HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW?

Walk pass any pet store that sells animals and most of the time, you’ll see that the owner of the store has put the cutest puppies or kittens in the window. It’s good marketing strategy and it works. But what about the rest of us who want to advertise puppies for sale, stud dog services, or dog related items? Where do we go to advertise something? Where is there a market for what we advertise? Competition can be tough especially with today’s economy. People undersell other people just to make the sale. Believe it or not, there are more places to advertise than ever before. You just got to do a little research.

For those who can afford it, advertising is a dream come true for these select few. When money is no object, then selling what you have to offer comes easy. Most people don’t have this option. So let’s say you do have the extra bucks to put out for advertising. Probably your best audience for selling your litters or offering a dog at stud is your breed magazines. The German Shepherd Dog Review is a monthly magazine put out by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America. This is a “who’s who” of the German Shepherd community. It is definitely the place to be seen when you are advertising your dogs. Years ago, many people (myself included) would advertise our litters in this magazine by taking out a full page ad. Sometimes if they were older puppies, breeders would put in an ad with the pups pictures as well as their pedigree. I don’t see very many breeders advertising this way anymore. Mostly what I see in this magazine is stud dog ads as well as brags of show and obedience title winners. Ads in this magazine and others like it are very expensive, but no where else will you get the same type of attention to what you are advertising as you will here. This is for the serious student of the breed who is looking to reach like type of people.

Next to the breed magazines, advertising on the internet has become very popular. No where else will you attract as many people as you will here. There are all sorts of dog related websites where you can advertise your puppies and studs usually for a small fee.
Also if you own your own website, you might get people to contact you through this method.

One of the best (in this writer’s opinion) and cheapest ways to advertise your dogs is belonging to dog related e-mail lists. There are a gazillion lists that you can sign up for. Do be aware of the individual list rules as far as advertising is concerned. Some allow it and others do not. So check up on this before you sign up. Obviously those who can accept photographs of your dogs are an added bonus. Some that come to mind are, thegermanshepherddogshowcase@yahoogroups.com, and germanshepherds4show@yahoogroups.com There are many others that will allow this as well. Just ask around and you’ll get some recommendations. The reason that I like these lists for advertising purposes is that you have a ready made audience from the people who belong and read these lists. Plus the best part of all is that it is FREE ADVERTISING! What’s not to like about that?

Other places to advertise on the internet are social gathering places where literally hundreds of thousands of people will be able to see what you have to advertise. Places like “Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter” come to mind. These places are a great way to network what it is you are looking to sell and to get yourself known through other German Shepherd owners and newcomers as well. Once again, this is free advertising.


Obviously we all know that you can advertise in your local newspapers. Sometimes if you live by a big city, it might be wise to utilize that newspaper for your ad as well. I used to live about an hour and a half away from New York City, and occasionally I would advertise in the New York Times which is much more expensive than your local newspaper, but most of the time, it paid off.

Other places and ways to advertise are: your vet’s office (his bulletin board) or just let him and his staff know you have puppies for sale, pet store and grocery store bulletin boards, car bumper stickers (have one made and advertise your kennel), custom make a t-shirt advertising your kennel, wear a hat or cap with your kennel’s logo on it, business cards with you kennel name, advertise in your clubs show catalogs, futurity catalogs and of course the National Specialty show catalogs. Join a dog breed club and talk up your “stuff.” Advertise in their newsletters. Join the parent club and advertise on their website. When you go to a dog show, it’s very smart advertising to make yourself an album with pictures of your dogs or new litter or your stud dog. Make sure you have plenty of pedigrees available. Also tell your dog’s handler that you have a litter or stud that you want him to talk about. If your handler loves your dog, this can be a great way to get the word out. And naturally, the good old fashioned way to advertise is “word of mouth.”

So there you have it. These are just some of the ways you can get out to the public that you have something that they may be interested in buying. Make no mistake about it…..no matter how much of a well known breeder you may be, advertising is still important. Because there are so many people who are doing the same thing that you are, you must keep your name foremost in people’s minds. Pick up the Review and you will still see these people advertising their dogs. Joan Ford told me one time, that even though most people in the breed knew who she was, she still had to advertise her dogs or they begin to forget about you.

Advertising rates: Zero, zilch, nadda, nothing right on up to thousands of dollars.

My rating: magazines: (4), internet: (3), personal web-sites (3), e-mail lists: (4), newspapers: (4), clubs: (3), catalogs, newsletters (3), all others (3)

THE BEST DISINFECTANTS - IS IT KILLING MORE THAN JUST GERMS?

I think like most of you my least favorite thing when taking care of my dogs is the “yucky” chore of cleaning and disinfecting the dog runs. I love it when it’s done and everything is nice and clean once again, but it doesn’t stay that way too long. So what’s some of the best disinfectants on the market for this unavoidable task?

I started out writing this article about some of the best products on the market to use when cleaning and disinfecting your kennels and equipment. I was writing about some of the products that I’ve used and liked. For years I’ve used and still use bleach for disinfecting my dog’s run. It’s cheap and it works. It claims to be 99.9% effective against bacteria. The only thing is it doesn’t leave a nice smell like some of the other products do. Then I went on to say one of my favorite scented disinfectants is Nolvasan S which is a bactericide and virucide. I loved it because it’s highly concentrated so you don’t need to use a lot of it. Plus I loved the smell of it. Like all of my articles, what I don’t already know, the rest I will do research on before reporting about it. So it is with this article as well. Imagine my surprise then to read an article about the dangers of disinfecting the kennels too much. So that is what I am choosing to write about today – the dangers of using these products rather than recommending any of them.

Most of us routinely clean and disinfect our kennels, and dog equipment. It’s what we do if we want a clean environment for our animals. According to this article that I read written by a holistic veterinarian, it is unnecessary and potentially harmful to our dogs. The author is not advocating that we keep the premises dirty, but that we shouldn’t be disinfecting them too much.

He further states that non-porous surfaces cannot be disinfected like for instance, your animals toys. He says that scientific studies prove that cleaning with soap and water will remove 95% of bacteria, viruses and fungi. When adding a disinfectant, it only removes an additional 2 – 3 %. He continues by saying that it is impossible to sterilize your dog’s environment unless you were to clean it several times a day. Second, (and I quote) “the bacteria in your dog’s environment have mostly been seen by your dog already. They came from your dog's feet and mouth, the food he is eating, and from your hands. Your dog is already resistant to infection from these bacteria and viruses. The few new germs that he is exposed to will, in almost all cases, be a healthy stimulant to his immune system, providing immunity for future germs.” (End quote).

If you read the label of a product that is a disinfectant, you will see that it has a precaution on it saying that these products are poisons if taken internally. If you are cleaning the runs, the bowls, his crates, etc. with these products, the dog is walking on the surface with his feet, licking the bowl, and lying in his crate, he is ingesting small amounts of the disinfectant or breathing it all the time. Over time this can lead to serious health risks and diseases. At the same time, it is not good for us to breathe in the toxins or have contact with our skin.

According to this report, recent studies are showing that if we continue to use these disinfectants that we will be creating a “super bacteria” that will be more deadly just like the overuse of antibiotics which has created bacteria that is resistant to all other antibiotics. Disinfectants are known carcinogens and are toxic to various organs in the body.

Again according to this author, the American Medical Association recently came out with a recommendation against the routine use of disinfectant soaps. I know that I’ve read several articles over the last year saying that antibacterial soaps are not as effective as they once thought.

So what is one to do? Is plain old soap and water good enough? Do we introduce more problems when we try to do the right thing by using disinfectants? What do you think is the right thing to do? What are you using to clean your dog’s kennels and equipment?

Disinfectants can run you $5 right up to $125 depending upon the size of the product.

My rating: (before reading this article): bleach & Nolvasan S got a (4). Now I’m not too sure anymore!

THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG TEMPERAMENT

Every pure bred dog that is recognized by the American Kennel Club has a breed standard for what constitutes an ideal temperament. The German Shepherd temperament as described by the German Shepherd Dog club of America is no exception. It describes the ideal temperament as (and I quote): “The breed has a distinct personality marked by direct and fearless, but not hostile, expression, self-confidence and a certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships. The dog must be approachable, quietly standing its ground and showing confidence and willingness to meet overtures without itself making them.” Of the thousands upon thousands of puppies born every year, not all will have the “ideal” German Shepherd temperament.

There are many different types of temperament a puppy can have. Most of a dog’s personality and temperament traits will be hereditary. Others will be environmental. Still others can be a combination of both. As anyone who has been breeding dogs for a number of years can tell you, we all have dealt with most of these different types of temperament throughout the years. We already know what the ideal temperament for our breed is. Let’s take a look at some of those with less than “ideal” temperaments.

The “I love everybody” type of temperament. (Some people call this the Golden Retriever personality). This is the type of dog that is friendly to everyone he meets. Life is fun. Life is good and they want to let everyone they meet know about it. They greet everyone and look for them to give them affection and attention. It’s what they live for. These types of dogs are true “people” dogs. They are wonderful to have around when you are selling their offspring. Your puppy market people will eat this type of dog right up.

The “fear biter.” This type of temperament is totally opposite from the “I love everybody” temperament. This is a dog that is fearful of everything, but especially of people. He is the type of dog that a stranger could never pet or even get close to. He’s not necessarily aggressive. He wants nothing to do with outsiders because they fracture his already fractured dysfunctional little world. Get too close to this type of dog where he can’t get away from you and out of fear, he will bite. This type of dog should never be bred or sold into a pet home. Many breeders will choose to put this type of dog to sleep. He is disaster waiting to happen.

The “sharp” dog. This type of temperament would be considered an aggressive temperament. Unlike the fear biter that would be happy to get away from you, the sharp dog is one who will try to attack you. This too is a dog that you could never trust. A person wouldn’t have to even be considered a threat to this dog. This dog is just plain old nasty. Again, this is not the type of dog who should be bred or sold into a pet home.

The soft “timid” dog. This type of dog is also afraid of people AND just about anything else that might “rock his world.” He is timid and will back away from people, cowering; tail tucked, head down, body shaking, but is not a fear biter. He is not the type that bites, rather he is the type that submits and will roll over like you are about to kill him. Noise bothers this type of dog. Things falling off shelves, doors slamming, thunder, and fire crackers; all of these types of things disturb these dogs’ overly sensitive nervous systems. Again, this is not the type of dog that should be bred.

Although all of these above temperaments are far from the ideal, some of them can be worked with and lead fulfilling lives with their people. Some of them will be put to sleep by dedicated breeders that know that no good can come from having less than ideal temperaments. The choice is a personal one.

It is the responsibility of the breeders to incorporate the best temperaments in their breeding program. The majority of a litter will be going into pet homes with children. We owe the public the best of our breeding skills to produce dogs that are worthy of carrying the name “German Shepherd!”

The conscientious dedicated breeder will have bred two dogs of excellent temperaments to produce the best possible puppies. His next goal is to find the “ideal” home for his puppies. That in itself can prove challenging. A German Shepherds temperament can be compromised in a home where the owner totally ignores the puppy while she’s watching the latest episode of General Hospital and gobbling down bon bon’s all afternoon. These animals MUST be socialized. They MUST get used to other people. They MUST be introduced to new sights and sounds. There are many different ways to socialize a puppy. Go join a breed club. Look for a place that offers puppy classes for training and socializing. Take your puppy to a pet store that allows you to bring him in and shop with you. Take him to a park. Take him for a walk. Invite people over your house for coffee. There are a dozen different ways to introduce your puppy to the world. If you don’t, the world can be a very scary place for the youngster.

Make no mistake; the German Shepherd is one of the most intelligent of all breeds of dogs. It is because of their keen intelligence that they must be trained from an early age. The dog can never be given permission to be the leader in a household. It is not one that he relinquishes easily once he establishes himself on that throne. The owner MUST ALWAYS be and remain the alpha with this breed of dog. The dog will respect you for it.

If you can’t train the dog yourself, it is the wise owner who will have a professional dog trainer to do it for you. Watch this person’s training technique to make sure you like the way he trains. If he uses intimidation methods, this is not the type of trainer you want training your dog. You want the dog to like doing what he does by rewarding him for good behavior. A well trained dog is a happy dog and one that you will enjoy living with for years to come. Remember that the German Shepherd is the happiest when he is given a task to do. He can be a “rascal” to live with if he becomes bored. You owe it to him and yourself to bring out the best of this dog’s marvelous temperament and utilize his great intelligence and his will to please. You’ll be glad you did.

My rating: Love everybody type of temperament: (3), fear biter: (1), sharp: (1), timid: (1)

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

Probably the hardest part of being a pet owner is when our beloved animal’s life nears its end. When faced with the unavoidable many of us chose to take our dog to the veterinarian and have our pet’s life end as humanly as possible by having him put to sleep. Then there are others who chose to let their pet die naturally.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never had a dog die naturally unless it didn’t recover from a medical treatment or surgery. Ideally (if there is such a thing), I would prefer he died peacefully in his sleep. It’s when he doesn’t that many of us find ourselves in the unenviable position of deciding to have our veterinarian end his life as gently as possible.

Many years ago, I read an article about having this procedure done by your veterinarian. It scared the hell out of me. In this article it said, make no mistake about it, your animal doesn’t die a peaceful death. It said that he feels the pain in his heart until it puts him out of his misery. I don’t know how true this was, but hopefully we’ve come a long ways since then. It is my understanding that the veterinarian gives the animal a stronger dose of anesthesia and sometimes a second one until the animal succumbs and passes.

I know of three people who did not own German Shepherds and all three of them would not have their animals put to sleep. They believed in letting nature take its course and letting the animals die on their own. Two people owned a dog and the other a cat. All the animals lived very long lives. Two of them said to me, “God brought them here and he’ll take them when it’s their time.” I hesitantly voiced my unpopular opinion but ultimately I knew they would do what they thought best for the animals that they raised. One of these people grew up on a farm so was very familiar with animals and the ebb and flow of life. She saw animals born and die all the time, so she came from this mind set of letting nature have its own way. I on the other hand objected because her old cat refused to eat and literally starved himself to death. He lived like this for 2 – 3 weeks. Her cat now rests in her backyard with a headstone marking his grave. The one dog just went into seizures and then was taken to the vet where he died with his owner by his side. The other dog on the last day of his life let out a “death” howl and fell over and died.

Like many other pet owners when faced with this “life or death” decision, I would find myself day after day saying, “Not today. I’ll deal with this tomorrow. Just not today.” Then the day would come when “today” was the day. These are some of animal owner’s worst days. We are of the belief that we love our dogs so much that we don’t want them to have to suffer and we do the kindest thing that we can for them. It’s time to say goodbye! We have our veterinarians help take them to the other side. Then someone will say to me, “You’re not God. You shouldn’t be making that decision.” For a moment or two, I may feel a tinge of guilt and may even find myself beating myself up for it. But in the end, I feel that I’ve done the last best thing that I could for an animal that gave me so much and deserved to have his life end with dignity and as pain free as possible.

Owning an animal leaves you in a position of responsibility for the life and care of your pet. He has no voice. We are the guardians of his life and in many cases of his death. Deciding whether or not to end the animal’s life is a matter of personal choice. The choice is never easy, but many times we have no alternative. It is not our place to judge someones decision about whether or not he should end his pet’s life. I may not like what someone decides to do with their pet by letting it suffer and die on it’s own, but when I decide to have my beloved dog sent back to his maker, I do so knowing that I’ve weighed all of my decisions and that this is the one I do to show him one last time how much I love him. Does it mean that I love my dogs anymore than those who let their animals die on their own? No, it’s just my choice and it’s one that I have to live with.

Many pet owners will chose to have their dogs remains cremated and put in an urn. I did this with my first show dog. We took the urn and buried it in front of the dog runs so he would always be with us and the rest of the dogs that followed. Some people chose to bury the dog’s body in the backyard. Others buy a headstone and have it engraved. And then there are still others that bury their animals in a pet cemetery.

I’m not right and the other guy is wrong when it comes to deciding what to do when our animals last days draws to an end. Once again, it’s a personal decision. We both loved our pets and they lived as long as they did because of the loving care that we gave them. We both loved them……we just loved them differently.

Expenses covering the death of an animal: depending upon the vet (office visit, needle, urns, disposing of animal, etc.) over $100. Grave stones and a pet cemetery will run you hundreds of dollars.

My rating concerning taking an animal to the vet to humanly be put to sleep: (4), choices for remembering a pet – grave stones, urns, etc.: (4)

THE LONG COATED SHEPHERD DISQUALIFIED OR A WINNER?

I appreciate all of those who read my blogs and e-mail me with suggestions for topics to write about. This article was suggested to me by a top winning kennel whose dogs you might see in the show ring most week ends. She wanted to know what people think about a long coated German Shepherd winning in the ring. As she said, it’s only a minor fault. I just looked at the German Shepherd Dog Club of America’s new and improved website under the breed standard. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought I once read that the long coated shepherd is considered a minor fault. Now I read that it classifies it as a fault in coat. Perhaps it’s just a difference in wording.

The above picture is of a dog that I bred MANY YEARS AGO with Marge Dolan of Dolmar German Shepherds. He was a coated puppy. However, his coat wasn’t very long at all on his body. Mainly the long hair was on his head around his ears. I showed him twice and both times he took Best Puppy under specialty judges. He was exceptionally well bred with a magnificent side gait, having both front and rear angulation. His bone was oval, his head masculine, tight feet and a temperament to die for. I mean he had no other faults beside the coat. Because I was relatively new in the breed, I decided instead of trimming his ears, I would sell him into a pet home. If I had to do it over again, I don’t think I would have made that same decision. He was a product of the best of the Doppelt Tay lines (#2 Select Gilda’s son Steel Curtain bred to the famous Reno/Rhyme bloodlines).

Many a time in a breeders litter, the long coated puppy is the best in conformation and temperament. I wonder why that is. The long coated puppy is generally very easy to sell into a pet home. Some coats are indeed, very long. Others like mine, might just have the tell tale sign of being a coat around the ears….sometimes between the toes as well.

For those readers not familiar with the coat of the German Shepherd Dog, the breed has a double coat which is medium in length. His undercoat insulates for warmth and protection from the elements. The long coat doesn’t offer him this same protection. It is a softer coat in texture and gets wet quicker than the double layered coat.

So what does a breeder do when faced with a long coated puppy of superior conformation and movement? Many breeders will keep this type of puppy for breeding purposes and breed her to a stud that doesn’t carry the long coat gene. Then there are some who will trim the dog and show them anyway. The long coat is not considered a disqualification.

In my opinion, there a many more things to worry about in the breed than a long coated German Shepherd. Temperament should be the first thing we look for in a good quality dog followed by a sound functional body. I know some people will think, let the long coated dogs win and next we’ll see the livers and blues winning. We over look one thing and then where does it end? This is why we have a standard to base our breeding program on.

Faults of gait are considered very serious faults, and yet I’ll see dogs that kick up in the rear, those who lift from the elbow, dogs who are sloppy going away and they’re winners; many of them are champions. Surely if the faulty gaits are judged and overlooked then a minor fault like a coat shouldn’t be eliminated. Ideally, we would like to see all winning dogs be faultless. It’s not going to happen. The perfect dog hasn’t been bred. Genetics being what it is hasn’t produced the perfect specimen yet. We as breeders can only hope to show the best of our litters and come as close to the standard as possible.

So what do you think? Would you keep and show a long coated dog who had everything else going for him or sell him into a pet home?

My rating on a long coated dog being shown and finished: Only is it’s superior to all the others in the ring: (4), use for breeding: (4)

SPORTSMANSHIP AND GOODWILL IN THE SPORT OF SHOWING DOGS

Let’s face it, everybody loves to win, and it’s not always true as the old song would have you believe, “Everybody loves a winner!” No one goes to a dog show to loose. But what about that winner; how many people who entered and showed their dog is truly happy for the person’s dog who won? Now come on, let’s be honest here. You wanted that win just as much as the winner did.

You bred or bought the best dog you could. You’ve worked and trained him. Maybe you road worked him. You feed him the best food and supplements that you can afford. You bought and use the top shampoos and conditioners. You groom him to perfection insuring that the judge will look at him a second time. The judge points to his winner and it’s not your dog. John Doe just won another major on his dog. Are you feeling excited? Are you jumping for joy? I mean, are you really happy for John? Do you suck it up, bite your lip and extend your hand for congratulations? Or maybe you walk away in a “huff” cursing like an old sea captain not caring who sees or hears you.

What does it take to have good sportsmanship? What does it take to show goodwill towards your fellow exhibitor? I believe it comes from the person who intelligently knows that when he enters a show, there’s a big possibility that he may not win. Now some people who enter expect to win every time. As I said before, no one goes to a show expecting to loose. But common sense will tell you, that it can and will happen, more times than you’ll want to admit.

Showing good sportsmanship to another person by showing goodwill and extending congratulations means that you think the other person has won a fair, good hard contest knowing he was as worthy of the win as you. But what about when you don’t think his dog was as good as yours? That’s when your true character will come through. I quote: “A sportsman has been defined as a person who can take loss or defeat without complaint, or victory without gloating, and who treats his opponents with fairness, generosity, and courtesy.”

A good sport should be able to maintain control of his emotions whether or not he agrees with the outcome of an event. He recognizes that his opponents have devoted just as much time and money in the sport of showing dogs as he has. He realizes that some days he wins and other days he loses. He’s going to want people to recognize and congratulate him when he is triumphant in the show ring as well. He realizes his behavior on the show grounds are viewed by……spectators, judges, breeders, exhibitors, etc. He realizes that he loses nothing by showing goodwill and gains so much more by having and maintaining a good reputation.

One of the worst emotions we humans (and even the dogs that we love) have is that old “green eyed” monster known as jealousy. It can ruin and destroy many relationships in our lives. No where is it more pronounced than when you’re competing. Dog show people are highly competitive people. They love their dogs and think that they are just about the best thing walking on four feet. Challenge that thought and you might just see some of the most “bad to the bone” type of behavior.

I’ve had two friends who live on opposite coasts of the US tell me recently about their experiences in the show ring. Both had exhibited in their clubs shows so naturally many of the clubs members were there. Both of their dogs won. Both friends told me not one person from their club congratulated them. Both of these people are very nice sweet kinds of people so no one could say that they didn’t like them as individuals. Both have had success in the show ring, one having Select champions and the other one having group winning dogs. So what gives with that?

Nothing is more important for the newcomer to the sport of showing dogs is to feel welcomed and have goodwill extended to them. This tells them that we “dog people” are a friendly lot and we want them here. This is what makes a breed club grow and prosper. Tomorrows ambassadors of our breed are today’s newcomers. It’s up to us to nurture them and see to it that they protect and maintain the principals that our forefathers had a vision for this the most noble of dogs, the German Shepherd. If we drive them away with our indifference and lack of goodwill the thrill of showing dogs just may become a pastime of the past.

My rating on good sportsmanship and goodwill in our breed: good sportsmanship: (3), goodwill (3), welcoming the newcomer: (2)

THE BEST VACUUMS TO PICK UP DOG HAIR

Living with animals is a constant challenge when trying to keep your house clean. If you have dogs or cats or the combination of the two, dander and hair will be a reminder of why some people build a kennel to house their animals. But if you are like most animal lovers, your pets will spend a considerable amount of time in the house. When confronted with the constant shedding of the German Shepherd Dog, owning the best vacuum you can get your hands on is one of the wisest investments you’ll make.

When choosing a vacuum, there are some important things to look for. First you have to decide what price range you are looking to spend. This will eliminate some of your choices right away. Once you’ve established what you want to pay for it, then one of the first things you want to look for is the power of the machine. You need to look for the machine that has the strongest suction to pick up the dog’s hair. You’ll have to decide if you want an upright or a canister type of vacuum. Also check to see the weight of the vacuum. Some can be very heavy and cumbersome to use. It’s always good if you can go into a store to see a demonstration and feel the ease of using the vacuum.

Many vacuums come with a Hepa filter which is good for picking up the allergens. Also another consideration you need to make is do you want a vacuum with a bag or a bag less model? I have the one that I need to change the bag all the time. I wish now that I bought the bag less type.

Here are some of the models that I’ve found rated by consumers and Consumer reports: Kenmore Progressive #35922 – the tools and machine are excellent for picking up dog hair. This includes the Hepa filter. Kenmore Progressive #36932: similar to the above which is excellent for picking up dog hair and includes the Hepa filter. Eureka The Boss Pet smart Vacuum #4870RZ – excellent for picking up dog hair, lower cost alternative, Hepa filter. Dyson Animal – was rated extremely high by pet owners, but not by consumer reports which rated it at #9. Some pet owners complained about the weight of this machine and also they thought it was better on the rugs than the floor. It is a very expensive machine. Kenmore canister #2805 was rated #1 by consumer reports for a canister model. Top rated for picking up dog hair with tools for picking it up. This is another expensive model. Electrolux Oxygen #EL6988 – top rated, Hepa filter captures 99.97% airborne dust and allergens so it’s not thrown into the air. Miele dog and cat vacuum – this got mixed reviews; some people loved it and others gave it a low to medium rating. Hoover Wind tunnel seemed to be favored by some pet owners. Of the sweeper type vacuum, the favorite was the Dirt Devil brown vac #MBV2030 which offers a great price and is good for dog hair.

I bought a Eureka The Boss Pet smart Vacuum a few years ago after reading the positive reviews it received. I got a tremendous price break when buying it. I bought it on Amazon which was having a sale, plus I had a coupon for it, so I saved a great deal of money. My thoughts about it: on the positive, it has a strong suction and picks up the dog’s hair very well. It has a Hepa filter which is important to me because of my allergies. On the negative side: It’s a very heavy machine and cumbersome to use. I don’t like having to change the bag so much.

One very important thing to remember is no matter which vacuum you buy, and no matter how strong it is, ALWAYS clean the beater brush. This is what many pet owners forget to remember. No matter how good the vacuum is, this brush must always be kept clean of dog hair. The dog hair will always get wrapped around the brush and will prevent it from working properly. This is how some motors burn out. Cut the hair off with a scissors if you have to. Just get that dog hair off of the brush.

So there you have it. Depending upon the price you want to spend, there is a vacuum for all consumers who own a dog. Check around when Sears has a sale going on or look on Amazon for sales and coupons. Don’t pay full price if you can get a bargain.

Prices will vary depending on the model, and brand that you choose. You can get a sweeper type vacuum from $65 to the canisters running over $600!

My rating on my Boss vacuum that is one that is highly recommended by consumer rating: durability: (4), weight and ease of use: (2), gets the job done: (4)

THE SAFEST DOG TOYS

A bored dog is a destructive dog. German Shepherds are too intelligent to lie around all day and be happy and content. They need something to do to not only to exercise their bodies, but to exercise their brains as well. They are a playful, energetic breed and look forward to chasing, pulling, shaking or chewing on something. The more challenges you give them, the happier they are. With today’s market of endless choices of dog toys, you’ll easily satisfy that need. But which ones are safe and which ones should you avoid?

Common sense will tell you that some toys are just not good for a dog the size and strength of a German Shepherd. These would include anything that has small pieces that can easily be chewed off, like stuffed animals with eyes or noses made of buttons or other small objects. Plus many of them have a squeak in them, so watch that they don’t get this out and swallow it. While most dogs love stuffed toys, keep an eye on them as they will pull these apart and the stuffing will end up on the floor or in your dog’s stomach. These are some of my dog’s favorite types of toys because they love to shake them and throw them about. Also throw these stuffed toys in the washing machine occasionally as they become dirty and bacteria ridden very easily.

Another favorite and inexpensive toy that many dogs love is the tennis ball. It bounces easily and it fits into their mouth comfortably. They love chasing this ball and if you don’t watch them, they will tear this ball apart. However, as much as they love this ball, it can quickly become a death trap. Just think for a moment, this ball can be thrown long distances and easily bounces. Your dog waits in anticipation when you throw it to him. He jumps up in the air and catches it easily because it’s small enough to fit in his jaws. Because of the force behind the throw, the ball becomes lodged in the dog’s throat. Think it doesn’t happen? Read on.

A breeder/trainer friend of German Shepherds had a dog who was ball obsessed, especially the tennis ball. He played with these balls for years with no problems. Then one day, the unthinkable happened. My friend threw the ball to her dog. He jumped up in the air to catch it and it became lodged in his throat. She couldn’t remove it because the force jammed it down his throat blocking his air way. Panicked, she somehow got her dog into the back of the car to rush him to the vets. She told me that the dog was dying in the back seat while she ran every red light to get him the help he needed. The dog succumbed to the lack of oxygen and fell limp on the seat. She told me the next thing she knew was that because of him “dying” all of his muscles relaxed and the ball became loosened and the ball fell out of his throat. The good news is that the dog survived. However, his beloved tennis ball was shown the garbage pail. So as much as your dog might love the tennis ball, this is an accident waiting to happen.

Other dangerous toys are of the homemade type. In the summer because of the warmer weather, I sometimes freeze water in an empty plastic milk container. The dogs love these. But because they are chewers, they will start chewing the containers and before I know it, shreds of plastic are lying all over the back deck. How many pieces of this plastic are they swallowing? I had one girl choking and coughing after one of these incidences. They no longer are given these containers.

So what are some safe toys that we can give to our dogs for their entertainment? The Kong toys are great for the jaws of a German Shepherd. They say that they’re indestructible, but you should always keep an eye on them anyway. The company has what they call the Extreme Kong for the more aggressive chewer. I used to have a huge male who absolutely loved the Kong. This was his toy of choice. He lived to be 14 ½ years old. All these years later, that darn toy is still around. My three dogs now don’t show any interest in it at all. The Kong Company makes many other toys that come in different shapes and sizes. With the original Kong toy, there’s a hole at the bottom where you can put food or treats to give your dog another type of challenge as he tries to retrieve the delectable goodie.

Some of my dogs used to like the Frisbee toy. The dog who likes to chase and retrieve will usually enjoy this activity. There again, be very careful with this as well. Usually the old stand by type of Frisbee is made of plastic. You get the “chewer” type of dog, and he’ll be biting off little pieces of this as well. Now you can get the Frisbee made of different materials. The Nylabone Company makes a Frisbee with a Nylabone shape on top of the toy so the dog can easily grab it. The company advises that this is not a chew toy, so supervision is advised. Then I’ve seen Frisbee’s made out of heavy duty rope fashioned in a circle for an easier grip. And even the Kong Company now makes a Frisbee.

Other fun toys that are constructed well that you might consider are, the Goofy ball that squeaks, and bounces in all different directions. Some dogs like the knotted ball or ropes to play tug of war with. There’s the Booda bone that is cornstarch based that doesn’t splinter and is safe to chew on. The Buster cube is a toy you fill with treats and when rolled a certain way, the treats roll out. Cuz Bad is a hard rubber squeaky toy that some dogs love. The choice of toys is endless. Not every dog likes every type of toy. Find out what type of toy entertains your dog and match it to his personality. Some dogs are ball driven, some like to chase, and some like to shake the heck out of their toys. Not all toys fit all dogs. Whatever your dog likes, just make sure he’s safe with that toy. Supervising your dogs’ playtime is always a good idea, because you can get dogs like two of mine who find chasing bumble bees is a challenge that they are always up to meeting! I always have to be on my toes with these two!

The dog toy market offers a huge variety of entertaining distractions. The prices will vary as well. You can find just about anything you’re looking for on the web and the many pet stores both large and small. To save yourself money when buying stuffed toys, go to the Goodwill or second hand stores. Many times you can find almost new stuffed toys there. Again, watch for the eyes and nose and squeakers that they're not something they can chew off. If you find the ones you want, buy them (very cheaply), bring them home and wash them in your washing machine.

I’m sure your dog has his favorites that you don’t see listed here. What kinds of toys do they like?

My rating for the “indestructible toys” on the market: durability: (4), craftsmanship: (4), variety: (4), value: (4)

THE BOOSTER BATH

If you’re like me, bathing a dog especially the size of our German Shepherds is not high on my list of things I enjoy doing. After having a car accident, bathing a dog has slipped far down on my “things to do list.” Even under the best of circumstances, bathing a dog is no easy task. So what do you do when your dog is in need of a bath? You can bathe him in the bath tub or take him outside and use the hose. And then there is a third option and that is the ‘Booster Bath.”

Getting your dog used to the Booster Bath is similar to getting him used to the grooming table. It’s always a good idea to start them young so they become familiar with these grooming devices. Once your dog is taught to jump up on a grooming table, you’ll have no problem getting him into the Booster Bath.

The good thing about the Booster Bath is that you have full access to getting around your dog while bathing him, unlike if he were in the bath tub. It is elevated off the ground so you don’t have to bend over him. It has a three point restraint system with an adjustable collar for the comfort of your dog while preventing him from jumping out. Once the dog gets used to the Booster Bath, many times you won’t even need the collar. The bottom of the tub has a rubberized non-slip mat to prevent slipping and sliding and falls. It contains a five foot drain hose so you can wash in one area and drain in another. There’s a place for shampoo and it comes with a fan nozzle that you can attach to a hose. There is a rubber bottom on the legs of the tub to keep in stationary and help prevent it from slipping. Although it is built sturdy and strong, it is lightweight and portable. You can easily disassemble the tub for storage. The Booster Bath can be used indoors (cellar or garage) or outdoors.

The spray nozzle has an on/off switch so you can control the water flow, using the gentle flow for the face and head or the heavy flow for the rest of the body. Then when you're finished, you can hook the nozzle to the side of the tub.

The Booster Bath comes with a 5 year limited warranty. The company also makes a “Groomers Edition” of the Booster Bath. This has a built in ramp for your dog to climb into the tub rather than jumping up into it. It can adjust to accommodate the smaller dog as well. It has a dual fan nozzle hose system. This one also is lightweight and portable. This also comes with a five year warranty.

You can purchase the companies “Tropic Shower” system. It is made so you can have access to warm water with good pressure. It works with your washing machine valves and garden hose. This has a two year warranty.

The prices for the Booster Bath products are: Booster Bath - $179.95, Groomer’s Edition - $369.00, and the Tropic Shower - $49.95.

I feel that for most people’s purposes, the regular Booster Bath is all they need. The Groomer’s Edition is quite a bit more expensive and I don’t know that it is that much more different than their original bath. Unless the dog is old and has a hard time jumping, I really don’t see the need to spend a lot more money for a bath with a ramp.

To see pictures and videos of the Booster Bath, check them out by doing a search on Google with the words: Booster Bath. Also sometimes you can get a better price when someone is selling it on e-bay. I’ve seen them on Amazon as well starting at $149.00. So check around to get your best price. Watch out for the shipping.

My rating: quality: (4), durability: (4), ease of use: (4), value: (4)

WHAT'S THE IDEAL FLOORING WHEN LIVING WITH A DOG?

When you own and live with dogs, you don’t live like most other people. When real dog lovers make purchases for their homes they do so with their animals in mind. They are looking for durability and functionality without sacrificing too much of the products aesthetic appeal.

Having good flooring in your home when you live with dogs is a must. There are many types of flooring available to the consumer. But are all these types of flooring ideal when you own dogs? When the type of dog you own is a German Shepherd, then this presents new considerations that needs to be addressed. The German Shepherd is a large dog and most of the time is a very active dog. He loves to play and run and retrieve his toys or lay on the floor chewing a big bone. Besides the size of the animal, there is the hair that this breed is notorious for shedding.

Let’s take a look at some of the different types of flooring that is available. You could buy a carpet, linoleum, wood floors, laminated floors, or ceramic tile floors. Probably the majority of homes have some type of carpeting in their houses. Carpeting and German Shepherds is not the ideal choice unless you want to be vacuuming seven days a week! Because this breed sheds so much, the hair will get in the fibers of the carpet and you’ll find yourself doing more housework than you intended. Also carpets hold smells longer than other flooring. If a puppy has an accident, it seeps in to the fibers and even though you may use a sanitizing spray on it, the urine can get down to the padding of the carpet. Commercial carpets are better because of the tighter weave, but still not the ideal type of flooring to use with this breed.

Many homes have a linoleum kitchen floor. These are easy to clean up when an accident occurs and is easy to vacuum. If this is a heavy trafficked area in the house, the linoleum may start to show wear and tear sooner than a tiled floor and it can show scratches from the dog’s paws. Overall, it is a good floor when you have dogs because of the ease of cleaning it. However, you might find yourself having to replace this flooring more often than others.

Then there are the wood floors. Who doesn’t like the beauty of having wood floors in their home? How durable is the wood floor? To maintain the beauty of the wood floor, lots of polyurethane needs to be applied and even more so when you own dogs. Even still, these floors will get scratched and a buffing of the floor will in most cases restore it to it’s’ shine. However, who wants to have to buff this floor all the time? If you have more than one dog, this is not an easy floor to maintain.

How about the laminated floors? Here is a floor that can look beautiful like a wood floor but is usually easy to care for. It is very important when buying a laminated floor that you buy one that can withstand the size and activity of a German Shepherd. All laminated floors are not the same! There are two different types of laminated flooring. One is the high pressure (HPL) and the other is the direct pressure (DPL). They both contain the same layers (i.e. core layer; backing layer; wear layer; decorative layer); the layers in HPL are fused directly to the core layer under higher heat and pressure. This will result in a stronger, more durable surface. The best laminated floors will have an Abrasion class rating: AC3, AC4, and AC5. These are designed for heavy traffic areas like you would expect to find in a shopping mall. One must note that even this type of flooring can scratch, so keep your dog’s nails trimmed. Also clean any spills right away so it doesn’t cause the flooring to swell or warp.

The ceramic tile floor comes in a large variety of styles and colors to enhance your décor. It is expensive, but so easy to maintain. I had this in my kitchen and I loved it. The only drawback with a ceramic tile floor is that it can be hard on the back. It’s not made for comfort, but rather for its beauty and durability. I raised litters on it in my mud room off of the kitchen. It was so easy to mop up any spills.

The prices of flooring can be very expensive especially when you are considering wood floors, lamented floors or a ceramic tile floor. One must consider how long the flooring will last and the work it will take to keep it looking good. Linoleum is probably the least expensive flooring you could buy. Linoleum and rugs are something that would have to be replaced over time depending on the amount of traffic in those areas where you use it.

So what type of flooring are you using with your dogs?

My rating is not on the beauty of the product, but on the durability and value when living with dogs: carpet: (2), linoleum: (4), wood: (2), laminated: (3), ceramic tile: (4)

PROFESSIONAL SHOW DOG HANDLERS - ARE THEY REALLY NECESSARY?

Showing dogs is a competitive sport. Sometimes having a good dog isn’t enough. Sometimes you need that something extra.

With today’s economy, showing dogs has become a luxury that many people can no longer afford. But if you breed and show dogs, the call of the competition ring is calling to you so you may have to ask yourself can I win showing my own dog? The answer is of course you can! Then the next question you should ask yourself is, are you up for the challenge? Are you in good enough shape to run around the ring several times? Will your dog perform for you or will he just run by your side? Will he set up for you and look noble and alert in the ring or will he be trying to turn around to lick your face? Can you take losing to a professional handler many more times than you would like? Can you be a good sport and come back and hope to win the next day and the next until you finish his championship?

Naturally you can train your dog to bait for you when you set him up by waving a piece of liver in his face while telling him to stay. But how do you get him to pull out for you? Showing a dog yourself in an all-breed show is easier because of the size of the smaller ring. Baiting a dog is a very accepted practice in the all breed shows and many times you’ll see it in the larger specialty rings as well.

Showing and winning with your dog can be a very rewarding experience. However, statistics will prove that more dogs finish their championships with a professional handler showing them. Should you give up then? Not if you truly enjoy showing your own dogs and find it a fun thing to do. There’s nothing more marvelous than finishing you own dog, I would assume. I don’t know. I never did it myself. Just know that when you step inside that ring, you will be rubbing elbows with some of the top professionals in the breed. Watch and learn from them. Some of them are even friendly enough to give you a few tips, but remember they are being paid to win and they might help you some, but their there to beat you.

I have always used professional handlers to show my dogs. I’ve probably hired most of the top handlers on the east coast at one time or another. For those who are new to the show world, you might ask, just what is it that a professional handler does? For many years, most of the time the owner of the dog would bring the animal to the show and the handler would take him into the ring and show him. Some of the better handlers would even help you groom the dogs. Now days, some of the handlers have facilities to train and board your dog to prepare him for the show ring. You pay him normally a monthly fee to board and train the dog. Many owners will send their dogs out with a handler when they can’t go to a show themselves but want to show under certain judges. Then they wait for the handler to call them with the show results.

You hire a professional handler to do what you can’t or don’t want to do. The handler will show your dog according to that dogs best qualities. Normally the handler has an eye for a good dog. He knows the best of your dog and also his minor faults. It is up to the handler to bring out the best and hide the rest. Example: your dog is a beautiful standing dog when he's in a stacked show stance, but his croup is a little flat. The handler will know how to groom the croup to make it look less flat.

A good professional handler will be honest with his client. If a dog is not of the best quality to be competitive in the ring, then he should tell you so. A good handler knows what type of dog wins in the show ring. You are paying him to be honest with you and to let you know if you have that kind of dog. You’re not only paying him for his expertise in the ring, but also his knowledge of the breed and knowledge of what the judge likes. Remember he wants to win almost as much as you do. Also you should know, just because you think “Rover” is the best thing on the planet, doesn’t mean he has what it takes to be a winning show dog. Take him home and love him anyway.

Many times you will see today’s handlers grooming your dogs for you before he goes into the ring. This is an added bonus of hiring a good handler. Also he might take the dog out into the field to work with him ahead of time especially if it’s a new dog that he hasn’t shown before. This gives the handler and dog some time to get familiar with one another. This gives your handler a “feel” for your dog. Sometimes the handler will advise you what type of collar they like to use and what length leash would be best to show your dog with.

How do you find and decide who to hire to show your dog? The best advice I would say is to go to the shows and watch the handler’s performance in the ring. Watch how they handle the dog. Talk to the people who sit at ringside and ask their opinions about different handlers. Word of mouth is probably the best advertisement when choosing a handler. If they have a website, go on it to look and read about their accomplishments. If you ever decide you want to send your dogs for training visit their kennels and look for cleanliness of the place and most of all look at the condition of the dogs they have there already. Also, how does your dog react to this person? Does he like them? Does the handler show a genuine interest in your dog? Ask other people if they have sent their dogs to this person’s kennel.

Professional handlers can be expensive. You will not only pay for their handling of your dog, but you’ll also help pay for their traveling expenses to get to and from the show. You’ll help pay for their meals and hotel if they are staying over night to show your dog. Besides the handlers fee of showing your dog in a class, if he wins and has to go back in to the Winners class, you might get charged again for that class. If he wins that class and goes back in for Best of Breed, you might get charged for that class as well. Check with your handler BEFORE you show to know what his expenses and fees will be. If the handler is showing more than just your dog, he usually divides his traveling and expenses among his clients. Again check with him BEFORE you commit to him.

Realize that there are good handlers and not so good handlers. A good handler is one who is knowledgeable about the breed and the judges (their likes and dislikes), who has a love for the breed, who has a good way of interacting with the dogs, who shows the dog to the best of his ability, and one who has a connection with your dog and who will do his best to bring out your dogs best! Most of all a good handler loves what he’s doing and that love extends right on down through the leash to the dog that he’s handling. Your dog should not be intimidated by the handler – respect him (yes), but not intimidated by him. If it’s not fun for your dog, then he’s not going to show well and won’t be a winning dog.

No matter which way you choose to show your dog – either by a professional or yourself, it should always be fun for you and your dog. If it isn’t then you need to address why that is. There is nothing more rewarding then showing and winning with your dog and when he finishes his championship, the pride you’ll feel – well there’s nothing quite equal it in the dog world.

I am all for the professional dog handler. I have NEVER had a problem with any of them and as I’ve said, I’ve hired the best of them. I would recommend them over and over again.

Professional handler rates: this will vary greatly by each individual many times according to his years of experience and expertise in winning - $45 a class and up. Special fees for winners and Best of Breed you should be aware of ahead of time. Traveling and expenses will vary. Also remember many clients will give a bonus to a professional handler if they win the points or take Best of Breed at the show that day. A bonus is just that – a bonus. It should be something that the client gives as an extra special way of saying “thank you.” It should not be a given nor should a handler tack it on to your bill and expect you to pay it.

My rating: expertise: (4), professionalism: (4), knowledge: (4), value: (4)