Probably one of the hardest things to do when you have a litter of puppies is to find them the best homes that you can. We are all hoping that we can get our puppies into loving “forever” homes. Many people will promise you the world when they come to your house seeking to buy one of your puppies. Most of the time, we are satisfied with the homes that we get our pups into. But there are those other times that can become a nightmare for us. If I had a dollar for every time that one of my breeder friends tells me the horror stories that she goes through dealing with puppy buyers, I’d probably be wealthy by now. Dealing with the public can stretch your nerves to its limits sometimes.
I was probably one of those few people that didn’t have too many problems with the puppy buying market. First of all, I didn’t breed many litters so therefore, thankfully didn’t have to deal with the public all that much. But when I did, I grilled the people ahead of time on the telephone so they sort of knew what to expect when they came to my house. Then the grilling continued when they came to visit me and my dogs. I wasn’t mean to anyone, but if I didn’t think they were the kind of home that was suited for my puppies then I would politely refuse to sell them one. I figured I brought these babies into the world and it was my responsibility to get them into the best homes that I could find for them. Even when I did find the good homes, many times I’d act the fool when the little guys were walking out the door with their new owners. Yup, sometimes my eyes would well up with tears and the people almost felt guilty taking the puppy with them. Every one of my puppies meant something to me!
They are certain types of people that shouldn’t own a dog no less a German Shepherd. Unfortunately when someone comes to your house, they can promise you the world and many times you can still be fooled. There’s no way of knowing 100% if someone is going to be good to your puppy. Most of the times we’ve got to go with our gut feelings about someone. As I said, this is the hardest part of breeding dogs is selling them into the right homes. Sometimes the “right” home turns out to be the worst home.
In certain parts of the country now, there has been more crime being reported than ever before. Someone called me last night to tell me that there has been many break ins in her neighborhood and other towns in the area. People are being robbed, beaten or raped and she has become very frightened by this new criminal activity in her own backyard. She told me that she’s thinking of getting a dog for protection purposes. She readily admitted to me that she’s not a dog person and even though she’s had a couple in the past, after she’s had them for a few years, she ended up giving them away. I told her I didn’t’ think it was a very good idea for her to get a dog. First of all, she has already admitted not to being a dog person. Secondly, she is very fussy in her house. Everything has to be just so. She hates dirt of any kind especially if it’s in her house. Dog hair? Oh my goodness this is a given when you own a dog. She has a son and he already told her if she gets a big dog that he’s not picking up after him. He wants a small dog. I can just see it now. After a very short period of time, I’ll ask her how the dog is doing, and I won’t be surprised to hear her say, she found him a new home.
I’ve had people come to my house and tell me that they want a German Shepherd to be used as their guard dog at their business. I love it when people are honest with me like this because then I tell them that I don’t have the type of dog that they’re looking for. It’s those that tell you that the puppy will be part of their family and you find out its been tied up in their back yard most of their lives that you loose sleep over. No one wants to be fooled especially when it comes to a dog that you’ve bred.
A friend of mine recently told me a heartbreaking story of a gorgeous male puppy that she sold into what she considered to be an excellent home. The puppy had a marvelous temperament and one could tell that he was well taken care of. So my friend sold the puppy to a couple who claimed to love the dog so much. After having him for a few months, he ate something and he became ill. They took him to their vet who did an x-ray and he located the object and said he’d have to perform an operation on him to remove the object. The husband and wife talked it over and they both decided to have the youngster put to sleep rather than have him go through the operation. The vet assured them that the puppy should be fine, but no they decided to have him put to sleep instead. Did they call my friend to let her know? No they called her after the dog was put to sleep. My friend who truly loves each and every one of her dogs like children was hysterical. The puppy was never given a chance. His life was decided for him. He got himself into a little trouble and the people that CLAIMED to love him; decided it wasn’t worth it to try to save the little guy. And the breeder thought she sold him into a loving forever home…..it was forever as long as there wasn’t any problems!
So I tell people before you get yourself a dog, make sure you want a dog for the right reason. Just to get a dog for protection isn’t the right reason. You’re not doing yourself any favors or the dog. Before you know it, the dog will probably be out the door after a short amount of time. A dog is a lifetime commitment……or should be. This means that adjustments to your lifestyle will need to be made. If you are not willing to change the way you live when you welcome a dog into your home, then in my opinion, you are not ready for a dog. Bring a dog into your life because you would love to have a dog. The dog is so much more than a growling, barking protection dog. If you don’t have your heart to give him, then have a heart not to bring him home in the first place because his heart will become attached to you whether you want him to or not.
Do you find yourself strapped for money? Do you have some puppies that are just not selling? Is the expense of holding onto puppies getting harder and harder for you? Are you considering selling one of your puppies to that guy that came by last week wanting your dog to guard his car dealership? In my opinion if you don’t have homes for your puppies when you decide to breed another litter or have deposits on most of them, then why are you breeding in a deflated economy? More and more people are buying things out of necessity rather then just because they want something. Many times buying puppies is an impulse type of purchase. Sometimes those puppies are returned. If you’re not prepared to hold onto puppies that don’t sell right away, then maybe right now is not the best time to breed your bitch. I have some friends in the breed that tell me that they have puppies that are six months to a year old that they can’t find homes for. Maybe the economy is trying to tell us something.
From the book: "LIVING WITH DOGS" - Man's relationship with the world of dogs is not only universal, but also frequently all-encompassing, influencing how we live, what we collect, and how we spend our leisure time. Living with Dogs explores the multitude of ways that dog owners share their lives with their pets. In 26 delightfully written stories, a witty, admiring text, and 400 full-color photographs, the authors of The Sporting Life and A Passion for Golf capture the experiences of dogs and people--at home, in the country, in the city, and even at work, with a special focus on the nostalgic memorabilia that remind people of their devotion to their pets. The authors visit passionate owners, breeders, trainers, and collectors across the country and offer a look into their dog-filled lives. Profiles include an interior designer who has amassed a lifetime of canine art; a collector with a house full of four-legged porcelain figurines; a bibliophile with an outstanding assortment of dog-literature first editions; an artist who specializes in dog portraits; and a veterinarian who proudly displays antique tools of his trade. The authors also focus on other aspects of dog devotion, including the Philadelphia All-Terrier Show; a hotel decorated with canine appointments; a New England camp exclusively for dogs; a boutique devoted to canine accessories; the American Kennel Club; and a Manhattan gallery specializing in 19th-century dog art. Whether they are devoted to a particular breed or have simply fallen in love with dogs in general, the people featured here have succumbed to the "Slipcover School of Dog Management, allowing their dogs the complete run of their lives as well as their hearts. With an extensive resource list that includes dog art galleries, dog shows, kennel clubs, breeders, supply houses, and more, Living with Dogs is the ultimate tribute to canine companions. In 26 stories and 400 full-color photographs of homes, collections, galleries, meets, shows, kennels, and camps, Living with Dogs celebrates the devotion and passion of the millions of Americans for whom a life without dogs is not worth
living.
My rating: breeding dogs: (4), finding the right homes for puppies: (1 - 4)
Showing posts with label german shepherd dog trainers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label german shepherd dog trainers. Show all posts
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
DON'T THINK IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU?
Just a couple of days ago I was reading in the news about a story of some low life that killed a mother and her children in their home in Connecticut. He didn’t know these people but he would be forever connected to them once he did his dirty deed.
It is a known fact that more attacks on women happen during the day when the husband is away from the home. If you have a kennel full of dogs, make sure you have a couple in the house with you at all times. If you don’t have a kennel full of dogs, don’t keep your dog tied out in the backyard. He can’t do anything for you restricted like this. If you have a dog, make sure he’s your companion or what’s the sense of having one at all? Sure if the perpetrator has a gun, the chances are that the dog will get shot. Your chances of getting away are better if there are a couple of dogs in the house. If one doesn’t get him, the other one is sure to do the job.
No one wants to be paranoid, but more and more people own guns and are being trained how to use them. We live in hard times and desperate people do desperate things. It’s better to be prepared then be totally shocked and have no defenses.
Sometime back in the mid to late 80’s I remember reading a story in either People magazine or perhaps it was Life magazine. The name of the magazine doesn’t stick with me but the story has all these years later. Someone in the German Shepherd Dog Show community who was an active small breeder and owner of a Select dog had a tragedy show its ugly face to her family. I knew these people well having gone to supper with them and having parties with them at their or our homes. We sat together at many of the dog shows here on the East coast. She was best friends with another mutual dog friend. She lived a well to do lifestyle that afforded her to show dogs and then later on to own and show horses that she and her daughters delighted in.
This lady had a brother that I never met. He and his wife had always worked and lived in the city. Stressed out and tired from the “rat race”, they decided to “chuck it all” and move to a completely different environment altogether. They were giving up the city life for the quiet of the country life. So they packed up their bags and headed out to the Midwest. They found and bought a beautiful farm like home with a country barn and friendly “Howdy neighbor” types of people that they called their friends. Life was good for the city couple. They went to barbecues, fairs and festivals and you would have thought that they lived here all their lives because of how well they were welcomed in their new community.
Life was everything that the new couple to the neighborhood could have asked for. Their blood pressure was normal and they led what they believed to be a relatively stress free life. Then one day an out of town bus stopped in their little village. One lone scruffy looking poor excuse for a human being stepped off the last step of that rickety old bus. The bus pulled away from the curve leaving the vagabond behind. He hung around the small village for a short time and then he turned and walked heading out of town toward the country road that would lead him to my friend’s brother’s home. Little did he know that his actions on this day would land his name on a 4 -5 page spread in one of this countries most popular read magazines. Up until this time, no one knew his name.
People in those neck of the woods was so confident of their surroundings and believed in brotherly love that no one locked their doors at night…………or in the daytime either. My friend’s brother was out in the barn perhaps storing the hay or doing something else that country folks do. Before he knew what hit him, he was being attacked and thrown to the floor. He was beaten up pretty bad and then tied up. His attacker made him stand up and shoved him towards the house. He did not know that his wife had already been attacked and tied to a chair. The low life was on a roll now. He had a captive audience for his devious acts. Although the wife screamed and cried, she was made to endure watching her husband be beat some more until his attacker finally killed him. Then the wife cried no more as she too was murdered.
The vagabond was caught and sent away as he should have been. He confessed he never even knew these people that he brutalized and murdered. He was just a drifter with no sense or purpose. The city people that came to the country to get away from the stress and crime of the big city had no way of knowing that dirt is dirt whether it comes from the city or the country.
So if you have a dog or dogs, let them be a part of your life. Bring them in the house because they’re not going to be able to do anything for you “out there” when you’re “in here!’
From the book: "PROFILERS: LEADING INVESTIGATORS TAKE YOU INSIDE THE CRIMINAL MIND" - A bone-chilling conversation with Jeffrey Dahmer is just one highlight from this anthology of seasoned examinations of one of law enforcement's grimmest challenges. Campbell and DeNevi's second collaboration (after Into the Minds of Madmen) casts a wide net; although famous profilers like John Douglas contribute several of the 28 essays here, most are written by accomplished but little-known specialists. The result is a no-nonsense, technically oriented but readable look at how cops grapple with the worst felonies, including hostage taking, serial rape and murder, and child abduction/murder. The contributors take a measured tone toward the lethal predators they examine, as in Robert Ressler's discussion of his Dahmer interviews: "We must never forget that... there are many Jeffrey Dahmers walking among us." James Fitzgerald gives an account of using forensic linguistics to decode more than 200 of the Unabomber's writings, such as elusive marks like "indented writing," marks left by writing on another piece of paper over the examined one. FBI Special Agent Mary Ellen O'Toole offers a useful overview of the often misunderstood science of profiling ("Contrary to the current television and movie depictions..., a successful profiler is not psychic"). Other chapters offer updates on multidisciplinary approaches to cold cases and geographic profiling innovations. This is a rigorous and disturbing collection, accessible but compiled with law enforcement professionals in mind.
My rating: Keeping dogs in the house for protection: (4)
It is a known fact that more attacks on women happen during the day when the husband is away from the home. If you have a kennel full of dogs, make sure you have a couple in the house with you at all times. If you don’t have a kennel full of dogs, don’t keep your dog tied out in the backyard. He can’t do anything for you restricted like this. If you have a dog, make sure he’s your companion or what’s the sense of having one at all? Sure if the perpetrator has a gun, the chances are that the dog will get shot. Your chances of getting away are better if there are a couple of dogs in the house. If one doesn’t get him, the other one is sure to do the job.
No one wants to be paranoid, but more and more people own guns and are being trained how to use them. We live in hard times and desperate people do desperate things. It’s better to be prepared then be totally shocked and have no defenses.
Sometime back in the mid to late 80’s I remember reading a story in either People magazine or perhaps it was Life magazine. The name of the magazine doesn’t stick with me but the story has all these years later. Someone in the German Shepherd Dog Show community who was an active small breeder and owner of a Select dog had a tragedy show its ugly face to her family. I knew these people well having gone to supper with them and having parties with them at their or our homes. We sat together at many of the dog shows here on the East coast. She was best friends with another mutual dog friend. She lived a well to do lifestyle that afforded her to show dogs and then later on to own and show horses that she and her daughters delighted in.
This lady had a brother that I never met. He and his wife had always worked and lived in the city. Stressed out and tired from the “rat race”, they decided to “chuck it all” and move to a completely different environment altogether. They were giving up the city life for the quiet of the country life. So they packed up their bags and headed out to the Midwest. They found and bought a beautiful farm like home with a country barn and friendly “Howdy neighbor” types of people that they called their friends. Life was good for the city couple. They went to barbecues, fairs and festivals and you would have thought that they lived here all their lives because of how well they were welcomed in their new community.
Life was everything that the new couple to the neighborhood could have asked for. Their blood pressure was normal and they led what they believed to be a relatively stress free life. Then one day an out of town bus stopped in their little village. One lone scruffy looking poor excuse for a human being stepped off the last step of that rickety old bus. The bus pulled away from the curve leaving the vagabond behind. He hung around the small village for a short time and then he turned and walked heading out of town toward the country road that would lead him to my friend’s brother’s home. Little did he know that his actions on this day would land his name on a 4 -5 page spread in one of this countries most popular read magazines. Up until this time, no one knew his name.
People in those neck of the woods was so confident of their surroundings and believed in brotherly love that no one locked their doors at night…………or in the daytime either. My friend’s brother was out in the barn perhaps storing the hay or doing something else that country folks do. Before he knew what hit him, he was being attacked and thrown to the floor. He was beaten up pretty bad and then tied up. His attacker made him stand up and shoved him towards the house. He did not know that his wife had already been attacked and tied to a chair. The low life was on a roll now. He had a captive audience for his devious acts. Although the wife screamed and cried, she was made to endure watching her husband be beat some more until his attacker finally killed him. Then the wife cried no more as she too was murdered.
The vagabond was caught and sent away as he should have been. He confessed he never even knew these people that he brutalized and murdered. He was just a drifter with no sense or purpose. The city people that came to the country to get away from the stress and crime of the big city had no way of knowing that dirt is dirt whether it comes from the city or the country.
So if you have a dog or dogs, let them be a part of your life. Bring them in the house because they’re not going to be able to do anything for you “out there” when you’re “in here!’
From the book: "PROFILERS: LEADING INVESTIGATORS TAKE YOU INSIDE THE CRIMINAL MIND" - A bone-chilling conversation with Jeffrey Dahmer is just one highlight from this anthology of seasoned examinations of one of law enforcement's grimmest challenges. Campbell and DeNevi's second collaboration (after Into the Minds of Madmen) casts a wide net; although famous profilers like John Douglas contribute several of the 28 essays here, most are written by accomplished but little-known specialists. The result is a no-nonsense, technically oriented but readable look at how cops grapple with the worst felonies, including hostage taking, serial rape and murder, and child abduction/murder. The contributors take a measured tone toward the lethal predators they examine, as in Robert Ressler's discussion of his Dahmer interviews: "We must never forget that... there are many Jeffrey Dahmers walking among us." James Fitzgerald gives an account of using forensic linguistics to decode more than 200 of the Unabomber's writings, such as elusive marks like "indented writing," marks left by writing on another piece of paper over the examined one. FBI Special Agent Mary Ellen O'Toole offers a useful overview of the often misunderstood science of profiling ("Contrary to the current television and movie depictions..., a successful profiler is not psychic"). Other chapters offer updates on multidisciplinary approaches to cold cases and geographic profiling innovations. This is a rigorous and disturbing collection, accessible but compiled with law enforcement professionals in mind.
My rating: Keeping dogs in the house for protection: (4)
Friday, February 5, 2010
THE WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW
Mark your calendars. Westminster is coming! Have you ever shown a dog at Westminster? Have you ever just gone just to watch this prestigious show? What’s so special about it and why do millions of fans watch this show every February? For some it’s considered the world’s greatest dog show!
For all the great things that New York City is known for (Yankee baseball, The Empire State building, Broadway theater, Times Square, some of the world’s most fantastic restaurants, etc.) there’s another thing that if you’re a dog lover you associate with this great city. That is The Westminster Dog Show held at Madison Square Garden in on of the coldest months of the year! Usually this show is held the second week of February.
Who would have ever thought you could hold a dog show in New York City?! It seems way back in 1877, some sporting gentlemen thought it would be a great idea and it has become a tradition ever since. It seems that this prestigious show got its name from a hotel by the same name. The hotel is no longer standing, but the Westminster show continues to attract the “old timers” and the new to the sport of dog showing. The first show held in 1877 was at Gilmore's Garden (the forerunner of Madison Square Garden) which drew an entry of 1,201 dogs. Only the Kentucky Derby sporting event has been around longer than the Westminster Dog show and that’s only by one year.
This is a tidbit that I didn’t know until I researched material for this article. Westminster was established before the American Kennel Club was started! In 1877 Westminster and the AKC developed a set of show rules and regulations and established a Board of Appeals to make sure these rules were followed. Then in 1884, the American Kennel Club was created. I wonder what rules and regulations Westminster followed before their association with the AKC.
Many famous people have entered their dogs at Westminster. Queens, Emperors, and Czars are just some of the people that this dog show found favor with. And even today, if you were to take a stroll around the arena or in the bench area where the dogs are kept, you might just find yourself rubbing elbows with some of Hollywood’s finest. I remember seeing Bill Cosby showing his dogs back in the 80’s.
Most people who show at this show come to parade the “cream of the crop” for the spectators, breeders and judges to admire. These dogs that are entered are already champions. What they are looking for is that elusive Best in Show honor. To achieve that goal they would have had to beat and conquer hundreds of other dogs not only in their own breed, but in all of the entries at this show.
Interestingly enough, the Best in Show award was not bestowed on any dog until 1907! It was given to a Smooth Fox Terrier who would win it three times. She remains the only dog to have accomplished this! There are six other dogs who have won this award two times.
What does it take to win at Westminster? Do you just show up with a gorgeous dog and expect to win with him/her? If only it were that simple. I have watched this show practically every year since the 80’s. Many times I was there in the audience as well going back into the 70’s! I saw some of the most beautiful, well conditioned dogs all gathered in one arena competing for the prestigious title of Best in Show. Anyone of them could be winners……perhaps not on this day, but another day. For this day, only one would walk (or gait) away with that big shiny trophy.
Most of these dogs are competitively campaigned throughout the year. Many of them have numerous Best in Show wins already to their credit. These dogs are heavily advertised in show dog magazines where other breeders, exhibitors and judges see their prestigious wins. Many of these dogs already have established a winning record and have many admirers looking to breed to them or buy a puppy from them. Before some of these dogs step into the ring at Madison Square Garden, they have established quite an impressive show career already. Many spectators know who these dogs are for they are like the “movie stars” of their breed. They definitely have a following. All one has to do is sit and listen to the thunderous applause for some of these gorgeous animals.
And just how does our beautiful breed, the German Shepherd Dog do at this show? Here is one of the best recognized and beloved breeds in the dog world! What track record does this breed have at this show? In over 125 years of this dog show, only one time did the German Shepherd Dog win Best in Show! Only once! And that was the great Ch. Covy Tucker Hills Manhattan. Do you know how hard it is for a German Shepherd to win that title at this show? Very hard! But Manhattan had an extraordinary show record already by the time he entered into the Westminster ring. He was known and beloved all over the dog world. He was a wonderful ambassador for the breed. I won’t bore my readers again with my story that I already wrote about when I saw this wonderful dog make breed history at Westminster. All I can say is that he had the crowd behind him. The applause, the clapping, the feet stomping was deafening! No German Shepherd before him and so far no German Shepherd since has been able to catch the judge’s eye enough to award our breed this “title of titles!”
And how about this years entries for our breed? A friend of mine is showing her beautiful champion. She knows what it takes to show at this show. She’s done it a few times before, but with each year brings with it, the same thrill, the same level of adrenaline, the same hope that maybe, just maybe, her dog will have the judge’s finger pointing at him and crowning him “dog extraordinaire!”
If you go on the Westminster Dog website, you can view throughout the day the different winners of the different breeds.
And as for the rest of us, we’ll sit in the comforts and warmth of our sofa and chairs and cheer for our favorites to win. And although we want with all our hearts for the German Shepherd to win the Best in Show title, we can still appreciate a “good one” from any of the other breeds as well. If you’ve got an eye for a good dog, you won’t miss him. He’s the one who is “asking for” that big old shiny trophy. There’s something very special about the Best in Show winner. He’s just got it written all over him. So get out the popcorn and watch and see it for yourself. You can’t miss it. It’s coming to a television set in your area on Monday and Tuesday, February 15 – 16!
My rating: going to Westminster: (4), winning at Westminster: (4)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For all the great things that New York City is known for (Yankee baseball, The Empire State building, Broadway theater, Times Square, some of the world’s most fantastic restaurants, etc.) there’s another thing that if you’re a dog lover you associate with this great city. That is The Westminster Dog Show held at Madison Square Garden in on of the coldest months of the year! Usually this show is held the second week of February.
Who would have ever thought you could hold a dog show in New York City?! It seems way back in 1877, some sporting gentlemen thought it would be a great idea and it has become a tradition ever since. It seems that this prestigious show got its name from a hotel by the same name. The hotel is no longer standing, but the Westminster show continues to attract the “old timers” and the new to the sport of dog showing. The first show held in 1877 was at Gilmore's Garden (the forerunner of Madison Square Garden) which drew an entry of 1,201 dogs. Only the Kentucky Derby sporting event has been around longer than the Westminster Dog show and that’s only by one year.
This is a tidbit that I didn’t know until I researched material for this article. Westminster was established before the American Kennel Club was started! In 1877 Westminster and the AKC developed a set of show rules and regulations and established a Board of Appeals to make sure these rules were followed. Then in 1884, the American Kennel Club was created. I wonder what rules and regulations Westminster followed before their association with the AKC.
Many famous people have entered their dogs at Westminster. Queens, Emperors, and Czars are just some of the people that this dog show found favor with. And even today, if you were to take a stroll around the arena or in the bench area where the dogs are kept, you might just find yourself rubbing elbows with some of Hollywood’s finest. I remember seeing Bill Cosby showing his dogs back in the 80’s.
Most people who show at this show come to parade the “cream of the crop” for the spectators, breeders and judges to admire. These dogs that are entered are already champions. What they are looking for is that elusive Best in Show honor. To achieve that goal they would have had to beat and conquer hundreds of other dogs not only in their own breed, but in all of the entries at this show.
Interestingly enough, the Best in Show award was not bestowed on any dog until 1907! It was given to a Smooth Fox Terrier who would win it three times. She remains the only dog to have accomplished this! There are six other dogs who have won this award two times.
What does it take to win at Westminster? Do you just show up with a gorgeous dog and expect to win with him/her? If only it were that simple. I have watched this show practically every year since the 80’s. Many times I was there in the audience as well going back into the 70’s! I saw some of the most beautiful, well conditioned dogs all gathered in one arena competing for the prestigious title of Best in Show. Anyone of them could be winners……perhaps not on this day, but another day. For this day, only one would walk (or gait) away with that big shiny trophy.
Most of these dogs are competitively campaigned throughout the year. Many of them have numerous Best in Show wins already to their credit. These dogs are heavily advertised in show dog magazines where other breeders, exhibitors and judges see their prestigious wins. Many of these dogs already have established a winning record and have many admirers looking to breed to them or buy a puppy from them. Before some of these dogs step into the ring at Madison Square Garden, they have established quite an impressive show career already. Many spectators know who these dogs are for they are like the “movie stars” of their breed. They definitely have a following. All one has to do is sit and listen to the thunderous applause for some of these gorgeous animals.
And just how does our beautiful breed, the German Shepherd Dog do at this show? Here is one of the best recognized and beloved breeds in the dog world! What track record does this breed have at this show? In over 125 years of this dog show, only one time did the German Shepherd Dog win Best in Show! Only once! And that was the great Ch. Covy Tucker Hills Manhattan. Do you know how hard it is for a German Shepherd to win that title at this show? Very hard! But Manhattan had an extraordinary show record already by the time he entered into the Westminster ring. He was known and beloved all over the dog world. He was a wonderful ambassador for the breed. I won’t bore my readers again with my story that I already wrote about when I saw this wonderful dog make breed history at Westminster. All I can say is that he had the crowd behind him. The applause, the clapping, the feet stomping was deafening! No German Shepherd before him and so far no German Shepherd since has been able to catch the judge’s eye enough to award our breed this “title of titles!”
And how about this years entries for our breed? A friend of mine is showing her beautiful champion. She knows what it takes to show at this show. She’s done it a few times before, but with each year brings with it, the same thrill, the same level of adrenaline, the same hope that maybe, just maybe, her dog will have the judge’s finger pointing at him and crowning him “dog extraordinaire!”
If you go on the Westminster Dog website, you can view throughout the day the different winners of the different breeds.
And as for the rest of us, we’ll sit in the comforts and warmth of our sofa and chairs and cheer for our favorites to win. And although we want with all our hearts for the German Shepherd to win the Best in Show title, we can still appreciate a “good one” from any of the other breeds as well. If you’ve got an eye for a good dog, you won’t miss him. He’s the one who is “asking for” that big old shiny trophy. There’s something very special about the Best in Show winner. He’s just got it written all over him. So get out the popcorn and watch and see it for yourself. You can’t miss it. It’s coming to a television set in your area on Monday and Tuesday, February 15 – 16!
My rating: going to Westminster: (4), winning at Westminster: (4)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, November 20, 2009
SOME OF THE BEST MOMENTS IN DOGS
Buying your first AKC registered German Shepherd puppy
Your first litter
Your first champion
Your first Select
Your first ROM (register of merit)
The first time a "newbie" asks you for advice
The first time a "big shot" recognizes you and says hello
Being asked to join a bunch of people after a show to go get a bite to eat
Being invited to a "dog party" at a breeders house
Having a handler come talk to you because he seen your dog and he wants to show him
Having a well known breeder say to you that they want to buy one of your dogs
Going to a dog show and the weather is warm and breezy
Hearing people ringside say GOOD things about your dog that is being shown
Hearing your vet tell you that your dog is not bloating. Her tummy is fat because she ate too much!
Making friends with people who will be your friends for life
Getting that "once in a lifetime"...."opportunity is knocking" chance to buy a "superstar!"
Breeding two well bred dogs and not having any health problems
Having a litter that is deep in quality and getting them into great show homes
Going to a dog show just to watch and enjoy spending some time with friends
Going to the German Shepherd Dog Nationals
Winning a futurity/maturity and getting one of those wonderful plaques to put on your wall
Having your dog not blow his coat before he's shown at an important show
Breeding a bitch and she doesn’t miss
Receiving the German Shepherd Dog Review and it's loaded with breeders ads and pictures
Having people come over to you to congratulate you on your dogs winning
Getting an obedience title on your dog
Having a dog that you can take anywhere with you because he has a marvelous temperament
Going for a walk or a hike with your dog
Judging your first match
Watching a judge at a show and agreeing with his winners
Having your dog kiss away your tears
Being able to act like yourself around your dog and not be judged
Knowing your dog never holds grudges
Knowing that your dog knows all your secrets and he's never going to be able to share them with anyone
Singing off key and your dog has to listen to you like it or not
Giggling out loud because your dog is so “gosh darn funny”
Walking on the show grounds and everyone's head turns as you walk by with your new "superstar"
Finally beating someone who always wins
Knowing that you've bred the best puppies that you could that are healthy, strong and are excellent representatives of the breed
Having puppy buyers buy another dog from you years later after buying their first one from you
Getting your dogs first show win picture and hanging it on the wall
Not getting lost on your way to a dog show and making it on time for your dogs class
Having your dog/bitch have his/her own stud dog/brood bitch class at the National
Showing in the Honor Parade at the National
Being crowned Obedience Victor/Victrix
Owing a AOE Select champion
Winning Best in Show
Winning Best in Show at Westminster
Getting your dogs OFA numbers in the mail
Breeding a Grand Victor/Victrix
Having your dog save your life
Saving your dog’s life
Having your dog pass the temperament test
Owning a therapy dog
Having your dog be a Seeing Eye dog for the blind
Having fun with your dog in rally competition
Having a breeder like your stud dog well enough to breed their bitch to him
Being invited to another breeder’s house to look at their puppies
Having your dog “watch out for you” by making sure that you are getting enough exercise because he wants to go for a walk or fetch a ball
Puppy breath
Not having your long coated puppy being the best puppy in the litter
Having a whole litter that you never have to tape any puppy’s ears
Never needing an alarm because your dog will let you know that it’s time to get up
Having someone to give your leftovers to so you don’t have to throw away any food
Sharing your cheese doodles with your dog
Having a “built in baby sitter”
Belonging to a breed club and having people ask you to be President
Judging your first AKC Specialty show
Growing old with your dogs
Turning the lights out at night resting safely and knowing all is well because your dogs are there to guarantee that it is
I'm sure other people can add their own best moments in dogs!
My rating: German Shepherd dog ownership: (4+)!
Your first litter
Your first champion
Your first Select
Your first ROM (register of merit)
The first time a "newbie" asks you for advice
The first time a "big shot" recognizes you and says hello
Being asked to join a bunch of people after a show to go get a bite to eat
Being invited to a "dog party" at a breeders house
Having a handler come talk to you because he seen your dog and he wants to show him
Having a well known breeder say to you that they want to buy one of your dogs
Going to a dog show and the weather is warm and breezy
Hearing people ringside say GOOD things about your dog that is being shown
Hearing your vet tell you that your dog is not bloating. Her tummy is fat because she ate too much!
Making friends with people who will be your friends for life
Getting that "once in a lifetime"...."opportunity is knocking" chance to buy a "superstar!"
Breeding two well bred dogs and not having any health problems
Having a litter that is deep in quality and getting them into great show homes
Going to a dog show just to watch and enjoy spending some time with friends
Going to the German Shepherd Dog Nationals
Winning a futurity/maturity and getting one of those wonderful plaques to put on your wall
Having your dog not blow his coat before he's shown at an important show
Breeding a bitch and she doesn’t miss
Receiving the German Shepherd Dog Review and it's loaded with breeders ads and pictures
Having people come over to you to congratulate you on your dogs winning
Getting an obedience title on your dog
Having a dog that you can take anywhere with you because he has a marvelous temperament
Going for a walk or a hike with your dog
Judging your first match
Watching a judge at a show and agreeing with his winners
Having your dog kiss away your tears
Being able to act like yourself around your dog and not be judged
Knowing your dog never holds grudges
Knowing that your dog knows all your secrets and he's never going to be able to share them with anyone
Singing off key and your dog has to listen to you like it or not
Giggling out loud because your dog is so “gosh darn funny”
Walking on the show grounds and everyone's head turns as you walk by with your new "superstar"
Finally beating someone who always wins
Knowing that you've bred the best puppies that you could that are healthy, strong and are excellent representatives of the breed
Having puppy buyers buy another dog from you years later after buying their first one from you
Getting your dogs first show win picture and hanging it on the wall
Not getting lost on your way to a dog show and making it on time for your dogs class
Having your dog/bitch have his/her own stud dog/brood bitch class at the National
Showing in the Honor Parade at the National
Being crowned Obedience Victor/Victrix
Owing a AOE Select champion
Winning Best in Show
Winning Best in Show at Westminster
Getting your dogs OFA numbers in the mail
Breeding a Grand Victor/Victrix
Having your dog save your life
Saving your dog’s life
Having your dog pass the temperament test
Owning a therapy dog
Having your dog be a Seeing Eye dog for the blind
Having fun with your dog in rally competition
Having a breeder like your stud dog well enough to breed their bitch to him
Being invited to another breeder’s house to look at their puppies
Having your dog “watch out for you” by making sure that you are getting enough exercise because he wants to go for a walk or fetch a ball
Puppy breath
Not having your long coated puppy being the best puppy in the litter
Having a whole litter that you never have to tape any puppy’s ears
Never needing an alarm because your dog will let you know that it’s time to get up
Having someone to give your leftovers to so you don’t have to throw away any food
Sharing your cheese doodles with your dog
Having a “built in baby sitter”
Belonging to a breed club and having people ask you to be President
Judging your first AKC Specialty show
Growing old with your dogs
Turning the lights out at night resting safely and knowing all is well because your dogs are there to guarantee that it is
I'm sure other people can add their own best moments in dogs!
My rating: German Shepherd dog ownership: (4+)!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
MORE THAN A PRETTY FACE
Although a well bred German Shepherd dog can be very pleasing to the eye and a properly structured dog can take your breath away when he gaits, make no mistake about it, this breed was bred for his working and herding abilities. With today’s compromised economy, just think if you were able to send your German Shepherd out to work how he could contribute to the household! No, I’m not kidding, if you live with a German Shepherd dog you’re living with one of the smartest and easiest to train dogs on the planet. Just how many of them ever attain all that they could? Once this dog is taught something, it amazes me how they still remember it even if you don’t often ask it of them.
Having a well trained dog is a delight to live with. I truly admire those in the breed who see fit to not only show their dogs to their conformation titles, but also have obedience titles on their dogs as well. Bravo! A pretty face is nice, but one with brains is even better! Oh, the German Shepherd has the brains alright, it’s just that many of them are not being developed and nurtured to their full potential. This breed loves to please their masters. A German Shepherd needs a job to do or they become very restless. They’re no different from a kid. Don’t teach a child anything. Don’t play with him. Don’t let him have exercise and then see how wonderful they are to live with! Anything with any amount of intelligence can never be happy living a dull and unchallenged life!
There are many jobs that the German Shepherd dog does. Everyone is familiar with the war dog stories and the police dog stories. This is a loyal, intelligent, bold and eager to please type of dog. Utilizing these dogs’ abilities is probably one of the most rewarding expererinces an owner can have. Talk about being proud!
When used as war dogs they were used as messengers, rescuers, sentries, and personal guard dogs. Because of their use in the wars, this dog became very popular when our service men came home.
Here are a couple of stories I came up with when researching about this subject. There was a farmer who lived in Canada who became trapped under his tractor when it fell on him. He had his German Shepherd out in the fields with him. Obviously the tractor was too big and heavy for the dog to move it off of the man. The farmer and his dog were about two miles away from his home when this happened. The farmer ripped off a piece of his shirt and tied it onto the dog’s collar. The dog ran home to the farmer’s wife who alerted the police.
The German Shepherd dog is a breed that is used as an assistance dog. They guide the blind, alert the hearing-impaired to noises and alarms, they pull wheelchairs, open cupboard doors, and pick up dropped items. The first guide dog in the United States was a German Shepherd named Buddy. He guided a blind teenager named Frank. The two campaigned tirelessly for better medical care for service dogs for the rest of their lives.
An 8 year old boy by the name of Alex from Kentucky has severe epilepsy. His assistance dog, Lady, presses an alarm device to alert Alex' parents when he is having a seizure. The body releases chemicals a dog can smell. These chemicals change just before a seizure, alerting the dog that a seizure is imminent. In addition to helping Alex, Lady has traveled to Washington, D.C. to encourage lawmakers to provide funding for assistance dogs through the Medicaid program. Lady came from an Ohio-based non-profit organization called 4 Paws for Ability which cost nearly $10,000, raised by Alex' family and friends.
One time an article in the Tampa Tribune (and I quote) related a story about a special dog named Nubs and a U.S. Marine Major Brian Dennis who had recently returned from Iraq. Major Dennis' Border Transition Team found Nubs near the Syrian border; his ears hacked off and left to die after being stabbed with a screwdriver. The Marines carried the dog to their base and nursed him back to health. Soon after, they left for the al-Anbar province. Imagine their surprise when Nubs showed up at their combat outpost after tracking them for 70 miles! After learning it was against military regulations to keep a pet in a war zone, Major Dennis began an e-mail campaign to raise the $3,500 it would cost to ship Nubs back to California. Marine buddies kept Nubs until Major Dennis shipped home from his second tour of duty in March for a happy reunion on the tarmac at Fort Pendleton. An excellent example of man giving back to a loyal companion!
German Shepherds make excellent therapy dogs, visiting nursing homes, hospitals, and childcare centers. They provide affection to the lonely and depressed. The dog seems to be able to sense what is needed and provides companionship to those who feel alone and need it the most.
Due to the breeds’ excellent sense of smell, they make wonderful search and rescue dogs as well as narcotic dogs. That’s why the police department has used these dogs for years recognizing the exceptional intelligence of this breed.
It is important for the German Shepherd owner or someone who is considering owning one of these marvelous dogs to know that this dog has an overwhelming need to work. If you live a sedentary life or leave your dog home much of the time, this might not be the best breed for you. He needs daily exercise and a sense of purpose. If he is not given a purpose in life, you might find yourself with a destructive dog on your hands. One of the top reasons a person puts a dog to sleep is because the dog was destructive. If only they would have put the time into training and working with their dog, the dog would prove to be an important part of their lives. This is not a breed of dog that you buy and ask him to lie around the house and be happy all day. It is not part of this dog’s character. He’s too smart for that. He will grow restless. This is a breed of dog to enjoy and do things with. We miss out the fun that these dogs can be and the joy that they can bring to our lives by locking them up in a kennel and just taking them out when they go to a show. How wonderful that this dog is a dog that can do it all. Look gorgeous and serve a purpose. If we own this breed, it is our responsibility to make sure this dog is not only trained for the show ring, but also to train his mind. He’s not just another pretty face!
My rating: the German Shepherd dog’s intelligence: (4), working ability: (4), untrained GS: (1)
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