FCI Standard #166; (1997); replaces 23 March, 1991 edition FCI. Classification: Group 1 – Guardian and Driving dogs; Section 1 – Shepherds’ dogs with working titles. Versatile use: Guardian and Service (Working) Dog Short historic overview: Since the official establishment in Augsburg, within the German Canine Association known as the VDH (German “Kennel Club”), the …
As always, I will start by saying that the following is a way of picking puppies for a working program. This by no means is the way for making your selections. No matter what anyone tells you, puppies are a gamble. You can have the best Sire and Dam available to you and still they …
The most frequently asked question in my practice is, “Which commercial pet food do you recommend?” My standard answer is “None.” I am certain that pet-owners notice changes in their animals after using different batches of the same brand of pet food. Their pets may have diarrhoea, increased flatulence, a dull hair coat, intermittent vomiting …
Fleas are such a pain! In some parts of the country, they are a horrible menace, and in others hardly a flea is around. Here in Kansas, we aren’t overrun but we do get our fair share. Ticks are quite numerous here too, but again not as bad as certain areas of the country. Since …
Hotspots are common in every breed – and in mixed breeds – of dogs. They are symptoms of something else going wrong internally, and need to be looked at as such. There are many different causes of hotspots, such as food allergy, cancer, boredom. Your vet should help you pinpoint the problem. A change in …
Most animals get worms at some point in their lives. The key to successfully getting rid of worms and preventing their return is a healthy immune system. The common types of intestinal worms are tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms. To see if your animal has an of these worms, as well as other intestinal freeloaders …
June 1997 SV revision 1. General The Verein für Deutsche Shäferhunde (SV) e.V. [Club for GSDs Inc.] is the parent club for the breed, and has responsibility for it and its Standard, which is acknowledged by the German (VDH) and international (FCI) Kennel Clubs. The Körordnung (breed survey regulations) of the SV serve the advancement …
Canine hip dysplasia is a terrible, painful disease. I wish that no dog would have to go through it, but we can make them more comfortable by diet, supplement, and lifestyle changes, with or without surgery. Here are some tips on helping your dog live with dysplasia, some I have used on my GSD …
Introduction Most of you are undoubtedly aware that color and certain diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) are inherited — that is, passed down from one or both the parents. However, you may wonder how a trait that does not appear in the dam’s pedigree can suddenly turn up …
Perhaps no term is more misunderstood by dog fanciers when talking about inherited characteristics and environmental effects than the concept of heritability. It is necessary for you to take a little time and effort to get this idea fixed in your mind before applying it to practical breeding programs. I will try to give the …