I’ve gathered some ideas to help make your life a little bit easier when you’re looking for solutions to some of your pet questions.
Just because summer is now officially over (boo hoo) doesn’t mean that ticks and fleas are still not looking for tasty drops of your or your dogs blood to help sustain them through the cooler months. Nope these tiny, itty bitty “yuckies” are not going away just yet. If you plan on hiking with your dogs, still wear lighter colored clothes to make ticks stand out. Spray your clothes with a product like Repel’s Permanone which has a chemical called permethrin. You can also use a product containing oil of lemon eucalyptus such as Repel Lemon eucalyptus Insect Repellent to use on your skin. I spray my dog’s everyday with a mixture of Lavender Essence and water to help repel these and other “buggy” creatures.
The fleas are still biting so try dabbing a drop or two of lemon essential oil (like lemon balm or lemongrass) on the back of your dogs’ neck and on his rump. The citrus oil contains a powerful chemical called linalool that is toxic to fleas but not to dogs. The fleas should move on.
For the persistent little buggers (fleas) that reside in your house, here’s a trick that seems to work. Salt…..it is the perfect de-bugger. Just sprinkle a liberal dusting on rugs and carpets, banish pets from the room for a few hours, and then vacuum thoroughly. Repeat twice a week as needed. Salt dehydrates flea larvae that hatch from eggs deposited deep in carpeting, arresting the insects’ life cycle.
Has your dog put his nose where it doesn’t belong and got tangled with a skunk? Here are a couple of remedies to help your dog smell like a rose once again! Rub a can or two worth of beer into his coat, then rinse with water and bathe him with doggy shampoo to remove any beer scent. Beer’s yeast cultures will penetrate the skunk sprays’ water resistant oils so the brew’s carbonic acid can dissolve them. Plus, the alcohol will kill odor causing bacteria, resulting in a fresh smelling dog once again. Then you can sit down and enjoy the rest of the “six pack” of beer knowing that all is well with your dog once again.
Another idea for a skunk smelling dog is to mix ¼ cup of baking soda, 1 tsp. of liquid soap and 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide. Work it into the pet’s fur, then rinse. Caution – keep the mixture away from his eyes! Hydrogen peroxide neutralizes the sulfur compounds in a skunk’s spray to render them odorless, while the other ingredients leave fur smelling clean.
Got a dog that hates going for rides in the car because he gets sick all the time? All dogs love cookies, but give him one gingersnap cookie 10 minutes before you leave the house. If the trip will be a longer time, give him another cookie while en route. The ginger in the cookie will stimulate the flow of his digestive enzymes to help settle his stomach, so you both can get to the destination without an incident.
We all know that German Shepherds are notorious for shedding their fur all year long. They leave their calling card where ever they go from room to room. My house dog Amber has little area rugs that I put out for her to lay on. Well she also thinks that that is her invitation to lie on my bath rug as well. I hate that when she does that. The last thing I want to do when I come out of the shower is to step on a hairy bath rug. So I found an excellent and quick way to pick up the loose dog hair lying on my bath rug without using the vacuum cleaner that tries to eat the rug. I use my “squeegee” type “thing a ma gig” that I use to wipe away the excess water on the walls of my shower. I just take it and run it across the rug and like magic it gathers any of the loose hair so I can easily pick it up and throw it in the trash. Simple and it works!
Does your dog need to go on a diet? If cutting back his food consumption is leaving your dog begging for more, there are a couple of things that you can do. Try adding some vegetables like string beans or carrots to his daily meal. This way you won’t be adding very many calories and he’ll feel fuller. Also recommended by a vet, to slim him down while satisfying his appetite, gradually substitute 1/3 of his usual food portion with canned PURE pumpkin. The low-cal addition is high in fiber, which will prevent hunger pangs.
I hope you can use some or all of these tips to make living with your dogs just a little bit easier and without breaking the bank.
Showing posts with label dog nutrition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog nutrition. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
PICA - NOW JUST WHAT THE HECK DOES THAT MEAN?
I don’t care how long I’ve owned dogs, there is always something new to learn. Doing some research this morning, I came across this word “Pica.” I never heard of it before but once I started reading about the description, I knew that I could identify with this word concerning some dogs that I’ve owned or own. If your dog likes to eat everything that he can get his little greedy mouth on that’s a non-food object, than your dog has a condition called pica! He may think that rocks, stones, sand, dirt, objects found on the floor, tissues, socks, clothing, etc. is a gourmet meal. Oh yeah, and lets not forget the “poop” eater. Well you just may be sharing your home with a “pica” loving dog. Pica is a compulsive disorder. It becomes a habit for the dog who engages in this behavior.
Pica is a potentially life-threatening condition that involves the craving, eating and digestion of non-food items because some things should just not be eaten. If they swallow a pin or sharp object, you can just imagine what trouble that could cause in the dogs stomach or digestive system. This condition can cause choking, digestive blockage, or breaking teeth. Various digestive disorders may be related to pica, such as difficulty swallowing, or problems related to intestinal absorption. Other problems such as diabetes or a nutrient deficiency may be related as well. Have your veterinarian check your dog. He may want to run blood tests and urinalysis to check for an underlying disease and organ function.
Many times you will have problems with puppies that like to investigate everything and put things in his mouth. Most of the time the puppy will have outgrown this by the time that they are two years old. Some of them however, never outgrow this bad habit. Watch out for the older dog that suddenly starts to engage in this behavior. This could be an indication of a serious health problem such as diabetes, or intestinal cancer.
From my research, it says that about 90% of dogs who exhibit this condition do not have a health problem. Many times it can be due to behavioral issues. Sometime pica may result from a pet's need for attention, frustration or anxiety. Some experts suspect it can also be a way animals attempt to make up for nutrients lacking in their diet.
Coprophagia is the ingestion of poop that is neither accidental nor incidental. It is deliberate and habitual. If you’ve been in dogs for any length of time, sooner or later you will probably deal with a poop loving dog. It’s yucky, ugly and disgusting especially when they want to come back in the house and plant a big wet one on your face! We’re not just talking about bad breathe here. We’re talking about one gross, foul smelling filthy mouth. I have had a few of my dogs in the past take an occasional “taste” here and there in their life times. Right now I own one who partakes of the “nasties” on a daily basis.
The reasons for a “poop loving” dog are many. It can range from anything from boredom, needing more nutrients in their food, digestive disorders (SIBO, deficiency anemia, chronic pancreatitis, esophageal dysphagia – swallowing problems, enterocolitis, esophageal dysplasia (pre-cancerous condition), lack of attention, habit, etc. Once they start doing this, it can be an ongoing struggle to get them out of this gross habit. Believe me, I’ve read everyone’s suggestions about how to stop a dog from doing this (Fig Newton’s, pineapple, Bitter Apple, meat tenderizer, poop stopping supplements, etc.). Nothing changes the mind of my dog from eating her favorite treat. This is my dog that has SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth) so I feel that this is part of her problem along with her hyper active personality. I’d love to hear what has worked for any of you that are reading this.
But what about the dog that loves to put everything in his mouth that he shouldn’t? I also have one of those types of dogs (aren’t I lucky though)? I own a bitch who is the biggest “chow hound” on the planet. No I really mean it. She was born this way. When I removed the sac from her huge head, she let out a big cry and twisted in my hands until I put her to her mother’s body so she could taste her first “drink” of milk. She didn’t need any encouragement. She was a hog then and she’s a hog now!
When I give my dog’s snacks at night, usually they are sharing something with me. The “chow hound would make a great football player. She totally throws her big body on top of the treat if it lands on the floor so no one else can get it. She gets most of the treats before the other two can get theirs unless I intervene. She is truly a glutton! I kid you not! If I put a large towel or blanket in her crate, she will shred it to pieces eating little chunks here and there. She’s constantly up on my counters looking for a crumb or two that I didn’t wipe up. She “vacuums” my floor with her mouth, by picking up anything that vaguely resembles a piece of food.
If your dog is fed a good quality food and is not lacking in nutrients and he does not have a medical condition and he starts to eat everything in sight it can be caused by a number of factors. He may be crated for too long of a time, bored, not exercised enough, or not given enough attention or activities to do. It is repetitive, non-functional and non-beneficial. This would indicate that it is psychological in nature (stressed, bored) and not medical. Then the owner needs to make sure that his dog is getting the proper amount of exercise and that the dog’s brain is stimulated and challenged (training through obedience, a job to do), etc.
So next time you wonder where you put that sponge that you use to clean the counters with, turn around and look at “Harvey.” He might have the answer for you!
My rating: over the counter remedies: (1), behavioral training: (4)
Pica is a potentially life-threatening condition that involves the craving, eating and digestion of non-food items because some things should just not be eaten. If they swallow a pin or sharp object, you can just imagine what trouble that could cause in the dogs stomach or digestive system. This condition can cause choking, digestive blockage, or breaking teeth. Various digestive disorders may be related to pica, such as difficulty swallowing, or problems related to intestinal absorption. Other problems such as diabetes or a nutrient deficiency may be related as well. Have your veterinarian check your dog. He may want to run blood tests and urinalysis to check for an underlying disease and organ function.
Many times you will have problems with puppies that like to investigate everything and put things in his mouth. Most of the time the puppy will have outgrown this by the time that they are two years old. Some of them however, never outgrow this bad habit. Watch out for the older dog that suddenly starts to engage in this behavior. This could be an indication of a serious health problem such as diabetes, or intestinal cancer.
From my research, it says that about 90% of dogs who exhibit this condition do not have a health problem. Many times it can be due to behavioral issues. Sometime pica may result from a pet's need for attention, frustration or anxiety. Some experts suspect it can also be a way animals attempt to make up for nutrients lacking in their diet.
Coprophagia is the ingestion of poop that is neither accidental nor incidental. It is deliberate and habitual. If you’ve been in dogs for any length of time, sooner or later you will probably deal with a poop loving dog. It’s yucky, ugly and disgusting especially when they want to come back in the house and plant a big wet one on your face! We’re not just talking about bad breathe here. We’re talking about one gross, foul smelling filthy mouth. I have had a few of my dogs in the past take an occasional “taste” here and there in their life times. Right now I own one who partakes of the “nasties” on a daily basis.
The reasons for a “poop loving” dog are many. It can range from anything from boredom, needing more nutrients in their food, digestive disorders (SIBO, deficiency anemia, chronic pancreatitis, esophageal dysphagia – swallowing problems, enterocolitis, esophageal dysplasia (pre-cancerous condition), lack of attention, habit, etc. Once they start doing this, it can be an ongoing struggle to get them out of this gross habit. Believe me, I’ve read everyone’s suggestions about how to stop a dog from doing this (Fig Newton’s, pineapple, Bitter Apple, meat tenderizer, poop stopping supplements, etc.). Nothing changes the mind of my dog from eating her favorite treat. This is my dog that has SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth) so I feel that this is part of her problem along with her hyper active personality. I’d love to hear what has worked for any of you that are reading this.
But what about the dog that loves to put everything in his mouth that he shouldn’t? I also have one of those types of dogs (aren’t I lucky though)? I own a bitch who is the biggest “chow hound” on the planet. No I really mean it. She was born this way. When I removed the sac from her huge head, she let out a big cry and twisted in my hands until I put her to her mother’s body so she could taste her first “drink” of milk. She didn’t need any encouragement. She was a hog then and she’s a hog now!
When I give my dog’s snacks at night, usually they are sharing something with me. The “chow hound would make a great football player. She totally throws her big body on top of the treat if it lands on the floor so no one else can get it. She gets most of the treats before the other two can get theirs unless I intervene. She is truly a glutton! I kid you not! If I put a large towel or blanket in her crate, she will shred it to pieces eating little chunks here and there. She’s constantly up on my counters looking for a crumb or two that I didn’t wipe up. She “vacuums” my floor with her mouth, by picking up anything that vaguely resembles a piece of food.
If your dog is fed a good quality food and is not lacking in nutrients and he does not have a medical condition and he starts to eat everything in sight it can be caused by a number of factors. He may be crated for too long of a time, bored, not exercised enough, or not given enough attention or activities to do. It is repetitive, non-functional and non-beneficial. This would indicate that it is psychological in nature (stressed, bored) and not medical. Then the owner needs to make sure that his dog is getting the proper amount of exercise and that the dog’s brain is stimulated and challenged (training through obedience, a job to do), etc.
So next time you wonder where you put that sponge that you use to clean the counters with, turn around and look at “Harvey.” He might have the answer for you!
My rating: over the counter remedies: (1), behavioral training: (4)
Friday, September 25, 2009
CARE OF THE SENIOR DOG
Unfortunately the larger breeds of dogs do not live as long as the little guys do. By the time a German Shepherd reaches the age of 7, he is considered a “young” senior (middle to senior aged). Normally the average life span of a German Shepherd is 9 – 14 years old. This is never a long enough time with our beloved dogs. However some dogs at this age, act and look like they’re three years old. Look at the beautiful Am & Can Select Ch Darby Dan’s Eve ROM who at the “tender young age” of ten just went Canadian Select last week!
Some of the things you might notice when a dog is aging are graying around the face and muzzle, slowing down, arthritis, harder time getting up and down stairs or rising after he’s been lying down, reduced hearing, cloudy or bluish eyes, and muscle atrophy.
Some dogs remain healthy and well throughout their lives. Others may develop health problems as they age. Some of the potential problems some seniors may have are: arthritis pain which should be treated with a medicine that will relieve some of his pain and discomfort. Some supplements have been known to help the senior dog with his aches and pains as well. Consider given him glucosamine/chondroitin for his joints. Vibrant Pets makes a product with these ingredients called Joint and Muscle. Bad breathe and bleeding gums can occur at this age because of built up tartar leading to gum diseases and tooth loss. Kidney disease, oral cancer and infections all can lead to bad breathe as well. Hearing loss, sudden blindness or tilting of the head can be caused by infection or age related cancer. Some dogs may develop cataracts in a matter of days with sudden onset diabetes. Look for change in weight or appetite…losing weight or gaining too much weight. A senior dog should be fed a diet that is age appropriate. Sometimes they may need a prescription diet from your vet. You might see the aged dog change in his water consumption and urine output. Suddenly drinking too much water can mean kidney problems or diabetes. Some dogs may experience cognitive dysfunction like dementia. Coughing and excessive panting may indicate heart disease. Itchy, flaky skin also can be caused by the dog aging.
Special care should be given to make your older dogs life as comfortable and as easy as possible. Always make sure he has a comfortable bed to lie in because of his aching joints. There are actually orthopedic beds for dogs. Provide fresh clean water and an age appropriate diet. You might notice the “oldster” doesn’t want to run and play as much. That’s alright. Just give him some toys to play with so he doesn’t feel too neglected. Provide him with adequate exercise which is appropriate for his capabilities. This is good for his heart. Just don’t overdo it. Also because the older dog may be going through some loss of hearing, he might startle easily and things that never bothered him before may now become something that he’s uncomfortable with. All of a sudden children or loud noises may frighten him. A dog that is suffering from arthritis may be fearful that a child is going to step on him. They can’t get out of the way fast enough. Be aware of this so accidents don’t happen. Separation anxiety is another problem you may see with the older dog. He may bark more, be more destructive or start to eliminate in the house when left alone. He may become confused or disoriented. Thunderstorms may make him tremble. Make sure your senior dog is given as much attention as possible. You may find he wants to be with you even more. He might look for more physical contact and attention as he ages. Reassuring him that he’s still a very important part of your household makes for a very happy senior citizen!
Keep up his grooming routine. This is a good time to check your dog for tumors or other growths and it’s another reason for touching and stroking the dog.
With the senior dog, you may find that you are making a lot more trips to the vet. Any changes that are making the dog uncomfortable should be an indication that it’s time for your dog to see his doctor. He has special needs at this time in his life and they should be attended to to insure his healthy and long life.
There is nothing more precious than the senior dogs face. Looking into his warm brown eyes is like looking right into the soul of this marvelous animal.
Good nutrition, health care, genetics, a clean environment and lots of love and affection can help your dog live a longer life.
My rating: importance of vet care: (4), importance of nutrition (4), importance of love and affection: (4)
Some of the things you might notice when a dog is aging are graying around the face and muzzle, slowing down, arthritis, harder time getting up and down stairs or rising after he’s been lying down, reduced hearing, cloudy or bluish eyes, and muscle atrophy.
Some dogs remain healthy and well throughout their lives. Others may develop health problems as they age. Some of the potential problems some seniors may have are: arthritis pain which should be treated with a medicine that will relieve some of his pain and discomfort. Some supplements have been known to help the senior dog with his aches and pains as well. Consider given him glucosamine/chondroitin for his joints. Vibrant Pets makes a product with these ingredients called Joint and Muscle. Bad breathe and bleeding gums can occur at this age because of built up tartar leading to gum diseases and tooth loss. Kidney disease, oral cancer and infections all can lead to bad breathe as well. Hearing loss, sudden blindness or tilting of the head can be caused by infection or age related cancer. Some dogs may develop cataracts in a matter of days with sudden onset diabetes. Look for change in weight or appetite…losing weight or gaining too much weight. A senior dog should be fed a diet that is age appropriate. Sometimes they may need a prescription diet from your vet. You might see the aged dog change in his water consumption and urine output. Suddenly drinking too much water can mean kidney problems or diabetes. Some dogs may experience cognitive dysfunction like dementia. Coughing and excessive panting may indicate heart disease. Itchy, flaky skin also can be caused by the dog aging.
Special care should be given to make your older dogs life as comfortable and as easy as possible. Always make sure he has a comfortable bed to lie in because of his aching joints. There are actually orthopedic beds for dogs. Provide fresh clean water and an age appropriate diet. You might notice the “oldster” doesn’t want to run and play as much. That’s alright. Just give him some toys to play with so he doesn’t feel too neglected. Provide him with adequate exercise which is appropriate for his capabilities. This is good for his heart. Just don’t overdo it. Also because the older dog may be going through some loss of hearing, he might startle easily and things that never bothered him before may now become something that he’s uncomfortable with. All of a sudden children or loud noises may frighten him. A dog that is suffering from arthritis may be fearful that a child is going to step on him. They can’t get out of the way fast enough. Be aware of this so accidents don’t happen. Separation anxiety is another problem you may see with the older dog. He may bark more, be more destructive or start to eliminate in the house when left alone. He may become confused or disoriented. Thunderstorms may make him tremble. Make sure your senior dog is given as much attention as possible. You may find he wants to be with you even more. He might look for more physical contact and attention as he ages. Reassuring him that he’s still a very important part of your household makes for a very happy senior citizen!
Keep up his grooming routine. This is a good time to check your dog for tumors or other growths and it’s another reason for touching and stroking the dog.
With the senior dog, you may find that you are making a lot more trips to the vet. Any changes that are making the dog uncomfortable should be an indication that it’s time for your dog to see his doctor. He has special needs at this time in his life and they should be attended to to insure his healthy and long life.
There is nothing more precious than the senior dogs face. Looking into his warm brown eyes is like looking right into the soul of this marvelous animal.
Good nutrition, health care, genetics, a clean environment and lots of love and affection can help your dog live a longer life.
My rating: importance of vet care: (4), importance of nutrition (4), importance of love and affection: (4)
Monday, September 21, 2009
HOLLYWOOD'S LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE GERMAN SHEPHERD
When I was growing up one of my favorite television shows was Lassie (the collie dog). Every week it came on and every week, I’d be sitting right in front of the teeny tiny television listening for her familiar bark and that cry that she did that always pulled at my heart strings. And forget about it when Disney would run their “tear inducing” movie Old Yeller”, I didn’t want to go to school for days. I was so depressed. Speaking of heart tugging movies (this one had a German Shepherd in it); I still get a lump in my throat when I think about the Charlton Heston movie, “Call of the wild.” I’m sad for the rest of the day!
The movie industry gave rise to the fame of the German Shepherd dog back as far as the early 1920’s. The most famous, well known German Shepherd “movie stars” was Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. Some of their movies date all the way back to the early 1920’s. Both Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart are dogs in the Hollywood Hall of Fame. Strongheart was the star of five silent movies from 1921 – 1927. He was a very big boy weighing anywhere from 115 – 125 lbs., but could jump six feet off of the ground. During this time, he became the biggest grossing star in Hollywood. Rin Tin Tin became so famous that he received over 10,000 fan letters a week!
When researching for this article, I was shocked to see all the dog related movies. Many of them, I never heard of. Even more surprising was the number of movies that had a German Shepherd or something similar that looked like him as one of the co-stars of the film. I had planned on listing all of the movies that had German Shepherds in them, but after typing over 35 movies, I stopped to count how many were left. There were over 286 movies that showcased the German Shepherd! Because of space and time, I’m including the link if you want to look up the movies yourself. http://westminsterkc.tripod.com/video.htm
Many of these movies were made in the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s and show the love affair Hollywood had with the German Shepherd dog. Because many of these movies were made during times of war, people were looking for a hero and this breed fit that description very well. Hollywood used these dogs to appeal to the public’s mood at the time. A popularity explosion followed. People would see them in the movies rescuing a wounded soldier or read about them in the paper saving someone from a burning building. Hollywood certainly did its share to promote this devoted heroic dogs attributes.
I think the German Shepherd must have been used in so many movies because of the breeds high intelligence and how easy they are to train. People would go to the movies and see this breed in one movie after another. His popularity was on the rise. In 1920, there were 2, 135 registered German Shepherds in the country. Six years after Rin Tin Tine was introduced to the public, the registration for the breed was 21,596!
Sometimes trainers will get a dog from a shelter or go to a breeder when they are looking for that special puppy for a film. Sometimes they will even buy several puppies from a litter and use him for different scenes in the movie. So you may not be watching the same dog throughout the movie. I guess it’s similar to when they use doubles for people in the movies.
Some famous people who share their lives with a German Shepherd are: Shania Twain whose dog travels with her and has his own doggy door on her tour bus. Chuck Norris owned a white German Shepherd. Roy Rogers owned “Bullet.” Jack Lalanne owned a white Shepherd who he used to bring on his exercise shows back in the 50’s. Franklin D. Roosevelt had a German Shepherd when he moved into the White House. Rudolph Valentino the famous silent film star owned a German Shepherd.
I guess you could say that in some part, we have Hollywood to thank for the German Shepherds popularity after shining a light on this dog’s most wonderful attributes and contributions to the public. But like anything else that rises to fame too quickly, there are those who will rush to get the “popular thing of the moment” because they want a piece of the action. This is where the breed began to see indiscriminate breeding practices by those who were looking to make a quick buck! This gave rise to the “back yard” breeder and those who were looking to get rich quickly and the breed began to suffer with undesirable temperament and health problems. No good can ever come of anything that becomes so popular too quickly. There will always be those who look to make it quicker and cheaper. A quicker and cheaper bred German Shepherd can ruin the gene pool for years to come. The public notices and the reputation and decline of a breed suffer. The breed has always been in the top ten of popularity of all breeds. We can only hope and do our parts as conscientious breeders to produce the type of temperaments and health that this noble breed deserves…….as well as the public deserves!
My rating: Hollywood’s favorable promotion of the breed: (4), public's perception of the breed: (4), backyard breeders: (1)
The movie industry gave rise to the fame of the German Shepherd dog back as far as the early 1920’s. The most famous, well known German Shepherd “movie stars” was Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. Some of their movies date all the way back to the early 1920’s. Both Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart are dogs in the Hollywood Hall of Fame. Strongheart was the star of five silent movies from 1921 – 1927. He was a very big boy weighing anywhere from 115 – 125 lbs., but could jump six feet off of the ground. During this time, he became the biggest grossing star in Hollywood. Rin Tin Tin became so famous that he received over 10,000 fan letters a week!
When researching for this article, I was shocked to see all the dog related movies. Many of them, I never heard of. Even more surprising was the number of movies that had a German Shepherd or something similar that looked like him as one of the co-stars of the film. I had planned on listing all of the movies that had German Shepherds in them, but after typing over 35 movies, I stopped to count how many were left. There were over 286 movies that showcased the German Shepherd! Because of space and time, I’m including the link if you want to look up the movies yourself. http://westminsterkc.tripod.com/video.htm
Many of these movies were made in the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s and show the love affair Hollywood had with the German Shepherd dog. Because many of these movies were made during times of war, people were looking for a hero and this breed fit that description very well. Hollywood used these dogs to appeal to the public’s mood at the time. A popularity explosion followed. People would see them in the movies rescuing a wounded soldier or read about them in the paper saving someone from a burning building. Hollywood certainly did its share to promote this devoted heroic dogs attributes.
I think the German Shepherd must have been used in so many movies because of the breeds high intelligence and how easy they are to train. People would go to the movies and see this breed in one movie after another. His popularity was on the rise. In 1920, there were 2, 135 registered German Shepherds in the country. Six years after Rin Tin Tine was introduced to the public, the registration for the breed was 21,596!
Sometimes trainers will get a dog from a shelter or go to a breeder when they are looking for that special puppy for a film. Sometimes they will even buy several puppies from a litter and use him for different scenes in the movie. So you may not be watching the same dog throughout the movie. I guess it’s similar to when they use doubles for people in the movies.
Some famous people who share their lives with a German Shepherd are: Shania Twain whose dog travels with her and has his own doggy door on her tour bus. Chuck Norris owned a white German Shepherd. Roy Rogers owned “Bullet.” Jack Lalanne owned a white Shepherd who he used to bring on his exercise shows back in the 50’s. Franklin D. Roosevelt had a German Shepherd when he moved into the White House. Rudolph Valentino the famous silent film star owned a German Shepherd.
I guess you could say that in some part, we have Hollywood to thank for the German Shepherds popularity after shining a light on this dog’s most wonderful attributes and contributions to the public. But like anything else that rises to fame too quickly, there are those who will rush to get the “popular thing of the moment” because they want a piece of the action. This is where the breed began to see indiscriminate breeding practices by those who were looking to make a quick buck! This gave rise to the “back yard” breeder and those who were looking to get rich quickly and the breed began to suffer with undesirable temperament and health problems. No good can ever come of anything that becomes so popular too quickly. There will always be those who look to make it quicker and cheaper. A quicker and cheaper bred German Shepherd can ruin the gene pool for years to come. The public notices and the reputation and decline of a breed suffer. The breed has always been in the top ten of popularity of all breeds. We can only hope and do our parts as conscientious breeders to produce the type of temperaments and health that this noble breed deserves…….as well as the public deserves!
My rating: Hollywood’s favorable promotion of the breed: (4), public's perception of the breed: (4), backyard breeders: (1)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)