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GSD Looses Popularity as Working Dog

Apr 29th, 2012
by Arings - About German Shepherd Dog Team.
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The iconic breed German Shepherd gained an unswerving popularity (especially as one of the most perfect working breed) across the globe – especially after the World Wars. Max Von Stephanitz (the father of GSD breed) had high hopes and big dreams with his breed, the World Wars had cast a deep impact on the GSD popularity world wide. Germany was a single country, as we all know,  before the beginning of the Cold War. Here’s the history in a nut shell of what made the popularity of GSD as a working dog aggressively decline…

Both World Wars – I and II had imparted exceptional impact to the working breeds and German Shepherd Dog played the leading part in the world of working dogs. During the World War II, the 4 countries – Great Britain, the USA, the UK and the Soviet Union joined hands to occupy the city of Berlin. Berlin was conquered by these four super powers and was splited into 4 parts, but it finally bred fresh disputes across the borders. Cold War was written on the card and Germany was divided into two separate countries – West Germany and East Germany (Deutsches Demokratische Republik – the DDR). Rules of communism had always been worst of its kind in all parts of the world. Communist government used practice strong dominance over the common mass and people could make free trade and share things freely with with the world outside their community. The GSD breeders of East Germany (Deutsches Demokratische Republik – the DDR) – that is widely known as DDR Line GSD, was victimized by the insane whims of the communist dominance. The DDRL GSD is still considered to have the best working abilities. The DDR Line German Shepherd breeders were compelled to keep their inspirational breeding program within their boundaries, separated from the foreign influence. Gradually a steep decline in the popularity of the GSD as working breed was experienced, as the bloodline was not allowed to be spread out globally. The West German Blood Line is more of show dogs than hardcore working specimens. Learn more about how the rich heritage of the working German Shepherd Dog got gradually diminished

Another most significant factor responsible for the popularity of working GSD has been bad breeding. Bad breeding here refers to unscientific breeding, without properly understanding the breed from its within. Breeders have been noticed to be more inclined towards earning money buy breeding show dogs, which are way different from the specimens that are scientifically bred for working. Many novice, yet ardent lovers of this magnificent breed (including me and many I know of) have always ended up with getting in touch with breeders who breeds dogs with head turner beauty, angulated structure, expressive rich tan markings, BUT i no way these dogs can be compared with an original working specimens. We have forgotten that the German Shepherd Dog was bred for working and not exhibiting. Show enthusiasts are found arguing with that shows are for filtering the bad from the breedable stock, and breedable stock comprises dogs that have perfect body structure, angulations, gait, propulsion, size and colors that are looked for in a working GSD. I have agree! I don’t deny this fact, but simultaneously I cannot find close resemblance between a real working GSD and those that comprise the breedable stock.

The police and military department in many countries are delisting the name of this breed, leaving the fate of this beautiful dogs again in the hand of the enthusiasts and breeders of the breed. Sadly the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia has formally taken the decision to do without the services German Shepherd. The glamor world of dog show is entirely a different system altogether. It is a request not to confuse between the working German Shepherd Dogs and the glamorous GSD. We have respect for both, but cannot afford to let the working heritage of German Shepherd Dog fade out amidst the gorgeousness of show line GSD.

About German Shepherd Dog is fighting a lone war to spread the awareness about what German Shepherds actually are! We would deem it to be an immense favor if you share this informative GSD site with whom you think it will be worth sharing. Thanks in advance.

Posted in: DDR Line German Shepherds, German Shepherd Dog Popularity, West German show Line GSD, Working German Shepherd Dogs.
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Improved Life: Obese Dogs That Lose Weight

Apr 19th, 2012
by Arings - About German Shepherd Dog Team.
2 comments

Researchers at the University of Liverpool have discovered that the obese dogs that lose weight usually get an improved life quality. compared to the ones that do not. Even before the research had been carried out, people used to know that non-obese dogs, much like their human owners, are blessed with the better quality of life. Studies have shown that almost one-third of the dog population in the UK is overweight, which is a really big reason of concern for the dog owners. Obesity is the root to a series of health issues, including cardiac problem, diabetes and arthritis.

The scientists carried out a research work with 50 obese dogs, including both genders and pure breeds and mixed breeds at the University of Liverpool in collaboration with the University of Glasgow, Royal Canin and the WALTHAM Center for Pet Nutrition. The owners were asked to complete a questionnaire in order to diagnose the issues related to their dogs’ health that influenced the life of their dog before the weight loss. In the second phase another questionnaire was asked to be completed by the owners of 30 dogs that were put in a weight loss session and successfully completed the program. The researchers could assess the change in the quality of the life of their dogs. The life quality of the dogs which lose weight in the program was compared with the ones that failed to succeed in the weight loss program. Good news is… several factors influencing the life quality were noticed to have developed. These factors included vitality (strength activeness and energy), emotional balance and pain. the result showed that the life quality, in terms of pains, mental balance and vitality, was improved for the dogs that could succeed in the weight loss program.

“Obesity is a risk for many dogs, affecting not only their health but also their quality of life. This research indicates that weight loss can play an important role in keeping your dog both healthy and happy,” said Dr Alex German, Director of the Royal Canin Weight Management Clinic at the University. According to Dr Penelope Morris, from the WALTHAM Center for Pet Nutrition, “strategies for combating obesity and keeping dogs fit and healthy include portion control, increased exercise and diets specifically formulated for overweight pets.”

Posted in: Care for your GSD, Dog Obesity.
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Top 10 Facts About German Shepherd Dog

Apr 15th, 2012
by Arings - About German Shepherd Dog Team.
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Here are the top ten facts about the German Shepherd Dog breed. You may already know some of these, while a few for sure are not known to most GSD guys out there.

  1. Daz – the white German Shepherd Dog has been crowned with an honor of world’s loudest barking dog!
  2. Schultz’s Law has been enforced in the honor of the police German Shepherd Dog Schultz
  3. Obi – The Police German Shepherd Dog Suffered Fractured Skull in Tottenham Riot in the UK
  4. GSD Breed standard amendment in terms of Hair types in German Shepherd Dogs with effect from January 1, 2011
  5. The first German Shepherd Dog registered in the United States was the “Queen of Switzerland” and the rhe German Shepherd Dog Club of America was founded in 1913.
  6. A female German Shepherd Dog, Pepper, provided TLC (Tender Loving Care) to orphaned tiger cubs. The surrogate German Shepherd mother looked after the cubs and took up some of the normal housekeeping duties of the cubs’ parents.
  7. There are several types of German Shepherd Dog coats colors and patterns.
  8. There are 5 basic GSD instincts that are common to all well bred German Shepherds
  9. Typical German Shepherd Dog character trait are unique from other dog breeds
  10. Alsatian Dogs and German Shepherds are same dogs. We have come across lots of myths and controversies about Alsatian vs. German Shepherd Dog

About German Shepherd Dog offers more German shepherd facts; Read on…

Posted in: About German Shepherd Dog, Facts About GSD.
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Research Shows That Dogs In workplace Enhance Productivity

Apr 11th, 2012
by Arings - About German Shepherd Dog Team.
9 comments

Over stress in the work places are the most significant reason of degrading performance and employee absenteeism. Target based work profiles and growing tension is one most salient contributor to disorganized functioning of human resource in an organization. According to a preliminary study, published in the March, 2012 issue of the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, dogs in the workplace is a positive impact in the employees’ attitudes and ensures enhanced productivity. Researches have shown that dogs in the workplaces can degrade the stress impact in a normally stressful workday for the owners of the dogs, which ensures a better performance.

The researchers at the Virginia Commonwealth University compared the employees, who are allowed to bring their dogs in their workplaces with those who are not. The research had been carried out in the line of stress, job satisfaction, in the fields involving organizational commitments and found a noticeable difference in the work performance of the two groups of employees. The principal investigator Randolph T. Barker, Ph.D., professor of management in the VCU School of Business said that it was a preliminary study that “provides the first quantitative study of the effects of employees’ pet dogs in the workplace setting on employee stress, job satisfaction, support and commitment”. He said, “dogs in the workplace can make a positive difference. The differences in perceived stress between days the dog was present and absent were significant. The employees as a whole had higher job satisfaction than industry norms.”

The research work was carried out at the Replacements Ltd., which is a service-manufacturing-retail company based in Greensboro, North Carolina. Replacements Ltd. has employed around 550 workers, and most of them has to work in sever work load, as in case of any other professional organization. 20 to 30 dogs used to be present on the company premises everyday, and the research work had been carried out over a period of 7 working days amidst the company setting. During this period of time participants (employees of Replacements Ltd.) had to complete the surveys and the saliva samples had been collected. The employees were assigned pagers in order to prompt them about completing surveys during the day.

In the morning no significant difference was noticed between the 3 groups of employees in the level of stress hormone that was measured through the saliva sample, but as the work proceeded and self-reported stress levels were noticed to be declining for employees who were allowed to present in the work place with their dogs. Simultaneously, an increase in the stress levels were observed in the employees who did not have their pet with them in the work place.

Barker said that his team noticed a unique dog-related communication in the workplace that could positively influenced the employees’ (with their dogs) performance and level of work satisfaction. He said that employees who were not allowed to bring their dogs were found requesting to take a co-worker’s dog out on a break, although this wasn’t related to the study. Barker said, “the effect of pets in reducing the impact of stress and enhancing communication found in other settings may extend to the workplace. Pet presence may serve as a low-cost, wellness intervention readily available to many organizations and may enhance organizational satisfaction and perceptions of support. Of course, it is important to have policies in place to ensure only friendly, clean and well-behaved pets are present in the workplace.”

Professor Barker i looking forward to a bigger research work with larger sample sizes in the organizational set up followed by this preliminary study of contribution of dogs’ presence in the work performance and job satisfaction ni the work places.

Posted in: Uncategorized.
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Can You Stop Shedding in German Shepherds?

Apr 8th, 2012
by Arings - About German Shepherd Dog Team.
1 comment

This is a major concern for the GSD enthusiast for sure. Most GSD newbies fall in love for this breed due to their magnificent appearance and their incredible intelligence, without sparing even minimum thought on the drawbacks of this breed. Despite their royal attitude, majestic look, voluminous barks, tremendous innate strength and unbelievable level of intelligence and working ability, German Shepherd Dogs have a very few drawbacks and one of them is that they are heavy shedders.

Most people ask if they can stop or mitigate shedding in their German Shepherd Dogs. Straight way, the answer is “NO”.  It is nearly impossible to completely stop a shedding in German Shepherds. However, you can certainly be successful to reduce shedding in dogs that sheds beyond normal.  If your dog is shedding excessively and beyond normal, it is time for you to see your vet without delay.

Excessive shedding in any breed, including GSD  is usually caused nutritional as well as environmental factors. Shedding is again a hormonal factor also. After your German Shepherd females (or any other breed) have whelped or completed the heat cycle, she would normally shed her coat. Spaying and neutering sometimes cause the dog shed excessively, which is often considered as the side effect of the surgery.

Hepatic ailments sometimes cause overly shedding, which should brought to the vet’s attention as soon as possible. Diet plays a vital role in controlling shedding in your GSD or any other dog breeds. Choosing nutritious and healthy diet with essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and other components is a wise step to fight shedding. The cause should be identified and must be checked at the root, internally.

Posted in: Care for your GSD, German Shepherd Dog Coat.
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GSDs Are Not Hypoallergenic Dogs: No Dog Is

Apr 8th, 2012
by Arings - About German Shepherd Dog Team.
4 comments

The ultimate truth about the hypoallergenic dogs is that mankind hasn’t witnessed a breed that is hypoallergenic. The German Shepherds are big shedders and shade almost throughout the year, but you cannot afford to keep a GSD even though you have time for him to put him to regular exercise sessions, space, and ability to satisfying all his nutritional needs, if your daughter is allergic to dog’s dead follicles.

Truth be revealed here! Even though you are planning to keep a Poodle or a Labradoodle, like Mr. Barrack Obama or you are looking a Hairless Chinese Crested or a Peruvian Hairless Dog, chances are there that your daughter may still sneeze, and you may end up visiting the pediatrician repetitively. No dog is hypoallergenic. While some dogs like German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers etc. sheds heavily, the others like Poodle, Irish Water Spaniel, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Bedlington Terrier etc. sheds comparatively much lesser. Marty Becker, DVM, Coauthors of Your Dog: The Owners Manual says, “the claim that certain dogs don’t trigger allergies is often used as a marketing tool to entice people to buy those breeds.”

“About German Shepherd Dog” team assumes the responsibilities to spread the breed awareness throughout the globe, by offering highly researched German Shepherd Dog information and offering ultimate guide to the GSD owners, aspiring breeders, trainers etc. We cannot afford to spread out promotional ideas. If anybody in your family is allergic to dog, then GSD should be at the top of the list of dog breeds that you must stay away from.

Posted in: German Shepherd Dog, German Shepherd Dog Coat.
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Origin of German Shepherd Dog

Feb 16th, 2012
by Arings - About German Shepherd Dog Team.
3 comments

Today, the German Shepherd dogs are respected, admired and loved throughout the world. It has its own identity with intelligence and loyalty. These shepherd dogs have their own color, coat length, and texture. Today, throughout the world there are many organizations to promote the breed and host associated activities. But the early type of shepherd in Germany are of several types. With the inspiration of shepherd dog the idea of forming societies and club towards dog which could work equally under any circumstances, first build up in 1881, the first formal club , the Phylax but it could last about three years.

In 1889, Captain Max von Stephanitz first started the standardization of the breed. It is started in a dog show in Karlsrushe in West Germany.

A medium sized yellow and grey wolflike dog came into his attention. The dog was supple and powerful and possessed endurance, steadiness and intelligence. Born with a power of sheepherder the dog required no training other than direction and finish to become proficient to the task. Von Stephanitz purchased the dog Hector Linksrhein, and renamed him as Horand von Grafrath and it became the first registered German Shepherd Dog.

The founder, of the Verein fur Dentsche Schaferhunde, SV, (German Shepherd Dog Club) Max von Stephanitz, the first president who in short time achieved the standardization of type and form in the breed . The basic of the standard was based on mental stability and utility. But the captain’s (Max von Stephanitz), view was “Utility and Intelligence” . In his opinion, beauty is secondary and a dog is worthless if it lacked it’s temperament, intelligence and structural efficiency that could make it a good servant of man.

Posted in: German Shepherd Origin.
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Making of About German Shepherd Dog Logo

Feb 11th, 2012
by Arings - About German Shepherd Dog Team.
4 comments

It is a privilege for all of us here at “About German Shepherd Dog” to say a few words about our Logo. The entire “About German Shepherd Dog” team is honored to find hundreds of feedback emails popping up in our inbox; mostly stating how deeply our project is helping every single German Shepherd lover across the globe. “About German Shepherd Dog is a result of spontaneous fountain of urge to know more about the breed and to share whatever we learn by staying in close relation with these amazing animals. Our shepherds understand us to every bit, and we understand every single movement of them too. We want you to understand your best friends as well.

Now that we have come to their movement, we have been scrambling through the web to get some ideas for our Logo, when we came across an inspirational video exhibiting the movement of a beautiful dog, Dingo Vom Haus Gero Sch. (Seiger 1983). Although not much has been found about Dingo, but we made it a point that we would be creating a logo that would delineate the unique Shepherd moving style. What better could be made than creating a logo by following Dingo’s inspirational gait? For us Digo’s smart and perfect movement has been like a magic locomotion! We attach our full swing emotion and heartfelt gratitude towards this wonder dog and his owner (not know yet), because it’s Dingo, and Dingo only, who has inspired us and our designers to create a Logo that you can find at the top of our pages.

Can we talk a little more about Dingo here?

Hope you won’t mind getting this information about our Logo Dog. Dingo was an exceptionally beautiful mover, who genetically passed this unique trait to his progenitors – especially to his son VA Natz v. Arminius. In the official logo of “About German Shepherd Dog”, we wished to display the “extended trotting” style that Dingo used to exhibit in his times.

Watch out this awe-inspiring video clip that shows the making of our logo:

Posted in: About German Shepherd Dog.
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Welcome To About German Shepherd Dog

Feb 9th, 2012
by Arings - About German Shepherd Dog Team.
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Welcome to the official blog of About German Shepherd Dog. So why “About German Shepherd Dog“? Why not – especially when we all work with a common motive of spreading the breed awareness, saving the breed and sharing the knowledge about German Shepherds. We are a team of avid GSD enthusiasts from different fields viz canine writers and editors, dog trainers, breeders, owners and vets working and aiming towards breed development.

“About German Shepherd Dog” is the result of unswerving love for the GSD breed and dedication towards saving the breed from total annihilation. We want you to understand your German Shepherd Dogs better and be a better owner, which will surely enrich your life.

Posted in: About German Shepherd Dog.
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