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)

A COUPLE OF THINGS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER

I’m always researching different things to write about and I love it when I find products that I think are worth your while to check into. Today I’m reviewing two products….nothing you haven’t heard of before, but you might want to check into if you don’t already use them.

The first one is the “StarMark Clicker Dog Training System.” If you’ve never tried clicker training, you should really give it a try. Not only is an excellent way to help obedience train your dog, but it is a great double handling tool as well. It’s small and compact and can fit right in your pocket. If I take one of the dogs in the car with me and I stop at a store, I have the clicker in my pocket. When I come out of the store, I click it and if the dog is lying down in the back seat, he gets up quickly knowing that I’m walking towards the car. Using the clicker will get his attention all the time. It’s also funny to watch the reactions from people walking across the parking lot as well knowing that they’re hearing something and they don’t know where it’s coming from. They are great to take with you if you are taking your dogs on a hike. Many times the dogs love to go off and investigate on their own if they are off the leash. Give a couple of clicks on this gadget and you’ll see that they’ll run back to you once again. These little gadgets are so inexpensive, that I have a couple of them. One I take with me when I go out with the dogs and the other one remains at home. If you want to get your dogs attention fast, the use of this clicker will do it!

From the description of the product: The StarMark Clicker Training System is based on the scientific principles of Classical and Operant Conditioning, 2 proven and well-respected methods of modifying your dog’s behavior and enhancing his training experience. Teach him to repeat behaviors that lead to rewards. The ergonomic Clicker fits comfortably in your hand and features an easy-to-press raised button and a stainless steel rust-resistant clicker element. To reward your dog, click the button and give your pet a treat, so he will learn to associate that action with a reward. Use the included step-by-step training guide for complete details. The guide is approved by the Training Directors of Triple Crown Academy. Clicker attaches easily to a keychain or lanyard, so you can always have it close by.

The other product that I came across today, I thought fit in so well with the clicker system so that’s why I’m including it here as well. It’s called the Canine Hardware Treat Tote. Can I tell you how much I love this handy little tote idea? It’s simplistic in concept but so functional in design. How many times do you put a dog cookie or treat in your pocket, forget that it’s there and when you remember it, the treat is not anything but crumbles? I hate that when it happens. Now you can clip this little tote on your belt and forget about the mess you would normally have in your pocket. It’s small enough to wear and for those who are “fashion conscious” it comes in a choice of colors. It also comes in small and large sizes.

From the product description: Perfect for afternoons in the park or training sessions, the Treat Tote is a small pouch designed to carry a handful of treats for your dog. The versatile Treat Tote has a specially designed clip that slips onto your pocket or belt. Keep crumbs out of your pocket and a smile on your dog's face.

I think these two products work well in conjunction with one another. If you are training your dog with the Clicker program, you would be giving him a treat as a reward. So if you have to carry the treat with you, don’t mess up your pockets, try something like the treat tote. In my opinion, both of these products work well together.

Both of these products are inexpensive but can be so rewarding to the pet owner, trainer, or show person. It’s a win – win solution!


My rating: Clicker system: (4), Treat tote: (4)

A PUPPY'S BILL OF RIGHTS

A PUPPY'S BILL OF RIGHTS
By
Barbara J. Galasso


A puppy has a right to have a responsible breeder who studied his pedigree and parents and has made sure they have good hips and temperament before they consummated the breeding.

A puppy has a right to be bred by a breeder that researched pedigrees before the breeding has taken place to ensure that his health won’t be compromised by many genetic faults.

A puppy has a right to have a mother who is healthy and strong and up to date on her shots, worming, and is checked by a veterinarian before she is bred.

A puppy has a right to have a mother who is properly fed a high quality diet, given clean water, and supplemented with vitamins to ensure the health of her babies.

A puppy has a right to have a mother who has proper shelter, who is kept out of the cold or the heat and has a place to nest.

A puppy has the right to have a breeder know how to whelp a litter by experience, or reading books about the procedure and to have a veterinarian on call in case of an emergency.

A puppy has a right to be fed a high quality puppy food and supplements right up to the time he goes to his new home.

A puppy has the right to be up to date on his vaccinations and worming and checked by a veterinarian before he leaves his breeder’s house.

A puppy has a right to have toys and balls and bones to chew on to stimulate his desire for curiosity.

A puppy has a right to be socialized, touched, played with and trained so he develops character and has the right start in life.

Puppies have a right to be groomed, bathed and have his nails clipped to ensure that he looks and feels clean.

A puppy has the right to expect that his breeder will do everything in his power to find the most loving and responsible home that he can.

A puppy has the right to have a breeder who will stand behind his sales contract and make sure that he is safe and wanted by his new owner and if need be take him back or find him another home to ensure that he is.

A puppy has a right to have a breeder look out for his welfare for the rest of his life by taking him back to where he was born no matter how old he is.

A puppy has a right to have a breeder that micro-chips his litter to make sure if he is ever lost that there is a way to help him find his way back home again.

A puppy has a right to be socialized and loved by people so he develops confidence in this big old world that he was born into.

A puppy has a right not to be born into this world if the above criteria are not, or can not be met.


My rating: responsible breeders: (4), backyard breeders: (1)