Reasons You Do Not Want A German Shepherd Dog
Now, wait a minute! youre saying. Of course I want a German Shepherd! Otherwise, I wouldnt be looking at this article! Very good. You have taken the first step towards becoming a responsible purebred dog owner, first by doing your research, and second by taking the time to examine the problems inherent in your chosen breed.
Here are 10 reasons you might want to reconsider your choice of a GSD:
1. Health problems.The GSD is not a dog for those who just want to plunk down cash for the first puppy they see and head home . German Shepherds, like any large breed, are prone to canine hip dysplasia, a crippling and potentially fatal disease. The breed also struggles with or is prone to elbow dysplasia, allergies, cleft palate, degenerative myelopathy, perianal fistulas, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, bloat, panostetis, Von Wildebrands disease, Wobblers Syndrome, heart and skin disease and thyroid disease. Many of the congenital diseases in dogs can be tested for and therefore prevented by responsible breeders. But you must be willing to ask questions of your breeder to find out what problems have cropped up in his or her lines. Good GSD rescuers will also be aware of such problems, and whether the rescued dog youre considering has shown symptoms of or has been treated for any health issues while with the rescue.
If youve considered the above and are still interested in getting a German Shepherd,;check out our free;guide to Choosing Your New German Shepherd!
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Dog Shampoo
Formulated to treat multiple skin conditions, including dermatitis, mange, seborrhea, and parasitic and bacterial infections, this Veterinary Formula Clinical Care dog shampoo is ideal for German Shepherds suffering from skin conditions or allergies. The formula contains salicylic acid, which works by dissolving dead skin cells; coal tar, which treats dandruff by slowing the growth of skin cells; and micronized sulfur, which targets parasitic and fungal infections. This shampoo also contains oatmeal and allantoin to hydrate and soothe your dogs skin and promote the healing of infections. It is also paraben-, dye-, and soap-free!
This shampoo is targeted for dogs with skin issues, so it should only be used in this context and not as a regular shampoo. The shampoo also has a pungent smell that stays with your dog after washing.
Some customers report that this shampoo had little to no effect on their dogs skin conditions, and some even said that it made them worse. It also has a syrupy consistency that is difficult to lather.
The bottles are fairly small, and youll likely only get three to four washes with a fully grown German Shepherd. While the shampoo itself is great, many customers report that the conditioner is watery and chunky, making it difficult to lather.
- Conditioner has a watery consistency
Serious Medical Conditions That Can Cause A German Shepherd To Smell
Along with the not so serious reasons behind a smelly German Shepherd are the more involved reasons behind a stinky dog.
While these are not the most common conditions that may be the reason behind the odor coming from your dog, they are nonetheless conditions that you should be aware of.;
Some serious medical conditions that can cause your German Shepherd to smell include:
- Kidney disease: The later stages of kidney disease in dogs is known to produce foul breath in dogs due to ulcers in the mouth. These ulcers are a result of the toxins that can build up in a dogs system due to the disease.;
- Masses: If your dog is prone to developing lumps and bumps, its possible for complications to arise that can cause these masses to smell.;
- Diabetes: Some dogs with more serious conditions resulting from diabetes have been known to have a strong ammonia, sweet, or fruity smell coming from the mouth. Its also believed that only people with a certain strand of DNA can smell this fruity smell that comes from ketones due diabetic complications. So if you can smell ketones on your dog, you are special.
- Eye conditions: German Shepherds can experience several eye conditions that can cause a smell if left untreated. Some eye conditions present as eye discharge, swelling, and pain.;
- Autoimmune skin conditions: Some autoimmune conditions of the skin can result in sores on the skin which can lead to abnormal odors coming from the skin.;
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How To Make A German Shepherd Happy
The best way to keep a;German Shepherd happy;is to provide for their intellectual, physical, and emotional needs. Make sure your German Shepherd has healthy foods, the right amount of exercise, fun mental stimulation, and lots of affection and love.
While there are many ways to make a German Shepherd happy these are the top tips for keeping them happy
For life!
What Have They Touched Or Picked Up Recently
What have they rolled in?
What have they picked up in their mouth?
What have they eaten?
If your dog is rolling in poop or picking up dead animals regularly it makes sense they would smell bad.
The same goes for rolling in seaweed or dead/washed up sea animals down the beach.
Also, note that a dogs coat can absorb smells and trap them under the top coat much more effectively than what human skin does which is exposed.
This is why its so important to make sure the areas your dog is playing in are clean!
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Keeping Their Bed/ Crate Clean
Another good way to prevent GSD odor is to wash their bed and crating bedding regularly.; If your dog is dirty and then lays in their bed or crate, their bed and crate will get dirty too.
The best thing to do is have a regular washing routine for your dogs bedding, keeping that clean will help keep the odor down.
How To Get Blue German Shepherd Puppy
- You could find a breeder that deliberately breeds a line of Shepherds with a diluted blue gene pool.
- And the second option is that you could find a breeder that has an accidental Blue Shepherd in a litter and would be looking for someone that could take the defective puppy home. They are not defective, so you could as well make a deal before someone else grabs the opportunity.
- There is also the option of adoption, which is the best option for getting a dog.
Some people may see this dog as a weaker canine and give up on him, and in the process, the pup ends up in a dog shelter or rescue. You could also be in luck and find an adult one that people had no idea how to raise, and you could as well give them a new home. The German Shepherd Club of America has a list of rescue centers that where you could find yourself a new furry friend.
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Top Activities For German Shepherd Dogs And Puppies
Games for German Shepherds can include everyday objects that you can find around your house and are fun activities that give your German Shepherd mental stimulation and exercise.
Try a few of these activities for German Shepherds and see which ones your dog loves!
How Good Is A German Shepherds Smell
A dogs nose essentially works the same way our human eyes, ears and mouth do.
Equipped with 225 million scent receptors, a German Shepherd, for example, can sniff out anything from bed bugs to cancer.
It is even believed that they can determine what time of day it is by tracking the rise and fall of temperature!
It is this same keen sense of smell that can also track a human scent carried by the wind.
This exceptional sense of smell is believed to be an evolutionary tactic that has allowed for the survival of the canine species throughout history.
Essentially, German Shepherds rely on their sense of smell to determine whether a setting is safe or not. Once a dog has processed a scent, it is stored permanently in the brain and remembered for the rest of its life!
Compared to other dogs, German Shepherds rank fourth overall by the AKC for the best sense of smell, just behind Bloodhounds, Basset Hounds and Beagles. Check out the video below at 3:37 in to find out more about the German Shepherds acute sense of smell compared to other dogs.
While these statistics can vary, one thing we know for sure is that German Shepherds are noted for their incredible ability to air-scent rather than keeping their noses on the ground, they lift their heads high to catch human scents carried by the wind.
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Wet Dog Smell: How To Get Rid Of It
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Theres an old saying, usually said with a grin, that theres nothing friendlier than a wet dog. Having been a recipient of soggy greetings from water-soaked canines, I can attest to its truthfulness. But why do so many dogs smell when they get wet? Here, we break down why wet dog smell happens and what you can do about it.
Never Forget To Clean His Ears
German shepherd dogs ears are prone to many infections. If not kept clean, then many bacterias can reside inside the ears and cause infections.
When impure water resides inside the ears, and there is a harmful bacteria growth inside the ear, then ear infection can occur.
Ear Infection Signs:
1 Bad smell from the ear2 Area around the ear will become red3 Smelling wax in Dogs ear.
Prevention is better than cure. Check and clean your Dogs ear every day.
You can use cotton wool and an ear cleaner liquid to Clean your Dogs ear each day.
If you see any sign of ear infection, then take your German Shepherd to the vet and ask for advice.
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That German Shepherd Smell: Where Does It Come From
As Psychology Today explains so well, every dog has a unique scent signature.
This scent signature is like your German Shepherd dogs business card . It is a basic, biological part of your dogs identity.
And yes, it is this scent signature that other dogs are smelling when they stick their wet canine noses into your dogs very private places and vice versa.
You may or may not already know this, but each human being has a unique scent signature as well. So this is just one more way that you and your dog are alike.
It is also why many canine training experts say to put something that smells like you in your puppys crate at night when they first come home with you.
To you, that scent identity may smell like a doggy odor. And who knows maybe your scent identity smells like people odor to your pup.
Different dog owners can also have different levels of olfactory keenness, which means you may notice your German Shepherd dogs smell more than your partner or child does.
It can also mean you are simply more aware of your dogs typical odor and when there is something off about it, which is exactly what we are going to talk about here next.
Do German Shepherds Spray
German Shepherds do occasionally spray and for different reasons. Spraying is a territorial method of communication for German Shepherds and is quite normal. It is, however, more common as a result of having not been spayed or neutered.
Neutering will reduce male marking behavior in more than 80% of male dogs but will only eliminate it in about 40% of dogs.
Spraying is not a breed-specific action; however, some breeds, such as German Shepherds, are more prone to spraying. Whether your dog is territorial, dominant, stressed, or anxious, German Shepherds are known for spraying outdoors, and unfortunately, indoors on occasion.
Some of the reasons that your German Shepherd may be spraying are:
- Male German Shepherds often spray if they are reproductively intact and are trying to either mark their territory or ward off rivals.;
- Male German Shepherds may spray more when sexually aroused, hence neutering can reduce this.
- Female German Shepherds, on the other hand, are more likely to spray if they are in heat.;
- If you have more than one dog in your household, your GSD may be spraying his favorite spots in the house to mark his territory.
German Shepherds are known for being dominant by nature, and this can play a role in why they spray and when they are more likely to spray.
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Brain Training For Dogs
Brain training your German Shepherd is an activity that increases their mental stimulation and is fun for both you and your dog!
You can use brain training to help teach your German Shepherd manners and basic obedience at the same time.
To do this all you have to do is follow a simple online program, full of helpful videos.
- Follow this link to the Official Brain Training for Dogs Program online
- Signup for a free game they email or go ahead and join the program
- Practice the brain games every day
- Enjoy exciting new and fun German Shepherd activities at different levels suitable for your dogs abilities
- Watch your GSD progress and graduate to more difficult challenges
There are so many activities included in the program that I couldnt possibly tell you all of them.
But
You can read more on my helpful review: Brain Training for Dogs Review
How Come A German Shepherd Can Smell So Well
While breathing and smelling are essentially the same for human beings, a dogs nose is designed to perform both tasks
Dogs have a fold of tissue inside their noses which air used for inhaling from air used for smelling.
When a dog breathes, a portion of the air is directed toward a bony network known as turbinates. These arededicated to olfaction while the rest of the air is then diverted to the lungs.;
Dogs will take deep, long breaths for breathing and use short, sniffing inhalations when smelling something. When a dog exhales, air is pushed out of the slits in the sides of the nose, thus creating an airflow that draws new smells inward.;
Dogs have a part that humans dont called the Jacobsons organ. Its located near the bottom of the dogs nasal passage and allows the animal to detect pheromonesorchemical cues. These are present in all animal species and allow them to relay messages to one another, such as mating readiness. The Jacobsons organ also helps dogs to recognize the scents of others in their pack.
If a dog is trying to get more scent to its Jacobsons organ, it may pull back its upper lip and lift its head up. This is known as the flehmen reaction. It further enhances a dogs sense of smell and is quite prominent in the German Shepherd breed.
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Blue German Shepherd Is Good For Family Dog
This is an excellent dog for families as they get well with children and other pets. The Blue German Shepherd is a good-natured family dog, and his alert nature makes him an excellent watchdog.
They are a popular choice for people from many walks of life, and although you do not see them much in the military or the police, that does not mean that they cannot be trained to do the same job done by their cousins.
Fun Jobs To Give Your German Shepherd:
Compared to other breeds of dogs, German Shepherds tend to be more prone to engaging in naughty behavior if they arent given anything to do, and this mostly comes down to their energetic nature.
Plus, just like we mentioned above, German Shepherds are also naturally clever and like to help their owners! So, besides helping your dog to stay active and stimulated, your dog will also feel happy because they will think that theyre helping you.
Choosing jobs to give your German Shepherd can be pretty tricky to figure out, especially if youve never given them one to do before.
However, there is a variety of fun and engaging tasks that your German Shepherd will love to do and the best part? Theyre simple, quick, and super easy to learn, regardless of whether your dog is trained or is undergoing training.
To help make things even easier, below, were going to be talking you through some of the simplest and easiest jobs that you can begin teaching your dog to do today. Alongside each job, youll find a description of what it entails, as well as some guidance and instructions for teaching it to your dog. Ready to begin? Lets take a look:
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Tidy Up Your Toys Command
Teaching your dog to be able to pick up his toys after playing with them is one of the most useful jobs you will give your German Shepherd! Once you have successfully taught your German Shepherd to be able to tidy up after playtime, it means that you wont have to do it, and your dog is going to feel proud and satisfied for helping you.
Prior to teaching your dog this trick, youre going to need to make sure that he already knows the drop and pick up commands. Follow the steps below to teach your dog how to tidy up his toys:
- The first thing youre going to need to do is to grab a toy box or basket that you plan on keeping your German Shepherds toys inside.
- Wait until your German Shepherd has been playing with his toys, and when he has finished you can then proceed to ask him to tidy up his toys.
- For the best results, we recommend kneeling down next to the box or basket you plan on keeping the toys inside and then asking your dog to pick up one toy at a time.
- As soon as your dog brings one of his toys to you, make sure that you praise him and give him plenty of cuddles, as this will help him to understand that he is doing a good job.
- When youre ready and finished giving your dog praise, you can then go ahead and ask him to drop the toy inside the toy box or basket. As soon as your German Shepherd drops the toy inside, make sure that you give him lots of praise again.