German Shepherd - The Facts Every Owner Of This Dog Breed Should Know

Article Title: German Shepherd - The Facts Every Owner Of This
Dog Breed Should Know
Author: Robert Benjamin
Word Count: 506

Also known as the Alsatian, the German Shepherd is a 'young'
breed, having only been recognized as a distinct breed in the
last 90 years. The German Shepard can trace its roots back to a
range of shepherding dogs in Germany, and some groups tried to
informally breed this dog. This effort failed but in 1899, a new
group formed. Der Verein fur Deutsche Schaeferhunde was founded
by Max von Stephanitz, who wanted to breed an all purpose
working dog.

The German Shepherd came to the United Sates in 1908 with
soldiers impressed by the courage and abilities of this dog.
German Shepherds will reach an average height of 22 to 26
inches, weight of 77 to 85 pounds and live an average of 13
years. There are a wide variety of coats in this breed. Some
German Shepherds are longhaired and some are shorthaired. The
color is most often black and tan, but can also be sable, all
black, blue and liver and white.

The one thing all German Shepard coats have in common is that
they shed profusely, and shed worse during their shedding
season. Daily brushing usually helps combat the shedding, and
German Shepherds should only be bathed occasionally. Almost all
German Shepherds are described as self-confident and loyal.

German Shepherds are highly intelligent and often times used as
police dogs, rescue dogs and guide dogs. German Shepherds make
excellent guard dogs and are very loyal to their family. They
make excellent protectors, barking when someone unfamiliar is
approaching. German Shepherds do make good family pets and will
guard the children of 'their' family. They will tolerate the
poking and prodding children are prone to do. However, they are
sometimes unaware of their size and power relative to a small
child and may indiscriminately knock them over.

A German Shepherd and child should always be watched to avoid
this. German Shepherds can survive apartment living if given
enough exercise regularly and given enough activities. If left
alone too long or not stimulated enough, German Shepherds will
become bored and destructive. They enjoy being in the company of
their human family but not other pets. As a working dog that
likes to please, a German Shepherd will do very well with
obedience training. German Shepherds are prone to some genetic
disorders including hip and elbow dysplasia, blood disorders,
digestive problems, epilepsy, chronic eczema, keratitis
(inflammation of the cornea), dwarfism and flea allergies.

There is a website that has great information on German
Shepherds and most other breeds of dogs. It has details that
pertain to a dog breeds health, grooming, living conditions,
best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat
Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2007

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on
your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and
without modification except for formatting needs or grammar
corrections.

About The Author: Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software
business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been
producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. Seasonal
Vacation Spots http://www.seasonalvacationspots.com

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Buying A Purebred Puppy

Article Title: Buying A Purebred Puppy
Author: David Beart

You've already made two big decisions: 1) To add a dog to your
family and 2) The breed of dog. The next important step is
selecting a breeder. With thousands of breeders to choose from,
it's hard to know where to start, but by taking the time to do
research and to find a quality breeder, you help ensure that
your new family member will be a healthy and happy addition to
your home.

Before visiting breeders, a stop to a local SPCA or other
humane organization might surprise you. Thousands of purebred
animals are surrendered to shelters each year, and all are in
need of a loving home. If you prefer to go through a breeder,
then be sure to choose wisely.

A good first stop is the American Kennel Club's website.
There is information about every breed of dog that is recognized
by the group, as well as information on reputable breeders and
breed specific rescue groups. This is a good jumping off point
for your puppy search, but is by no means the only way to find a
good breeder.

High quality breeders may choose to advertise in any number of
mediums. They may take an ad in the local paper, hang fliers or
work solely by word of mouth. Unfortunately, not-so-savory dog
breeders also use these methods of advertising. So how can you
be sure you are getting your pet from a good breeder?

There are several qualities that EVERY reputable breeder will
have in common. Here are some things to look for when searching
for a breeder.

Veterinary and Other References
A quality breeder is going to have an established relationship
with a local veterinarian. Talk to that vet, and make sure that
all dogs owned by the breeder are up to date on shots.

Also, call past customers who are willing to vouch for the
business practices of the breeder. If any references, such as
from a state or national breed club, are offered, follow up with
those as well.

Treatment and Condition of the Dogs
A high quality breeder will not have her dogs living in dirty,
cramped, outdoor kennels. Rather, her dogs will live inside with
the family. When you spend time with the dogs, they will appear
happy and healthy. They will not be terrified of outsiders, and
they will allow you to pet them.

The areas where the dogs spend most of their time should be
clean, and fresh water and a high quality food should be
available.

Under no circumstances should you buy a dog from a breeder that
you have not visited personally. No reputable breeder is going
to have a problem showing you where the dogs live, what type of
food they eat and how they interact with outsiders. In fact,
many breeders will require multiple visits before agreeing to
sell you a dog. If a breeder will not allow this then move on to
another breeder.

Written Contracts and Health Guarantee
A breeder should offer both a contract and a health guarantee.
The contract should protect the best interests of the puppy as
well as the buyer. It should require that the dog be spayed or
neutered (unless it is to be a show dog), and should state that
if the buyer cannot keep the dog for any reason that it must be
returned to the breeder.

All quality breeders will offer both of these documents.

Puppies for Sale (but not every breed and not all the time)

A breeder should not have puppies available at all times.
Rather, they should be making a list of interested buyers, doing
some screening of their own and then calling the buyers they are
interested in when puppies become available.

Also, breeders should not offer several breeds of dogs.
Instead, they should focus on one or two breeds. They should be
very well versed about breed standards and belong to breed clubs
on a local, state or national level.

The breeder should be able to answer all of your questions
about the breed, and should offer information on the potential
future health problems the dog may have.

A good breeder is going to be as careful about selecting a
buyer as you should be about selecting a breeder. Below are
some items that the breeder should require of each buyer. If
they don't, it should raise a red flag.

• They should ask for a letter from your landlord or housing
authority stating that you are allowed to have dogs.
• The breeder may want to visit your home to see where the
puppy will be spending most of his time.
• They should require that every family member (including other
pets) spend time with the new puppy before agreeing to sell to
you.
• If you have other pets, they should require a reference from
your current vet.

Adding a new furry friend to your family is a big step, and
requires a commitment of up to 20 years. By using a high
quality breeder, you help ensure that the pet will be your
loving companion for many wonderful years.

About The Author: David Beart is the owner of
http://www.professorshouse.com , a house and home site the
provides information about pets, family issues and
relationships.

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