If any breed of dog is most deserving of the title Noble with Natural Beauty then that dog is the German Shepherd.

He is a dog with elegant yet flowing lines, glamorous to behold, with a shining coat, erect ears, and an intelligent expression that will command attention wherever he is seen. His eyes indicate the love and affection he has for those who care for him and his sweeping tail will show his mood whether it be gay or sad.

By nature a German Shepherd is wary of strangers, though once one is accepted by him he is a friend for life. He is an efficient obedience worker, quick to learn and what is learned will never be forgotten. It is an active breed and thrives on work—little is beyond its capabilities. Fleet of foot, powerful yet graceful and nimble, he is the epitome of those qualities considered to be ideal within a dog.

He loves human companionship and will respond to his owner’s mood whether this be lying quietly by his side or romping across the fields; indeed, at all times, his one desire is to be with you and to please you.

He has a keen sense of  humor and enjoys playful games yet, in defense of those he loves, can become a frightening adversary that one would be well advised to keep clear of. He can fit into a flat or a mansion as the need may be, for he is happy wherever you are happy.

In bringing a German Shepherd into your home, you are making an addition to your family and he will quickly feel a part of it. Your house, your garden, your possessions and in fact all that you own will from then on be in his special care. He needs your love, but he needs also correct attention to his grooming, exercise, food, and general welfare. Given these, your German Shepherd will devote his very life to you and you will be the richer for this and for the companionship and love you both will share.

In a short work such as this, one cannot look too deeply into the history of the breed for this would take up a volume in itself. However, it is important that all Shepherd owners have an insight, brief though it may be, into the development of the breed for it is this development that has given us the German Shepherd we see today. Only a few early dogs and only one person is named in this history, though it will readily be appreciated that there were many dogs and many people whose efforts and sacrifices have furthered the growth of the German Shepherd.

Almost from the very dawn of mankind the dog has figured prominently. Early man quickly recognized the dog’s ability to complement those faculties in which he was weak. The dog could run better, see better, hear better and had a far more acute sense of smell than man.

Wild dogs were captured and reared within man’s encampment, and in return for food, shelter, and protection, would help man hunt and give him advance warning of predatory animals. This was the beginning, and as man settled from his nomadic wanderings his requirements of the dog changed. He now needed more diversity in his dogs. There were those for hunting, those for protecting his home and family when he was away, those for carrying small burdens, and those for helping tend his flocks and cattle. The dawn of the pastoral shepherd dog had arrived. Throughout the world slow development was taking place, but the pace quickened in Europe where man himself was raising his standards more rapidly.

The size, coat, and color of sheepdogs at this time varied greatly, dependent upon many factors. The weather clearly dictated that dogs working in cold areas would have profuse coats while those of temperate climates would have shorter coats. Areas where predatory animals were found in large numbers would need more powerful dogs than those lands dominated by man. The wolf, the bear, the large birds of prey—all would influence man’s choice of sheepdog.

In Germany, as in France, the United Kingdom, Holland, and others, the growth of large industrialized cities meant that predators were declining quickly and also that there was a greater awareness of the excellence of the shepherding dogs of different areas. The establishment of dogs of fixed type was now at hand although there were still great variations to be found from one area to another. Breeders would meet and discuss the relative merits and shortcomings of certain dogs, and it followed that dogs of high merit were much in demand as breeders tried to fix into their stock the sterling qualities seen in dogs from other areas. It came to pass that in Germany, in 1891, a group of enthusiasts formed the Phylax Society with the aim of fostering and standardizing native German breeds. The society was short-lived and in 1894 it was disbanded, but it had sown the seeds from which the German Shepherd was to emerge.

At this time Capt. Max von Stephanitz appears in the breed’s history and indeed it is this man who is acclaimed as the father of the breed. Von Stephanitz had long admired the qualities of intelligence, strength, and ability found in many   native sheepdog breeds but had yet to see one which embodied all of his ideals. Chance was to play its part, and  while visiting a show with a friend in 1899, he saw a dog that impressed him greatly to all accounts so much that then and there he purchased the dog and promptly formed a society, the Verein fur deutsche Schaferhunde or SV as it is called. This was a milestone in the breed’s history and marked the beginning of a new era for it. From this date the German Shepherd as a specific breed had arrived.

The dog was called Hektor Linksrhein but was later named Horand v Grafeth by Von Stephanitz, who used the animal as the basis on which much future development would be made. Horand was greatly admired by many breeders who were quick to use him in their breeding programs. Not surprisingly, he became the dog that best exemplified the goals of early breeders.

Horand’s most celebrated son was Hektor v Shwaben, who in turn sired Heinz v Starkenburg and the litter brothers Beowolf and Pilot.

Each of these dogs in turn sired many progeny and became pillars in the development of the German Shepherd. Von Stephanitz was a cavalry captain and was ideally suited to impose his strong will over the SV of which he was president. In this capacity and with uncompromising dedication he directed the breeding programs. The dogs of Thuringia, Frankonia, and Wurttemburg were all used, each area providing dogs which had special merits of tail and ear carriage, size, color, and temperament.

The degree of inbreeding was necessarily high at this time, for although it carried risks of incorporating faults, it likewise enabled the breeders to fix permanently those qualities which today are such features of the breed. Von Stephanitz believed above all else that the German Shepherd should be bred for utility and intelligence and this was to become his motto. It was this adaptability that was later to make the dog the world’s greatest all-rounder.

With the oncoming of the twentieth century, and having seen the SV develop into the largest single breed club in the world, Von Stephanitz was turning his attention to the long-term future. He was able to foresee that in a growing industrialized nation the role of the pastoral shepherd dog would decline and the breed must be able to adapt to other work if it were to continue as a functional animal.

It seemed that the very qualities that made the German Shepherd such an exceptional sheepdog could well be put to good use by government departments. This was the thinking of Von Stephanitz and this was to be his next campaign. As always, he achieved this and during World War I was seen as messenger dog, rescue dog, sentry dog, and personal guard dog. Servicemen from the USA, UK, and the Commonwealth would see first hand the dog’s bravery, intelligence, and steadfastness, and many stories were taken back home. Not surprisingly, a number of dogs were acquired by servicemen and transported home with them.

In 1919, when the English Kennel Club gave the breed a separate register, some 54 animals were included, but by 1926 the ranks had swelled to 8,058, such was the unprecedented success of the dog. At the end of the War it was thought that the breed would not flourish were the word German to appear in its name and it was therefore decided to call the breed the Alsatian Wolf Dog after the German-French border area of Alsace-Lorraine. The “Wolf Dog” tag was later to be dropped—again as it was felt that this would prejudice the breed. Thus we had for many years the misnomer of the breed brought about by national hostilities. In 1977, following numerous campaigns by breeders the name of the breed was changed back to the German Shepherd Dog by which it is known in the USA, Australia, and most other countries.

(Left: Teacher and author Helen Keller hugs her German shepherd on a garden lawn.)

With the breed arriving in Britain mainly on the strength of its reputation as a war dog, its sterling qualities as a sheepdog were largely overlooked. At that time Britain already had a string of quality working sheepdogs such as Collies, Corgis, and Old English Sheepdogs. Therefore, the pattern of development of the German Shepherd in the USA, UK, and Australia was to be dictated by its adaptability. The Seeing Eye dogs in the USA and Britain were predominantly German Shepherds and only later did the Labrador challenge this position.

At the outbreak of World War II, the trained dogs of the Allied Forces were seen wherever the troops traveled, spreading the breed’s popularity like a blanket around the world.

Tags: GSD HISTORY

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Cocker Spaniel Breed Standard
Sporting Group

General Appearance
The Cocker Spaniel is the smallest member of the Sporting Group. He has a sturdy, compact body and a cleanly chiseled and refined head, with the overall dog in complete balance and of ideal size. He stands well up at the shoulder on straight forelegs with a topline sloping slightly toward strong, moderately bent, muscular quarters. He is a dog capable of considerable speed, combined with great endurance. Above all, he must be free and merry, sound, well balanced throughout and in action show a keen inclination to work. A dog well balanced in all parts is more desirable than a dog with strongly contrasting good points and faults.

Size, Proportion, Substance
Size-- The ideal height at the withers for an adult dog is 15 inches and for an adult bitch, 14 inches. Height may vary one-half inch above or below this ideal. A dog whose height exceeds 15½ inches or a bitch whose height exceeds 14½ inches shall be disqualified. An adult dog whose height is less than 14½ inches and an adult bitch whose height is less than 13½ inches shall be penalized. Height is determined by a line perpendicular to the ground from the top of the shoulder blades, the dog standing naturally with its forelegs and lower hind legs parallel to the line of measurement. Proportion--The measurement from the breast bone to back of thigh is slightly longer than the measurement from the highest point of withers to the ground. The body must be of sufficient length to permit a straight and free stride; the dog never appears long and low.

Head
To attain a well proportioned head, which must be in balance with the rest of the dog, it embodies the following: Expression--The expression is intelligent, alert, soft and appealing. Eyes--Eyeballs are round and full and look directly forward. The shape of the eye rims gives a slightly almond shaped appearance; the eye is not weak or goggled. The color of the iris is dark brown and in general the darker the better. Ears--Lobular, long, of fine leather, well feathered, and placed no higher than a line to the lower part of the eye. Skull--Rounded but not exaggerated with no tendency toward flatness; the eyebrows are clearly defined with a pronounced stop. The bony structure beneath the eyes is well chiseled with no prominence in the cheeks. The muzzle is broad and deep, with square even jaws. To be in correct balance, the distance from the stop to the tip of the nose is one half the distance from the stop up over the crown to the base of the skull. Nose--of sufficient size to balance the muzzle and foreface, with well developed nostrils typical of a sporting dog. It is black in color in the blacks, black and tans, and black and whites; in other colors it may be brown, liver or black, the darker the better. The color of nose harmonizes with the color of the eye rim. Lips--The upper lip is full and of sufficient depth to cover the lower jaw. Teeth--Teeth strong and sound, not too small and meet in a scissors bite.

Neck, Topline, Body
Neck--The neck is sufficiently long to allow the nose to reach the ground easily, muscular and free from pendulous "throatiness." It rises strongly from the shoulders and arches slightly as it tapers to join the head. Topline--sloping slightly toward muscular quarters. Body--The chest is deep, its lowest point no higher than the elbows, its front sufficiently wide for adequate heart and lung space, yet not so wide as to interfere with the straightforward movement of the forelegs. Ribs are deep and well sprung. Back is strong and sloping evenly and slightly downward from the shoulders to the set-on of the docked tail. The docked tail is set on and carried on a line with the topline of the back, or slightly higher; never straight up like a Terrier and never so low as to indicate timidity. When the dog is in motion the tail action is merry.

Forequarters
The shoulders are well laid back forming an angle with the upper arm of approximately 90 degrees which permits the dog to move his forelegs in an easy manner with forward reach. Shoulders are clean-cut and sloping without protrusion and so set that the upper points of the withers are at an angle which permits a wide spring of rib. When viewed from the side with the forelegs vertical, the elbow is directly below the highest point of the shoulder blade. Forelegs are parallel, straight, strongly boned and muscular and set close to the body well under the scapulae. The pasterns are short and strong. Dewclaws on forelegs may be removed. Feet compact, large, round and firm with horny pads; they turn neither in nor out.

Hindquarters
Hips are wide and quarters well rounded and muscular. When viewed from behind, the hind legs are parallel when in motion and at rest. The hind legs are strongly boned, and muscled with moderate angulation at the stifle and powerful, clearly defined thighs. The stifle is strong and there is no slippage of it in motion or when standing. The hocks are strong and well let down. Dewclaws on hind legs may be removed.

Coat
On the head, short and fine; on the body, medium length, with enough undercoating to give protection. The ears, chest, abdomen and legs are well feathered, but not so excessively as to hide the Cocker Spaniel's true lines and movement or affect his appearance and function as a moderately coated sporting dog. The texture is most important. The coat is silky, flat or slightly wavy and of a texture which permits easy care. Excessive coat or curly or cottony textured coat shall be severely penalized. Use of electric clippers on the back coat is not desirable. Trimming to enhance the dog's true lines should be done to appear as natural as possible.

Tags: Cocker Spaniel Breed Standard

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Cockers are one of the most beautiful breeds of dogs.  Their long coats can be absolutely spectacular looking.  All breeds of puppies are cute, but Cockers remain cute all of their lives.  A well-groomed Cocker will definitely turn heads.

Cockers love people and are very devoted pets.  It's a very people-oriented breed.  Almost all Cockers love to be with people, and are usually happiest if they are right by the side of their owner. It's a very happy breed. 

You'll often hear Cockers referred to as "merry".  They just seem to be enjoying themselves most of the time.  All you have to do is watch that tail wag, and you can tell when a Cocker is happy...  which most of the time is.  Most Cockers are playful and fun to be around.  They'll often make you laugh.  Imagine a dolphin, with fur and legs.  A playful, happy, merry tail-wagger...  that's the Cocker Spaniel.

Cockers are physically smaller than many of today's most popular breeds, such as Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds.  This means you spend less on food, clean up less poop, can keep the dog in smaller areas, have an easier time physically controlling and transporting the dog, and that the dog will require less exercise.

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Deafness

American cocker spaniels (and especially English cocker spaniels) have been reported with cases of congenital deafness.  Most instances of congenital deafness are caused 3-4 weeks after birth due to the degeneration of blood supply to the inner ear or cochlea.  This type of deafness is associated with white pigmentation (i.e. white hair, blue eyes) and is permanent.  Congenital deafness may affect one or both ears.  A puppy that fails to wake up during a loud noise is likely to have bilateral deafness.  The brain stem auditory evoked response (BAER) test is used to diagnose deafness in dogs.  Bilaterally deaf dogs are difficult to train and may develop behavioral problems as they are easily startled.  Most often these dogs are discarded at animal shelters.  Many breed clubs such as the Dalmatian Club of America have adopted the practice of euthanizing all their deaf puppies.  Resources do exist for training deaf dogs such as materials on teaching them sign language.  It is recommended deaf dogs are not bred.

Autoimmune: Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA)

Cocker spaniels have a predisposition for autoimmune hemolytic anemia  (AIHA).  In AIHA, the dog's own immune system attacks its blood cells.  In some cases the cause is known such as AIHA secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).  In other cases, the cause is unknown but possibly due to bacterial infections, medications or vaccines.  Cocker spaniels are particularly affected with the acute form of AIHA. Symptoms include pale complexion (i.e. the gums), fatigue, and sometimes jaundice.  A swollen abdomen is also indicative due to an enlarged liver.  Diagnosis is made by physical examination and blood tests.  Treatment includes the use of steroids as they subdue the immune response.  Blood may be transfused if too much hemoglobin is lost.  If steroids do not provide adequate results, chemotherapy drugs such as cyclophosphamide or azathioprine are given as well.  Most forms of AIHA are treatable but death may occur due to blood loss and related complications.  Cocker spaniels with AIHA should not be bred.

Autoimmune: Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Autoimmune thyroiditis also results in hypothyroidism (see below).  Studies have concluded American cocker spaniels have a high prevalence for autoimmune thyroiditis.  The cockers' immune system forms antibodies that attack its own T3, T4, and  thyroglobulin, a substance necessary for forming thyroid hormones.  Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment are similar to those listed below under hypothyroidism except diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis includes the presence of thyroid antibodies in the blood.

Hypothyroidism

The cocker spaniel has a predisposition for hypothyroidism.  Hypothyroidism results when its body fails to produce sufficient amounts of thyroid hormone.  Thyroid hormone increases the metabolism rate and is necessary for normal regulation.  Dogs are most commonly affected with secondary hypothyroidism: that is the thyroid gland becomes hindered in some way.   In this case, the hindrance is most likely caused by a space-occupying tumor between the ages 4-10 years.  Hypothyroidism my also occur via autoimmune destruction of the thyroid gland.  Symptoms are related to a slowed metabolism including mental dullness, exercise intolerance, lethargy, weight gain (without increase food consumption), hypothermia, dry skin, and excessive shedding or hair loss.  With hair loss, darkening of skin and itching may also occur.  Infertility may occur.  In severe cases, thickening of the skin results giving the dog's face a puffy appearance.  Lethargy may progress to stupor and coma.  Diagnosis is made by blood test.  Treatment is provided by thyroid hormone replacement according to blood levels.

Skin Problems: Primary Keratinization Disorder or Primary Seborrhea

Primary seborrhea is commonly recognized in the cocker spaniel.  Primary seborrhea is caused by overproduction of skin cells including sebaceous (oil) cells.  The skin appears greasy and scaly with a foul smell.  The trunk, back, and ears are most commonly affected.  Itching varies among those affected. Diagnosis is done by biopsy.  Treatment includes the administration of retinoids (vitamin A derivatives) such as isotretinoin.  Concurrent treatment with antifungals may be indicated as primary seborrhea may be associated with yeast infection.  Routine use of antiseborrheic shampoos and moisturizers is also recommended

Skin Problems: Food Allergies

Studies have shown the American cocker spaniel is at risk for developing food allergies.  A food allergy is a result of the immune system responding to certain foods.  The most likely symptoms of a food allergy are itching in the ears in feet.  A closer inspection will reveal reddened and swollen skin in the affected areas.  The affected areas may appear bumpy and feel hot.  To a varying degree, the dog may experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms as well such as fecal mucus, fecal blood, and frequent stools; all symptoms of colitis.  It may be possible for the dog to act weakly as well.  The diagnosis of food allergies is done by the elimination diet.  During the elimination diet the dog is fed one starch and one protein (i.e. pork and potatoes).  After about 8-12 weeks of this diet, in the absence of allergy symptoms, different foods are introduced one by one to see if an allergic reaction occurs.  Each new food introduced into the diet is trialed for about 1-2 weeks.  If no allergy occurs another food will be added to the diet.  The most common cause of food allergies in dogs are beef, chicken, milk, eggs, corn, wheat, and soy.  Once the offending food is identified it can be avoided the dog's diet.

Urinary Tract Problems

Although Sheldon Gerstenfeld, V.M.D., author of ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs, claims American cocker spaniels are prone to urological disorders this author is unable to substantiate this claim through a review of current literature.  Two studies in this subject were in fact conducted on English cocker spaniels not American.  If urological problems do occur in American cocker spaniels they have not been well documented.

SOURCE: mycockerspaniel.com

Tags: American Cocker Spaniel

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Now that you have purchased your new German shepherd dog/puppy, there are some crucial steps you must follow. One of the most important aspect in owning a "dog" is the training and social-behavior of your new family member.

The procedure of dog training is not difficult if you enjoy it. The fundamental is in the "dedication" to you and your dog.  You must be committed and enjoy the process. If this is not your piece of cake, you should take your German shepherd dog/puppy to an "experts" dog trainer. (NOT all dog trainers have "expert" skills)

A well bred German shepherd is willing to please, a quick learner and takes pride in his accomplishments. You will be very surprised how quickly he learns and how-proud you will be. Three are plenty of books, videotapes, seminars and training classes available. How-ever, most people end up with a dog who's some-what trained. If this is good enough for you, please consider a different breed.

If you choose to train your German shepherd dog yourself, use a method that has a starting point (basic) and different levels of training (advance). This process will give you and your dog an opportunity to strengthen the bond between you. This will also provide both of you a better chance in success and lot's of fun. Please, do not compete with your dog training as "you vs. your dog". Training is about teaching your dog the things he needs to learn, with correct manners and to present himself in proper conduct in society. You need to approach this task patiently,  with love and respect for your dog.

Training, learning and practice need to become part of your dog's daily life, which means your dog needs to be part of your life. So bring him in! Let him sleep in your bedroom and practice his "sits" in the kitchen. The more opportunities for interaction and practice you have, the faster your dog will learn and the more reliably he will respond.

You need to be positive in your training. Positive support is vital to your dog's learning progress. If all you ever do is tell your dog "no" your relationship with your dog is going to be poor. Praise him as often as possible, get excited when he delivers results for you and your dog. Reward the small stuff and bigger things will surely follow. Make it fun for you and your dog.

Yelling at or hitting your pet is wrong and it is an abuse! If you need help in your training do not be shy about getting some professional assistance. Dog training succeeds by degrees, creativity and patience. Increase the length of time and the number of situations in which your dog will execute a command, and you look for new ways to use what he knows so you can continue to develop and strengthen the bond between you and your dog.

Tags: GSD PHILIPPINES

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The German Shepherd Dog has a long history of working, even though the dog breed itself is only just over 100 years old. This dog breeds superior intelligence and trainability combined with a rock solid temperament also makes the GSD a perfect family pet and companion. And that's just the beginning of this dog breeds brave and historic background.

Max von Stephanitz, developer of this breed, envisioned a dog breed of tremendous character, great working ability, utter loyalty as well as high intelligence. He thought that above all "Utility is the true criterion of beauty" and developed the breed with this in mind.  Just so you'll know, this is a natural dog breed, unchanged with no additional need of surgical "enhancements" of any type such as ear or tail docking.

Jack of all trades, this dog breed can do it all, and do it all well. It is often said that no other dog can do so many different things as well as a German Shepherd. Several other breeds may do one specific task better, but no single dog breed can perform such a wide variety of tasks overall as well as the GSD.

Tags: Alfechekarl Gsd Philippines

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