Bathing A German Shepherd

                   

This is a breed that shouldn't be bathed often, once every 6 weeks is too much. Too many baths may dry out his skin, unless they've gotten really nasty (rolled in mud/deer poo/some dead thing they found). There is no medical need to bathe your pup more often unless he has skin problems or is just a little more stinky than you’d like. Ideally, you should bathe your German Shepherd  two or three times a year to preserve the coat’s natural oils, which protect his skin and undercoat. Bathing a dog monthly who doesn't need it is going to cause skin problems. It'll strip the oils he secretes to protect his skin and fur from the elements. Use a mild shampoo with little to no perfume. Oatmeal shampoo is the best for a dog. Pay particular attention to stinky parts - bum and feet and any urine splash areas and dirty spots. Rinse well with lukewarm water until there have been no bubbles for a couple of minutes, and then check the underparts and behind the ears because you have surely missed something there. Never use human shampoos or soaps on your dog; they can dry out his sensitive skin.

Why Dogs Stare At Their Owners?

       It’s not hard to imagine why a loyal dog might stare devotedly at his master. But some dogs take staring to extremes, following their owners around with baleful eyes as if expecting links of sausage to fly from their human’s fingertips. Let’s face it: Dogs love their owners, but when they stare expectantly, it’s not usually because they’re trapped in a reverie of devotion. Rather, it’s because they’re thinking they might get something. And usually, that “something” involves a tasty snack. But dogs can—and do—stare at their owners for plenty of non-food issues, too. Indeed, anything a dog might want that a human can provide could be the source of the staring behavior, from a fun game of fetch to a ride in the car or a long run. Then there’s the possibility that a dog is simply seeking attention in any form, or perhaps she’s merely waiting for praise or direction. Some dogs may just be trying to read an emotion in our human facial expressions. In any case, staring is typically considered to be a good thing. In fact, most trainers encourage dogs to stare at their owners while awaiting their cues. And if you’ve never done it, gazing deeply into a dog’s eyes can be a highly rewarding pastime. Before you try it, be aware that staring directly into a dog’s eyes can be considered a direct challenge. That’s why mutual staring is an activity that’s only to be encouraged within the context of a healthy dog- human relationship unsullied by any taint of aggression or behavioral abnormalities. This article was written by a Veterinarian.

Man's Best Friend

The saying goes that "man is

dog's best friend". Others

find that other pets are also

up to the task. The

companionship that animals

offer is different from

human interaction. Human

communicate with speech

and although this is an

advanced form of

communication, it has its

limitations. Sometimes

people struggle to say the

right thing when what we

really need is to be simply

there for each other.

Because animals cannot talk

they are superior to humans

in detecting the feelings of

others. A pet may be able to

offer a level of

companionship that is deeper

and more satisfying than

human interaction.

Natural Flea Prevention Ideas For Dogs

Flea and tick season is nipping at the heals of summer-time.

Make a daily visual check of your pet. Look on his tummy, under his arms, behind the ears, near his mouth and anus. If you see little specks of black, you may be seeing flea waste, or a flea itself. The fleas can be black or red if they have fed recently. Use a flea comb to go through your dog's fur in areas where you can't  see his skin. If you flea comb looks "peppered" your pet probably has fleas.Try these natural options for flea and tick prevention.

German Shepherd Names

PAWSOME!!!

Bringing a new pet home is an awesome experience. But what's more exciting is finding a cool name for the new member of the house. Naming your pet is always exciting. Listed below are some great German Shepherd names and their meanings.

Male German Shepherd Names 

  Rambo  (fearless)                              Bruno  (shield)     
  Kaiser  (emperor)                              Einstein  (genius)
  Jaeger  (hunter)                                 Lucky  (fortunate)
  Titian    (honored)                              Falk     (falcon)
  Kosmos (world)                                 Rauchig  (smoky)
  Yamasee  (quiet)                               Duke  (a male ruler)
  Wotan  (a German God)                    Czar  (a male monarch)
  Ajax  (a greek hero)                          Falcon  (a bird of prey)
  Tanka  (a japanese poem)                 Icon  (a representation)
  Luther  (famous)                                Wagner  (a German composer)
  Yorokobi  ("joy"in japanese)            Caspian  (a large saltwater lake)

Female German Shepherd Names

   Agatha  (good)                                    Sonja  (wisdom) 
   Adele  (noble)                                     Chaya  (alive)
   Akira  (bright)                                     Willow  (graceful)
   Bella  (beautiful)                                 Berta  (famous)
   Kona  (world rule)                               Brigitte  (strength)
   Mai Tai  (very good)                            Gerda  (guarded)    
   Nixe  (a water fairy)                           Fable  (a moral tale} 
   Jasmine  (God's gift)                           Opal  (a valuable stone)
   Iris  (a Greek goddess)                       Faith  (belief and trust)
   Cypress  (an evergreen tree)             Steffi  (a garland or crown) 
   Sassy  (lively and high spirited)         Bailey  (an encasing of a castle)
   Irie  (anything that is good)                Amber  (a brownish yellow color)
   Fleur  (french for "flower")                Chambray  (a delicate fabric)

                                              
  

Degenerative Myelopathy Of The German Shepherd Dog

Imagine the confusion and fear you'd be feeling if you were approaching your middle years and suddenly developed difficulty walking. The same bewilderment hits middle-aged dogs who have a progressive nerve disorder known as degenerative myelopathy (DM). The disease causes the dog to slowly lose coordination of its hind legs, which also become increasingly weak. It's caused by a deterioration of structures within the spinal cord that are responsible for transmitting nerve impulses. This degeneration can occur anywhere along the spinal column, but usually affects the lower back.

Blue German Shepherd Puppy

Blue, as a color, occurs in just about every breed, and especially in the herding breeds.  Great Danes, Collies, Dobermans, and of course, German Shepherd, Malinois, and Dutch Shepherds all can have blue pups. 

The Black Sable German Shepherd

The German Shepherd dog black sable is one of the kind of pure bred German Shepherd dog.

These dogs were bred in Germany and have become popular across the world because of their

unique abilities and diverse appearances. The dog is generally bred for colder climates because it

has four layers of fur which make up its coat. Uninitiated German dog enthusiasts are mistaken

in thinking that there is only one type of color or pattern available for the German shepherd dog.

Learn More About German Shepherd

Most people do not realize what at they are getting into when buying a German Shepherd puppy. They are bigger, more powerful and have far more energy and enthusiasm than most other dog breeds. They don’t mature fully until their third year but are physically developed long before then, this can be quite a daunting prospect if your puppy starts to jump up at old folk or children, as they are more than capable of knocking them over. You can see the potential problems or owning a German Shepherd puppy that lacks discipline.

How Much Should You Feed Your German Shepherd Puppy?

The amount you feed your German Shepherd puppy depends largely on their age.

*3 Months*

Roughly half a cup 3 times a day, use your own common sense here, if your puppy is huge and can wolf down

a lot and still look like he wants more, then you can probably allow a little.

*4-5 Months*

As he gets a little bigger,

switch from feeding your German Shepherd puppy half a cup 3 times a day, to feeding him twice a day but 1 1/2 cups. The amount of

food will have doubled and the eating routine changes. Evenly space out the meals so he does not go too long between meals.

History and origins of the German Shepherd Dog

The breed was actually created by the crossbreeding of working sheepdogs from rural Germany by an ex cavalry officer called Max von  Stephanitz whose aim was to create a working dog for herding which could trot for long periods. A breed standard was drawn up and the first breed show took place in 1899 following which the GSD became firmly established across Germany. In 1906 the first dogs were exported to the USA . Since then, the breed has grown enormously in popularity and is now one of the most popular pedigree breeds in the UK as a pet as well as being the favorite working breed for many forces, especially the police.

German Shepherd