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Posts Tagged ‘dog care’

A growing number of communities are organizing dog parks for local pet owners. There are areas designed for exercise and areas designed for socialization. In some cases, these parks are organized by a consortium of owners who want to provide their pooches with a designated space in which to roam freely. In other cases, they are for-profit enterprises. The group which operates the facility often serves as a liaison between owners, the city, and zoning authorities.

In this article, we’ll describe the advantages that your canine will enjoy by visiting dog parks as well as a few advantages that you’ll gain. We’ll also explain proper etiquette and the rules of engagement between you, your pet, and others.

How it Benefits Your Canine

As a pack animal, a dog is naturally inclined to seek out companionship from other dogs. Long ago, that need was fulfilled through herding and hunting responsibilities. Most dogs are kept indoors, which prevents them from interaction with other pets and with people.

When you take your pooch to a doggy park, you’re giving him an opportunity to spend time with his own kind. The socialization is valuable. He can roam freely and play with other pets off-leash, an experience that is all but impossible outside these specially-designated spaces. He can also enjoy physical activity. Too often, owners neglect to give their pets enough exercise, which takes a toll on their physical and mental health. This is one of the reasons pooches often become obese or ill-mannered.

How it Benefits You

As many benefits as your dog enjoys at these facilities, there is also plenty of value for you. You’ll have a chance to meet and socialize with other people who have brought their own pets. It’s not uncommon for long-lasting friendships to emerge over time as owners plan weekly visits. Also, if you're unable to take your dog for walks (due to age, disability, etc.), this kind of place offers a practical alternative.

The Rules Of Engagement

In order to ensure these doggy parks remain open to the public, it’s important to abide by specific rules of etiquette. First, make sure that you clean up after your pooch. Second, never leave your canine unattended. You must be present in case there is a need for you to restrain or remove him from the premises (for example, if he gets into a fight with another dog). Third, if you bring young children to the facility, prevent them from chasing the animals. The behavior might be interpreted as a threat, which can trigger an aggressive reaction.

Dog parks offer a valuable opportunity for your dog to socialize with other dogs. You’ll also provide him with a useful outlet through which he gets the exercise he needs in order to stay healthy. Meanwhile, as he enjoys playing with his new friends, you'll have a chance to enjoy time talking with other owners. Most people discover that the experience is beneficial for both them and their canines.

Your dog loves your companionship and looks forward to every moment he gets to spend with you. When you leave the house without him, he’ll miss your company. When you return, he’ll greet you happily. Almost all dogs behave in a similar manner to their owners, assuming there are no issues of abuse or gross neglect. Many dogs get very anxious when seperated from their owners.

Dogs can suffer from separation anxiety for a number of reasons. For example, your pooch might fear that you’ll never return because a past owner abandoned him. Or, he might be unfamiliar with his surroundings (for example, after a recent relocation). He might also feel anxious if he has spent his entire life at your side and you're leaving him for the first time.

To demonstrate his fear, discontent, and depression, your canine might chew on your clothes or furniture, dig holes in your yard, or eliminate in your home. Below, we'll provide three tips that you can use immediately to help minimize your pooch's separation anxiety.

#1 - Make Sure He Knows You're Coming Back

Your dog might feel anxious when you leave because he does not know what to expect. Many professional trainers suggest creating a signal or cue that communicates your intention to return. This can be a verbal indicator, such as “I’ll be back!” or another prompt. For example, turn a radio on softly whenever you leave. When you return, turn it off. Your dog will eventually grow comfortable with your absence if he hears the radio.

#2 – Leave Something Behind

If you intend to leave your canine behind for a short period, give him a shirt that you have recently worn and haven’t put into the laundry. Because of his keen sense of smell, your scent will comfort him while you're gone.

#3 – Prepare For Departure

If your pooch’s separation anxiety is more severe, you’ll need to desensitize him to your leaving. You might notice that he becomes anxious when he hears your car keys or observes you putting on your shoes. He might show anxiety when he hears the door leading to your garage – and your car – open.

You can desensitize him by helping him gradually achieve higher levels of comfort with the signs of your leaving. For example, grab your keys and shake them until you have his attention. Then, sit down without leaving. Or, open the door leading to your garage and car, step through it, and close it for a few seconds. Then, come back inside where he’s waiting. By repeating the departing motions over and over, you will help him grow accustomed to them. Eventually, they won’t make him feel anxious.  Treats are always nice, as well.

Dogs seldom enjoy being apart from their owners. Some become extremely nervous when they’re left alone. If your canine is showing signs of separation anxiety, use the tips above to help him slowly grow more comfortable with your absence.

When you adopt a dog, you must give him time to adjust to his new life as a member of your family. Try to see things from his point of view. He’s in an unfamiliar home and surrounded by unfamiliar people. Those who fed him in the past are gone. From his perspective, his future is uncertain. It might take him a few weeks to grow accustomed to the environment.

There are things you can do ahead of time to make the transition easier. In this article, we’ll provide a list of items you can use to prepare your home for your new canine companion.

Make A Veterinary Appointment

Animal shelters are not able to completely guard against diesases and viruses. Many of the animals that come to their facility are homeless and have not been properly vaccinated. After you bring your new dog home, take him to see a veterinarian as soon as possible, especially if you have other pets under your roof. The vet can provide the necessary vaccinations and make sure your doggie has a clean bill of health.

Establish Your Authority

Because canines are pack animals, they need a clearly-defined hierarchy of authority in order to feel comfortable. Many owners neglect to establish themselves as the leaders of the house in their dogs’ eyes. As a result, their canines will often challenge their authority by showing aggression or displaying other behavioral issues. Establish your authority early. Apply discipline when your pooch misbehaves, and praise him when he follows your commands.

Get A Crate

Crating is valuable for a few reasons. First, it is an effective method for housetraining your dog. Second, he’ll come to view his crate as his personal sanctuary to which he can withdraw when he chooses. Even though dogs enjoy the company of their owners, a busy environment can overwhelm and tire them. A crate provides refuge.

Buy The Essentials Before His Arrival

Your canine companion will need a variety of supplies, including food and water bowls, bedding, ID tags, treats, a few toys, and a leash for going on walks. Acquire these items before you bring him home. He’ll feel more comfortable with his place and role within your household.

In the beginning, your newly-adopted dog will seem hesitant in your home. He won’t fully understand his place or the rules of his new environment. He’ll want to explore, but may be uncertain regarding the flexibility he has to do so. Give him time to adjust. Canines are incredibly adaptable, and they grow accustomed to new environments quickly. That being said, you can pave the way for a seamless transition by following the above suggestions. With some love and patience you will find that your new pooch has become a trusted and loyal companion.

Dog grooming for our pet is needed to preserve their good appearance and moreover with dog grooming we can avoid unwanted health troubles with our pets. For this we should know a bit more about dog grooming…
Dog grooming books are a great learning material for people who want to groom their pets at home without having to regularly pay for professional services. Moreover, to people who want to make a career out of pet caring, dog grooming books may become a good course support and a step closer to getting a professional license. The number of publications is very large, and you may have difficulties choosing. The material can be ordered on eBay, but only after you check reviews and the author. A special place among dog grooming books is occupied by e-guides and other materials available for download on the Internet. Here are a few tips to make selection easier.

Clearly state your objectives before purchasing dog grooming books. Do you you want to learn how to take care of your pet or do you plan to open a business? In case you want to develop skills for business purposes it is worth mentioning the fact that studying dog grooming books is not enough; you’ll need qualifications from an institution specialized in dog grooming training. Then, check the list of contents! Most books are general in the approach, because they apply to almost all dog breeds. Try to identify the grooming element that raises most challenges for you: nail trimming, coat brushing, hair cutting or ear cleaning.

Dog grooming books can be more or less details on the topic that interests you. There should be chapters, sub-chapters, topics and subtopics included for just one subject alone to actually get comprehensive information. Depending on the author and the aim of the book, some materials will focus on equipment and supplies, others on grooming methods while many have a general content. Specialized books deserve all of our attention, because many professional groomers provide solutions to home dog grooming through individual publications dedicated to a certain topic only, which is discussed in detail.

Some dog grooming books cover medium and long-haired breeds while others discuss short-haired dogs only. Moreover, very professional materials will describe hair cut options available for dogs with heavy coats, but this kind of dog grooming books target professional groomers first and foremost. The same can be said about the physiological peculiarities of certain dog breeds that need grooming in more special conditions. This is the case with dog breeds that have hair in the eyes. If you lack experience with such breeds, you may want to cut this hair so as to improve vision, and you’d be making a great mistake. Good dog grooming books teach you how not to make such blunders!

Unquestionably the dog grooming is a necessity treatment for dogs. So there is a rising need for dog grooming training and visual dog grooming tips or how to videos for owners and professionals or anybody who wants to know more about. 
Most often used as a form of didactic material, dog grooming video files are often included in distance training for would-be groomers. There is almost no Internet course or learning program that does not include a dog grooming video for any lesson or section explained. People who prefer to train for a new profession at home depend on such materials to understand the practical parts of the occupation and eventually develop skills. At present a large number of Internet videos are available independently or as part of collections on the world wide web. Thus, whether for entertainment or sheerly practical, a dog grooming video could may provide good tips for dog care.

From a simple dog grooming video you could in fact learn how to trim the dog’s nails, for instance, and thus stop paying for professional services. However, the quality and the source of the video are very important. There are many amateurish materials that could teach you wrong and your attempts to groom the dog could be a huge failure. Make a good selection of your sources before you can decide whether the information is trustworthy or not. The validity of the information can be somehow confirmed by the quality of the video material as well.

The irresponsible application of the suggestions in a dog grooming video could lead to very unpleasant results for a pet’s coat. Grooming very hairy dogs is something to be left to professionals, and you could only carry out very simple tasks such as daily brushing and nail filing. The lack of proper tools could also prevent the implementation of the info explained in dog grooming video files. Plus, improvisations are a no no in the context of special dog coating.

The consequence of an incident resulting from the use of a dog grooming video may be the difficulty of convincing the pet to accept grooming in the future. For example, nail trimming is something most dogs resent; if you scare the animal once, chances of cutting nails quietly and in good conditions grow pretty scarce. Troubles come from the fact that the operations presented in demo dog grooming video materials seem easy, but the reason they appear so doable is because they are performed by professionals. The video characters most certainly know what they are doing, and they certainly have skill and experience in the field. When you lack both, home grooming can be a failure.

A healthy canine is a happy one. While the attention you give him will be a constant source of joy for him, the foods you provide are just as important to his long-term happiness. Sadly, many owners never learn how to best provide for their dog’s nutritional needs. Sometimes, they’ll serve the wrong foods and starve their pooch of the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are critical to his health. In other cases, owners serve meals that are too big, or they serve them too often; indeed, canine obesity is a growing problem.

Below, we’ll address four common questions that owners ask about meeting their canine’s nutritional needs. Every dog is different – so you might notice that your dog’s diet needs some tweaking.

“How Soon Can My Puppy Eat Adult Food?”

Puppies grow quickly, so the ingredients that are used in their food are formulated to support that growth. You should begin making the transition from puppy to adult meals when your pup has reached 80% of his full adult weight. That typically happens at the 9-month mark. It’s worth noting that all breeds are a little different. Puppies from a few larger breeds may need an additional 3 to 9 months before making the switch.

“How Much Food Should I Provide?”

Take your dog’s age, lifestyle, and size into account when you are trying to figure out how much and how often to feed him. Until a puppy reaches 3 months of age, feed him four times daily. After that, he should have three meals each day. Full grown dogs will be fine if they’re fed twice each day. If your dog is very active, you might need to serve bigger meals. If he gets very little exercise, serve smaller portions.

“Does The Brand Of Dog Food Matter?”

Yes and no. The brands that are sold in your local grocery store will normally be fine for your dog’s health. They’ve got the protiens, fats, vitamins, and nutrients he needs. That said, the brands that are more expensive will usually provide higher-quality dog food. You might need to visit a pet supply story or go online to buy them since they are seldom sold in grocery stores.

“Are Scraps From The Dinner Table Fine?”

It’s best to avoid giving your dog scraps. Even though a lot of pet owners do it, it canhave a long-term health impact. The reason is due to fat content. Scraps are often fatty, and they can be bad for your doggie’s tummy health. Meanwhile, he won’t have access to the nutrients that he needs to stay healthy. Instead offer your dog healthy bully sticks dog treats, that he will enjoy and not fell left out of your family dining experience.

Left to his own devices, your dog will not make healthy eating choices (like you might rather have pizza than a salad). He relies upon you to provide meals and dog treats that contain the ingredients his body requires. Over time, you’ll enjoy the benefits of his health through his loyal companionship.

The German Shepherd Dog also called the Alsatian comes literally from the German Deutscher Schäferhund. They are a relatively new breed of large-sized dog that dates from the late 19th century. They are part of the Herding group that was originally developed as a working dog for herding sheep.

The German Shepherds strength, intelligence and obedience they are often employed in police and military roles. The Alsatian is nearly always one of the top five global breeds.
The original dog was named Hektor Linksrhein. He so stunned Von Stephanitz that he purchased it and renamed him to Horand von Grafrath and founded the Society for the German Shepherd Dogs.
Horand von Grafrath became the focus of the society’s breeding programs and was bred with many other society member dogs.
The German Shepherds popularity has grown rapidly throughout the 20th Century, though taking dives in popularity in the early days due to genetic health issues from poor inbreeding and after the world wars with anti German sentiment. This caused the UK Kennel Club to rename it to “Alsatian Wolf Dog”, a while later the wolf dog addition was dropped and in the late seventies, the breed officially became the Alsatian Dog. The German Shepherd popularity was helped by animal actors such as Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. Now it is in most countries the third most popular dog breed.

They are a large dog of around 60 centimetres ( 22 and 26 inches) at the top of the back and weigh around 30 kilograms (60 lb).

The Alsatian’s face has a long square cut muzzle, a doomed forehead, a long neck, powerful jaws, large erect ears (that are often pulled back when on the move), black nose and brown, medium-sized eyes. With a bushy tail.

German Shepherds come in many colours, the normal versions are the tan/black and red/black types with black saddles and masks. Less common types include the sable, all-black, all-white, liver and blue varieties, which may not fit country breed standards. Alsatians have a double coat. A thick close dense outer coat, which sheds all year round and a thick undercoat. There is also the rare long-hair variant.
Like many working dogs, German Shepherds were bred for their intelligence, and are ranked as the third most intelligent breed of dog by Stanley Coren in his reference study and book “The Intelligence of Dogs”. This intelligence combined with the Alsatians power makes the breed desirable as guard, police, search and rescue dogs, being able to quickly learn various tasks and interpret instructions better than other large breeds.
Alsatians have a reputation for aggression and have been banned in areas as a result. Statistically, in the United States, the Alsatian is responsible for more unprovoked indiscriminate bites than any other breed, and have a reputation to attack smaller breeds of dogs.

Additionally research has shown that Alsatians are the breed third most likely to attack a person and in another report found that German Shepherds accounted for around half of the dog bites that needed medical attention, compared to a more typical 20% of bites requiring medical attention, not surprising with their strong jaws and scissor teeth.

The problem is not with the dog, but the owners. As with all intelligent active dog (or person), if they are not regularly exercised and kept busy, they can become troublesome. Good dog training and dog socialisation are crucial for a dog like the Alsatian. The German Shepherd is different from the collie, which a lot of its aggressiveness has been removed by breeding for shows, the German Shepherd has not lost this streak.

The German Shepherd are great with the family they know, but can be over protective of their home and family – why they are a great guard dog. This can give them an aloof personality.

Alsatians are rapid learners and are very obedient and not easily diverted, but due to their tough personality, you need to be very forceful with them.
The German Shepherd must have two good walks a day. They are not a dog for a busy family who cannot give them the time and attention. For this reason, busy couples often ask professional dog walkers such as London dog walking to help out by walking them for a couple of hours a day.
Poor breeding has led to common health problems, elbow and hip joint problems (dysplasia) which is painful for the dog and may cause arthritis. The German Shepherd also suffers from monorchidism (one testicle), weakness of temperament, and missing teeth, as well as folded or bent ears which never fully turn up when reaching adulthood. Due to the large and open nature of their ears, Shepherds also are prone to ear infections.

German Shepherds, like many deep chested dogs are prone to bloat, this is a very dangerous and often rapidly fatal problem, so if you think this may be a problem, go straight to the veterinary. This is a build up of gas in the stomach, caused by a number of different causes. The symptoms of distress for no apparent reason, a firm distension of the abdomen, general weakness, depression, problems breathing, hypersalivation, and retching without vomiting. A large percentage of dogs with bloat have cardiac arrhythmias (around 40 percent), loss of appetite, vomiting and weight loss.

The German Shepherd also suffers from Degenerative Myelopathy, or DM is a neurological disease and are predisposed to Von Willebrand Disease, a common generic bleeding disorder, which shows in variable degrees of bleeding tendency, usually in the form of easy bruising, nosebleeds and bleeding gums. .

In spite of these problems, the German Shepherd is robust with simple dog care and the average lifespan of a Alsatian is 7 – 10 years, which is normal for a large dog.

The German Shepherd has great olfactory sensitivity so is one of the most widely-used breeds in a wide variety of scent-work roles, including search and rescue, cadaver searching, narcotics detection, explosives detection, accelerant detection, and mine detection dog, amongst others.

So the Alsatian is a wonderful intelligent dog that will love you, if you have the time and energy for him. Not advised for busy working families.

Dog grooming is an essential part of dog care.  Dog grooming consists of a number of diverse jobs. Routine brushing and combing to eliminate dead hair, skin and general debris. Bathing and nail trimming, as well as maintaining your dog’s ears, eyes and mouth.
For good dog health you should groom daily, it is also a great moment for quality time and bonding with your pooch. This is a great time to pet your pooch. Dog grooming must be commenced early in the dogs life, build a daily routine, time of the day, place and do in the same way. When commencing dog grooming, be gentle, but decisive, that way he will not be anxious, but knows that he has to do it.
The brushing and combing will care for your dog’s coat, taking out all sorts of potential skin irritant and pests, giving a healthier and shinier coat. The exact type of grooming required depends on the dog breed, the below is non-specific and ideal for most dogs, but either check with the dog breeder, or find more information on the web, or your dog sitter should be able to help.
Bathing
Bathing is a vital part of dog grooming. There is no consensus on how often a specific dog or breed should be bathed. The trade off discussion turn around mother natures self grooming preserves natural body oils. However bathing, even with specific dog shampoos will bathe the natural essential oils away. So some people wait until the dog becomes dirty prior to washing. There could be a female / male bias, with the ladies normally preferring to wash regularly and more frequently. Generally a bath about every two months or so should be planned.
It is important in bring up a dog to introduce a dog to bathing whilst a puppy, so it comes naturally, and even look forward to it. Before a planned bathing of the dog it is best to brush the dog well.
For a stress free bath, plan the dog bath well, get everything you need at hand prior to getting the pooch. Bathing is especially difficult for those in large towns, with lack of space and without the luxury of shower rooms and utility rooms by the garden. For us city dwellers, we must take the dog up to the shower room.
Keeping a secure footing is important, so place the rubber mat in your shower. To evade ear problems, shield the ears by using cotton wool in the dog’s ears to prevent water ingress into the ears. Some dogs with open ears such as collies can be especially susceptible to ear infections.
  You do not want to shock your pooch so use warm water to rinse your dog. It is easier to use a shower or spray hose. Keep the nozzle head close to the animal and do not spray onto the dog’s face, as this could shock him.
Choosing the right dog shampoo is important, do not use human shampoos. Only use a little and start from the head and top and wash downward and toward the tail. Be careful to avoid the eyes. Important areas to spend time on bathing well are under the chin, particularly if the dog is a messy eater, behind the ears, around the toes and the rectum.
Finish by rinsing with warm water, ensuring all the shampoo is washed out.
The dog will remove a lot of the water by shaking, so watch out!, after this you can towel him down. Some people like also to use a hair dryer, mainly women again! This is not really needed unless you must take him out. It is better to finish drying off naturally inside.

The other parts of dog grooming and dog care will be covered later, including coat care, ear and teeth care and nail trimming

The Havanese is one of the Bichon type breeds, that includes Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Lowchen and Maltese The Havanese is a good-humoured small dog, toy dog that were bred to be good companions, so are good with children. They like to have peoples notice and will do tricks to catch peoples attention. This love for attention means they are not the choice for a working couple. They will often follow owners around the house, but are rarely overly possessive of their “ family”, so are great with other dogs, pets and other animals. They often like to eat with someone in the room, so stay there when they are eating, otherwise they may take their food with them and eat it as they walk, which can be messy. They are a “ true dog”, playing games such as tug of war with gusto. Like many toy dogs, they do not require long walks, but they do love attention. Professional Dog Walkers such as London Dog Walking, if doing grouped walks will pair them with similar dogs, rather than big energetic dogs.

For dog care they are relatively simple. One advantage of the Havanese is that they do not shed much. You may see on lists that they do not shed, this misleading as all hair follicles will have a cycle of growing and dying, shedding it hair, but this is variable and not often, so there is no strong cycle of hair shedding. The coat catches the hair and dander internally, so many people think it is non-allergenic, but they all release dander that can aggravate allergies. If you have an allergy sufferer in the house, have one to stay for a few days to check.

The Havanese has a slight wavy double coat, which is soft and light, with a denser undercoat.

The Havanese should ideally be brushed every day, as the fur has a tendency to mat. If not a show dog, you can trim the coat. Whilst they have a good coat, they do suffer in extreme cold, so in some areas you may need to buy sweaters for them.

When you bath them, dry with a towel and allow them to dry off naturally inside, as they are susceptible to skin problems if dried with a hair drier. It is a breed that for showing needs to keep a natural look, but for everyday looks and practicality may benefit from bows etc..

The original Harvanese were white, but now they occur in all types of coat colours and patterns.
The Havanese has  a sturdy appearance compared to most toy dog breeds. They have a weight range of about five Kgs ( 10-15 lbs). Its height measured at the withers is 220-290mm( roughly 10). It is an unusual dog in that the rump is higher than the shoulders.

They have a sprightly agile movement. They are good swimmers, but many of them do not like swimming, but be prudent when near waterparticularly if there are birds for them to run after.

They have almond eyes, with medium sized ears that are well covered and hang down. The Havanese are susceptible to infections and diseases of the ear, so regularly inspect their ears and clean them. From time to time they may require their inner hairs to be pulled by hand or tweezers. The tail arches over the back and is also well covered. They have very sensitive noses and are trained in some countries for search. They are easily trained so are often used in circus shows, tracking, hearing assistance dogs, mould, termite and drug search.

The Havanese routinely live around fourteen years. Like many other pure breeds they suffer from a  few genetically-linked disorders. The most common being liver disease, heart disease, cataracts and retinal dysplasia ( blots on the retina). It is advisable only to acquire Havanese from parent dogs who have clear eye certificates. Havanese sometimes develop brown tear stains, which is especially noticeable on those with white or light coats.

The dog originated from the now extent Bichon Tenerife and was taken to Havana by original settlers and traders. Being popular in Havana in Cuba. Internationally the Havanese is a new breed, taking off in the seventies from only 10 animals in the United States. Though they were common prior to the Cuban Revolution, they, like many trappings of aristocracy were culled. Rapid growth in popularity now makes it difficult to find a puppy.

A great family dog that should be considered.

The German Shepherd Dog also called the Alsatian comes literally from the German Deutscher Schäferhund.  They are a relatively new breed of large-sized dog originating in the late 19th century. Originally a herding dog, particularly for sheep.

Often employed by the military and police for their obedience and intelligence. The Alsatian is nearly always one of the top five global breeds.
The original dog was named Hektor Linksrhein. Hecktor so impressed Von Stephanitz that he bought it and changed the dogs name to Horand von Grafrath and founded the Society for the Alsatian Dogs.
Horand von Grafrath became the centre-point of the society’s breeding programs and was mated with many other society member dogs.
The German Shepherds popularity has increased quickly throughout the 20th Century, though taking dives in popularity in the early days due to health problems from poor breeding and after the world wars with anti German feelings. This caused the UK Kennel Club to rename it to “Alsatian Wolf Dog”, a while later the wolf dog appendage was removed and in 1977, the breed officially became the German Shepherd Dog. The Alsatian popularity was fuelled by animal actors such as Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. Now it is globally the third most popular dog breed.

They are a large dog of around 60 centimetres ( 22 and 26 inches) at the withers and weigh around 30 kilograms ( sixty lb).

The Alsatian’s face has a long square cut muzzle, a doomed forehead, a long neck, powerful jaws, big erect ears (that are often pulled back when on the move), black nose and brown, medium-sized eyes. With a bushy tail.
 
German Shepherds come in many colours, the normal versions are the red/black and tan/black varieties with black saddles and masks. Less common versions include the sable, all-black, all-white, liver and blue varieties, which may not fit country breed standards. Alsatians have a double coat. A dense close thick outer coat, which sheds continually and a thick undercoat. The long-hair variety is rarer.
Like many working dogs, German Shepherds were bred for their intelligence,  and are ranked as the third most intelligent breed of dog by Stanley Coren in his reference study and book “The Intelligence of Dogs”. This attribute combined with their strength makes the breed desirable as guard, police, search and rescue dogs, being able to quickly learn various tasks and interpret instructions better than other large breeds.
German Shepherds have a reputation for aggression and have been banned in areas as a result. Statistically, in the United States, they are responsible for more random bites than any other dog breed, and have a reputation to attack smaller breeds of dogs.

Additionally research has shown that German Shepherds are the third most likely dog breed to attack someone and in a different study, German Shepherds accounted for around half of the dog bites that required medical attention, compared to a more normal 20% of bites requiring medical treatment, not a surprise with their powerful jaws and sharp canine teeth.
 
There is no problem with the Alsatian breed, it is the fault of the owners. As with all intelligent active dog (or child), if they are not regularly active and kept occupied, they can become troublesome. The German Shepherd must have puppy socialisation and good instruction from an early stage. The Alsatian is different from the collie, where a lot of its aggressiveness has been breed out from show strains, the Alsatian has not lost this streak.

They can bond very well with their family, however they can become over-protective of their family and territory. This can give them an aloof personality.

Alsatians learn well and are very obedient and not easily diverted, but due to their strong personality,  you need to be very firm with them.
The Alsatian will need to have two good walks a day. They are not a dog for a busy family without time for attention.  For this reason, busy families regularly ask dog walkers to help out by walking them for a couple of hours a day.
Poor breeding has led to common genetic health issues, elbow and hip joint problems (dysplasia) which often causes the dog pain and often causes arthritis. The German Shepherd also is susceptible from monorchidism (one testicle), weakness of temperament, and missing teeth, as well as folded or bent ears which never fully turn up when reaching adulthood. The German Shepherd is often has ear problems due to his large and open ears.

German Shepherds, like many large bodied dogs are prone to bloat, this is a very dangerous and often rapidly fatal problem, so if you think this may be a problem, go straight to the veterinary. This is a gas build up in the stomach, caused for varying reasons. The symptoms of distress for no apparent reason, a firm distension of the abdomen, general weakness, depression, problems breathing, hypersalivation, and retching without vomiting. A large percentage of dogs with bloat have cardiac arrhythmias ( forty percent in one study), loss of appetite, vomiting and weight loss.

The German Shepherd often suffers from Degenerative Myelopathy, or DM is a neurological disease and are predisposed to Von Willebrand Disease, a common inherited bleeding disorder, which shows in differing degrees of bleeding tendency, usually in the form of easy bruising, nosebleeds and bleeding gums. .

In spite of these problems, the Alsatian is robust with simple dog care and the average lifespan of a German Shepherd is around 9 years, which is normal for a dog of this size.

The German Shepherd has a great nose so is one of the most widely-used breeds in a wide variety of scent-work roles, including cadaver searching, search and rescue, explosives detection, narcotics detection and mine detection.

So the Alsatian is a great clever breed that will bond well with you, if you have the time and dedication for him. Not advised for busy working families.