The German Shepherd Dog Club of America describes the top line of the German Shepherd Dog as the withers being higher than and sloping into the level back. The back is straight, very strongly developed without sag or roach, and relatively short. It furthers says that the dog is longer than tall, with the most desirable proportion as 10 to 8 ½. The desirable long proportion is not derived from a long back, but from overall length with relations to height, which is achieved by length of forequarter and length of withers and hindquarter, viewed from the side.
Now that the spring is here the dog shows are well under way. What I have been seeing a lot of with the dogs that are being shown now is bad backs or top lines. There are different types of backs that a dog can have, not all of them being desirable. The back should be like a bridge that holds the front and rear of the dog together. With a dog that has a good strong back and one that is proportioned correctly, you won’t see any unnecessary motion to his top line.
What has been disturbing to me is that I’m seeing a lot of overly short backs. If you look at some of the pictures of the dogs that are in motion that you see on some of the show photographers websites, this is very evident. A dog that is too short in back will over drive with his hindquarter forcing is top line to buckle up. He has no place to go with his rear. It’s almost as if he has to get out of his own way. It’s unsightly. His front never truly opens up because he has to compensate for a hard driving rear with a distorted top line and there is never a smooth coordinated motion. It’s as if the dog is crabbing. In order for the dog to place his rear feet on the ground, he has to set them to the side of his body so he doesn’t get in the way of his front legs. It looks like he’s going to run himself down. I’ve been seeing this time and time again…..the backs are getting too short!
For every dog that has a short back, there are those that have too much length to their backs. They can look like a freight train for all that length that they have.
Another top line problem is the dippy back. Without proper grooming if you were to look at a dog with this type of top line you would actually see that this type of dog would perhaps have a dip behind his withers. A good handler can normally groom up the hair where there is a dip in the top line, but you can’t cover it up when the dog is in motion.
Then there are those dogs that have a roach to their top line. Some complain that a lot of the German dogs have this type of top line. Instead of a nice smooth straight back, you’ll see a very obvious roach to this dog’s top line.
Then there are those dogs that have a sag to their back or what some call a sway back. Literally their backs don’t just dip in one place, the whole top line sags. This is definitely not a strong top line and looks very unappealing.
There’s another type of dog that some people call a wet dog. What they mean is that the top line is rolling. He’s "loosey, goosey" with too much movement over the top line. Sometimes this is due to lack of exercise and proper muscle tone. It’s alright to see this type of top line on a puppy that is going through his growing stages especially a larger puppy, but not on an adult dog.
There are also those dogs that are low in the withers. Again, a handler can groom this type of dog over the withers to make him look higher withered when the dog is stacked or posed. However, watch this dog in motion. He runs into his shoulders in a downhill type of motion. It’s very unattractive and it throws the whole top line of the dog off.
A dog with a beautiful top line will have a strong back without a dip or a roach. He will be higher at the wither but not overly so causing him to have a straight shoulder. His hindquarter with get well under his body and follow through transmitting his rear drive to a front that opens up presenting a coordinated smooth motion when viewed from the side. It would seem this type of dog could have a glass of water put on his back and when in motion the water would never move!
It is wonderful that at many of the National Specialty shows that the show ring has a white background or wall so the judge and spectators can see the top lines of the dogs in motion. Take a look at the pictures that the show photographers have of dogs in motion on their websites. Granted some of these dogs are pulling too hard and that will distort any dog’s top line. However, when you see top line problems in many of the pictures, it makes one wonder, how much of it is due to the dog pulling too much and how much is it due to the improper structure of the dog.
My rating: strong top lines: (4), problem top lines: (1)
Showing posts with label holistic dog products. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holistic dog products. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
THE PROPER CARE OF THE EAR
On the average, not too many owners have lots of complaints about taking care of the German Shepherd Dogs ears, unless you’re talking about having to tape a youngster’s ears to help them stand. But that is a whole another story for another article. However, there are those certain dogs that seem to have chronic ear problems. One of my shepherds that I had years ago always had yucky, black “uglies” in her ears. My vet would give me medicine which would clean up the mess and she’d be fine for awhile, but as time went by, she’d have it again. It’s so long ago now that I forget what the actually condition was called. It was probably ear mites and they were “stinky” as well!
If a dog’s ears are not properly taken care of then infection can occur and even in extreme cases, loss of hearing. Checking the dog’s ears should be a normal part of the dog’s grooming procedure. Also if the dog shakes his head a lot or carries his head to one side, there’s a problem. Surprisingly, ear problems are one of the most common conditions in dogs. Most of the time if the dog’s outer ear canal is infected its called otitis externa. This condition affects about 20% of all dogs.
The reason that dogs get these ears problems is due to the shape of the canine’s ears. The dog’s ear is long and L – shaped. Bacteria and debris collect in the L – shape area of the ear. Add that with the warmth and moist environment in the ear and it’s easy to see why infection may occur. This is why it’s important to keep the dog’s ears dry especially after bathing him. Dogs that produce an over abundance of ear wax or hair growth in the ear canal are also at risk for ear infections. Another thing that can cause ear infections is skin allergies and hormonal disorders such as hypothyroidism. I didn’t know that. I just learned something new.
If your dog is an outside animal who likes to run in the woods or go for hikes with you, pay close attention to his ears. Foreign bodies especially plant material can cause infections to start. Also check your dog’s ears for ear mites and ear tumors.
If you notice any of the following symptoms, check your dog’s ears. He may have an infection. If he scratches and rubs his head, if he tilts his head and holds it to one side, if he doesn’t want you to pet him on the head, he could be in pain, there may be a discharge or an odor, if you look in the ear you may notice a swelling or redness in the ear, or if you notice that you dog is more irritable and lies around more, he may be in pain.
If your dog has any of these signs, its best you have him examined by your vet. He will have the instruments to look into the dog’s ear canal and determine the best approach for treatment. Leaving a dog that has an ear problem untreated can not only lead to deafness, but the infection can extend to the inner ear and become life threatening.
There are natural treatments in the market place that you can use to clean the animals ears gently. Poking around with Q-tips is never advisable. They can rupture the ear drum or push the debris down further into the ear canal. When using a solution, apply in the ear canal. Massage the base of the ear to help loosen the wax or debris. The dog will shake his head and this is alright because it will help further loosen the buildup. Use a cotton ball to remove the excess fluid. Repeat the above until you feel that all of the debris is removed. Some veterinarians will recommend that you trim any excess hair in the dog’s ears so there is better air flow and this can help prevent an infection. They may also suggest that you treat a dog that has allergies or hypothyroidism which may be a contributing factor if your dog has chronic ear infections.
Many German Shepherd Dog breeders use a home made ear solution called The Dixie Ear Treatment. The ingredients are: 16 ounce bottle of Isopropyl Alcohol, 4 tablespoons of Boric Acid Powder and 16 drops of Gentian Violet Solution 1%. You mix this all up in a plastic bottle. You treat as described in the above directions for a natural ear solution only with the second application, you wipe with a cotton ball or tissue but you don’t massage. You leave it there for the dog to shake out the debris. Depending on how severe the ear infection is, you can treat two times a day for one to two weeks. Then the following week, you can treat one time a day for ten days. Then treat once a month as needed. This mixture seems to work well on most ear problems. Most of the ingredients can be found in your pharmacy. I’ve never used this treatment on my own dogs so I’m just reporting what I hear a lot of people use on their dogs. If you are unsure, always check with your veterinarian for his advice before using this solution or any other one.
My rating: checking your dogs ears as a necessary part of grooming: (4), natural ear solutions: (4), Dixie Ear Solution (based on what other breeders say): (4), medications: (3)
If a dog’s ears are not properly taken care of then infection can occur and even in extreme cases, loss of hearing. Checking the dog’s ears should be a normal part of the dog’s grooming procedure. Also if the dog shakes his head a lot or carries his head to one side, there’s a problem. Surprisingly, ear problems are one of the most common conditions in dogs. Most of the time if the dog’s outer ear canal is infected its called otitis externa. This condition affects about 20% of all dogs.
The reason that dogs get these ears problems is due to the shape of the canine’s ears. The dog’s ear is long and L – shaped. Bacteria and debris collect in the L – shape area of the ear. Add that with the warmth and moist environment in the ear and it’s easy to see why infection may occur. This is why it’s important to keep the dog’s ears dry especially after bathing him. Dogs that produce an over abundance of ear wax or hair growth in the ear canal are also at risk for ear infections. Another thing that can cause ear infections is skin allergies and hormonal disorders such as hypothyroidism. I didn’t know that. I just learned something new.
If your dog is an outside animal who likes to run in the woods or go for hikes with you, pay close attention to his ears. Foreign bodies especially plant material can cause infections to start. Also check your dog’s ears for ear mites and ear tumors.
If you notice any of the following symptoms, check your dog’s ears. He may have an infection. If he scratches and rubs his head, if he tilts his head and holds it to one side, if he doesn’t want you to pet him on the head, he could be in pain, there may be a discharge or an odor, if you look in the ear you may notice a swelling or redness in the ear, or if you notice that you dog is more irritable and lies around more, he may be in pain.
If your dog has any of these signs, its best you have him examined by your vet. He will have the instruments to look into the dog’s ear canal and determine the best approach for treatment. Leaving a dog that has an ear problem untreated can not only lead to deafness, but the infection can extend to the inner ear and become life threatening.
There are natural treatments in the market place that you can use to clean the animals ears gently. Poking around with Q-tips is never advisable. They can rupture the ear drum or push the debris down further into the ear canal. When using a solution, apply in the ear canal. Massage the base of the ear to help loosen the wax or debris. The dog will shake his head and this is alright because it will help further loosen the buildup. Use a cotton ball to remove the excess fluid. Repeat the above until you feel that all of the debris is removed. Some veterinarians will recommend that you trim any excess hair in the dog’s ears so there is better air flow and this can help prevent an infection. They may also suggest that you treat a dog that has allergies or hypothyroidism which may be a contributing factor if your dog has chronic ear infections.
Many German Shepherd Dog breeders use a home made ear solution called The Dixie Ear Treatment. The ingredients are: 16 ounce bottle of Isopropyl Alcohol, 4 tablespoons of Boric Acid Powder and 16 drops of Gentian Violet Solution 1%. You mix this all up in a plastic bottle. You treat as described in the above directions for a natural ear solution only with the second application, you wipe with a cotton ball or tissue but you don’t massage. You leave it there for the dog to shake out the debris. Depending on how severe the ear infection is, you can treat two times a day for one to two weeks. Then the following week, you can treat one time a day for ten days. Then treat once a month as needed. This mixture seems to work well on most ear problems. Most of the ingredients can be found in your pharmacy. I’ve never used this treatment on my own dogs so I’m just reporting what I hear a lot of people use on their dogs. If you are unsure, always check with your veterinarian for his advice before using this solution or any other one.
My rating: checking your dogs ears as a necessary part of grooming: (4), natural ear solutions: (4), Dixie Ear Solution (based on what other breeders say): (4), medications: (3)
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
FOOD ALLERGY IN DOGS
When researching for this article, I found it very interesting to learn that food allergies in dogs is very uncommon. Further, it is a condition that is over diagnosed by some veterinarians. According to an article written by a veterinarian, only 10% of dog allergies are food related. Flea and environmental allergies will cause more itchiness and skin problems than a food allergy.
Many times a dog may have food intolerance, but not a true allergy to the food. There is a difference. When a dog has a real allergy to food his symptoms will be severe itching of skin, hives or skin breakouts, etc. Food intolerance on the other hand, may cause the dog to vomit or have diarrhea and does not create a typical allergic reaction. Because of the vomiting and diarrhea, many pet owners and veterinarians will assume the pet has a food allergy.
When a dog has a food allergy, it can strike at any age and may be caused by a protein or carbohydrate in the animal’s food. The things that can trigger a food allergy are beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, chicken eggs, corn and soy. Many of these ingredients are in most of our dog’s food. These are the foods they are fed day in and day out so they are exposed to these ingredients on a regular basis. However, for a dog to develop a true food allergy they must not only have this chronic exposure, they must also have the genetic profile to develop this allergy.
Although food allergies are not common, adverse food reactions are. However, not all animals will react to certain ingredients in their food. There’s no way to predict who will. Some of the things they may react to are artificial dyes, preservatives and additives, and the gross rendered stuff that some companies add to dog food. That’s why it’s important to try to feed our dogs products that are natural or holistic or a raw diet to avoid some of these unsavory ingredients.
If a dog has a true food allergy, these are some of the symptoms you might notice. He might exhibit itching of the face, feet, and sides of the body, legs and anal area. These dogs also may develop yeast ear or skin infections. They respond well to antibiotics, but once the treatment is stopped, the symptoms return. Another sign of food allergy might be increased bowel movements or soft stools. As a reminder and to point out the difference, a food intolerance may cause vomiting and diarrhea.
The only way to find out if your dog has a food allergy is to perform a food trial with him. Blood work and skin tests are not reliable ways to determine if he has this condition. Although you will get results from these tests, they don’t accurately correlate with food allergies present in the dog. According to this study, it is not recommended by board certified dermatologists at this time.
The only true way to determine if your dog has a food allergy is to do a food trial using unique (novel) protein and carbohydrate foods to avoid possible allergens to which your dog has been previously exposed in order to cleanse their system of potential allergens. This trial period must be conducted for 8 – 12 weeks in order for it to be successful. During this trial period the dog must only eat the prescribed food with nothing else added. That means, no table scraps, no treats, no vitamins, no oils, and no medications such as heartworm preventative.
When the food trial is over, then the offending ingredients must be avoided. On the negative side, your dog may be fine for the next couple of years, but then he may develop a new allergy to something else.
Feeding a dog a raw diet is very beneficial if he has food allergies to preservatives, dyes and artificial additives. Because there are none of these ingredients to worry about with a raw diet, your dog may benefit from this way of feeding. If this is something that is not appealing to you, then going the natural or holistic route would be the next best thing for a dog that is sensitive to the ingredients put into that bag of dog food that we buy.
I think most breeders now are much more aware and educated about reading the ingredient labels on the dog food bags. Advising your pet buyers to continue on the same diet that you feed your dogs is a wise thing to do. Most of the time the new pet owner is receptive to following the diet that you advise him to follow if he wants his puppy to continue to be healthy. Some might consider buying a more expensive brand excessive and may want to feed him a store brand food. It is up to us to try to educate the pet people so they will have less reason to call us all hours of the night when Fido has a diarrhea attack.
My rating: natural or holistic foods: (4), raw foods (4)
Many times a dog may have food intolerance, but not a true allergy to the food. There is a difference. When a dog has a real allergy to food his symptoms will be severe itching of skin, hives or skin breakouts, etc. Food intolerance on the other hand, may cause the dog to vomit or have diarrhea and does not create a typical allergic reaction. Because of the vomiting and diarrhea, many pet owners and veterinarians will assume the pet has a food allergy.
When a dog has a food allergy, it can strike at any age and may be caused by a protein or carbohydrate in the animal’s food. The things that can trigger a food allergy are beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, chicken eggs, corn and soy. Many of these ingredients are in most of our dog’s food. These are the foods they are fed day in and day out so they are exposed to these ingredients on a regular basis. However, for a dog to develop a true food allergy they must not only have this chronic exposure, they must also have the genetic profile to develop this allergy.
Although food allergies are not common, adverse food reactions are. However, not all animals will react to certain ingredients in their food. There’s no way to predict who will. Some of the things they may react to are artificial dyes, preservatives and additives, and the gross rendered stuff that some companies add to dog food. That’s why it’s important to try to feed our dogs products that are natural or holistic or a raw diet to avoid some of these unsavory ingredients.
If a dog has a true food allergy, these are some of the symptoms you might notice. He might exhibit itching of the face, feet, and sides of the body, legs and anal area. These dogs also may develop yeast ear or skin infections. They respond well to antibiotics, but once the treatment is stopped, the symptoms return. Another sign of food allergy might be increased bowel movements or soft stools. As a reminder and to point out the difference, a food intolerance may cause vomiting and diarrhea.
The only way to find out if your dog has a food allergy is to perform a food trial with him. Blood work and skin tests are not reliable ways to determine if he has this condition. Although you will get results from these tests, they don’t accurately correlate with food allergies present in the dog. According to this study, it is not recommended by board certified dermatologists at this time.
The only true way to determine if your dog has a food allergy is to do a food trial using unique (novel) protein and carbohydrate foods to avoid possible allergens to which your dog has been previously exposed in order to cleanse their system of potential allergens. This trial period must be conducted for 8 – 12 weeks in order for it to be successful. During this trial period the dog must only eat the prescribed food with nothing else added. That means, no table scraps, no treats, no vitamins, no oils, and no medications such as heartworm preventative.
When the food trial is over, then the offending ingredients must be avoided. On the negative side, your dog may be fine for the next couple of years, but then he may develop a new allergy to something else.
Feeding a dog a raw diet is very beneficial if he has food allergies to preservatives, dyes and artificial additives. Because there are none of these ingredients to worry about with a raw diet, your dog may benefit from this way of feeding. If this is something that is not appealing to you, then going the natural or holistic route would be the next best thing for a dog that is sensitive to the ingredients put into that bag of dog food that we buy.
I think most breeders now are much more aware and educated about reading the ingredient labels on the dog food bags. Advising your pet buyers to continue on the same diet that you feed your dogs is a wise thing to do. Most of the time the new pet owner is receptive to following the diet that you advise him to follow if he wants his puppy to continue to be healthy. Some might consider buying a more expensive brand excessive and may want to feed him a store brand food. It is up to us to try to educate the pet people so they will have less reason to call us all hours of the night when Fido has a diarrhea attack.
My rating: natural or holistic foods: (4), raw foods (4)
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