Wednesday 21 October 2009

How To Groom Your German Shepherd

Even if you don't bath your German Shepherd often, regular grooming is essential. By maintaining proper grooming procedures you can reduce your dog's chance of having skin problems while keeping the coat shiny. It is best to maintain grooming every night, but first do eight to twelve weeks of moderate grooming. To manage the double coat present on a German Shepherd it is best to comb at least twice a week.

During the shedding season the normal shedding of a German Shepherd becomes much worse so you should consider using a shedding blade or similar tool since you will need proper training before you can use a shedding blade. When grooming your German Shepherd you should use a metal rake to take out the mats in the undercoat around the neck, chest and thigh areas. After bathing it is best to use a modern high velocity dryer to remove excess water instead of the hand fluff method. Always go in the direction of hair growth when you are brushing your dog.

When grooming your German Shepherd you may want to give them a haircut. You can use a pair of scissors to remove the long hairs that you find under the feet as well as the stray hairs around the feet. Rather, if you want a fluffier or fuller looking coat, you should brush the hair in the opposite direction of growth and then do light brushing in the direction of hair growth.

An alternative to the haircut is to use thinning shears to give the dog an overall neater appearance. Selective thinning is a good way to make your German Shepherd look heavier boned. Grooming isn't just limited to the coat because you also need to focus on the toenails, ears and teeth. While brushing be sure to check the nails and trim them regularly as needed in order to avoid split or broken nails that will occur when they are left unattended and grow too long.

Grooming your German Shepherd allows you to make sure that the oils in the fur are evenly distributed which helps prevent matting and tangles from occurring. It also helps to remove the dead skin cells and loose hair, which can clog the coat and take away from the neat appearance. Just be careful not to cut or scratch your dog's skin while you are grooming them. Use a combination of brushes and brush heads in order to make sure you tackle all parts of your dog's coat.

For the German Shepherd it is best that you select the right shampoo as well, since they can be easily affected by wheat and may have other allergies as well. Oatmeal shampoo is one option but it can cause material to build up faster, which means you will have to bathe the dog more often. If you don't have to worry about fleas then a shampoo with aloe is a good idea. By constantly using proper grooming techniques you can keep your German Shepherd looking well-groomed all the time.

Jan Ryan has spent a lot of time researching proper grooming procedures for many breeds of dogs. German Shepherd grooming doesn't require a lot of work, but you need to follow the right procedures. Your dog will look great all year round if you follow proper German Shepherd grooming tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_Ryan

The German Shepherd Or Alsation Dog

The German Shepherd, also known as Alsatian, is a very intelligent dog with a very noble look, he has elegant flowing lines and intelligent expression. He is an active dog and an obedient worker. He has all the qualities to make him what is considered to be the ideal dog. He has a very good nature and is a natural sportsman, being nimble and fast he makes a fantastic pet or work dog. They enjoy being around people and other animals. German Shepherds are well suited to obedience training.

The Alsatian is most often black with tan but can also have variations of coat color including all black. There are three varieties of coat, rough coated (short), long rough coated and long haired.

As a working dog German Shepherds are suited to various jobs, some of the more obvious are police and guard dog, in this role they can be used to apprehend criminals, sniff out drugs and explosives and find lost people. They are also used by rescue associations to find people trapped in collapsed building or buried alive in disaster zones. German Shepherds can also be used as guide or help dogs due to their high level of intelligence they are ideally suited to the task.

In the case of the German Shepherd its history is not very old, in fact the dogs you see now have only been around since the end of the 19th century, which came about from a breeding amalgamation between various Shepherding dogs by Capt Max von Stephanitz who is classed the father of the breed.

There are lots of famous German Shepherds in the history vaults, this is due to the popularity of the breed and the versatile and intelligence of the animal. Some have even become movie stars such as The Littlest Hobo and Rin Tin Tin who made 26 movies and at his peak was receiving 10,000 fan letters a week. Others just have famous owners such as Clipper who was president Kennedy’s dog. Over the years German Shepherds have rescued and saved hundreds of lives either by being trained to or just because they love their owners.

The German Shepherd will live for approximately 10 to 12 years and will need lots of exercise, including a large play area or garden. You will have to give extensive training in the early years, but with its high ability to learn good training is essential. They will also shed hair all the time and seasonally it will shed heavily. Brushing twice weekly is recommended but if hair is a problem in the home daily brushing is recommended. Bathing should happen rarely and at the most only twice a year to avoid removal of essential skin oils. Watch out for hip problems as this is an area where German Shepherds are prone to having problems.

Above all if you decide to have a German Shepherd as a pet or working dog you will have a animal which is intelligent, loving, loyal and will give you lots of enjoyment.

If you would like more information, tips and secrets on training German Shepherd dogs check out http://www.usfreeads.com/741051-cls.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edward_Linton

German Shepherd Training

Once you’ve brought your German shepherd home, it’s time to start training.

Though Shepherds have a reputation for instability, the fact is, with the help of an experienced obedience instructor, your dog can be extremely well trained. The first thing you need to understand is that dogs need to be trained from birth; they cannot be trained when they have already become adults. Trainers will tell you to always provide your Shepherd with plenty of regular exercise as well as mental stimulation to tame their rambunctious natures. Otherwise, you may find your bored doggie will turn to destructive chewing. If this occurs, simply sprinkle chair legs and other attractive targets with black or cayenne pepper to discourage chewing. Provide plenty of fresh water everyday, but especially after long walks. And introduce your dog to lots of friendly people so he can learn to recognize normal behavior of good guys; a dog that’s isolated may become suspicious of everyone, which can lead to biting.

German shepherds shed constantly, so be prepared to do a lot of vacuuming. There are some tips to reduce the work load: Mix one part brewers yeast and garlic with two parts doggie stew, or try Mrs. Allens Shed Stop, which is also mixed with the dog’s food. Daily brushing helps, but frequent bathing isn’t necessary. And do remember to trim Fido’s nails at least once every two weeks. A little care and lots of love help your German shepherd grow into a loyal and welcome member of the family for years to come!

German Shepherds provides detailed information on German Shepherds, German Shepherd Breeders, German Shepherd Kennels, German Shepherd Puppies and more. German Shepherds is affiliated with Golden Retriever Training.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Marlborough

Monday 19 October 2009

Beautiful German Shepherds.

German Shepherds make very loyal companions and can invoke many happy childhood memories for the dog loving adult.

Many people can be a bit apprehensive of the size and apparent aggressiveness of German Shepherds, but if time is taken to get to know this breed better, then a more trusted loyal pooch would be hard to find. It is recommended that the purchase of a pedigree from a well known and trusted breeder is a must where the breeder holds documentation to the family tree of all puppies which can go a long way to giving you peace of mind as to the dog's character, especially when introduced to a family with children.

When picking out a young pup, it is often advised to pick out the quietest of the litter, especially if being introduced as a family pet and look out for the size of their paws...a good indication as to what size the pup will eventually become into adulthood.

Most young pup's when taken from their mother for the first time are obviously going to be unsettled for the first few nights. A good way to settle the pup is to leave a blanket with the breeder at least a week before you pick up the pup so that the smell of the mother is embedded deep within the fibres, giving comfort through the night during the first few days at it's new home, snuggled up with the smell of it's mum.

After a cozy night's sleep you will be greeted with much enthusiasm as only a young dog can bestow on their owners.

If treated properly, German Shepherds offer obedience, loyalty and a trusting nature and really one cannot hope for a more placid loving 'best friend', although at times they can look very scary to visitors with their heads poking over the fencing, bearing their teeth!

What a sense of humour they can have too and are not adverse to sticking their nose under your bum to roll you down a grassy bank!

They're very clever. When they want something they will come and sit in front of you with their big brown eyes seemingly pleading with you and you can usually run through a list of things they may want, prompting them to jump up and run to the door when you've identified just what that might be.

German Shepherds bring so much love and joy into our lives...so if you're a little apprehensive about having a German Shepherd as a pet come guard dog...give them a chance....if treated properly, they'll never let you down!

I hope you enjoyed my short article...enjoy your German Shepherd!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Smith_Cooper

German Shepherd 101

Why German Shepherds Are The Best

While they seem dangerous and not knowing one could lead you to fearfulness of them, the German Shepherd is one of the more gentle, loving breeds of dog once you've had the opportunity to get close to one. German Shepherds are extremely smart, and an experience with one can form a relationship that you'll remember for the rest of your life.

Here are a few things that I personally love about German Shepherds. I've owned three of them in my life, and I can say with confidence that they're my favorite breed of dog. It took me a bit of time before I fully appreciated them, but these are some incredible creatures that I couldn't imagine life without at this point.

First of all, German Shepherds are extremely protective. They legitimately make for excellent watch dogs. If you live in a house, especially one with children, you'll find comfort in the fact that most German Shepherds will sleep by the door. They're always on the lookout for something out of the ordinary, and you'll definitely know when they sense it. Their bark will not only alert you, but it does present itself as a deterrent to any potential intruders.

The second thing I would say about these dogs is that they're great with children. Any dog that's good with kids is a huge plus if you live in a household with kids in it. Children will love their canine friend, and the dogs will give that love right back. My kids absolutely loved their German Shepherds growing up.

It's critical that you know how to train a German Shepherd the right way. Find out what you need to know at the German Shepherd training blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Maloney