When I had a puppy spitting up at most of her meals, my immediate thought was �Oh no, I�m dealing with Mega-esophagus!� Now mind you, in all my years of breeding and having puppies, I never heard of this before as I never dealt with it. If other breeders had it, I never knew about it as no one ever discussed it with me. After numerous tests and ruling out of heart problems, mega was suspected but never diagnosed as such. Instead I was told that my puppy had esophageal diverticula. Well that�s nice because I never heard of Mega before and never heard of esophageal diverticula either. So just what the heck is this anyway?
Esophageal diverticula are large pouch like sacs on the esophageal wall. Pulsion diverticula is a pushing outward of the wall. This will occur as a consequence of increased pressure from within the esophagus as seen with obstruction or failure of the esophageal muscles to move food through. Traction diverticula occurs secondary to inflammation, where fibrosis and contraction pull the wall of the esophagus or near the diaphragm with food being taken into the mouth and getting caught in a pouch as it travels down the esophagus towards the stomach. The organ that is affects includes the gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and respiratory. At this time, no genetic basis has been proven although it may be congenital (present at birth) or acquired.
These are the symptoms of this disease: regurgitation following eating, difficult swallowing, lack of appetite, coughing, weight loss, respiratory distress (aspiration pneumonia).
The causes associate with this disease are: Pulsion Diverticulum, embryonic developmental disorders of the esophageal wall, esophageal foreign body or failure of the muscles to move food through, traction diverticulum, inflammatory process associated with the trachea, lungs, lymph nodes or lining of the stomach; causes fibrous tissue formation around the esophagus.
In order for your veterinarian to diagnosis this disease he will conduct an esophagram or an esophagoscopy to examine the diverticula in order to determine whether there is a related mass. An x-ray of the chest area and a fluoroscope examination to evaluate the movement of food through the esophagus will give your doctor a better idea of where the diverticula are placed in the esophageal wall. An injection of a radio contrasting agent into the esophageal passage may be used to improve visibility on an x-ray so that an exact determination can be made, as the substance flows down the esophagus, filling the pouches as is does.
Sometimes the treatment of this disease is that your veterinarian might recommend a change in your dog�s diet if the diverticulum is small and is not causing significant clinical signs. Usually this will consist of a soft bland diet given to the dog frequently rather than in one big meal. If on the other hand the diverticulum is large, or is associated with significant clinical signs, surgical resection will probably be recommended. The potential for food being drawn into the lungs and leading to aspiration pneumonia makes the importance of dietary management key to avoiding fatal complications. Aggressive care will be called for if aspiration pneumonia is present. Fluid therapy, antibiotics, and nutrition via tube will be necessary. Your veterinarian will prescribe medications for your dog on the basis of the diagnosis.
Your doctor will want to monitor your dog for evidence and prevention of infection or aspiration pneumonia. You will need to maintain a positive nutritional balance throughout the disease process. Patients with diverticula and impaction (i.e., food material that is packed tightly) are predisposed to perforation, fistula, stricture, and postoperative rupturing of the incision. For this reason, your veterinarian will want to revisit your dog on a regular schedule. Prognosis is guarded in patients with large diverticula and overt clinical signs.
For some breeders at the first sign of a puppy throwing up, they will think that they are dealing with mega-esophagus and in some cases have the puppy put to sleep. I am one of those breeders that putting a puppy down is the very last thing that I do when nothing else can be done. As in that disease and in esophageal diverticula there all different degrees of these illnesses. Some of these animals can go on to live healthy full lives. Obviously if you choose to keep the puppy and raise it yourself, then you take the responsibility of raising a dog with a health issue. However, selling a puppy with a known health issue is a whole other thing entirely.
From the book: THE NEW HOLISTIC WAY FOR DOGS AND CATS: THE STRESS-HEALTH CONNECTION.....Stress. It's the single, universal cause of both wellness and illness. While this theory is widely supported in the human medical community, it's still controversial among veterinarians. Dr. Paul McCutcheon examines the all-important health-stress connection while drawing upon the latest scientific thinking and combining it with a comprehensive, preventive, and holistic philosophy of pet care. So if you're among the millions of caring, responsible pet owners who visits the vet more often than your own doctor but still wonders what more you can do for your dog or cat, The New Holistic Way for Dogs & Cats is the next best thing to a consultation with Dr. McCutcheon. If only he saw human patients in his practice, too!
My rating: Esophageal Diverticula: (1), Different degrees of this disease: (1 - 4)
Monday, 9 August 2010
Friday, 6 August 2010
TO BARK OR NOT TO BARK.....THAT IS THE QUESTION!
I think when you own dogs and live in an area where you live close to your neighbors; you become much less tolerant of your dogs barking. That�s usually due to the fact that your neighbors are much less tolerant of your dogs barking. I know I�m sensitive to my dogs barking and I live in a rural area, yet still there are neighbors that can hear my dog�s barking. I don�t like listening to them and I own them so I can sympathize with people that don�t own dogs and don�t want to be serenaded by their unwelcome annoying little yaps!
Now days it seems that people are less tolerant of things than they were years ago. Years ago if you lived in a neighborhood, hearing a dog bark was part of living in America. Johnny rode his bike down the center of the street, while Julie skipped rope on the sidewalk. A few stray dogs ran loose on Bill and Ethel�s front lawn and still others could be heard making a commotion behind someone else�s fence. This was a part of America. This is how we lived. Dogs and kids doing what dogs and kids do��playing and barking and living life to its fullest. Momma stayed home and cooked and baked while daddy went out to make a living.
Then all of a sudden we become a two income family. Less chocolate chip cookies were baked because momma had to go type up some �memos� for her boss and dad worked longer hours and couldn�t coach the little league team anymore. Nerves were stretched to its limit. Less time with the family and patience levels were tested on a daily basis. This is where the things that we once tolerated had all of a sudden become a nuisance to us. Children looking for help with their math homework, daddy looking to share his day with mommy who had all she could do to pull out yet another frozen meal for supper from the freezer. �Rover� is barking in the back yard looking to come in the house where he once laid by the fireplace. The dynamics of the family structure has changed and in many cases the tolerance level has gone out the window as well. What we used to classify as normal behavior is now classified as annoying behavior.
We�ve all heard this overused term a lot in these last several years and that is we live in a �sue happy� society nowadays. If you look at someone cross eyed, expect to be taken to court. Well dogs that bark even like a �normal� dog would back because a stranger comes into his yard is now considered a nuisance. Some neighbors would say that this dog was disturbing the peace! The next thing you know is that the animal warden is knocking on your front door looking to seize your dog and put him in an animal shelter were he spends a few of his last days before taking a trip to the �Pearly White Gates!�
So because many people have made it harder to live in some neighborhoods some owners of dogs have decided to debark their dogs so no one can complain anymore. Some people think this is a cruel and unfair punishment to a dog�s natural instinct used to warn their beloved owners of impending danger. Others feel that it is better to debark their dogs and insure that their animals won�t be taken away. However, even after a dog has been debarked, he can still bark with a lower tone or a squeak. Some feel that it gives a dog an emotional problem and others feel that that�s a bunch of hog wash! Those that are against this medical procedure feels why take a risk with your dog going under the knife and perhaps losing his life. They feel that unnecessary surgery is well unnecessary!
When a veterinarian does a debarking surgery, the vocal chords of a dog are cut and partially removed so the dog cannot bark as loudly. In some areas of the country, debarking is banned like in New Jersey. In some other countries it is also banned.
Some people are of the belief that you can train a dog to stop barking and others believe that you can not especially in breeds that are known to be constant barkers. Those that believe you can train a dog not to bark feel that by having a dog debarked you are not addressing the problem of why the dog is barking in the first place. Having this surgery doesn�t take the desire to bark away from the dog. Some people are looking for a quick fix when it comes to stopping their dog or dogs from barking. The stress that they receive from unforgiving neighbors finds them doing something that they otherwise would not be doing.
Sometimes after having the surgery, the debarked dog may be silent or have a low, hoarse bark, which sometimes is even more annoying than the original reason you had him debarked in the first place.
Some feel that debarking their dogs was a necessary thing that they needed to do in order to keep their dogs in the neighborhoods that they live in. They are no longer worried about their dogs being taken away from them because of their noisy barking all the time. They feel that their level of stress is reduced as well as their neighbors.
In the end, I suppose we all do what it is that we need to do to co-exist in an ever expanding population. If you live among other people, one must realize that the love we feel for our animals doesn�t mean our neighbors feel the same way about them. They pay their mortgages and their taxes and they are entitled to have a cook-out in their own backyard without the constant and annoying barking of the dogs on the other side of the fence! I know I wouldn�t like it. Heck I don�t enjoy listening to my own dogs barking no less anyone else�s doing the same thing.
So what do you think? Is it ever a good idea to put your dogs through this surgery just to keep the peace? And what�s next, will someone be knocking on your front door ready to �take you downtown� and lock you up for the night because you felt the need to clear your throat and spit on your neighbors front lawn? Will that little nasty act get you locked up? Or maybe your hacking cough woke up Susie Q who was napping in her stroller. Stay tuned���..
My rating: debarking dogs: (1 - 4)
Now days it seems that people are less tolerant of things than they were years ago. Years ago if you lived in a neighborhood, hearing a dog bark was part of living in America. Johnny rode his bike down the center of the street, while Julie skipped rope on the sidewalk. A few stray dogs ran loose on Bill and Ethel�s front lawn and still others could be heard making a commotion behind someone else�s fence. This was a part of America. This is how we lived. Dogs and kids doing what dogs and kids do��playing and barking and living life to its fullest. Momma stayed home and cooked and baked while daddy went out to make a living.
Then all of a sudden we become a two income family. Less chocolate chip cookies were baked because momma had to go type up some �memos� for her boss and dad worked longer hours and couldn�t coach the little league team anymore. Nerves were stretched to its limit. Less time with the family and patience levels were tested on a daily basis. This is where the things that we once tolerated had all of a sudden become a nuisance to us. Children looking for help with their math homework, daddy looking to share his day with mommy who had all she could do to pull out yet another frozen meal for supper from the freezer. �Rover� is barking in the back yard looking to come in the house where he once laid by the fireplace. The dynamics of the family structure has changed and in many cases the tolerance level has gone out the window as well. What we used to classify as normal behavior is now classified as annoying behavior.
We�ve all heard this overused term a lot in these last several years and that is we live in a �sue happy� society nowadays. If you look at someone cross eyed, expect to be taken to court. Well dogs that bark even like a �normal� dog would back because a stranger comes into his yard is now considered a nuisance. Some neighbors would say that this dog was disturbing the peace! The next thing you know is that the animal warden is knocking on your front door looking to seize your dog and put him in an animal shelter were he spends a few of his last days before taking a trip to the �Pearly White Gates!�
So because many people have made it harder to live in some neighborhoods some owners of dogs have decided to debark their dogs so no one can complain anymore. Some people think this is a cruel and unfair punishment to a dog�s natural instinct used to warn their beloved owners of impending danger. Others feel that it is better to debark their dogs and insure that their animals won�t be taken away. However, even after a dog has been debarked, he can still bark with a lower tone or a squeak. Some feel that it gives a dog an emotional problem and others feel that that�s a bunch of hog wash! Those that are against this medical procedure feels why take a risk with your dog going under the knife and perhaps losing his life. They feel that unnecessary surgery is well unnecessary!
When a veterinarian does a debarking surgery, the vocal chords of a dog are cut and partially removed so the dog cannot bark as loudly. In some areas of the country, debarking is banned like in New Jersey. In some other countries it is also banned.
Some people are of the belief that you can train a dog to stop barking and others believe that you can not especially in breeds that are known to be constant barkers. Those that believe you can train a dog not to bark feel that by having a dog debarked you are not addressing the problem of why the dog is barking in the first place. Having this surgery doesn�t take the desire to bark away from the dog. Some people are looking for a quick fix when it comes to stopping their dog or dogs from barking. The stress that they receive from unforgiving neighbors finds them doing something that they otherwise would not be doing.
Sometimes after having the surgery, the debarked dog may be silent or have a low, hoarse bark, which sometimes is even more annoying than the original reason you had him debarked in the first place.
Some feel that debarking their dogs was a necessary thing that they needed to do in order to keep their dogs in the neighborhoods that they live in. They are no longer worried about their dogs being taken away from them because of their noisy barking all the time. They feel that their level of stress is reduced as well as their neighbors.
In the end, I suppose we all do what it is that we need to do to co-exist in an ever expanding population. If you live among other people, one must realize that the love we feel for our animals doesn�t mean our neighbors feel the same way about them. They pay their mortgages and their taxes and they are entitled to have a cook-out in their own backyard without the constant and annoying barking of the dogs on the other side of the fence! I know I wouldn�t like it. Heck I don�t enjoy listening to my own dogs barking no less anyone else�s doing the same thing.
So what do you think? Is it ever a good idea to put your dogs through this surgery just to keep the peace? And what�s next, will someone be knocking on your front door ready to �take you downtown� and lock you up for the night because you felt the need to clear your throat and spit on your neighbors front lawn? Will that little nasty act get you locked up? Or maybe your hacking cough woke up Susie Q who was napping in her stroller. Stay tuned���..
My rating: debarking dogs: (1 - 4)
Thursday, 5 August 2010
WHAT ROLE DO YOU PLAY IN THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG'S TEMPERAMENT?
Nothing is more upsetting than seeing a beautiful representative of the breed display poor temperament. It�s disappointing to the breeder that produces a gorgeous looking puppy, only to have the puppy be poor in temperament. Nothing is worse than sitting ring side admiring a handsome looking animal only to see him pull back from the judge. What causes poor temperament? Genetics, poor socialization or a combination of both and what role do we play in the breed�s temperament?
It all begins on a piece of paper known as a pedigree. Too often people don�t know the first thing about studying a dog�s pedigree. They just look at the two dogs they want to breed and do the breeding totally blind to the parent�s background. Unbeknownst to him, the pedigree may be laden with bad temperament from one generation to the next and he doesn�t know about it until his puppies are born. There�s nothing worse than seeing a breed as noble as the German Shepherd Dog who shakes, quivers and shies away from most everyone that he meets. It�s awful to see it in puppies but even worse to view as an adult dog.
So who is to blame for faulty temperament in our breed? Who should take responsibility for the temperament in the German Shepherd Dog? Is it the breeder, the handler or the judge? Which one has the most control of the temperament in the breed for generations to come? Well all three actually. How�s that?
You would think that the breeder has the most responsibility when it comes to promoting the temperament of this breed. After all they are the ones that are the �brainchild� behind the actual dog that they produce. A good breeder will know his dog�s pedigree and he�ll know the pedigree of the dog that he wants to breed to his animal. As we all know it might look great on paper but may end up being a total disaster once the puppies are actually born. Sometimes it�s the luck of the draw when it comes to breeding. But what about those breeders that know about the bad temperament that they are incorporating into the gene pool and they still continue to breed to these dogs anyway?
I find it very upsetting that some breeders are breeding to dogs that do not have good temperament because they are owned by �the forces to be� and think that breeding to their dogs will help them get their own dogs into show homes. They don�t care about the temperament; they want their dogs shown. They know that they can send their dogs to a trainer that can teach them to stand. It just blows my mind when breeders think like this.
That leads us to the next person that is responsible for the temperament in the breed and that�s the handler. Now a good handler knows the good, the bad and the ugly of the dog that he is handling. He can make structural faults appear not as noticeable through his grooming expertise. He knows if he�s got to hold the dog�s front up so he doesn�t run downhill. He knows how to showcase his animal�s best attributes. He�s a professional and it�s his job to make your dog look good. But what about those handlers that are also trainers? You know the ones that I�m talking about. You send your dog out to be ring trained and conditioned. Years ago, very few of us ever did this. We trained and conditioned them ourselves and I daresay that we did a pretty good job of it too. But for those that can not or do not want to do it themselves, they have the option of having their dog professionally trained. Now the handler is not responsible for the quality or lack of the dog that is sent to him. However, in my opinion, no dog with bad temperament should be trained to go into the show ring. Again in my opinion, it is false representation of the character of the dog. I believe that the handler is just as guilty of promoting bad temperament as the breeder is for showing these types of dogs. I believe they are fooling some of the public. Eventually thought, word gets out about the dog. No breeder should ask a handler to show a dog with a bad temperament. I know the handler�s got to make a living but misrepresenting the dog�s character isn�t the way to do it, and a breeder shouldn�t put a handler in this type of position to begin with.
Lastly the other person that is responsible for the temperament of the breed is the judge. The judge has the final say about the character of any given dog shown under him. Most judges do a good and honest job in their ring. They truly are looking for the best representative according the dog�s breed standard. Most of them won�t tolerate bad temperament. I�ve seen dog�s that have been excused because of it. If the dog tries to bite the judge, he gets excused. If a dog shies from the judge, most of the times he gets put to the end of the line. Then there are those few who ignore bad temperament and put the dog up anyway because they �want to do the right thing� by the big shot standing ring side who is throwing dirty looks in his direction just daring him not to put his dog up. Although this isn�t common, it still does happen. He�s saying to ringside that �The dog is such a great one; I had to overlook the fact that I couldn�t get my hands on him!� And some foolish or �don�t give a damn� breeders will still breed to him.
So as we can see, it�s not just one group of people that are responsible for the temperament in the breed. It�s all of the groups of people mentioned that are responsible. Should anyone take more responsibility than the other? Obviously they are all responsible, but in my opinion none more so than the breeder. It all starts and ends with her. She choices the stock that she breeds to and then sells these poorly tempered puppies to an unsuspecting public.
Besides the genetics of this breed, socialization from an early age is highly recommended. These puppies need to see and be around people. They need to be taken places. They need to be there when company comes to visit instead of being locked away. Going to training classes is an excellent way for your puppy to be around people and other dogs. Take him for walks and let him explore the world around him. In order to bring out the best in his personality, you must help develop it. If the breeder did a good job breeding to the best tempered dog she could find, it�s up to the owner to make sure that he stays that way.
From the book: "PERSONALITY: WHAT MAKES YOU THE WAY YOU ARE"......It is one of the great mysteries of human nature. Why are some people worriers, and others wanderers? Why are some people so easy-going and laid-back, while others are always looking for a fight? Written by Daniel Nettle--author of the popular book Happiness--this brief volume takes the reader on an exhilarating tour of what modern science can tell us about human personality. Revealing that our personalities stem from our biological makeup, Nettle looks at the latest findings from genetics and brain science, and considers the evolutionary origins and consequences of different personalities. The heart of the book sheds light on the "big five": Extraversion, Neuroticism, Conscientious, Agreeableness, and Openness. Using a stimulating blend of true-life stories and scientific research, Nettle explains why we have something deep and consistent within us that determines the choices we make and situations we bring about. He addresses such questions as why members of the same family differ so markedly in their natures? What is the best personality to have--a bold one or a shy one, an aggressive one or a meek one? And are you stuck with your personality, or can you change it? Life, Nettle concludes, is partly the business of finding a niche where your personality works for you. "It is a question of choosing the right pond," he notes, "and being mindful of the dangers." Full of wisdom as well as scientific insight, this book illuminates the pluses and minuses of personality, offering practical advice about living with the nature you were born with.
My rating: Temperament as called for by the German Shepherd Dog standard: (4), those that chose to use and breed to bad temperament: (1)
It all begins on a piece of paper known as a pedigree. Too often people don�t know the first thing about studying a dog�s pedigree. They just look at the two dogs they want to breed and do the breeding totally blind to the parent�s background. Unbeknownst to him, the pedigree may be laden with bad temperament from one generation to the next and he doesn�t know about it until his puppies are born. There�s nothing worse than seeing a breed as noble as the German Shepherd Dog who shakes, quivers and shies away from most everyone that he meets. It�s awful to see it in puppies but even worse to view as an adult dog.
So who is to blame for faulty temperament in our breed? Who should take responsibility for the temperament in the German Shepherd Dog? Is it the breeder, the handler or the judge? Which one has the most control of the temperament in the breed for generations to come? Well all three actually. How�s that?
You would think that the breeder has the most responsibility when it comes to promoting the temperament of this breed. After all they are the ones that are the �brainchild� behind the actual dog that they produce. A good breeder will know his dog�s pedigree and he�ll know the pedigree of the dog that he wants to breed to his animal. As we all know it might look great on paper but may end up being a total disaster once the puppies are actually born. Sometimes it�s the luck of the draw when it comes to breeding. But what about those breeders that know about the bad temperament that they are incorporating into the gene pool and they still continue to breed to these dogs anyway?
I find it very upsetting that some breeders are breeding to dogs that do not have good temperament because they are owned by �the forces to be� and think that breeding to their dogs will help them get their own dogs into show homes. They don�t care about the temperament; they want their dogs shown. They know that they can send their dogs to a trainer that can teach them to stand. It just blows my mind when breeders think like this.
That leads us to the next person that is responsible for the temperament in the breed and that�s the handler. Now a good handler knows the good, the bad and the ugly of the dog that he is handling. He can make structural faults appear not as noticeable through his grooming expertise. He knows if he�s got to hold the dog�s front up so he doesn�t run downhill. He knows how to showcase his animal�s best attributes. He�s a professional and it�s his job to make your dog look good. But what about those handlers that are also trainers? You know the ones that I�m talking about. You send your dog out to be ring trained and conditioned. Years ago, very few of us ever did this. We trained and conditioned them ourselves and I daresay that we did a pretty good job of it too. But for those that can not or do not want to do it themselves, they have the option of having their dog professionally trained. Now the handler is not responsible for the quality or lack of the dog that is sent to him. However, in my opinion, no dog with bad temperament should be trained to go into the show ring. Again in my opinion, it is false representation of the character of the dog. I believe that the handler is just as guilty of promoting bad temperament as the breeder is for showing these types of dogs. I believe they are fooling some of the public. Eventually thought, word gets out about the dog. No breeder should ask a handler to show a dog with a bad temperament. I know the handler�s got to make a living but misrepresenting the dog�s character isn�t the way to do it, and a breeder shouldn�t put a handler in this type of position to begin with.
Lastly the other person that is responsible for the temperament of the breed is the judge. The judge has the final say about the character of any given dog shown under him. Most judges do a good and honest job in their ring. They truly are looking for the best representative according the dog�s breed standard. Most of them won�t tolerate bad temperament. I�ve seen dog�s that have been excused because of it. If the dog tries to bite the judge, he gets excused. If a dog shies from the judge, most of the times he gets put to the end of the line. Then there are those few who ignore bad temperament and put the dog up anyway because they �want to do the right thing� by the big shot standing ring side who is throwing dirty looks in his direction just daring him not to put his dog up. Although this isn�t common, it still does happen. He�s saying to ringside that �The dog is such a great one; I had to overlook the fact that I couldn�t get my hands on him!� And some foolish or �don�t give a damn� breeders will still breed to him.
So as we can see, it�s not just one group of people that are responsible for the temperament in the breed. It�s all of the groups of people mentioned that are responsible. Should anyone take more responsibility than the other? Obviously they are all responsible, but in my opinion none more so than the breeder. It all starts and ends with her. She choices the stock that she breeds to and then sells these poorly tempered puppies to an unsuspecting public.
Besides the genetics of this breed, socialization from an early age is highly recommended. These puppies need to see and be around people. They need to be taken places. They need to be there when company comes to visit instead of being locked away. Going to training classes is an excellent way for your puppy to be around people and other dogs. Take him for walks and let him explore the world around him. In order to bring out the best in his personality, you must help develop it. If the breeder did a good job breeding to the best tempered dog she could find, it�s up to the owner to make sure that he stays that way.
From the book: "PERSONALITY: WHAT MAKES YOU THE WAY YOU ARE"......It is one of the great mysteries of human nature. Why are some people worriers, and others wanderers? Why are some people so easy-going and laid-back, while others are always looking for a fight? Written by Daniel Nettle--author of the popular book Happiness--this brief volume takes the reader on an exhilarating tour of what modern science can tell us about human personality. Revealing that our personalities stem from our biological makeup, Nettle looks at the latest findings from genetics and brain science, and considers the evolutionary origins and consequences of different personalities. The heart of the book sheds light on the "big five": Extraversion, Neuroticism, Conscientious, Agreeableness, and Openness. Using a stimulating blend of true-life stories and scientific research, Nettle explains why we have something deep and consistent within us that determines the choices we make and situations we bring about. He addresses such questions as why members of the same family differ so markedly in their natures? What is the best personality to have--a bold one or a shy one, an aggressive one or a meek one? And are you stuck with your personality, or can you change it? Life, Nettle concludes, is partly the business of finding a niche where your personality works for you. "It is a question of choosing the right pond," he notes, "and being mindful of the dangers." Full of wisdom as well as scientific insight, this book illuminates the pluses and minuses of personality, offering practical advice about living with the nature you were born with.
My rating: Temperament as called for by the German Shepherd Dog standard: (4), those that chose to use and breed to bad temperament: (1)
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
WHAT TYPE OF PEOPLE OWNS THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG?
Is there any one personality type that chooses to own a German Shepherd Dog? Do we all have similar personality traits? Absolutely and totally no we do not! Are our personalities anything like the breed that we love? Are we a noble, proud and loyal bunch of people? Can we be trusted no matter what? Will we come to the defense of those that we care about? Are we intelligent and do we learn quickly? One shoe most definitely does not fit all when it comes to those people that own this breed. But there must be a reason why we chose the breed that we do. They must answer some type of need that we have when we decided that the German Shepherd Dog is the dog for us.
So who is it that owns this �King� of dogs? It�s the lawyer, the doctor, the secretary, the nurse, the homemaker and people just like you and me. It�s the outdoors type of person. It�s the couch potato. It�s the friendly, �wish he was your best friend� kind of person. And it�s also the �no good for nothing� kind of person as well. Yes this dog is universal in his appeal to the general public.
One person may include his German Shepherd Dog in all of his activities with his family. The dog may have sleeping rights to juniors bed at night or may be found curled up at the bottom of the bed lying next to his master�s side. He may be treated like one of the kids of the family. He swims in the pool, sails the ocean with his master, goes fishing down at the pond, and he even eats left over steak once in awhile. He competes for as many toy�s in his dog chest as little Johnny has in his toy chest. He�s made a fool of when it�s his birthday and gets gifts wrapped up in pretty wrapping paper and bows. We may even bake a cake for him. And then again we may even take pictures of him in a totally ridiculous looking hat we made just for him. Yup, we humans sometimes have a way of trying to humanize our dogs! Some of us readily admit it while others do these �cute� little things for them behind closed doors just in case the men in the white coats are on the prowl that day!
Then there are those owners that treat �Duke� like, �Yeah, so what, he�s just a dog!� He never gets to come into the house to receive the attention that he�s dying for. He doesn�t even know that his master has little Susie May and Dexter Lee as the children in the family. Heck he doesn�t even know what children look like. His �home� probably consists of some old broken down dog house held together by very rusty nails that soon will be giving way to old age and then Duke won�t have a dog house at all. He doesn�t even have the benefit of a fenced in yard to play in. Oh there�s lots of property here alright, but he never gets to explore it. In the ten acres or so his master owns he�s only been on 20 feet of it. His chain is too strong even for his powerful body to break free from. When supper time rolls around, he anxiously awaits his Wal-Mart�s brand of food that his master got on special this week. Steak, what�s that? It would probably me a shock for good old Duke�s system if a piece of it were kindly thrown his way. Toys, bones, swimming pool, boat, a warm bed...............not in this dog�s lifetime!
There are also those people who own this breed that kennel their dogs. The dogs are well fed, watered and vaccinated. They�re warm in the winter and cool in the summer in their climate controlled dog kennel. They exercise on cement or dirt flooring by chasing the dog next to their dog run. They�re fed a decent to high end quality food. They get fresh air and sometimes are even taken out to be played with. Some of them are trained to be show dogs or obedience dogs. Many of them are used for breeding purposes. Most of the time, they belong to caring owners. But sometimes they are owned by owners looking to make money by breeding their animals over and over again until they�re all worn out. The latter are what some would call puppy mills. These are not true lovers of the noble German Shepherd Dog.
Is it the strong type of personalities that own this breed or is it the more kindly, friendly type of person you�ll see walking proudly besides his dog down the street? Are these people sweet natured or mean spirited? Well actually you�ll see both types that own the German Shepherd Dog. And you know what because of the nature of this animal; they love their master no matter what. They adore the attention that they get from the warm, loving, nurturing master that owns them. There isn�t too much that they wouldn�t do for another belly rub. On the other hand those that are owned by the cold, �go away don�t bother me� type personality equally or even more so vies for the attention that his owner is giving to something else and not to him. The German Shepherd thrives on attention from his loved one even if that loved one is incapable of giving it to him. It is his mission in live to change his mind.
Then there are those types of people who have no love at all to give. To this type of personality, the German Shepherd is a money maker. He is after all the second most registered dog in the American Kennel Club. There�s no denying his popularity and in some peoples minds his money making capabilities. This dog was never bought to throw a ball to and to discover the true meaning of what it is to be �man�s best friend.� The dog is the owner�s property to do whatever it is he wants to do with him. Just as long as he�s making money from him, that�s all he cares about. It�s as if the dog is his tenant and he pays �rent� to stay in his kennel or make-shift dog run or mud hole by �spitting� out puppy after puppy. It�s like the dog and man have what used to be called the barter system. I want this from you so in order for you to get it, you have to give me something in return. There are no free rides here for this dog. This dog is paying (literally) for his time on this earth.
So there you have it. There are many wonderful people that own this beautiful breed of ours and know the true value of ownership of the German Shepherd Dog. They have developed and maintained the integrity and beauty of the breed. The others, although thankfully fewer in numbers have used and abused this dogs worthiness for their own financial gain. I don�t think, but I know that I like the first group of people a whole lot better than the second group of people! Oh yeah, if the German Shepherd could talk, I know he�d agree too!
From the book: "PLEASE UNDERSTAND ME: CHARACTER AND TEMPERAMENT TYPES"......Does your spouse's need to alphabetically organize books on the shelves puzzle you? Do your boss's tsunami-like moods leave you exasperated? Do your child's constant questions make you batty? If you've ever wanted to change your mate, your coworkers, or a family member, then "Put down your chisel," advise David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates in this book of personality types. We are different for a reason, and that reason is probably more good than bad. Keirsey and Bates believe that not only is it impossible to truly change others (which they call embarking on a "Pygmalion project"), it's much more important to understand and affirm differences. Sounds easier than it is, you might say. Well, this book is a guide for putting an end to the Pygmalion projects in your life and starting on the path to acceptance.
My rating: Accepting other peoples differences: (1 - 4)!
So who is it that owns this �King� of dogs? It�s the lawyer, the doctor, the secretary, the nurse, the homemaker and people just like you and me. It�s the outdoors type of person. It�s the couch potato. It�s the friendly, �wish he was your best friend� kind of person. And it�s also the �no good for nothing� kind of person as well. Yes this dog is universal in his appeal to the general public.
One person may include his German Shepherd Dog in all of his activities with his family. The dog may have sleeping rights to juniors bed at night or may be found curled up at the bottom of the bed lying next to his master�s side. He may be treated like one of the kids of the family. He swims in the pool, sails the ocean with his master, goes fishing down at the pond, and he even eats left over steak once in awhile. He competes for as many toy�s in his dog chest as little Johnny has in his toy chest. He�s made a fool of when it�s his birthday and gets gifts wrapped up in pretty wrapping paper and bows. We may even bake a cake for him. And then again we may even take pictures of him in a totally ridiculous looking hat we made just for him. Yup, we humans sometimes have a way of trying to humanize our dogs! Some of us readily admit it while others do these �cute� little things for them behind closed doors just in case the men in the white coats are on the prowl that day!
Then there are those owners that treat �Duke� like, �Yeah, so what, he�s just a dog!� He never gets to come into the house to receive the attention that he�s dying for. He doesn�t even know that his master has little Susie May and Dexter Lee as the children in the family. Heck he doesn�t even know what children look like. His �home� probably consists of some old broken down dog house held together by very rusty nails that soon will be giving way to old age and then Duke won�t have a dog house at all. He doesn�t even have the benefit of a fenced in yard to play in. Oh there�s lots of property here alright, but he never gets to explore it. In the ten acres or so his master owns he�s only been on 20 feet of it. His chain is too strong even for his powerful body to break free from. When supper time rolls around, he anxiously awaits his Wal-Mart�s brand of food that his master got on special this week. Steak, what�s that? It would probably me a shock for good old Duke�s system if a piece of it were kindly thrown his way. Toys, bones, swimming pool, boat, a warm bed...............not in this dog�s lifetime!
There are also those people who own this breed that kennel their dogs. The dogs are well fed, watered and vaccinated. They�re warm in the winter and cool in the summer in their climate controlled dog kennel. They exercise on cement or dirt flooring by chasing the dog next to their dog run. They�re fed a decent to high end quality food. They get fresh air and sometimes are even taken out to be played with. Some of them are trained to be show dogs or obedience dogs. Many of them are used for breeding purposes. Most of the time, they belong to caring owners. But sometimes they are owned by owners looking to make money by breeding their animals over and over again until they�re all worn out. The latter are what some would call puppy mills. These are not true lovers of the noble German Shepherd Dog.
Is it the strong type of personalities that own this breed or is it the more kindly, friendly type of person you�ll see walking proudly besides his dog down the street? Are these people sweet natured or mean spirited? Well actually you�ll see both types that own the German Shepherd Dog. And you know what because of the nature of this animal; they love their master no matter what. They adore the attention that they get from the warm, loving, nurturing master that owns them. There isn�t too much that they wouldn�t do for another belly rub. On the other hand those that are owned by the cold, �go away don�t bother me� type personality equally or even more so vies for the attention that his owner is giving to something else and not to him. The German Shepherd thrives on attention from his loved one even if that loved one is incapable of giving it to him. It is his mission in live to change his mind.
Then there are those types of people who have no love at all to give. To this type of personality, the German Shepherd is a money maker. He is after all the second most registered dog in the American Kennel Club. There�s no denying his popularity and in some peoples minds his money making capabilities. This dog was never bought to throw a ball to and to discover the true meaning of what it is to be �man�s best friend.� The dog is the owner�s property to do whatever it is he wants to do with him. Just as long as he�s making money from him, that�s all he cares about. It�s as if the dog is his tenant and he pays �rent� to stay in his kennel or make-shift dog run or mud hole by �spitting� out puppy after puppy. It�s like the dog and man have what used to be called the barter system. I want this from you so in order for you to get it, you have to give me something in return. There are no free rides here for this dog. This dog is paying (literally) for his time on this earth.
So there you have it. There are many wonderful people that own this beautiful breed of ours and know the true value of ownership of the German Shepherd Dog. They have developed and maintained the integrity and beauty of the breed. The others, although thankfully fewer in numbers have used and abused this dogs worthiness for their own financial gain. I don�t think, but I know that I like the first group of people a whole lot better than the second group of people! Oh yeah, if the German Shepherd could talk, I know he�d agree too!
From the book: "PLEASE UNDERSTAND ME: CHARACTER AND TEMPERAMENT TYPES"......Does your spouse's need to alphabetically organize books on the shelves puzzle you? Do your boss's tsunami-like moods leave you exasperated? Do your child's constant questions make you batty? If you've ever wanted to change your mate, your coworkers, or a family member, then "Put down your chisel," advise David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates in this book of personality types. We are different for a reason, and that reason is probably more good than bad. Keirsey and Bates believe that not only is it impossible to truly change others (which they call embarking on a "Pygmalion project"), it's much more important to understand and affirm differences. Sounds easier than it is, you might say. Well, this book is a guide for putting an end to the Pygmalion projects in your life and starting on the path to acceptance.
My rating: Accepting other peoples differences: (1 - 4)!
Monday, 2 August 2010
HE PAID HER A VISIT TODAY
I�ve always liked ghost or supernatural stories ever since I was a kid. Many of the books that I read then were mysteries. I think I read every Nancy Drew book that was ever written way back then. I just couldn�t get my head out of a book when I was growing up. Before I ever wrote about dogs and the German Shepherd in particular, I started writing some spooky little tales. When I was a teenager living in Florida, I took a writing course and the short story I wrote was a spooky story. The teacher gave me an A+ on that one. I wish I would have kept it, although I do remember some of it. Now I don�t like those slice them up type of novels or movies which has played with the imaginations of viewers and readers now a days. No I rather have my imagination toyed with where I fill in the blanks. Anyway, what does this have to do with the German Shepherd Dog anyway?
Well I was talking with one of my closest �doggie� friends a couple of weeks ago. She and I go way back����..she bought a puppy from me that she trained and showed that later became, BOF Select #3 American and International Champion Chieftain�s Kharu CD. Many of you know her. Her name is Lorraine Cohen. Some of you might know that Lorraine comes from Australia. That�s where she gets that cute little accent of hers from. Anyway she and I were talking about when Kharu was very old�..over 15 years old and how at the same time, her mother was very ill. Lorraine and her husband Marc moved from the United States back to Australia where they set up a veterinarian clinic.
Anyway Lorraine�s mother became deathly ill and Lorraine had to leave her home to go be with her mother. Lorraine�s mother lived very far away from their home. Marc stayed home because at the time he had a critically ill dog in his clinic so he stayed there to tend to his patient. Long story short, Lorraine�s beloved mother passed away when she was out there with her. Unbeknownst to Lorraine, the very same night that her mother passed away, so did her beloved dog Kharu. She said Marc was with him and because he's a veterinarian, he knew that day that Kharu was going to leave them. He said the dog went and lay on his blanket on the floor and had �that look.� Marc went and sat with him on the floor and Kharu rested his head on his lap for the very last time. That is how their dog that loved to go sailing and just loved life so much spent his last moments. Marc knew that Lorraine had just lost her mother and decided not to tell her right then. After the funeral was over that�s when he made the much dreaded call to tell Lorraine that her best friend was now buried beneath the old tree in the back yard wrapped up in his favorite blanket that he had passed away on. Lorraine was devastated that she wasn�t with her beloved Kharu.
When Lorraine and Marc decided to move back to the United States, they had a decision to make. What were they going to do with their house where they raised their children and where Kharu lived most of his life? They decided that they wouldn�t sell the house and instead they would rent it. Lorraine told me she just couldn�t sell the house because that was where Kharu was laid to rest. She said that they would never let the house go. They had too many wonderful memories there.
So the house in Australia was rented while Lorraine and Marc were already back in the United States. They had a realtor take care of all of the arrangements for them. They never once met the people that rented their home. They had corresponded with their tenants and let them know that some day their children would take the house back. Well recently that is exactly what happened. Two of her children wanted to go back home.
So one day Lorraine�s son went to the house to meet with the tenants before they left their home. Now remember the tenants never met Lorraine or her family and didn�t really know anything about them. So the woman who rented the house says to Lorraine�s son how much they enjoyed living there all these years. Then she confides in him that they had conducted a s�ance in the house. �Oh wow,� I�m thinking as Lorraine is telling me this story. The woman continues to tell him that on the night that they conducted the s�ance that a German Shepherd Dog appeared and that an old lady was standing besides him. Can I tell you as Lorraine told me this, goose bumps ran up and down my arms. At first Lorraine just told me about the dog and then a minute later about the old woman. I said, �Oh my God Lorraine, that�s Kharu with your mother!� Remember they had both passed away on the very same night! She couldn�t believe it either as at first when she told the story to me; she didn�t make the connection about her mother. She just thought it must have been Kharu that the woman saw and didn�t know who the old woman could have been.
Now remember the tenant never met their landlords. They never knew that they owned a German Shepherd. They didn�t know anything about him at all. In fact they didn�t even know that the dog was buried on the property. Kharu is buried on a section of the property that leads down to the ocean. His grave is covered over with beautiful flowers surrounded by a stone wall.
I just loved this story. It reaffirms my belief that someday we�ll all be joined with our beloved dogs again. I wrote this story because just last night two different people came across the e-mail lists telling of their sorrow of losing their special dogs. They were understandably so very heartbroken. So for you who believe��they�re not gone��they�ve just gone somewhere else! And they wait��
My rating: Believing our animals have a place in Heaven: (4)
Well I was talking with one of my closest �doggie� friends a couple of weeks ago. She and I go way back����..she bought a puppy from me that she trained and showed that later became, BOF Select #3 American and International Champion Chieftain�s Kharu CD. Many of you know her. Her name is Lorraine Cohen. Some of you might know that Lorraine comes from Australia. That�s where she gets that cute little accent of hers from. Anyway she and I were talking about when Kharu was very old�..over 15 years old and how at the same time, her mother was very ill. Lorraine and her husband Marc moved from the United States back to Australia where they set up a veterinarian clinic.
Anyway Lorraine�s mother became deathly ill and Lorraine had to leave her home to go be with her mother. Lorraine�s mother lived very far away from their home. Marc stayed home because at the time he had a critically ill dog in his clinic so he stayed there to tend to his patient. Long story short, Lorraine�s beloved mother passed away when she was out there with her. Unbeknownst to Lorraine, the very same night that her mother passed away, so did her beloved dog Kharu. She said Marc was with him and because he's a veterinarian, he knew that day that Kharu was going to leave them. He said the dog went and lay on his blanket on the floor and had �that look.� Marc went and sat with him on the floor and Kharu rested his head on his lap for the very last time. That is how their dog that loved to go sailing and just loved life so much spent his last moments. Marc knew that Lorraine had just lost her mother and decided not to tell her right then. After the funeral was over that�s when he made the much dreaded call to tell Lorraine that her best friend was now buried beneath the old tree in the back yard wrapped up in his favorite blanket that he had passed away on. Lorraine was devastated that she wasn�t with her beloved Kharu.
When Lorraine and Marc decided to move back to the United States, they had a decision to make. What were they going to do with their house where they raised their children and where Kharu lived most of his life? They decided that they wouldn�t sell the house and instead they would rent it. Lorraine told me she just couldn�t sell the house because that was where Kharu was laid to rest. She said that they would never let the house go. They had too many wonderful memories there.
So the house in Australia was rented while Lorraine and Marc were already back in the United States. They had a realtor take care of all of the arrangements for them. They never once met the people that rented their home. They had corresponded with their tenants and let them know that some day their children would take the house back. Well recently that is exactly what happened. Two of her children wanted to go back home.
So one day Lorraine�s son went to the house to meet with the tenants before they left their home. Now remember the tenants never met Lorraine or her family and didn�t really know anything about them. So the woman who rented the house says to Lorraine�s son how much they enjoyed living there all these years. Then she confides in him that they had conducted a s�ance in the house. �Oh wow,� I�m thinking as Lorraine is telling me this story. The woman continues to tell him that on the night that they conducted the s�ance that a German Shepherd Dog appeared and that an old lady was standing besides him. Can I tell you as Lorraine told me this, goose bumps ran up and down my arms. At first Lorraine just told me about the dog and then a minute later about the old woman. I said, �Oh my God Lorraine, that�s Kharu with your mother!� Remember they had both passed away on the very same night! She couldn�t believe it either as at first when she told the story to me; she didn�t make the connection about her mother. She just thought it must have been Kharu that the woman saw and didn�t know who the old woman could have been.
Now remember the tenant never met their landlords. They never knew that they owned a German Shepherd. They didn�t know anything about him at all. In fact they didn�t even know that the dog was buried on the property. Kharu is buried on a section of the property that leads down to the ocean. His grave is covered over with beautiful flowers surrounded by a stone wall.
I just loved this story. It reaffirms my belief that someday we�ll all be joined with our beloved dogs again. I wrote this story because just last night two different people came across the e-mail lists telling of their sorrow of losing their special dogs. They were understandably so very heartbroken. So for you who believe��they�re not gone��they�ve just gone somewhere else! And they wait��
My rating: Believing our animals have a place in Heaven: (4)
Friday, 30 July 2010
OH THEY SLEEP VERY WELL!
Well here it is Friday and the start of another week-end already. I�ve never seen time go by so quickly. My mother always told me after my twenties, time will fly by quickly. Well I haven�t seen my twenties in quite sometime, but I can attest to the fact that time indeed flies by too quickly. For instance, where the heck is the summer going? In a couple of days, August will be here. And fall, I just love the fall, but it goes by way too quickly and then we�re looking at �Old Man Winter� who always hangs around a lot longer than we want him to. Oh well onto today�s subject.
I got a little more mail than usual this week about some of the subjects that I wrote about pertaining to breeding problems with the German Shepherd Dog. Quite a few were very concerned about the practices that they are witnessing in our breed by those breeders that never take into consideration the health of our breed. Someone wrote to me to tell me of a breeder that continues to breed one of his animals that has produced mega in two litters and is now repeating it for the third time. Must make that almighty dollar no matter how you have to do it! And now he can use the bad economy as an excuse!
Someone also wrote to tell me of a so called �big shot� breeder that just dumped his dog in a shelter because the dog that he had been using for his breeding program was no longer of use to him so he dumped him in a shelter complaining about the dogs bad temperament. As this writer continued, just imagine how stressful the kill shelter environment was for that already fearful animal!
Then there�s another letter someone else wrote talking about those breeders that knowingly breed dogs with terrible temperament and then send it off to a handler for training so he can be shown. The dog may be so well trained in the ring and behaves flawlessly, but step out of the ring with a crowd of people gathering around him and his shaking legs can barely hold him up. This man questioned how these people sleep at night. My response to him was, �Oh they sleep very well.� These are the type of people in the breed strictly for what the breed can do for them. Winning at any cost is their motto.
Oh and here was the best one. Someone wrote to say that a dog that someone bought for showing turned up having seizures and the owner decided he wasn�t going to use the dog for his breeding program. The breeder has the nerve to ask him, �You�re still going to show him, aren�t you?� Where�s my gun???
I have a couple of problems with some of this. First of all, why are dogs that have bad temperaments being sent to handlers to �fix� so they can be shown in the first place? Answer: So they can produce another champion and give some more ROM (register of merit) points to their undeserving breeding animals. And why are handlers even taking these dogs to train them to stand for examination? Let�s take it one step further, WHY ARE SOME BREEDERS BREEDING TO DOGS WITH BAD TEMPERAMENTS TO BEGIN WITH? What is that about? What are they doing to the breed? And even more amazing, they're paying a big stud service for the "privilege" of breeding to the bad tempered male! In this writer�s opinion, breeders are responsible for nearly ever genetic problem that we have in this breed.
As in one correspondence that I had with someone last night, we discussed that if the �forces to be� tells the fancy that this is the dog that they should be breeding to then those that are easily influenced will do just that. Then I don�t call that person that is easily influenced a breeder. They�re just a follower.
Someone wrote to ask how come some judges are putting up bad temperament? Now they�re not talking about dogs that have a reputation for this type of temperament. They�re talking about those dogs that spook from the judge in the ring and they still put them up because of who�s on the end of the lead or who owns the dog. In these types of scenarios, I�m always amused (sort of) when I see the �big shot� owner on the outside of the ring bringing attention to herself to make sure the judge knows who owns that dog. It�s is so obvious what they are doing.
Our dogs deserve better reputations than this. Bad temperament is a reflection on bad breeding and lack of proper socialization in my opinion. If a breeder knowingly breeds a dog that has a bad temperament or breeds to one that does, the offspring shouldn�t have to suffer because of their greed and lack of concern for their dogs. Giving them the needle or dumping them at a shelter isn�t the answer. Why should the dog have to give up his life when they are the one that made him this way in the first place? The answer is don�t intentionally breed to bad temperament. Everyone now and again may produce a puppy or two that doesn�t have the ideal temperament. But to knowingly breed to it is a crime against this noble breed.
I�m smart enough to know that just because I write about this it won�t amount to a hill of beans to those that are guilty of these practices. But for those that do care and love the German Shepherd Dog, hopefully they will stay away from those who continue to poison the genetic pool with their unhealthy breeding practices.
From the book: FRIENDS TO THE END: THE TRUE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP..... Friends and life. Life and friends. The two are so tightly interwoven it's impossible to imagine one being remotely worthwhile without the other. As Bradley Trevor Greive points out, "there are very few truly solitary creatures on this planet. And most of them have serious personal hygiene issues." What makes friends so special? What does our choice of friends say about us? What sparks the best friendships and keeps them burning? In Friends To The End: The True Value of Friendship, BTG uses hit trademark witty narrative illustrated with irresistible animal photos to explore the daily magic we experience through our friends. Best described as a cross between his famously successful Dear Mom and The Blue Day Book, Friends to the End examines themes such as why we can't live without friends, how great friendships grow from humble beginnings, how to identify different types of friendship, what to do when good friends turn bad, and why it's all so worthwhile. "When I think back to all the really great or the horrendously bad times in my life," says BTG, "I can't help but think about how my friends made the former all the more enjoyable and the latter at least survivable. I want this book to help people appreciate friendship for all it is and all it can be." Friends to the End promises to have the same cultural impact achieved by his previous books. His modern classics The Blue Day Book and Dear Mom have been New York Times best-sellers and made the author a household name in more than 35 countries. BTG's seven previous volumes have sold more than eight million copies worldwide.
My rating: Temperament problems: (1)
I got a little more mail than usual this week about some of the subjects that I wrote about pertaining to breeding problems with the German Shepherd Dog. Quite a few were very concerned about the practices that they are witnessing in our breed by those breeders that never take into consideration the health of our breed. Someone wrote to me to tell me of a breeder that continues to breed one of his animals that has produced mega in two litters and is now repeating it for the third time. Must make that almighty dollar no matter how you have to do it! And now he can use the bad economy as an excuse!
Someone also wrote to tell me of a so called �big shot� breeder that just dumped his dog in a shelter because the dog that he had been using for his breeding program was no longer of use to him so he dumped him in a shelter complaining about the dogs bad temperament. As this writer continued, just imagine how stressful the kill shelter environment was for that already fearful animal!
Then there�s another letter someone else wrote talking about those breeders that knowingly breed dogs with terrible temperament and then send it off to a handler for training so he can be shown. The dog may be so well trained in the ring and behaves flawlessly, but step out of the ring with a crowd of people gathering around him and his shaking legs can barely hold him up. This man questioned how these people sleep at night. My response to him was, �Oh they sleep very well.� These are the type of people in the breed strictly for what the breed can do for them. Winning at any cost is their motto.
Oh and here was the best one. Someone wrote to say that a dog that someone bought for showing turned up having seizures and the owner decided he wasn�t going to use the dog for his breeding program. The breeder has the nerve to ask him, �You�re still going to show him, aren�t you?� Where�s my gun???
I have a couple of problems with some of this. First of all, why are dogs that have bad temperaments being sent to handlers to �fix� so they can be shown in the first place? Answer: So they can produce another champion and give some more ROM (register of merit) points to their undeserving breeding animals. And why are handlers even taking these dogs to train them to stand for examination? Let�s take it one step further, WHY ARE SOME BREEDERS BREEDING TO DOGS WITH BAD TEMPERAMENTS TO BEGIN WITH? What is that about? What are they doing to the breed? And even more amazing, they're paying a big stud service for the "privilege" of breeding to the bad tempered male! In this writer�s opinion, breeders are responsible for nearly ever genetic problem that we have in this breed.
As in one correspondence that I had with someone last night, we discussed that if the �forces to be� tells the fancy that this is the dog that they should be breeding to then those that are easily influenced will do just that. Then I don�t call that person that is easily influenced a breeder. They�re just a follower.
Someone wrote to ask how come some judges are putting up bad temperament? Now they�re not talking about dogs that have a reputation for this type of temperament. They�re talking about those dogs that spook from the judge in the ring and they still put them up because of who�s on the end of the lead or who owns the dog. In these types of scenarios, I�m always amused (sort of) when I see the �big shot� owner on the outside of the ring bringing attention to herself to make sure the judge knows who owns that dog. It�s is so obvious what they are doing.
Our dogs deserve better reputations than this. Bad temperament is a reflection on bad breeding and lack of proper socialization in my opinion. If a breeder knowingly breeds a dog that has a bad temperament or breeds to one that does, the offspring shouldn�t have to suffer because of their greed and lack of concern for their dogs. Giving them the needle or dumping them at a shelter isn�t the answer. Why should the dog have to give up his life when they are the one that made him this way in the first place? The answer is don�t intentionally breed to bad temperament. Everyone now and again may produce a puppy or two that doesn�t have the ideal temperament. But to knowingly breed to it is a crime against this noble breed.
I�m smart enough to know that just because I write about this it won�t amount to a hill of beans to those that are guilty of these practices. But for those that do care and love the German Shepherd Dog, hopefully they will stay away from those who continue to poison the genetic pool with their unhealthy breeding practices.
From the book: FRIENDS TO THE END: THE TRUE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP..... Friends and life. Life and friends. The two are so tightly interwoven it's impossible to imagine one being remotely worthwhile without the other. As Bradley Trevor Greive points out, "there are very few truly solitary creatures on this planet. And most of them have serious personal hygiene issues." What makes friends so special? What does our choice of friends say about us? What sparks the best friendships and keeps them burning? In Friends To The End: The True Value of Friendship, BTG uses hit trademark witty narrative illustrated with irresistible animal photos to explore the daily magic we experience through our friends. Best described as a cross between his famously successful Dear Mom and The Blue Day Book, Friends to the End examines themes such as why we can't live without friends, how great friendships grow from humble beginnings, how to identify different types of friendship, what to do when good friends turn bad, and why it's all so worthwhile. "When I think back to all the really great or the horrendously bad times in my life," says BTG, "I can't help but think about how my friends made the former all the more enjoyable and the latter at least survivable. I want this book to help people appreciate friendship for all it is and all it can be." Friends to the End promises to have the same cultural impact achieved by his previous books. His modern classics The Blue Day Book and Dear Mom have been New York Times best-sellers and made the author a household name in more than 35 countries. BTG's seven previous volumes have sold more than eight million copies worldwide.
My rating: Temperament problems: (1)
Thursday, 29 July 2010
WHAT YOUR EYE IS USED TO LOOKING AT
I�ve done articles here before about the different coat colors and coat lengths of the German Shepherd Dog. We have a breed standard, but you could line up all these different dogs with their unique coloring or coat length and there really wouldn�t be any consistency in their breed type. Oh they may all be beautifully structured, but they really wouldn�t look alike except for the erect ears that this breed is known for. So even if they all were the best representatives of their breed only in different colors and coat length, no two of them would look alike.
Many pet people have never seen an all black German Shepherd for instance. Some have never seen or know what a sable looks like. A bi-color may totally confuse them. Most people have seen a white German Shepherd so that wouldn�t be too confusing. Probably the most favored color is the black and tan dog.
Over time if you live with one of the different types of this breed, your eye gets used to looking at that type of dog. Correct or not, this is what you�re used to seeing so when you see something else that doesn�t look like your dog and may even be a better representative of the breed, you still think that you dog has the better quality. That�s because that�s what your eye is used to looking at.
For example, if you are used to showing a specialty type of dog that has more hindquarter than an All-Breed dog, than that�s what you think is correct. It works both ways. The All-breed exhibitor will think his dog is the correct standard for the breed. If your kennel is known for producing good fronts, you will automatically be looking at the competition to see if they have the front and side gait that you�re used to looking at. The same thing goes for the kennel that consistently produces good hindquarter angulation. If a dog has anything less than what you�re used to looking at, then you�ll think it lacks hindquarter. It�s all because this is what you are used to looking at in your own dogs.
Many times you can follow a specialty judge and know what he likes by looking at the type of animals he�s bred and raised. If he�s bred some top winning dogs, many times that�s the type he�s going to put up. It�s what he�s used to looking at everyday and it�s what he�s won with. Some judges are movement judges. Some are breed type judges. Some like lots of rear. Some like lots of front. Ideally you want to show under a judge that takes the whole package into consideration when he judges. Hopefully you show under a judge that has a �trained� eye. He�s lived with and knows dogs and specifically the German Shepherd Dog.
It can be very difficult for some people to develop a �trained� eye. You will never know what a good dog is unless you�ve lived with them and bred them. Living with these beautiful specimens of the breed is all the education one needs. To have bred and lived with dogs that �take your breath� away is the best education you could ever hope for when you step into the middle of that ring. No book, no magazine, no video could ever prepare you to what it�s like living with one of these properly structured animals. I used to love letting my dogs out in the back yard and just sit watching them float around the yard like it was no effort at all. And that�s the key��a good dog moves like there is no effort at all. The other dogs will have to put out more energy to move. That�s probably why you see your better movers in the ring floating rather than charging. The dog that is not as good of a mover will have to put out harder to make up for the lack of his proper structure, whereas the good mover makes it look easy. You won�t see him huffing and puffing at the end of his lead like the charging dogs in the ring next to him.
Someone said to me not too long ago when talking about a fellow exhibitor, �What does she see in that dog? Why is she still showing him?� She said that the dog was a really horrible dog. I replied to her, �It�s what she�s used to looking at.� Is the owner right or is he wrong in showing his poorly structured dog? It�s really not a question of right or wrong. It�s all about what her eye is used to looking at. Until she educates herself, she will still think her poorly structured dog is correct.
So if your dog lacks the front or rear and he�s not a very good mover, you won�t really know it until you put him in the ring next to those that have these attributes. When you watch a dog that is not properly put together, because you live with him, you believe he�s the best thing next to a �hot off the grill� cheeseburger. Then when you put him in the show ring and you see the other dogs, you think that there�s something the matter with the other dogs. They look nothing like your dog does. It�s all what your eye is used to looking at. This is called being kennel blind. Your education begins when you are forced to re-evaluate your breeding and show stock.
You can chose to like whatever it is that you find appealing in this breed�s structure (hindquarters, fronts, movement, etc.) but for all the variety that is out there, there is only one correct structure and that is dictated by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America�s breed standard. Once you become familiar with it, you may come to realize what your eye has become used to is not what the standard calls for in a correctly structured animal.
My rating: Get familiar with the breed standard: (4)
Many pet people have never seen an all black German Shepherd for instance. Some have never seen or know what a sable looks like. A bi-color may totally confuse them. Most people have seen a white German Shepherd so that wouldn�t be too confusing. Probably the most favored color is the black and tan dog.
Over time if you live with one of the different types of this breed, your eye gets used to looking at that type of dog. Correct or not, this is what you�re used to seeing so when you see something else that doesn�t look like your dog and may even be a better representative of the breed, you still think that you dog has the better quality. That�s because that�s what your eye is used to looking at.
For example, if you are used to showing a specialty type of dog that has more hindquarter than an All-Breed dog, than that�s what you think is correct. It works both ways. The All-breed exhibitor will think his dog is the correct standard for the breed. If your kennel is known for producing good fronts, you will automatically be looking at the competition to see if they have the front and side gait that you�re used to looking at. The same thing goes for the kennel that consistently produces good hindquarter angulation. If a dog has anything less than what you�re used to looking at, then you�ll think it lacks hindquarter. It�s all because this is what you are used to looking at in your own dogs.
Many times you can follow a specialty judge and know what he likes by looking at the type of animals he�s bred and raised. If he�s bred some top winning dogs, many times that�s the type he�s going to put up. It�s what he�s used to looking at everyday and it�s what he�s won with. Some judges are movement judges. Some are breed type judges. Some like lots of rear. Some like lots of front. Ideally you want to show under a judge that takes the whole package into consideration when he judges. Hopefully you show under a judge that has a �trained� eye. He�s lived with and knows dogs and specifically the German Shepherd Dog.
It can be very difficult for some people to develop a �trained� eye. You will never know what a good dog is unless you�ve lived with them and bred them. Living with these beautiful specimens of the breed is all the education one needs. To have bred and lived with dogs that �take your breath� away is the best education you could ever hope for when you step into the middle of that ring. No book, no magazine, no video could ever prepare you to what it�s like living with one of these properly structured animals. I used to love letting my dogs out in the back yard and just sit watching them float around the yard like it was no effort at all. And that�s the key��a good dog moves like there is no effort at all. The other dogs will have to put out more energy to move. That�s probably why you see your better movers in the ring floating rather than charging. The dog that is not as good of a mover will have to put out harder to make up for the lack of his proper structure, whereas the good mover makes it look easy. You won�t see him huffing and puffing at the end of his lead like the charging dogs in the ring next to him.
Someone said to me not too long ago when talking about a fellow exhibitor, �What does she see in that dog? Why is she still showing him?� She said that the dog was a really horrible dog. I replied to her, �It�s what she�s used to looking at.� Is the owner right or is he wrong in showing his poorly structured dog? It�s really not a question of right or wrong. It�s all about what her eye is used to looking at. Until she educates herself, she will still think her poorly structured dog is correct.
So if your dog lacks the front or rear and he�s not a very good mover, you won�t really know it until you put him in the ring next to those that have these attributes. When you watch a dog that is not properly put together, because you live with him, you believe he�s the best thing next to a �hot off the grill� cheeseburger. Then when you put him in the show ring and you see the other dogs, you think that there�s something the matter with the other dogs. They look nothing like your dog does. It�s all what your eye is used to looking at. This is called being kennel blind. Your education begins when you are forced to re-evaluate your breeding and show stock.
You can chose to like whatever it is that you find appealing in this breed�s structure (hindquarters, fronts, movement, etc.) but for all the variety that is out there, there is only one correct structure and that is dictated by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America�s breed standard. Once you become familiar with it, you may come to realize what your eye has become used to is not what the standard calls for in a correctly structured animal.
My rating: Get familiar with the breed standard: (4)
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