ANATOMY IN MOTION

I don�t claim to know everything there is to know about the anatomy and movement of the German Shepherd Dog. I do believe I know enough, however about what is good movement and what is not.

I love seeing all the wonderful pictures of some magnificent looking German Shepherds that people have advertised on �Facebook!� I�ve got to say the German breeders have produced some of the most handsome looking dogs that I�ve ever seen. As far as pigment, coat length and heads go, it�s hard to beat them. That said, as much as I love their breed type, what disturbs me is the shortness of back on some of these animals. And then here in this country, we sometimes have bred an animal with too much length of back or loin.

I did some research on the internet about the movement of our breed. Now I�m not going to write a description about it here on this blog. If you want to read about it, take a look on the GSDCA�s website about the standard. What I did find is many, many videos on �You Tube� showing the German Shepherd Dog in motion. Many of them were downright awful, in my opinion. For the novice seeing these videos they might think that this is what our breed looks like in motion. If we only had some of the great movers of our breed on video in slow motion, what an educational piece of work that would be.

My question is this, if the dog�s back is too short, where is he going to go with the rear thrust of his hind legs? The back hunches up from the powerful thrust of those hind legs. The front in many cases lacks the proper lay back of shoulder or the dog has a short upper arm. This being the case, the whole top line in motion gets distorted.

If on the other hand you get a dog that is too long in back, his back is whipping all over the place��.too much movement going on over the back. He carries a soft top line and this makes the dog look weak instead of the strong, powerful animal he is meant to be.

If one looks at some of the animals in the wild�..the ones that are known to be powerful movers, I can�t think of any of them being short in back. Take for instance the big cats. These animals are long striding. Their powerful hindquarters propel them forward through a strong back to their powerful fore assemblies.

Because the German Shepherd is a herding/working breed, the anatomy of this breed is extremely important in order for him to do the work he was bred for. If he is built correctly, he won�t tire as easily. If he�s built incorrectly, then he has to put forth more energy due to a faulty anatomy.

Having a bad croup also takes away from the proper movement of the breed. Too long, too short, too flat all will disturb the correct movement of the German Shepherd Dog. They will kick up in the rear; they won�t get their rears up under them and they won�t follow through in their motion. Once again, I�m not an expert on this subject, but I know it when I see it.

I think it�s so beneficial looking at people that advertise their dogs especially when I see them put moving pictures up of their beautiful animals. But I�ve got to ask this question and I see it time and time again. Why advertise a dog in motion and it�s obvious that his best quality is not his motion? What do I mean by this? Many times I see pictures of dogs in motion and they are reaching from their elbows. Then I�ll read the feedback on these dogs and people will say, �Lovely moving animal.� Are you serious?

Anyone can pick out a beautiful looking dog. You don�t have to be a rocket scientist to do that. Handsome is handsome and I believe most people can agree on what makes a dog to be so. Knowing what a good moving dog is, is having a good eye through education and studying of this breeds anatomy while in motion. If you are one of the lucky ones that owns a good moving dog, well he�s just about all the education you�ll need. But seriously, you need to know why that dog moves the way he does. You see it for yourself, but do you know why he�s moving that way? Do you understand about each component of that dog�s structure that enables him to move as well as he does?

In an ideal world, I would like to look at a gorgeous representative of this breed standing true under himself�..meaning his front assembly doesn�t have to be rearranged for a picture. He doesn�t have to be hand set because his front is straight under him. He�s not pinched in at the elbows and he doesn�t stand east/west in the front. His top line is strong without being overly long and not bunched up because his back is too short. He�s not caved in in the rear because his hocks can�t handle an overly angulated rear. The dog should present a beautiful picture when standing on his own without a handler having to �fix� his imperfections. He shouldn�t look like a hyena with a quirky looking front, a rounded top line and a rear that looks like he�s squatting all the time. Yup, that�s what some of the pictures that I�ve seen looks like in this writer�s opinion and others that I�ve spoken to about this subject as well.


From the book: "GERMAN SHEPHERD VIRTUES: LESSONS LEARNED FROM OUR FAITHFUL COMPANIONS"......There are certain characteristics we find honorable in each other and valuable to leading a good life. We call these characteristics virtues. -Melissa Sovey. This beautiful gift book uses the model of the German Shepherd-with their associated traits of service, loyalty and honor-as guides or role models for virtuous behavior. Stunning photographs of German Shepherds are accompanied by quotes reflecting on 44 virtues. The quotes and the subject matter easily apply to all of our canine companions. This book would make the perfect graduation gift, or as a token of appreciation for anyone who owns or works with a service dog... or for anyone who loves and appreciates the lessons that all dogs have to offer us.


My rating: Understanding the GSD anatomy and its functions: (4)

THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG'S TEN COMMANDMENTS

THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG'S TEN COMMANDMENTS
By
Barbara J. Galasso


I am the king of all dogs; therefore you shall not have other dogs before me!

You shall not have any pictures, statues, magazines, videos of any other breed of dog besides that of the German Shepherd Dog. I am a jealous breed and no other breed shall share this house with me.

You shall not call me bad names or curse at me when you get mad. You shall respect me at all times for I am a German Shepherd Dog after all.

You shall not enter me in any dog shows or working trials on a Sunday as this is my day of rest. Train me, teach me, show me six days a week if you like, but the seventh day is mine to do what I want, lay around all I want, and eat and play all day as I want. Don�t expect me to work on Sundays!

Honor my mother and father if you own them by not over breeding them. Give them a
break once in awhile.

I shall not kill thy neighbors one and a half pounds of yippy pain in the hind end, sorry excuse for a dog��..(well that is when anyone is looking anyway)!

You should not breed me to more than one stud dog or brood bitch in my lifetime. So choose wisely because one mate for life is my new motto and there�s not room for discussion!

I shall not steal my kennel mates bones, toys, food or bed or my master�s affections!

I shall not let the cat take the scolding for stealing the food that was left out on the counter. Nor shall I let him be blamed for the mess of shredded toilet tissue on the floor no matter how much I want him to!

I shall not desire better food, a softer bed, a bigger house, a bigger car, a better dog handler like the dogs in the kennel down the street from me. I must learn to accept my humble upbringing and ignore my selfish desires.

And on my death bed, please call a German Shepherd judge of extreme integrity so I can make my last confession before I leave this earth......I confess it was me that ruined the carpet and not the cat. It was me that trampled all over the flower garden and not the stray dog. It was me that bit Billy Ray and not the Doberman Pinscher that lives next door. It was me that stole the new baby�s stuffed toy and not his sister Lilly Mae. It was me that threw up in the back seat of the car and not the puppy sitting next to me.

If I live by these rules as my way of life, then I am assured a place in doggy Heaven. If not I�ll be thrown in the fires of hell with all sorts of alley cats or yippy dogs to torment me through eternity....and no German Shepherd Dog should ever have to endure that!


My rating: Even a dog needs rules to live be: (4)

NOT CREATED FOR BORING SAMENESS

I confess that the title of this article wasn�t the brain child of myself, but came from a program I was listening to over the week-end. It got me to thinking of how it applies to us and our dogs.

One of the great things about the German Shepherd Dog is that he is so versatile. If you don�t want to show him in conformation shows any longer, you can train him for obedience trials. If you don�t want to do that, you can just enjoy him as your family pet. He wasn�t born for just one thing. Take him for hikes, take him camping, boating, fishing, jogging or even for rides in the car. He�s not picky. Whatever it is that you enjoy doing; the German Shepherd Dog enjoys doing it with you. There probably isn�t a better companion dog than this breed! Truly this dog�s happiness comes from his interaction with his owner!

How much of your dog�s brain is being utilized? Do you provide him with the stimulation that he needs to develop his fullest potential? How many of these dogs die never knowing what it is to come out of a kennel and go for a walk with their owners? How many fetch a ball? In fact how many of them even know what a ball is and what to do with it?

If your dog was hooked up to one of those brain monitors in the hospital, would a straight line appear all across the screen indicating that he�s brain dead? Or would there be a lively zig zag running across the screen indicating that this dog�s brain is well and very much alive because his owner recognized the need for stimulation in this dog�s life?

Do we owe our dogs anything more than food, water and shelter? Does our responsibility to them extend further than the heat in their kennels in the winter and the air-conditioner in the summer? Is that enough? Do we owe them more than this or are we of the mind set that their basic needs are being met and they�re only a dog and some of us put too much time into �humanizing� them?

So what does that mean��.humanizing them? It would seem to some beyond the three essentials (food, water and shelter) anything more would give the dog a more human nature than that of an animal. So does he need more than the essentials to live? No he could and many do exist just on the essentials. Day in and day out, the same old/same old! After all some would argue, he�s an animal and his basic needs are being met so what more could he want?

To agree with this mind set would be to ignore the very nature of the dog and that is foremost and above all else the reason for his existence in the first place. That is to be a companion to man. Very simple. Very basic. He wants and needs to be with his owner. Once his basic needs are met, his primary goal is to be with his master. Now if one owns a kennel full of dogs, that�s not going to happen too often for most or them or even a few of them.

I�ve read that the brain of a German Shepherd is equal to the brain of a seven year old child. Gee, considering that most of what we learn, we learn in the first five years of life, means that this breed of dog has the capacity to learn so very much. How many of them are being taught all that they can learn? How much stimulation do they receive lying on the floor of a kennel? Very little.

We now know that the dog is capable of more than having an intelligent, teachable brain. We now know that he is also very capable of emotions and feelings. He�s sad when he loses one of his own kind and sad if he should lose his owner. He mourns losses just like we do. He rejoices in companionship with his kind and our kind.

When�s the last time you looked into your dog�s eyes and seen that there is a whole lot more going on behind those �Hershey Browns� then just a dumb dog looking for a treat from his owner? Get close to a dog and he anticipates your every motion. He responses to your every mood. Sometimes it�s as if he knows you�re going to do something before you do! They have this uncanny ability to read us better than we read ourselves.

When you have a �love affair� with your dog�..that is letting him participate in your life, the enrichment that he brings to it would never have been fully realized without him having your permission to truly live his life. In this writer�s opinion a dog that lives his life ONLY in a kennel has never truly lived, rather he�s existed in a small fenced in area in a great big world because his owner didn�t invest the time it would take to realize his dog�s potential. Just imagine what that would be like only being able to walk back and forth, day in and day out and you had the intelligence of a seven year old kid? Now that�s called sad�..


From the book: "HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE"....Kaufman, director of the Option Institute and author of A Land Beyond Tears ( LJ 4/1/82), contends that if you change a belief or attitude you can change your life. A decision to pursue happiness, he claims, can improve relations with others: "We can engineer our own responses, choosing love over hate, peace over conflict and happiness over depression." The first five sections relate Kaufman's philosophy and offer stories of clients' successful changes while in therapy. Section six has short chapters detailing shortcuts to happiness. The book has a four-page bibliography and two pages of additional readings. A cut above most self-help books; recommended.


My rating: Teaching and training the GSD: (4)

GO AHEAD, ASK ME ANYTHING - SEE HOW MUCH YOU REMEMBER

So you think you know the German Shepherd dog and the people associated with them. Put your thinking cap on. Here you go. Just for fun!


What handler said: "I can finish anything?"

What handler said: "Give me a spooky dog to show. They always move."

What two litter sisters went Grand Victrix?

Who wrote the memorial tribute for LaMar Kuhns and her husband read it at the 1984 National Specialty Show in Arizona?

Who wrote the book "This is the German Shepherd?"

Who was the editor of the GSD Review in 1985?

If a dog is advertised as producing his phenotype, what does that mean?

What GSD Specialty club does Ed Barritt still belong to and most years still stewards at but he no longer lives in that state?

If your dog is diagnosed as having SIBO, what do those letters stand for?

I was the first ROM import since 1967, who am I?

Who used to advertise in the Review and put on the bottom of their ads: "Records live, opinions die?"

I came from a famous kennel. I was a Grand Victor. My father was a Grand Victor and I produced two Grand Victor sons and a Grand Victrix daughter. I had one good hip and one that was a little off. Me and my father before me lived long healthy lives but one of my Grand Victor sons was not as lucky. He bloated and died. Who am I?

I write �Inside the German Shepherd Dog�s World.� Who am I?

I write a blog from the German Shepherd Dog Club National Specialty shows these last several years. Who am I?

What are the names of the German Shepherd Dog family of handlers that consisted of father, mother and child that dominated the show ring back in the 1980�s and the child still handles today?

What well known breeder/exhibitor/judge owned �Rex the wonder dog?�

With some of today's dog's you might see attached many different awards or titles at the end of his name, for hips, health and obedience titles that he may have earned. You'll see them identified with a gazillion initials. If you hear the initials EPI associated with a certain dog, is that a good thing and what does it stand for?

At a specialty show, a judge has standing before her five German Shepherd Dogs. Which dog has to be excused? The roach backed Shepherd, the long coated Shepherd, the white Shepherd, the dog with four missing molars, the overshot mouth Shepherd?

The following day at the next specialty show, the judge has the following dogs in her ring. Which dog has to be excused? The dog that has a nose that is not predominantly black, the dog with the undershot jaw, the dog with hanging ears or the dog that tries to bite the judge?

So how do you think that you did? Do you think you got them all right? Share your answers with us and see how many of them you got right. Let's see who the first one is to get them all right, then on Monday I'll post the answers here to these questions.


My rating: German Shepherd trivia: (4)

WHAT IT ALL COMES DOWN TO

I would say that I�ve read hundreds upon hundreds of quotations and little sayings. I just love discovering some profound �words of wisdom� in a sentence or two or even a short paragraph. It�s always nice to see credit given to the original author of these quotations but sometimes the author is unknown but not any less worthy of having his thoughts shared with those who care to keep him company. So here�s a piece that I ran across recently and how I�ve added my own �words of wisdom� to include my thoughts about the German Shepherd Dog and his people!

The most destructive habit..............................Worry

We breeders have a tendency to worry about if a puppy is going to grow up and realize the potential that we saw in him from the time he took his first step. Sometimes we need to sit back and let the youngster grow up even if it takes him a few years to do it. No one says he has to become a champion from the puppy glasses. Practice patience!

The greatest Joy.................................................Giving

There is nothing more rewarding than giving to those that are on the receiving end of ones generosity. Nowhere is this more evident than with those that help the German Shepherds that are discarded and thrown away like garbage. Rescue is another word for �Giving!�

The greatest loss........................Loss of self-respect

When we see some people doing whatever it is that they feel they need to do to win whether it�s dying a dog�s coat, cosmetically changing a dog�s appearance, using drugs to enhance a dog�s attitude in the ring or buying a judge with favors then it�s time to re-evaluate why you are showing in the first place. When one resorts to underhanded politics to win or get ahead, then not only do they lose people�s interest in their dogs but lose their self-respect among their peers. Once they�re found out, people avoid them like the plague. Selling out to the devil is never a winning proposition!

The most satisfying work....................Helping others

We too often hear of all the bad things other people are doing and unfortunately not enough of all the good things people are doing in this breed. When�s the last time we thanked the rescue workers for all that they do? How about all the many, many volunteers that make up the Parent Club, The German Shepherd Dog Club of America? Thank you�.just two little words that mean so very much!

The ugliest personality trait....................Selfishness

When those few in the breed are only concerned about what�s in it for me than the whole breed suffers because many people will believe that this is what the people in our breed are all about. When the needs of certain people become before the needs of the breed than we are viewed as people that don�t really care and only want what we want.

The most endangered species........Dedicated leaders

Oh my goodness nowhere is there truer in our breed than right now. The Parent Club of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America is in need of strong, dedicated leaders that can lead us out of the darkness of �behind closed door� meetings and bring the club of the greatest breed of dog on this earth to the membership where it belongs!

Our greatest natural resource....................Our youth

We need to remember that our youth are the leaders of tomorrow and the guardianship of the German Shepherd Dog and its clubs and dog shows. Treat our youth kindly, guide our youth and help make them the type of people that can take the responsibility of this great breed to future generations to flourish and grow.

The greatest "shot in the arm"...........Encouragement

Encourage and help the new person so they will look forward to carry on the tradition of responsible German Shepherd Dog ownership.

The greatest problem to overcome........................Fear

Do not fear something that hasn�t even happened because 99% of the time it won�t happen anyway. So do that breeding. Show that dog. Volunteer for that committee!

The most effective sleeping pill.............Peace of mind

I love this one. When you are honest about your breeding program, about your showing ethics, about your involvement in this breed, then you know you�ve done it the right way and indeed sleep will come easily.

The most crippling failure disease....................Excuses

He tried to bite the judge because he had an upset stomach that morning. He didn�t win because the judge is a crook instead of really; truly looking at and evaluating your dog��he�s just not that good!

The most powerful force in life..............................Love

If you don�t know what love is after owning one of these fabulous dogs then you better go out and buy yourself a marble statue which has absolutely no redeeming value whatsoever no less capable of giving you any love!

The most dangerous pariah.............................A gossiper

Do you want to know what a gossiper is? Come follow me, let me introduce you to some of the worlds best��welcome to the world of dog people!

The world's most incredible computer..........The brain

Put your brain to good use and you�ll own a good dog. Put your dog�s brain to good use and you�ll own an incredible dog!

The worst thing to be without................................ Hope

If you don�t come into this breed with hope in your heart, then you�re surely get what you�re expecting��nothing!

The deadliest weapon.......................................The tongue

See gossiper��some lives have been destroyed by a vicious tongue!

The two most power-filled words......................."I Can"

You�ll do in this breed (and life) what you believe �you can!�

The greatest asset......................................................Faith

Believe it can be done and it will be!

The most worthless emotion................................Self-pity

�Oh if only my dog was bred by so and so. If only my dog had better bitches bred to him. If only I was friends with the judge, then my dog would win.� Cry me a river!!

The most beautiful attire.....................................SMILE!

Be more friendly, being more approachable. Smile when you don�t even really feel like it. You�ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. People like happy people.
The most prized possession.............................. Integrity

Never sell yourself short to win a dog show or breed to a dog because everyone else is doing it. Be true to yourself!

The most powerful channel of communication.....Prayer

Yes it takes a good dog to win, but sometimes it takes a little bit of luck and a whole lot of prayers!

The most contagious spirit..............................Enthusiasm

Everybody loves a winner is not necessarily true in the show ring, but even when there are those that are not happy for your win, show your enthusiasm for the breed anyway. Who knows, they just might hate you a little bit more!!!


From the book: "THE BOOK OF POSITIVE QUOTATIONS"....This book is the best I've seen....on positive quotes and inspirational ones....If you're into inspirational quotes and want them broken down by category, this is your book.


My rating: Raising, breeding & showing dogs with integrity: (4)

THE CARDBOARD BOX

I open the hall closet looking for my boots. I know I�ve shoved them in here somewhere. Oh there they are in the back with one scattered over here and the other one over there. I have to reach in deeper in the closet to get the second boot. It�s leaning haphazardly against an old cardboard box. The box looks familiar but I don�t remember what I put in it. I drag the box to the front of the closet as I kneel on the floor to peek inside to see what treasures I may have hid in there. I see piles and piles of pictures. Big pictures, little pictures, even black and white pictures. I gently pull out a small handful of photos and lay them on the carpet next to me.

Memories all come alive as they play with my brain begging me to remember and asking me to walk down memory lane as one picture after another transports me to another time and place. Was I ever that young and skinny I ask myself, looking at those hip huggers I�m wearing complimenting a slender, youthful frame? There�s one of me with the wind blowing my hair across my face as I�m playing on the beach with my very first German Shepherd puppy. My how inquisitive she was. There wasn�t anything that frightened her. Waves rolled onto the shoreline crashing gently across her paws. She moved back as if she knew that a larger wave might carry her out to sea. She was small but smart enough not to venture too far from the sandy beach that her paws felt secure on. Oh there�s another picture that shows how I drew a heart with her name �Helga� sketched in the wet sand. Just 24 years old and my future was waiting to become my history.

I reached in the box and pull out a few more pictures. Oh there�s one of me holding a chubby little puppy not more than six weeks old. I thought he was chubby then, but that was because he had this fluffy coat around his head making him look more like a Lion then a puppy. I would soon find out that fine �feathering� would signify that he was a coated pup.

Oh here�s a show win picture of Connie Beckhardt giving my Xanadu Best of Breed at �The German Shepherd Dog Club of Eastern Connecticut.� Sadly the club is no longer in existence and nether is my friend Connie. I can still hear her sweet voice when we would talk on the telephone almost like it was yesterday. �Oh hello Barbara dear� she would greet me. Some years later I would run into her again at the Westminster Kennel Club down at Madison Square Garden. She was already sick now as she told me, but I embraced her and smiled and acted like she would be around forever. I had no way of knowing that was the last time I would see one of the icons of the breed as I gently kissed her on the cheek and bid her fair well.

What�s this picture laying upside down on the floor? I turn it over and it�s another show win picture of Xanadu winning Best of Breed under Dave Rinke with the only time the late, great LaMar Kuhns handled her. I smiled looking at his devious little face with his one eyebrow raised in the air staring deeply into the photographer�s camera. Showman extraordinaire��that was LaMar. This short, robust, boisterous most colorful of all those at ringside man would play an important part of my memories when I looked back on my show and breeding career. �Barbara darling what do you think of my dog?� he would ask as he proudly displayed his newest superstar while standing in the ring. His newest superstar was the great Ch. Wellsprings Ironsides or Charlie as he was known.  I keep shaking my head back and forth looking at that picture saying to myself what a character he was.  Just look at those "colorful" pants and his bright jacket to coordinate his look!  He was such a great promoter of a dog if he loved him and he loved this dog.

I reach in the box and pull out another handful of memories. �Oh these go way back�, I say to myself. There is another icon of the breed, Lorraine Clifford stacking and posing her great �H� boys, Hawkeye and Hammer so a very young and still very �wet around the ears me� could take their pictures. And here�s another one of her setting up her beautiful young stud dog �Steel Curtain.� �Wow�, I find my self saying out loud. He�s the very first stud dog that I ever bred a bitch to. In fact, I pick up that picture of the coated puppy and remember now that he is the father to the little fluff ball.

I pick up another picture and this one�s more personal. It�s a New Year�s Eve party at my house with all my dog friends. It�s aged quite a bit as have the people in the picture. How festive, how joyful as everyone is standing with a drink in their hands rose up in the air with funny New Year�s Eve hats on their heads. There�s Nancy, there�s John, there�s a pregnant Jane and her husband Sylvan, there�s Ruth and Joe and Nick and Ed too. Smile everyone for the camera for you�re never going to look this young again.

There�s the picture of the chocolate mousse cake with �Congratulations Ch Xanadu ROM� handwritten in white icing almost too pretty to cut into. �You guys don�t really want me to cut into this cake, now do you?� First her championship party��.I wonder if I have pictures of that one as well, and now her ROM party. �Did dog people really need a reason to party?� I giggle to myself.

Yes pictures of first litters and last litters too. Champion pictures, new �superstar� hopefuls set up on the front lawn, puppies playing �catch me if you can� and there�s even a few of my mother holding those twin coated puppies on her lap that were so easy to sell. Yes, they�re all gone now, my beloved mother included. But the pictures allow me to open up the flood of memories that always remain when all else is gone.

I pick up the pictures and carefully put them back in the box promising myself I will finish going through the rest of them another time. Like the pictures in that box, those faces of all the people and dogs I�ve known before remain forever in my heart as part of those that I�ve cherished and have helped make my journey on this earth what it has been. I wonder if I've thanked them enough.  I wonder if they knew I cared enough.  I wonder if I showed them how much they meant to me.  Some are gone and some remain but all have left their impressions, with their voices still echoing in my mind. They�ve help shape, helped mold, helped encouraged a �thirst for knowledge� young girl that I used to be to the matured, sometimes gray around the temples woman than I�ve become.

I push the box inside the closet, close the door and walk away with a smile on my face feeling like that 24 year old once again if only for a brief moment or two. I pat my dog on the head as I go down the stairs with a new spring in my step carrying my memories with me. When�s the last time you looked inside your cardboard box and remembered?


From the book:  "THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU" - "I have filed away at least a million things to thank you for, but somehow I never got around to actually telling you what I felt nearly as often as I wanted to." --BTG, inside Thank You for Being You.  This book makes up for every thank you letter you forgot to send. The perfect expression of gratitude for parents, friends, siblings, co-workers, and loved ones.
New York Times best-selling author Bradley Trevor Greive (BTG) knows a thing or two about offering thanks. He has penned 15 book titles that have been published in more than 105 countries and have sold more than 15 million copies. That's an awful lot of thank you letters to write, so BTG decided to pen the ultimate acknowledgement of appreciation ideal for expressing a range of gratitude-induced sentiment.  So, for all the thank you letters you may have sent, and especially for those you forgot to mail, consider this the long-overdue, but perfect message.


My rating:  People and animals make your life's journey what it is today:  (4)

IS A CHAMPION BORN OR MADE?

When I see all of the titles that some people have attached to their dogs names in the front of it as well as the end of it, I�m totally amazed. These breeder/owners are truly utilizing everything that is available to them to get their dogs titled whether its conformation, obedience, hips/elbows, or heath and temperament. This then is truly a partnership. The dog is genetically born to be what he will be, but it is the owner�s true dedication to ensure that her animal will be that and so much more!

I remember one of the icons of the breed wrote to me privately about something I wrote one time and he told me that he is the creator of the puppies that he produces. He is the genius behind their greatness! He was certainly very successful and his dogs are behind many of today�s top winners but his words made me stop and think. I think the word �create� made me uncomfortable. I think one may say that they are the �mastermind� behind their dog�s greatness. One may say that they are responsible for the combination of the bloodlines that their dogs have. But I don�t know that I agree with the theory that man creates the dogs that he owns. We can�t create the DNA combination that our dogs carry in their bloodlines. Sure because we are their breeders, we chose the partners for our dogs and therefore are responsible for the bloodlines that our puppies have, but we can never take credit for the combination of those genes because we just don�t know which ones will produce the finished animal. That is up to the true creator to establish that.

I believe that breeders can produce some outstanding dogs. The dog may have every wonderful physical and mental attribute that one may wish for. He may be the best side gaiting dog you ever bred. His coat, his pigment, his secondary sex characteristics may be everything that you are looking for. Then you put him on a lead and he plods along side of you. You�ve even sent him away to be trained. You�ve taught him how to bait, you�ve rung the bells, you�ve coughed, you�ve clapped, you even did the occasional cart wheel or two at ring side to get your �uninterested� pooch�s attention. He may look in your direction like you�re crazy, but he still plods along side his �very expensive� handler. This is indeed the type of dog that makes you want to pull your hair out. He is everything you�ve ever wanted to breed for, but his lack of attitude challenges that assessment!

A champion quality young dog may be sitting in your backyard right now and no one will ever see him in the show ring. Oh you tried several times showing him, but it became clear to you that he was far more comfortable at home then running around in circles in some dirty old ring. This is every breeder/exhibitor�s nightmare. No attitude means his chance of winning his championship title is slim, but not impossible. If he does attain the title, you�ve probably vowed never to even try to put him in the specials class because getting him his championship title just about cost you your sanity.

So many young dogs may be born for greatness but will never realize his full potential because he has made up his mind that showing is just too darn boring and a waste of his precious time. I am a firm believer that you can�t put attitude in a dog. Either he has it or he doesn�t. It�s just like some people. Some people are very �out there� and jumping from one thing to another. It seems like they never can sit still. Then you have others that seem like they�re �half dead.� The sky could be falling and they wouldn�t even know it was happening. It�s no different with the dog.

I believe that the potential for a champion may be bred into him. I believe that the breeder/exhibitor is responsible to give her animal every chance to utilize that potential to become the best that he can be. I don�t believe however, that you can make a dog a champion without his cooperation.


My rating: Show Dogs need a good attitude for the conformation ring: (4)

WOLF DOG - WOLF/GERMAN SHEPHERD HYBRIDS

A couple of days ago over on my list (The GSD Showcase) we touched briefly on the subject of German Shepherd/Wolf breeding or the hybrid. I wanted to write a little about this subject as I found it to be interesting and disturbing at the same time. A couple of people had written that they at one time had owned this type of dog.

I became interested in this subject when I was watching a program last week on Animal Planet called �Fatal Attraction.� It is an excellent program in my opinion that shows how some people become involved out of the kindness of their hearts with wild animals. The program can be very graphic but I think it needs to be to show how serious this subject is.

I think it�s safe to say that most people that read my blog or belong to my list or other lists are animal lovers or at least German Shepherd dog lovers. Many of us have big hearts when it comes to animals. Many of us treat our dogs like they�re part of our families and some like they�re our child. It is this love for animals that can extend to wild life as well. We feed the birds, the squirrels, and even a wild cat or two. Because eating is one of the strongest needs an animal has, he will return time and time again to its food source. And if its food source is being generously handed out by a human, then the wildlife grows more tolerant of human beings and before you know it, they are standing at your back door. And the bigger the animal you�re feeding, the more brazen some of them can get to where they�re not just standing at your back door, but they�re scratching at it and even trying to break through it.

It�s tempting to feed a wild animal. You�re doing it because you love animals and you don�t see the harm in it. But feeding wild animals can have deadly consequences for both the human that�s doing it and ultimately the animal that we�re trying to help survive. We are putting ourselves and the animal in real danger. It�s dangerous for the human who may find himself the wild animal�s supper and then for the animal that will be hunted and killed. That�s why feeding wildlife in national parks and refuges is illegal. In many states, feeding certain wild animals is punishable by fines and /or imprisonment.

On one of these �Fatal Attraction� shows last week, there was a program about Wolfs and Wolf hybrids where the wolf and German Shepherd Dog were mixed. It showed a story of a woman who raised these Wolfs and hybrids. She truly loved her animals and they were like her children. It showed pictures of her and her companions up on the sofa laying there like any other �dog� would. They were beautiful animals. The videos showed some of the animals outside in a fenced in enclosure. Although they were �domesticated� by this woman, one could still see how restless and wild they still were. They played rough with the woman and the dominate alpha personality of the Wolf was very evident.

I wonder why man felt the need to breed the Wolf with the German Shepherd and what he was hoping to accomplish. I realize that dogs come from Wolfs but if man bred away from some of those negative characteristics of the Wolf, why would they want to reintroduce it in the bloodlines again? There are actually breeders who breed these two animals together and are selling their puppies to the public. Although the German Shepherd looks probably the most like a Wolf, he most certainly doesn�t have some of the characteristics of the animal. Although the German Shepherd has a strong character and you must be the �pack leader�, he is very happy to allow you to be so once you establish that rank from the time he is a puppy. The Wolf on the other hand, is extremely dominate and it�s much harder to take the �alpha� out of him. He will challenge you time and time again. Sometimes the German Shepherd will challenge you as well, but the Wolf is a predator and one should always be aware of this if you think owning a Wolf or a hybrid is the thing to do.

Most of the pictures that I�ve seen of the Wolf/German Shepherd cross look more like the Wolf than the dog. One of the main differences is in the shape of the eye of the two animals. The Wolf has a very slanted eye whereas the German Shepherd�s eye is almond shaped. Also the Wolf�s eye is very cold and has a staring look to his face. The German Shepherd�s eye is usually friendlier looking. If you have the hybrid, most of the time he has a colder stare which really makes him look like a wild animal rather than a domesticated dog.

Also the hybrid can be more skittish in temperament. They can be easily spooked by fast motion or loud noises. They can learn to love their people, but at the same time can be extremely aggressive towards strangers. This would not be one that I would invite into the house when I had company. Who wants an animal that you can�t trust? We must never lose the fact that these mixed bred animals have the characteristics of both the wolf and the dog. Because they have the characteristics of a wolf, one never knows when the wolf side of him will show up.

Much patience is needed when you train this animal. They need consistent and firm training and lots of room to roam. From what I�ve read, the Wolf Hybrid will start to show the Wolf side of his DNA when he�s about 18 months old. Prior to this, they are playful and adapt more easily to their surroundings. They are easier to train and even bond with other dogs. As they mature and their hormonal system reaches maturity, this is when you will see them begin to exhibit all of the typical behaviors of the Wolf.

I think we�ve come a long way from the Wolf in our domestication of the dog and the German Shepherd in general. With our breed, one can see the beauty of the Wolf without the aggressive predator showing it�s dominate face. The German Shepherd may look like a Wolf and may even be considered the �King of dogs� but he�s come a long way from the plains and forests of the land to be a companion, protector and unlimited source of love and affection to his master. As much I as I love the wild animals and enjoy immensely watching them on television, I�ve always said, let the wild animals alone. Let them remain wild. I hate them locked in cages in carnivals or zoos. I hate them used to entertain at a circus jumping from one platform to another or sitting up on command! There is just something so wrong seeing a wild animal caged panting and pacing back and forth for our viewing enjoyment. NOT!


From the book: "THE WOLF: THE ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR OF AN ENDANGERED SPECIES" - Since the dawn of history, no other living thing (save, possibly, the snake) has been as reviled by humankind as the wolf. Still, wolves and people have been drawn to each other since the beginning. Canis lupus bounds through our folklore, howls in our dreams, and--occasionally--competes with us on the hunt. As one zoologist imagines it: "Through the cold of winter the wolf made music in the mysterious darkness and sometimes, in curiosity, sat just beyond the dwindling circle of firelight and watched." The curiosity was mutual; this is the feared animal, ironically, that gave rise to man's best friend. Yet only recently has science begun to understand these complex social mammals. Enter biologist L. David Mech. Years of research during the 1960s in Michigan's Isle Royale National Park provided Mech with a level of firsthand knowledge shared by few in the field. In 1970 he compiled his findings (updated in 1980) into the preeminent document of its kind. Thomas McNamee, author of The Return of the Wolf to Yellowstone, calls the book the "best single source of information on wolf biology," and refers to its author as "the undisputed king of wolf research." When government officials in the early 1990s decided to embark on an ambitious project to reintroduce wolves into their former range of Yellowstone National Park, they called on Mech's expertise. All this is to say that, if you want to learn about wolves, you cannot ignore this seminal work or its author. Chapters cover wolf evolution, range, and physiology; society and pack behavior; reproduction; hunting and predator-prey relationships; and the species' uncertain future. Like any self-respecting scientist, Mech includes all the hard data, but he presents his work in an engaging manner that is accessible to a broader audience, drawing heavily on anecdotes and personal experience. "Many people strongly dislike the wolf," Mech writes, "others rush to its defense. But no one denies that the animal is strong, powerful, intelligent, keen, and dynamic." While persecution by man has severely restricted its current status, the tide is turning, thanks to education and conservation efforts. After all, a night without a howl echoing somewhere across the landscape would surely be a colder, less alive night. --Langdon Cook


My rating: German Shepherd Dog: (4), Wolf: (4), German Shepherd/Wolf hybrid: (1)

DIFFERENT DEGREES OF ALPHA

The dictionary describes the word �Alpha� as something that is first. I think when you live with dogs or should I say that they live with you, then there is always someone that is the �alpha� in this kind of relationship. It�s either you or the dog. But when you have more than one dog living together, there is always one of them that are the leader of the pack. Some of those �leaders� lead better than others. Some with a gentle nudging and others with a ferocious presence than no one can deny. If you are in dogs for any length of time, you just might come across a few different �alpha� personalities. Not too unlike the human society that we live in. Some people win you over (and that�s really what an alpha sets out to do � win you over) with a sweetness that covers up a strong willed personality. You never quite know just what it is about these types of personalities that always end up getting their way. You just can�t put your finger on it. But out on top they come. That type of personality that although so different from the �in your face� type of alpha, still accomplishes what they set themselves out to do���which is to be in control.

Having lived with most of the different degrees of alpha, I can say that I prefer the sweet type of alpha over the �in your face� type of alpha any day! What the sweet alpha may do is let her �subjects� know in subtle ways that she is in control without being overly aggressive. For example, take a look at the picture of the two dogs at the top of my blog. One very obviously the bitch and the other very obviously the male. The bitch weighed 58 pounds and the male weighed 105 pounds. He was double her weight and look at the size of his head. He was a big healthy boy. She was a small feminine bitch. But that small feminine bitch was the one that controlled the reins in their relationship. He adored her and she could do no wrong in his eyes. She was never overly aggressive with him. She never needed to be although this was never her nature to begin with. If she wanted a toy that he was chewing on, she would gently take her mouth and put it over his until he gave her what he was chewing. Most of the time she never really wanted it anyway. She was just reminding him that she would and could take whatever it was that he had and he would willingly give it up to her.

Of the three bitches I own now, one is extremely dominate and is always exerting her powerful influence over the other two whether they want her to or not. Although she is an aggressive �alpha� she�s not a nasty �alpha.� Rather she intimidates and controls everything in her environment. She doesn�t ask permission. She just takes what she wants, when she wants it and doesn�t back down from doing it. For example, I just gave all three girls a marrow bone this morning. You would think that they would love this. Nope, they have got to play �musical chairs� with the bones all morning long. They don�t care about the bone that they have. They care about the bone that the others have. This naturally was the �brain child� of the alpha girl a long time ago and it has stuck. She steals her sister�s bone or her mother�s bone until she decides which one she would rather chew on. Her sister has been taught another one of her bad habits and she thinks it�s perfectly alright to steal her mother�s bone now also. This goes on for the hour or so that I tolerate them in the house and then when I�ve had enough, the sisters are shown the back door once again. Then their mother (my house dog) can have her choice now of the three well chewed on bones.

Come supper time around here is another story in itself. The �natives� get restless about an hour and a half before their scheduled feed time. The mother paces around and around, whining more than she normally does. When the two on the back porch hear their bowls clanking, this is the signal for the �alpha� girl to set about her usual intimidation habits. Her sisters back feet and legs get nipped until she retires herself into the dog house which the �alpha� has shown her the way to. It never fails. You should see the fresh face that she wears when I tell her to stop being so bad. Her mouth is all puffed (because I just caught her in the act) and she has the �devil in her eye� look. There�s no denying that she�s been up to no good when she has �that face� on!

I only owned one alpha bitch that would have been more of the aggressive nature type. She was trying to �demote� the sweet nature alpha that I already mentioned in the first part of this article. She would go after her every chance she got and she was only an older puppy at the time but much bigger than the adult alpha bitch. I sold her which was a good thing as I probably would have strangled her if she hurt the smaller, sweeter bitch because she was one of my all time favorites!

So as you can see there are definitely different degrees of alphas. Of course the human in the relationship should always be the alpha of the pack, but even so, you can�t take away the �nature of the beast� sort of speak. One of the dogs in the pack will still have alpha tendencies but with you as the leader, those tendencies can be subdued. Such are the ways of the �secret language of dogs!�


From the book: THE FRIENDSHIP FACTOR - --Readers learn how to be a warmer, more loving person, how to communicate better, to resolve tension in relationships
--For friendships, marital relationships, and parents and their children. Friendship is the model for all intimate encounters.


My rating: Different degrees of alpha: (1 - 4)

WHICH DISQUALIFICATION OR FAULT BOTHERS YOU THE MOST?

According to the German Shepherd Dog Club of America�s standard for the German Shepherd Dog, these are the disqualifications for our breed:

DISQUALIFICATIONS:

Cropped or hanging ears
Dogs with noses not predominantly black
Undershot jaw
Docked tail
White dogs
And dog that attempts to bite the judge

Surprisingly enough, all of these disqualifications (except the last one) are all physical things. That just about blows my love of the movement of this breed right out of the water. Many of you that know me, know that I�m a movement nut. Okay I admit it; I�m crazy for a good moving dog. But it�s not a disqualification if your dog isn�t a good moving dog. You just don�t show him under a judge that is �nutty� like me!

So the next time you hear someone say something about someone�s dog that can�t move out of their own way, carry a copy of the breed standard with you to show them. If he can�t move, that�s not a disqualification.

Oh there are other things in the breed that are considered serious or undesirable traits. To view them, go on the German Shepherd Dog Club of America�s website and look at the breed standard.

Some of the other things that I dislike about some dogs that are not disqualifications are: light protruding round shaped eyes. There is just something so unattractive to me about a homely face on a German Shepherd and in my opinion ones that have eyes that look like this, well lets just say he�s not going to win any beauty contest. Top that off with ears that stick out like a donkey, well you get the picture.

Missing teeth doesn�t bother me as much as a very overshot jaw or one that is undershot. Any missing teeth other than first premolars are a serious fault. I wonder why they need all those teeth anyway � 42 teeth, 20 upper and 22 lower. I wonder why it�s considered a serious fault.

I�ll tell you one structural fault that I truly dislike and that�s a bad back. Now a bad back can mean many different things to different people. It could mean that the dog is roach backed, shows a dip behind the withers, soft back, swayed back, running downhill into the shoulders, etc. The only thing that I want to see moving on the dog when he gaits is his four legs. I love looking at an iron back and a dog that carries a great top line in motion. You won�t see this dog moving with a soft back that moves every which way or a dip in his back. You won�t see the dog running downhill in motion making him look like his rear is running into his shoulders.

Then there�s the croup. A certain popular dog in recent times was notorious for producing flat croups. I remember watching his stud dog presentation at a National one year. It was a huge class, but the majority of them all had this same unattractive flat croup.

How about the front of the dog and the lack of a good shoulder? Does this bother you? I love a good front on a dog. Nothing is so unappealing to me than when I see a dog reaching from the elbow. And nothing is so shocking to me to see people show pictures of their dogs moving like this and saying what a great mover he is!

Besides a dog trying to bite a judge, there are other undesirable temperament problems. A dog that shies away from the judge, backs up, belly crawls on the ground, tucks his tail, his eyes looking as if he�s ready to bolt and say �Let me out of here�, one that growls or shows is teeth��all undesirable traits.
And how about the pigment of the dog? Ideally rich, dark colors are what we all hope to achieve when we produce litters of puppies. This is not always the case. We have lines in the breed that consistently produce washed out colors in their dogs. Of course it�s not a disqualification, but stand him next to a dog that�s richly pigmented, and then it becomes even more noticeable.

So what fault bothers you most? Is it locked hocks, kicking up in the rear with no follow through? Perhaps it�s a lack of length of coat. Or maybe you don�t like a German Shepherd that acts like a Golden Retriever in personality��loving on everyone he meets. What is it that you just can�t live with in this breed? And I�m not talking about health and genetics here. I�m just talking about the breed standard.

My rating: Disqualifications and faults of the breed: (1 - 4)

I'D BE LOST WITHOUT YOU!

As usual, I never know which subject that I write about will generate the most �buzz.� My last three articles seemed to be the ones that did just that, especially yesterday�s topic about trying to find homes for show puppies. The old timers as well as the �new timers� had plenty to say about the subject. But most agreed their main focus is getting their puppies into the best homes possible whether that is a pet home or a show home.

I�m been wanting to write something about the emotional aspects of this breed�s temperament for awhile and then today on my list someone and I were corresponding about this exact topic.


I�D BE LOST WITHOUT YOU!


When someone thinks of the German Shepherd Dog they think of this big handsome, noble breed of an animal. They expect that this is the ultimate family protection dog one that is easily trained and obedient. I�m assuming that they think that this dog is one of steady nerves and ever watchful of his environment. They probably think that there isn�t too much that this dog can�t do and do it very well! But do they really know this breed at all except for what they read about him or see on the evening news? What�s it really like living with one of the worlds most popular breeds of dogs?

Well yes of course this dog is all of the above and more. For although this dog is known for his �warrior� type of exterior, if people only knew that this is one of the biggest babies when it comes to their owners, they would be shocked. Many times if you walk down the street with your German Shepherd, you may find that some people step aside to let you pass. It�s the respect for this animal�s reputation that ensures his easy passage wherever he goes. Little do they know what this dog is like at home. Should we keep it our secret?

Just what is the German Shepherd like to live with? Well of course they all have their own different temperaments and dispositions. But on any given day this dog for all his bravado, is nothing but a pussy cat when it comes to his owners. Like people some are more affectionate than others, but all of them share the same need for their people�s approval! That�s why this breed makes such an excellent choice for his working and herding abilities. He loves to please. He loves what he�s doing because of the rewards he receives from his owner. I truly believe this dog�s purpose on earth is to please man. The German Shepherd has one of the biggest hearts. He gives his love freely to his owner but it is a very jealous and fiercely possessive love. If a song was ever penned for a breed, than I�m nominating two songs for him, �You�re the reason I�m living� and �Addicted to Love�. And the book I would nominate for him is �The Purpose Driven life.� There isn�t anything this breed won�t do for the love of his master.

The German Shepherd can be a monster of a dog if challenged by a person of a suspicious nature and intent. His beautiful face can be changed into �someone�s worst nightmare� if he suspects someone plans to do him or his master harm. He�s quick and he�s accurate in his pursuit of the one of �ill will.� I live alone but I sleep well with three German Shepherd bitches that don�t welcome the stranger knocking at my door.

So all right we know that our German Shepherd will lay down their life for us, but this dog is not snarling and barely his teeth every hour of the day. So what can one expect from living with this dog? Well again depending on his genetic makeup he can be a dog that lays down and minds his business content that all is well in his world or he can be one that is constantly on the move with an insatiable appetite to investigate every corner of his world. That said, I think that they are one of the most emotional of dogs. Granted I haven�t owned too many other breeds except for a couple of mixed breeds growing up. But I have friends and family that own other breeds.

The German Shepherd can be one of the most gentle of dogs with children and smaller animals. I�ve seen videos on the internet of our breed being �told off� by a much smaller and more aggressive dog. The German Shepherd takes it with his head down and those brown �cow like� eyes of his like if he�s saying �Are you done yet little fellow?� One bite and it would be all over. But if they love someone or something, they can take an awful lot. We have all lost our temper with our dogs at one time or another. Come on, you know you have. No matter how much you may love him, you have lost your temper with him at some time in his life. I know I have. Sometimes I may feel guilty for yelling at them and there are other times I don�t feel guilty about it at all.

Because this breed is so loyal, they can be stuck to your side twenty four hours a day if you let them. Because they are so intelligent, this makes them so very nosy. I�ve always said that I can�t live with a stupid dog. Well you know sometimes I regret saying that. This breed never misses anything, and their need to know what�s going on at all times never ends. You get up. They get up. You move. They move. You eat. They want to eat. You want to be left alone. They don�t want to leave you alone. You go into the bathroom. You have unwanted company. There�s no privacy when you own a German Shepherd Dog. From the lyrics of �You�re the reason I�m living���..�I�d be lost without you� certainly applies to this breed. That�s the German Shepherd all right! I should be so lucky to have a man with this much loyalty and affection��although I could do without him following me into the bathroom also!

Oh yeah and talk about the emotions of the German Shepherd Dog. Some of them talk to you by whining, moaning and groaning twenty four hours a day. Some of them bark at you when you correct them for being naughty. Oh I�m not talking about a vicious bark. I�m talking about an �answering you back� type of bark. If you yell at them or correct them, Oh my Lord, you would have thought you just crucified him! Head held down, tail between his legs, he retreats to his bed like a rejected child. He lays there with those eyes looking at you just waiting for you to look in his �sorrowful� direction. If you do, the tail starts to slowly �bang, bang, bang� on the floor, a whimper of �Don�t you feel sorry for me yet� escapes from his throat just waiting for your forgiveness. This all from the big, mean �Don�t even think of messing with me� German Shepherd Dog. Their world is crushed when met from disapproval from their masters. Addicted to love? They sure are!

I guess we wouldn�t have them any other way though because it�s all of what makes a German Shepherd a German Shepherd! Big, bold, loyal, noble, purpose driven and impressive is words that describe this breed very well. Love to please, needy, nosy, dependent and addicted are also words that describe him very well.


From the book: THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE:  WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR?.....You are about to embark on a journey of discovery. You are going to discover the answer to life's most fundamental question: 'What on earth am I here for?' And here's a clue to the answer: 'It's not about you ... You were created by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead end.

My rating:  The German Shepherd Dog for all reasons:  (4), Living and loving this breed....second to none: (4)