs have one better. A German Shepherd named Major who belonged to Franklin D Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States famously ripped the pants of Ramsay MacDonald, the British Prime Minister!

It’s quite a joke actually, and the symbolism of this can’t be missed if one factors in the date of this occurrence. The incident took place at just the time when Britain was preparing to go to war with Germany. Being bitten by a German Originating Dog inside the White House wasn’t quite the way to inspire confidence in people!

Poor Major was banished to another residence of Roosevelt and the story ends there. But keep in mind henceforth that a dog may bite off the pants of a Prime Minister!

They say curiousity killed the cat, but these two aren’t that far from it either…..desperately trying to figure our what is cooking!

The German Shepherd Dog

The stately German Shepherd-
Protective, bold and smart,
Looked into my eyes one day
And quickly stole my heart.

Courageous and endearing,
A favorite of its breed,
So proud and yet so loving,
A steadfast friend indeed.

Caring disposition,
Faithful to the core-
If you have a Shepherd’s love,
You cannot want for more.

- Author Unknown