Pack Structure

Introduction

A stable and established pack structure is very important when you are dealing with adult dogs. This is because they may become aggressive otherwise. To get a dog to respect you, you have to do more than take care of it. You need to teach a dog respect and establish yourself as the leader of the pack in the dog’s eyes. 

It is important to tell your dog how to behave, especially for new dog owners. It helps you get the animal under control with more confidence. They come to understand how a dog’s nature is influenced by traits, both acquired and inherited.

Humane societies come across many dogs who have been turned in because their temperament is unstable because of their genetics. It is not abuse that has made them this way but an owner who did not know how to provide a stable pack structure to the animal! The drive to acquire a rank in that faulty pack structure is what makes them behave the way they do.

At times, treating your dog anthropomorphically can lead to development of dominance issues in the dog. A dog is to be treated like a pack animal – the pack being your family. Most owners then have the troubled animal put to sleep or turn to a shelter.

Obedience training is useless, if you aim to teach your dog about pack structure. We do not ask you to forego obedience training completely but rather to combine with the steps that we suggest later in this article. If you send your dog off to a professional dog trainer, the animal learns to mind the trainer, however , when back home, he will have forgotten all his lessons since it was not the owner who trained him. A dog’s intelligence can be gleaned from the fact that he will revert to his obedient self, when he meets the trainer but he will not accord you the same level of respect!

Laying the groundwork

Don’ts

• Be aggressive towards the canine – not even raising your voice!

• Accept him to roll over

• Use hard leashes

• Depend on your love to correct his behavior – loving your pet unconditionally will not be enough to make him see you as the pack leader.

• Confuse simple commands like, “come”, “sit” or “heel” with groundwork.

• Use human psychology on your canine – the solution to his behvaorial problems does not lie in his past.

Dos

• Behave like the leader of the pack and show your pet his responsibilities and limits.

• Understand your daily behavior with him will determine how he behaves.

• Realize you will need to modify your training, if you own a dog abused by his previous owners.

• Comprehend that is never too late to correct behavioral issues.

• Accept that everybody – from your gardener to the grocer– will tell you how to train your dog!

• Recognize that dogs of all breeds – sizes and ages – need to be trained on how to behave. While the training is not breed-based, it will be specific to each dog since they all have varying temperaments and drives.

Training

What to do after bringing your new dog home

The first step is social isolation for three or 4 days – or more, depending on how dominant the dog is. 

Don’t

• Pet the dog

• Play with the dog

• Apply this method on puppies

Do

• Feed the animal

• Walk him

• Provide him with a clean place to sleep

Earning the privilege to roam around without a leash

Yes, it is a privilege and your pet needs to earn it. Even if the formal obedience training does not start until later, it is good to bond with him early. When you let him realize that you are in control, he will start to respect you. Similarly, be fair to the animal and always issue corrections when warranted. Fairness will form the basis of a respectful relationship. He needs to learn that affection is earned.

Don’t

• Let the dog off the leash until you are outside

• Let him have the run of the house for some months – all activities are to be done while on the leash.

• Push yourself on the dog

• Hit or yell at him, if a crate stresses him.

• Leave him alone at home, unattended.

Do

• Let him back in the crate – and on leash – when he misbehaves

• Act aloof since you are the leader of the pack

• Throw in a treat or a bone, if your dog does not like being confined in a crate.

• Let him realize barking will not get him out of the crate but only extend the time he stays in it.

• Use a plastic airline crate. 

• Keep the crate in the family area, so the animal gets used to the ways of the family more quickly. 

Earning your affection

Petting means something completely different to a dog. To him, demanding to be petted is a show of dominance. Let him realize that while you will pet him, it will be on your terms. One of the pack drive issues, this is because the alpha of the pack expects grooming as his right.

Don’t

• Overdo petting

• Pet him when he has not earned it

Do

• Ignore the dog when he wants to be petted

• Scold him, if ignoring does not work

Earning the right to play

Another privilege that needs to be earned. Withholding play for a while ensures that it will mean more to the dog when finally allowed.

Don’t

• Play a lot in the initial stages

• Give him new toys – can trigger aggression in the initial stages

• Pick a fight that you might end up losing

Do

• Make him realize you own the toys and you can take them back

• Store the toys in a bag, not strewn around

• Keep him on the leash even while playing

Interaction with family members

That is a big don’t. Never let your family members pet or play with the dog until your role as his alpha has been established. It will help you establish the roles of other members later.

Don’t

• Let a child younger than the age of seven near a new dog.

• Try to teach a dog that your children rank higher than he does.

Do

• Make sure you are always present to supervise when kids are interacting with the dog.

• Make him understand that your child is off-limits

• Ascertain he realizes there will be serious consequences to breaking the second rule.

Interaction with people outside of the family

Don’t

• Allow people other than your family to interact with your dog.

Do

• Correct your dog, if he runs to a stranger and demands petting.

• Be firm in your corrections

• Ask strangers – and others, not family – to not pet your dog.

Exercise

Exercise can correct most behavioral problems since a dog that is being exercised will not be a bored dog who does not get into trouble. 

Don’t

• Allow a dog out for jogging, if they are younger than twelve months.

• Over-exercise your dog since it can lead to skeletal failure. 

• Allow a new dog outside without a collar

• Allow your dog to interact with stranger dogs while out walking.

Do

• Employ a weighted dog vest when walking your dog.

• Use swimming to exercise your dog, along with long walks

• Use a prong collar to correct the behavior of a dog who likes to pull on his leash.

• Drive a stranger dog away, if one does approach your pet – it is your job as the leader of the pack. Gas stray dogs to keep them away or use a stick.

Walking through doors and using the stairs

Both are important displays of your leadership over your dog and may be used to make him defer to your status. 

Don’t

• Let your dog go before you do.

Do

• Reinforce the lesson, in case your dog does not get it the first time.

Opening the door, so that a dog can only stick his head through it is how you approach this lesson. If he tries to push his body through, hold him in place. Do not let them pull their head back either. Holding the position for a few seconds will make them realize that when there is a door in the way, they need to wait to be let through.

Feeding

We recommend you keep your dog on a raw all-natural diet. An alpha takes care of the lower-ranking members of his pack and that means he takes care that they are fed. Here is how you should go about feeding:

Don’t

• Let the dog inside the crate and then put the food in. Do it the other way around.

• Harass the dog after you have given him food, so that he cannot eat it.

Do

• Feed the dog yourself initially and while he is in the crate.

Grooming Habits

Since grooming is an expected practice between pack members, spending a few moments grooming your dog is required. Again, the goal here is to establish control and make him see you as the pack leader.

Don’t

• Allow the dog to behave restlessly during the grooming.

Do

• Keep your touch soft, so your dog understands that you like him.

• Praise your dog at the end of the grooming session and signal him that the session is over.

Staying away from vaccinations

Even though, we would prefer you do your own research, we tend to stay away from vaccination. It is our belief that they can cause health problems in a dog. If you are providing him with a healthy all-natural diet, his immunity will keep him away from illness. Too many vaccinations can cause auto-immune diseases in dogs.

Establishing a meaningful bond makes you both want to spend time together. Do not disregard its importance or the happiness it can add to your life and your dog’s.  Read more www.ccprotectiondogs.com

Bad Breeders

When it comes to getting a dog as pet, everyone has a different opinion and preference. You cannot tell someone to adopt from a shelter and not buy from a breeder just because you had a bad experience in the past. Everyone has the right to make their own choice for their future family member. However, a recent trend gaining quite a lot of popularity is to adopt and not to buy. Although it might be good to adopt a dog from a shelter and make space for more abandoned dogs, there is no harm in buying from a breeder. The thing that matters the most when going for the breeder option is that the breeder must be a responsible person. There are many breeders out there who have only one goal in mind; to earn as much money as possible without providing proper care to the dogs. 

So, if you are going to buy a puppy from a breeder, make sure you are aware of the signs of an irresponsible breeder. Let’s start with it!

Sign #1: The Breeder doesn’t Encourage Visits

The biggest sign of a bad breeder is that they don’t want you to visit their home or facility. A responsible breeder would want the future puppy owners to visit the puppy’s home and learn about the environment it lives in. However, if a breeder is always offering to visit your home with the puppy and not invite you over to theirs, then know that there is something fishy. Many backyard breeders try to keep buyers from visiting them because they have a small area where they keep puppies in crates. If the breeder that you are in contact with is not inviting you for a visit, then this is a warning sign and you should avoid buying from them. 

Sign #2: The Breeder Makes Excuses when you ask to meet with the Puppy’s Parents

It is extremely important for buyers to meet with the puppy’s family and its parents. A good breeder will always encourage you to meet with the parents to take a look at their temperament and breed qualities. If a breeder makes excuses when you ask to meet with the puppy’s parents, then there is a problem. Breeders are more than willing to make buyers meet the littermates and parents because it gives them a good idea of how their puppy is going to be like. They also get to learn the qualities that their pup will have as it grows. By taking a look at the puppy’s parents, you can easily come to a decision that whether you want to buy the puppy or not. 

However, if the breeder isn’t allowing you to meet with the parents, then there is a high chance that the parents or the mother is in bad shape. Meeting the puppy’s parents is essential for getting to know the breed and learn vital information about it. A responsible breeder will go to any lengths to ensure that you are satisfied with the breed and the puppy’s family.

Sign #3: The Puppies did not spend Enough Time with Their Mom and Littermates

Puppies need to stay with their moms for at least eight to ten weeks. This period in a puppy’s life is very crucial and the puppy learns a lot from its mother and its littermates. If the breeder tells you that the puppy did not spend a lot of time with the mother, then you should stay away from the breeder. Puppies form basic behavioral and social skills from their mothers and littermates. However, if they did not get to spend enough time with them, they are more likely to be aggressive and have problems socializing with others. No one wants to buy a puppy that doesn’t socialize with the whole family. So, if that’s what your breeder tells you, it is best to stay away. 

Sign #4: The Breeder doesn’t have the Puppy’s Medical Records

When you are buying a puppy from a breeder, you have to keep a lot of things in mind and one of them is the puppy’s medical records. Whether it is a breeder, private owner, or a shelter, every puppy should have an up-to-date medical file with all of its medical records in it. If a breeder tells you that they did not keep a record of the puppy’s vaccinations, check-ups, and medicines, then there is a high chance that the puppy was never taken to the vet. A responsible breeder wants the best for their pups. That’s the reason they hand-over a proper medical file to the buyers. A medical file is a proof that the puppy had been under great care and is safe to buy.

Sign #5: The Breeder doesn’t inquire about you and Your Family

A responsible breeder is eager to question the family that comes to buy puppies from them. They always have lots of questions because they want their pups to go to the best homes. A good breeder will ask you the following questions:

• Your knowledge of the breed.

• The reason you want to buy.

• The environment of the home that the puppy will be living in.

• The number of people in the family.

• Information about the person who will act as the main caretaker.

• Your experience with any pets.

• The number of pets that you have in the home.

• The vet that you will take the puppy to.

• And many more.

If the breeder is asking you a lot of questions, then there is no need to get worried as the breeder just wants to make sure that the puppy is a perfect fit for the family. Moreover, breeders often give advice to families for providing good care to the puppies so that they don’t face any trouble afterwards. 

Sign #6: The Breeder doesn’t have Specialization in One Breed

Responsible breeders do not handle different dogs because their main purpose is to improve a particular breed. However, if a breeder deals with several breeds, then it is a clear sign that they do not focus on making the breed better. Breeding is a complex process that involves a lot of challenges. A good breeder has to take several things into consideration before they are fully ready to pair dogs. A responsible breeder will look for parents that have certain personality traits and characteristics. They also need to take a close look at the medical records and genes of the parents to ensure that the litter will be disease free and healthy. There are many more things that a breeder needs to keep in mind including the parents’ looks. So, if the breeder you choose breeds multiple breeds, then know that they are not going to be responsible. 

Sign #7: The Breeder has a Huge List of Available Puppies

A responsible breeder never has a lot of puppies available in the waiting list. These breeders never breed until they have several people waiting to buy puppies so that the entire litter finds good homes. Many responsible breeders already have families waiting for the litter to be born. Therefore, if a breeder tells you that they have a lot of puppies on their list, be aware as the breeder might not be that credible.

Sign #8: The Breeder doesn’t want to Sign a Contract

A responsible breeder always makes people sing a contract before they buy puppies from them. This piece of document is a necessity which ensures that the puppy has been bred responsibly and is going to be taken care of by the family. The contract also includes information about the puppy’s health. If you are buying a larger breed, then you need to make sure that the contract contains medical reports of the puppy’s hip examination to avoid any hip diseases in the future.  Another important clause that should be included in the contract is that the owner can always return the puppy to the breeder if they are unable to keep it with them. 

Sign #9: The Breeder is not Part of Breed Specific Clubs

A good breeder is always willing to learn more about the breed that they specialize in, and the best way to keep up-to-date with breed information is to be a part of breed specific clubs. If the breeder is not passionate about breeding, they will not care to get involved with breeding clubs and informative events. So, when you meet up with a breeder, make sure you ask them about their participation in local, regional, and national breed specific clubs. If the breeder is not part of any clubs, then there is a high chance that they are not as knowledgeable as they should be. A good breeder should always be eager to learn new things about the breed they are dealing with. This makes them improve the breed and act responsible towards them. 

Sign #10: The Breeder doesn’t Encourage Future Contact with You

Breeders are the closest to their puppies and they act as their guardians. They are also extremely attached to them since the time of their birth. Therefore, if a breeder tells you that they don’t want to stay in contact with you after you have bought the puppy, then this is a sign that the breeder is careless or is hiding something from you. It is not possible for a good breeder to not keep in touch with the family that is buying their puppies. So, be careful of the breeders that just want to get rid of their puppies. 

Wrap Up!

If you have decided that you want to buy a puppy from a breeder, then beware of the signs mentioned in this article. The sign of a responsible breeder is that they are always willing to help families and are open to their questions. They also actively stay involved with the families that buy puppies from them. If you are being careful in scrutinizing the breeder, then there is nothing wrong in buying puppies from them. After all, it is your responsibility to ensure that your new fluffy family member is coming from a good and healthy environment, and is a perfect fit for your home. Read more www.ccprotectiondogs.com

Housebreaking your Dog the right way

Housebreaking is training the puppy to defecate in your desired spot/area. When a bitch gives birth to puppies, it cleans their urine and feces and digests it. As the puppies begin to grow old (at almost four to five weeks), they begin to go outside their sleeping area/den to defecate in an outside spot. This is a natural behavior of dogs. However, when you have a puppy at home, you need to make sure you handle its natural instincts in such a way that they meet your house rules. 

Why is Housebreaking Important?

Many puppy owners feel that as their pup grows old, it’ll learn to defecate in an appropriate spot itself. The thing that we, as dog owners, need to realize is that a dog’s natural instinct contradicts with our rules. It is important for the dog to learn your rules, as you are the leader of the pack now. Without training housebreaking to your dog, you will be left with poo and urine all over your house.

Animal of the Den

Dogs are descendent from wolves and wolves live in dens. They use their den for sleeping and resting and when they need to relieve themselves, they go outside the den. The reason that dogs go outside for defecating purpose clearly shows that they do not like to make their sleeping or living place dirty. This is a great habit of dogs which gives dog owners a clue that they can easily use this tactic to house train their dogs.

Turning a Crate into a Den

Housebreaking should start when your dog is six weeks old. This is the best time to train the dog the way you want and make it follow the rules of the house. During this time, a crate is the most useful training tool that you should make use of for the puppy. When you start crate training your puppy at a very tender age of five or six weeks, it will begin to take the crate as its den. 

Denning animals feel safe and secure in their dens. Therefore, crate training will make your puppy feel the same way. However, you will need to make sure that the puppy is put inside a proper sized crate. Puppies are mischievous and full of energy. They want to play and socialize. Therefore, a big sized crate will only make your puppy destructive and give it a lot of room to move around and eliminate. The size of the crate should be big enough to let the puppy turn around and sit comfortably. When your puppy will be in the crate, it will avoid eliminating in it because it will make the place dirty. 

A puppy will defecate in a crate if it is left confined for long hours. Putting your dog in a crate for little time will help make the housebreaking process easier. Once your puppy has learned its lesson and is comfortable staying in a crate, you can begin to open more space to it. Do not give the whole house to your little puppy, as it will eliminate in areas far from its room.

Feeding the Right Diet

A great part of a puppy’s housetraining depends on the type of diet it eats. Although there are many options in the market, you have to make sure you avoid feeding it dry or canned food. The discussion on dry and wet diet has been around for long. However, what dog owners fail to realize is that these foods can disturb the dog’s natural digestive process. 

• Dry dog food or kibble can cause dehydration.
• Wet or canned food can cause diarrhea.

The key point that dog owners need to consider is that Mother Nature has created dogs for the wild where they hunt and eat raw meat. Therefore, feeding your dog anything other than what its digestive system is designed for will result in disturbance in the digestive system. This will cause housebreaking problems as the dog will not have a proper time to eliminate. 

When you feed raw meat or home cooked meal to your dog, it will need to eliminate thirty minutes after consuming the food. This means that you will need to take your dog in the backyard after its meal time. When you put your dog on the leash and take it outdoors every time it eats food, this practice will register in its mind as a routine task. Therefore, after several days of training, your dog will learn to eliminate outside. 

Another thing that you need to take care of while housetraining your puppy is to never leave its food outside for the entire day. Puppies don’t need to eat a lot and if you leave the food outside at all times, it will adopt irregular eating habits, which will result in disturbed bathroom schedule. To avoid situations like these, make sure you designate a timeframe for your puppy’s meal time. Put your puppy’s food bowl in front of it for  20 minutes and pick it up when the time is up. This is a great way to make your puppy used to a fixed meal time, resulting in fixed bathroom time. 

Recognizing Good Behavior

Housebreaking isn’t only about correcting your dog, but it is the way that you motivate and encourage the dog to adopt the right behavior as well. The best way to reinforce any behavior is to encourage the dog by giving it a bone to chew on or by simply showing affection. The dog will then begin to connect recognition with a certain behavior, which will make it repeat that behavior for getting love and affection from you.

Don’t Pick Up Feces in Plastic Bags

Another habit that many dog owners have adopted is to pick feces of their dogs in plastic bags to keep the roads, grass, and parks clean. Although, it might seem like a responsible act, it is still a bad habit as many owners just leave these bags hanging on trees and placed besides pathways. This is something that is far more dangerous than leaving the feces in the open. Plastic bags are very harmful for our environment. Therefore, do not develop this habit as it is only going to do more harm than good. 

Housebreaking becomes easy when you start training your dog at five weeks of age. However, the key is to be consistent and patient during the training process and make use of crate in an appropriate way. Once your dog learns that eliminating inside the house or in prohibited areas is bad, it will adopt the habit of going outside on its own for defecating. A housetrained puppy grows up to become an obedient dog that follows your commands without causing any problem.  Read more www.ccprotectiondogs.com

What is Better for your Dog : Chain or Kennel

There has been a great discussion on the use of kennel and chains, and many dog owners are unable to make the right choice. Many owners are under the impression that dogs can be better handled if enclosed in a kennel. They believe that a kennel is safer and restricts the dog from running away or from making their home a mess. However, if we look at it from the dog’s perspective, we would understand that caging dogs in kennels is cruel and has no effect in keeping the dog from misbehaving.

So, what do you think is better for your dog? Do you think your dog feels more comfortable in an enclosed space or an open one? Let’s find out what is better for your dog.

The Kennel Theory

There are a lot number of people who prefer to put their dogs in kennels. The main reason behind this preference is that kennels are more spacious. Therefore, dog owners believe that their dogs will have enough room to move around, relax, and play. However, the thing that they fail to realize is that kennels make dogs uncomfortable and aggressive. 

When you lock up a dog in a kennel, you make it feel insecure and alert. The dog feels that it is in trouble or forced to live in a small space. This feeling makes the dog hyper and aggressive, and the dog tries to find ways to escape. Just put this scenario on yourself and imagine you being locked up inside a small room. So, would you sit and relax or would you try to find ways to escape? 

Kennel interferes with a Dog’s Needs

Dogs are social animals and they love to make friends, run around the house freely. Therefore, confining them into small cages is never an ideal scenario. Moreover, they have physical needs that get disturbed when they are caged in kennels. Dogs also need mental stimulation and lots of exercise, which it doesn’t get due to being caged in a kennel.

There are many dog breeds that are calm by nature and do really well in a kennel. However, it is morally wrong to confine dogs in small spaces that deprive them of their most basic mental and physical requirements. Although it might seem like a good idea to put your misbehaving dog in a kennel, but the consequences to that may be detrimental. 

Dogs are not made for kennels. They are extremely social and affectionate. They also love to move around in the house freely, which is impossible when put in a kennel. Another disadvantage of putting your dog in a kennel is that it will try everything to break free from it. The dog might scratch, bite, dig, and chew the kennel to escape, which is a red sign that tells you that the dog is losing its mind. 

The Chain Theory

Seeing your dogs in chains might be the most horrible sight, but in all honesty, it is far better than putting the dog in a kennel. Many dog owners do not like to chain their dogs because they believe that it is cruel. Instead, they put them in kennels so that they get enough space to play. As appropriate it might sound, there are many reasons to not to put your dog in a kennel. So, why are chains better and doesn’t make the dog feel suffocated in them? 

Many might say that chaining dogs is inhumane and cruel. However, if you compare and contrast a chain to a kennel, you will come to a realization that chains are better than kennels. Chains are better as they do not restrict the dog’s actions and movements. They provide more freedom and room to the dog to run, jump, and play. Moreover, chains keep the dogs in control and are used to keep the dog in its limits. 

However, there are certain rules that dog owners need to follow in order to keep the dog calm and comfortable in a chain. The chain that you choose for your dog should be of proper length. The dog should be able to move freely without getting hurt. The material of the collar also holds a lot of importance as a bad material will suffocate or hurt the dog. The preferred collar material for a dog is leather or nylon. When putting your dog on a chain, make sure it is not wearing a choker collar. Chokers are tight on the neck of the dog and if the dog tries to struggle or run with a chain attached to a choker, it might injure its neck or choke itself. Therefore, to avoid any disastrous situation, make sure you never pair the choker with a chain.

 Dogs in an Open Yard

There might be some dog owners who would try to find a third option of  open yard. Of course it sounds right to have your dog in your open yard, but it has its own pitfalls that you must be aware of. If you want to provide freedom to your dog by  the yard fence or in an open space, you will drive it crazy. Dogs won’t do really well with that much freedom and will try to escape through the fence. 

The open environment is like a freedom call for the dog and it will exhaust itself by trying to break free. Therefore, if you think that going with this option is better than kennel and chains, you need to reconsider.

The Final Verdict!

Max von Stephanitz was a German dog breeder who did not believe in dog kennels. He criticized the organizations and people who promoted the concept of kennels without knowing the effect that they have on dogs. He also attacked humane societies and kennel clubs in his criticism by saying that the name ‘kennel clubs’ itself should be an eye-opener for the people that want to associate with them. 

The reason that he did not support kennels was that they deprive dogs of their basic necessities. Although kennels are used to manage dogs and control their behavior, they have nothing to do with any of it. A dog in a kennel is helpless, scared, and defensive. Putting such affectionate animals in kennels is injustice to them. Therefore, if you want to leave your dog at home or in an open space, go for chains instead of kennels.  Read more www.ccprotectiondogs.com

German Shepherd - A Herding Dog ?

Introduction

Tending Style or HGH sheep dog training that involves GSD for sheep herding, has become quite popular these days. Also developed has the controversy that the GSDs are biting sheep. 

HGH vs. Sheep Herding in U.S.

HGH training took form in European countries where sheep are free to graze because the only fences that exist are the ones that keep the flock out of a neighbor’s field. In America, Border Collies have been used to herd sheep since the sheep are kept in fenced pastures. While the Collies are completely capable of gathering the sheep into a flock at the master’s call, GSD are not! Since the Tending style trains the sheep to follow the shepherd, the dog is only present there to police the sheep and keep them sheep within the borders defined by the shepherd.

Caveats in HGH being applied in the U.S.

• Not enough dogs for a large flock

• Sheep starved overnight 

• Dog can control only through grip or bite

• Often not taken into consideration, sheep’ stubbornness

An HSH trained dog:

• Will only bite the wool and not a sheep’s legs or head

• Will not shake their head while biting

• Will select an adult over a kid sheep to grip!

 When the American dogs, trained to stay away from gripping try to control a flock, the sheep do not recognize their authority. Completely eliminating gripping from the HSH program will only result in its failure. I hope AKC take this factor into account when sanctioning trials. Read more www.ccprotectiondogs.com

Dog Aggression

Introduction

This article addresses one of the problems commonly experienced by dog owners – unwanted dog aggression. This article explains three of the causes of canine aggression but by no means, consider them the only causes since there are more than 20 categories, the scope of which is beyond this article.

Aggression Triggers

Rank Drive

It is difficult to explain the intensity a dog’s pack drive can take to a new owner. Since it is innate, it will definitely affect how a dog behaves when brought home and made to interact with family members.

If you think your dog should be taught that your children rank higher in the pack, then you are looking at this the wrong way. Imagine trying to make a dog feel inferior to a two-year-old. It is not doable, instead teach your dog that your child is always off limits. You can do it the way I did – by making sure, the dog is never alone with your child – or through training that starts with always having the dog on a leash, even inside the house. Correcting the dog, either verbally or in some other way, is another way to reinforce the lesson, every time you see him display unwarranted aggression.

Attack by other dogs

When a dog has been scared or badly hurt by another dog, he will become aggressive. One occasion like this can lead to life-long aggression. It is very similar to how we will behave, had we been mugged, or after an episode where our personal space and safety have been violated. 

We know you are always concerned about the safety of your dogs but do not always realize that a dog in the presence of stranger dogs is an aggressive dog in the making. When taking your dog to a park, understand that any of the dogs there could have dominance issues that translate into aggression.

Your dog, no matter what age he is will look to you for protection and leadership when under threat. Do not make the mistake of thinking your dog needs to learn how to protect himself and wait for him to act tough. If you stand by and allow a strange dog to hurt your dog, he will take it to mean that since he has to protect himself, he should respond through either a fight or flight. If they act aggressive and scare the incoming dog away, the aggressive display will keep increasing in intensity with every such occurrence. It is something that I always practice.

Multiple Dogs

Having more than one dog in a household is entirely possible; however, you need to realize that while controlling two dogs is manageable, a third dog’s presence forms a pack. A dog pack’s establishment will skew the balance and the animals will form their own pecking order shortly. While it may at times, work out peacefully, with every dog understanding where they stand, sometimes a dogfight may also break out while establishing dominance.  Read more  www. ccprotectiondogs.com

Dog's Thyroid Glands

Introduction to Hypothyroidism

A condition resulting from the malfunctioning of the thyroid gland, leading to too little circulation of the hormone it produces. Idiopathic Hypothyroidism is one of the most common types seen in animals. This type of hypothyroidism is characterized by the absence of any biological reason for the malfunctioning gland. Familial thyroid inflammation – thyoiditis – is a close second. When left untreated, hypothyroidism can turn into a debilitating disease while it is curable, if treated properly.

Disease Symptoms

Initial symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

• Hair loss – tail or flank 

• Desiccated, scaly skin

• Brittle hair that has lost its shine,

• Bleached coat

• Oily skin

When allowed to go untreated, other symptoms may develop. Your canine will:

• Become overweight and lethargic

• Look for warm places to settle down

• Have cold, clammy skin

• Experience a drop in libido

• Go through a protracted anestrus or an abbreviated estrus

Disease Identification

Prior to diagnosis, your veterinarian will run a blood test and then prescribe medication on confirmation of the disease. Soloxine – Levothyroxine Sodium –tablets are a vet’s usual preference for this disease. He will most likely direct you to administer the tablets, once or twice daily.

Improvement in health is expected within two to four weeks while the dog’s coat will take longer to heal – it could take as less as one month to as long as six months, based on his hair growth rate.

Following Up

After a time of four to six weeks, go in and hand over a blood sample to your veterinarian as part of the follow up procedure. After the blood test, he might adjust the dose, so that proper thyroid blood levels are reached. Routine check-ups are required, if you want to keep your canine healthy and happy. Read more www.ccprotectiondogs.com

What Drives - Prey or Defense ?

Introduction

We have heard of the days when administering drugs, like Ridlin and Prozac, to our children, prescribed by a psychologist, was considered an acceptable practice. Society today frowns on drugging children, but now, the so-called dog psychologists have taken over. They put our canine friends through a very similar indignity with almost the same drugs! 

K-9 Drives

Today, everybody seems to be an expert on the subject of K-9 drives. The ever-changing opinions do not stay the same for too long. However, I have always believed a dog is driven by two things – his prey and defense. His drive for prey would be the one during play while the drive to defend is a serious one.

Philosophy of Working Service dictates that while a wolf may be considered a pack animal, a dog cannot, since dogs have been known to leave their littermates and follow humans. A true pack animal, like the wolf, would avoid humans and stick to his own breed. Just as socializing with your colleagues at work does not make you a party animal, a dog that can work with other dogs is not necessarily a pack animal, based on just this criterion.

Personifying Dogs

Trouble starts when humans begin crediting dogs with human emotions or as having human traits. This is just as silly as thinking a human could possess canine traits. At the top of the list is the level of discernment that a dog can have. Humanizing the dogs has led to creation on multiple drives. Some of which that I have come across during my research are explained here.

Contradictory Terms and Misconceptions

Let us look at the term drives first. Initially described as "subconscious impulses to react to stimuli", this term curses the dog to exist as a creature unable to think. Overreaction to stimuli is a very real possibility that most kennelized dogs display but it is only a result of excessive kennelization, instead of allowing the dog to socialize. A dog’s innate drive has nothing to do with its response to stimulus, rather it is dictated by the environment.

Next up is the word temperament. Used to describe a dog's attitude towards life, and its qualities of a thinking animal, this term is contradictory to even the existence of drives. If this confuses you, as a handler, imagine what the dog feels like!

When asked to describe courage, most people would say that it is the absence of fear. However, to me not being afraid of objects or situations does not make you courageous, it makes you stupid! I believe courage is facing one’s fear and mustering the strength to work even when afraid. Veterans will tell you both courage and fear go hand in hand.

Types of Drives

• Hunt, Tracking and Air-scent 

Described as the need to pursue objects not within sight, they essentially mean the same thing. Attesting to that is the fact when tracking a dog who is hunting for a man’s scent during a Search & Rescue mission, most trackers will see the canine will use all of the senses at his disposal. Giving three names to a single drive only adds to the confusion of the handler and consequently, the dog.

• Retrieve

Described as the drive that allows a dog to bring an object back to his handler. I consider this a sporting term much the way forced retrieve is one. Since we often dogs refusing to retrieve stuff, we can say that this is an obedience exercise not dissimilar to other training exercises. It has nothing to do with the subconscious of a dog.

• Prey

Described as the subconscious need to bite and kill his prey. It is also displayed in a dog’s refusal to let go. We need to understand one crucial thing – if a dog is biting to kill, he is not playing anymore! This example will illustrate the difference between defensive and play modes. A dog chasing a cat is in play-mode or nonserious while the cat is fleeing for its life and is defensive or serious mode. 

• Rank

• Survival/Flight 

• Homing 

• Play

The subconscious need for physical contact with other packmates.

• Pack

Described as the subconscious need for emotional contact with the packmates.

• Activity

The list goes on and on. For an animal that is under the subconscious control of these drives, a dog seems to have a lot of them! He seems to me, a very complicated creature.

Further Collusion through Misinformation

Men and dogs have worked alongside each other in complete harmony. Misinformation like the “drives” is bent on destroying that human-dog relationship. Under stress or during intensive work, neither man nor the dog can indulge in such folly and must fight to survive.

Dogs were a part of defense during World War II; their dexterity amazed more than one person back then. The reason for a relationship that worked was that it was necessary. They did all they could to survive, instead of theorizing things that did not even exist!

Room for Improvement

I firmly belief a dog is driven by prey – play – and defense – serious. Reiterating this only means that I refuse to add confusion – whether on the training field or in my life. An unstable environment and misguided human attitude are the creators of K-9 problems. When training with your dog, try to think of the reason for each step of the training, even if constructive. Think on the practical applications, instead of theorizing about stuff or following blindly. Since I work in the field every day, I consider it the right thing to always ask, "Why?" Read more www.ccprotectiondogs.com

The Misconception about Dogs

Introduction

There is a widespread belief that a dog considers his owner/handler to be another dog. I disagree with this notion since I know dogs to be remarkably intelligent creatures who know how to distinguish between humans and their own kind. 

Another bone that I have to pick is my dog putting me at the head of a pack that does not even exist! Here are some reasons to support this claim. Whether they seem to be of sound logic or not, you be the judge.

Dogs are Social Animals

Firstly, the domestic dog is no more a pack animal but a social one. Let us look at a true pack animal – the Wolf. He behaves in a very particular way by choosing to shun the company of humans and prefers living with others of his kind. Even when you see one in captivity, people’s presence bothers him. Imagine the horrifying implications of such Jekyll & Hyde – wolf hybrids – on sale to the general public! Now compare that to a dog; he will follow his owner while leaving his littermates behind.

The bond between a dog and his human is one of the most natural bonds there is. It is unique yet very clearly present. However, when man, in his folly, considers introducing abstract concepts like drives or attempts to be the head honcho/ alpha of the “pack”, he throws the balance off by adding a third wheel to the equation!

A dog’s superior sense of smell is so amazing that he uses it to differentiate between minute scents. A master of reading body language, he can also detect the presence of death, evil, cancers, and even seizures before they even happen! How can I keep from cringing when I observe a human being mimic a dog’s actions or canine rituals to dupe the dog into thinking that they are dogs too? Such clownish displays aimed at establishing a sense of superiority over a canine just make me laugh!

Conclusion

A dog knows his role better than a human does. The social instinct draws a dog away from his siblings towards a human voice, not the pack instinct. He freely gives his commitment and is the only animal to do so. Why conquer something that is a gift to us? Read more, www.ccprotectiondogs.com

A Dog's Natural Ability

Many dog companies have been importing and selling Sporting and Schutzund dogs under the label of Protection dogs. Breeds like the German shepherd gained a somewhat bad reputation because of how these dog jockeys have mistreated them and then condemned them after earning so much money. These so-called trainers do not have the slightest idea about how to breed or even work with true Protection dogs! 

Before attempting to get into this assortment of problems, I want to clear a widespread misconception – a bite where a dog uses his canines is a bite out of fear. It could not be more misleading – do all predators, like tigers and lions, bite out of cowardliness or fear? Why possess canines, if a predator is supposed to use its molars to bite down? 

The unnatural way dogs are taught to deliver full-mouthed bites is against their nature. A real bite from a dog will never involve using his molars; instead, he will use the canines that God has given him for this very purpose when push comes to shove. Telling a boxer he is a coward if he uses his fists to punch will not make this teaching right.

This misinformation has gone on for too long and has wreaked havoc on the German shepherd breed, so much so that the breed has become twisted, warped, and rendered completely useless.

Several news articles are reporting that the German police have stopped using German shepherd dogs on the force. Now, they are attempting to cross-breed Malinois and German shepherd dogs in order to achieve capable Protection dogs. 

A sporting dog is not a Protection dog, no matter how you try to justify this claim. I have always tried to stand by this conviction and most of the time; I have been alone in this. If we continue to watch as by-standers, we will be letting those very “trainers” murder another capable breed, like the Malinois or even the Dutch shepherd dog the way they have ended the usefulness of German shepherds! Read more, www.ccprotectiondogs.com

Schutzhund as a Sport

Introduction

The United Schutzhund Clubs of America is a dedicated organization working to protect and preserve the German shepherd’s heritage and lineage through Schutzhund training.

History

Schutzhund – Literally, “Protection Dogs” – has his roots in Germany. Back then, breeders used to select only the best quality dog after critical evaluation for their breeding programs. It was used to instill the principles of protection, obedience, and tracking in dogs.

The Training

Even today, a bred German shepherd dog requires a Schutzhund title. There are three types of titles:

• Novice or Sch H I,

• Intermediate or Sch H II, and

• Master Sch H III

Now a sport that has become extremely popular, the Schutzhund is still relevant today as a breed test. Even today, Schutzhund displays the adeptness of trained canines in several fields, such as:

• Utility

• Intelligence

• Endurance

• Courage

• Trainability

• Scent Ability

The Sport

The sport, which is quite popular in North America, consists of various mandatory rules and regulations. A few examples of these rules are as follows:

Entry Age 

• 18 months for SchH A and SchH 1

• 19 months for Sch1-1 11 

• 20 months for Schl-l 111

• 16 months for FH

• 12 months for B

Judges

One judge may only evaluate 10 to 12 dogs per day. More dogs might be entered into the trial, if more judges are brought in or the duration of the trial is extended.

Candidates

• Canine entrants must be completely healthy and tested for impartiality and sureness.

• A dog may only take part in only one Schutzhund degree per trial.

• Dogs awarded degrees prior to a trial must complete a four-week waiting period before applying for the next degree.

• Participants must follow judge and the trial committees’ instructions.

Handlers

Poor sportsmanship leads to expulsion. Handlers must conduct themselves and their animals with impeccable behavior.

Scoring

The highest possible score for all phases is 100 that becomes 300 for all three phases.

Please keep in mind that these are just a few of the rules. Read more www.ccprotectiondogs.com