German Shepherd Talk

Researchers fully decoded the dog genome about four years ago, and we have still only scratched the surface of what this means for the advancement for scientific knowledge.  Most recently, researchers have identified a particular gene as being the cause for compulsive behavior in dogs.

It must be stated up front that a lot of dogs who exhibit compulsive behavior come from challenging backgrounds.  Puppy mill dogs and dogs which have been abused often display strange compulsive behaviors.  The same can be said for dogs which are confined without enough exercise.  Dogs are meant to get exercise, and if you keep a dog cooped up day after day without regular walks and outdoor play sessions, they can slowly be driven insane.
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When a civilian breaks the law, they typically A. get their punishment, B. get off scot-free because they’ve got money and power or a doofy jury, or C. get screwed by a lousy lawyer and end up in prison for a crime they didn’t commit. But when an officer breaks a law, it can often go by ignored, or at least unpunished—a rather Orwellian fact that we shouldn’t tolerate as a whole.

So the “very experienced officer” who handled two German Shepherd dogs and left them to die in his car on what’s so far been the hottest day of the year should be prosecuted under the full extent of the law. Read more

Too Many Treats?Everyone knows it-Americans are getting fatter and fatter every year. Obesity is hitting us hard health wise. The rather unfortunate fact of the matter is that Fido and Muffy are getting fat right along with us.  

 I was at my sister's place yesterday and noticed (I tried not to, really) that her dog had gained a few pounds. "She's big-boned," my sister said in defense of her chubby dog. After making a few comments that I shouldn't have made, I realized that she was serious- the vet was concerned about the dog's weight and had encouraged her to get the dog on a diet. Like any good parent, my sister got a little protective of her furry friend. What was she doing wrong? Read more

Though our home is big enough for our cats, it just wouldn’t be fair to confine a dog to it—much to the dismay of our little girl. Someday, when we have enough land to roam around on, we would love to get a great family dog to expand our little ragtag team. A German shepherd, also known as the Alsatian, might just be our dog of choice.

Though some people go for the tinier pups, we’re really into the bigger, teddy-bear types—not the jumbo dogs you’d sick on the postman to keep the IRS bill away, but the big lovable canines who are affectionate and good with kids but still offer that feeling of safety some dogs can give. As a kid, I had a Labrador who seemed to embody all of these qualities—as well as a couple of beagles who sort of did, too; but I think our next dog may end up being a handsome German Shepherd. Read more

A refuge for mistreated and abandoned German Shepherd dogs suffered a severe loss following a fire on April 25. The modular home of the rescue’s owner, Grace Konosky, 67, was completely destroyed, and her four personal dogs were injured. One dog, 12-year-old Bailey, died from her injuries in late May. Read more

Spaz, a Chihuahua-daschund from Groveland, west of Orlando, Florida, is the latest in a number of heroic dogs who have gone above and beyond the duty of the normal dog.

Lillian Miller, 58 and Spaz’s owner, had taken her hearing aid out before retiring for the evening on Saturday, June 6. Though her smoke alarm went off, she did not hear it. Lucky for her, Spaz did. Read more

My portraitAccording to Stacey Wolf,  one of the most respected astrologers and pet psychics in the world,  I'm a poodle.   No, I don't mean in a past-life sense, but rather in the way that as a Pisces I love to be close to the people I love, cosy and comfortable in my surroundings, and yes,  pampered.  I have to say that she's right! 

Stacey has come up with a fun doggy equivalent for each star sign,  citing a breed whose temperament and habits best match the traits typically seen in each house of the zodiac.   Her pairings are pretty spot on, and in many cases written with the kind of humor that you will find in any of her writing.  They are a great point of inspiration if you are looking for a fun gift for a dog lover's birthday.  Read more

If you see your dog panting heavily this upcoming summer, a puppy ice cream treat may do just the trick to cool them off and reward them for being a great dog. If you have never heard of these newer dog ice cream treats before, let me bring you up to speed really quickly. I found out about dog ice cream treats a few months ago when I was shopping for dog food at the local grocery store. Read more

There are many lucrative sides of the pet services industry, and additionally there are ample amounts of people who are quickly realizing that by starting their own pet sitting service they can easily garner a decent annual income. But sadly, many people who may want to break into this profitable and rewarding realm of pet services have not the faintest clue as to where to begin. Read more