Gandhi is a KNPV PH 1 & PH 2 German Shepherd import from Holland. Gandhi earned his coveted KNPV PH 2 degree in July of this year with a near perfect score of 418 points.

Gandhi is also the father of our newest German Shepherd puppy Sting, who is turning out to a amazing Dog. Aesthetically Gandhi is stunningly beautiful to look at, he is a big robust dog with a head like a lion, with a straight back that walks straight on his toes, and NOT on his hocks like you see in so many German Shepherd in today’s world. In his protection he is absolutely devastating, he comes in fast and hard with a bone crushing bite. Gandhi is a very head strong dog, with nerves of steel, but at the same time he can be very sociable, affectionate, and loves to hang out with children. He is very calm in every day life and great in the house.

Gandhi will now go through our Elite Family Estate Protection Dog Program. This is a one in a million opportunity, he definitely was phenomenal find.

There are three types of dog food that are produced, dry kibble, semi-moist (sealed packages) and moist (canned). Kibble is the type that is recommended by most trainers, veterinarians and breeders. Semi-moist or canned foods are rarely recommended because they are not the healthiest choice for your guard dog. Canned food are high in fat and usually contain 80 to 83 percent water. Semi-moist food are high in salt and sugar and are about 55 percent water. Since these are both high in water, it makes them both very expensive. It would be pointless to spend money on a product that is mostly water and being left with ingredients that are not healthy for your dog. Dry food are 9 to 11 percent water, less expensive, easier to use and overall better for your German Shepherd puppy.

Another tip is that every time you feed your puppy, they should always have a bowel movement and urinate. If they do not do both of these things, you may want to help them by rubbing his anal area. Important clues that will tell you how well you are feeding your puppy are the makeup and amount of feces and urine. First, when the puppy’s feces is expelled its consistency should be soft and pasty. Its color will depend on what you are feeding them, however it should never vary from a pale tan to a mahogany brown. If the feces comes out green, bluish-white or clear is a signal to you that your puppy may be sick. Whenever the coloring is off, stop feeding your puppy and skip its next feeding. Begin the next feeding with a form that is one-half diluted with water. If this fails reduce the quantity by 25 percent, if it continues still consult your vet. Your puppy’s urine indicated its water balance. It should be the same amount each time, and a pale yellow to almost clear color, never deep yellow or orange. If it is dark in color or syrupy, this indicates that your puppy is not getting enough water. If its urine production stops for longer than four feedings, take the puppy to the vet as soon as possible. Your German Shepherd dog puppy will always let you know if it is getting too much or too little food, and it is up to you to be alert for the clues it gives you.

Here are some examples of different types of dog body language that your protection dog might do and tips on how to identify them. One type is relaxed and approachable, this is when your protection dog is relaxed, unconcerned and not threatened by anything. When your dog is in this state, their head is held high, ears up, and tail down and relaxed. Alert and checking out their environment is another possible type of body language. If your dog had detected something interesting or unknown, they are are usually paying close attention and determining if there is any threat, or if any action should be taken. The body language they will display is ears forward, eyes wide, mouth closed, slight forward lean on toes and their tail moving slightly side to side. Dominant aggressive is when the dog is expressing their social dominance and also threatening that if they are challenged, they will act. The body language to look for is a wrinkled nose and forehead, ears forward lips curled, teeth visible, stiff leg stance, body leaning slightly forward and a stiff tail. Fearful and aggressive, this is when your dog is facing a situation or individual that is threatening, and if they are pressed they may attack. Look for a lowered body, ears back, pupils dilated, wrinkled nose, corner of mouth pulled back and tail tucked. There are many more types of body language that your dog will convey to you. Understanding your protection dogs body language will help protect you and your dog from dangerous situations. Also it will ultimately help you to communicate with them in a way that others cannot.

The Bull Terrier is a dog breed that would be a phenomenal choice for a guard dog. The Bull Terrier was bred in England as a fighting dog, however it is not the type of breed to provoke a fight. This dog is a strong built, muscular breed that can be extremely fearless. This breed is playful, sweet and overall good with people, which is very important to consider if you have a family. Bulldog Terriers often become protective of the children they’re around. This breed can be an effective guard dog but also requires a great deal of training and companionship. It has a tendency to be stubborn and independent, so a professional is needed when it comes to training the Bull Terrier. They do not require much grooming, but they do need plenty of exercise. A fair sized yard is great to have as the owner of a Bull Terrier. Also long daily walks are needed to help work off their endless energy, since they could become destructive if not given enough attention or exercise. The Bull Terrier will be a great addition to your home not only as a guard dog, but also as a new addition to the family.

Although we think the Bull Terrier is a great breed, there are huge differences in the strength, companionship and abilities of a Bull Terrier compared to say a German Shepherd protection dog.

First we will give you a little bit of history on dog training and KNPV. Back in the early 1900′s when people talked about a trained police dog, they mostly thought of the qualities of the dog’s smelling sense, a quality that was highly overestimated, leaving the dog’s ability to hear and bite was pretty much overlooked. As time went on it taught people that the protection abilities of a dog were also very important for actual police work too. Disappointed in not being able to create the perfect miracle dog that could find, track, and protect brought the realization that every dog breed is distinctive, and therefore, every breed is somewhat limited in what it can do. With this in mind trainers had to go about training a particular dog that fitted the breed best, however, the goal was always to pass the KNPV trial in discipline, tracking and protection.

Bouviers were one the first of the various breeds that were put to the many KNPV trial tests. Other breeds such as German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds, Dobermans, and Belgian Sheepdogs were also among the breeds tried in the KNPV tests. As most other breeds used declined over the years one breed stood out and received more and more titles each and every year, and that breed was the Belgian Malinois.

Belgian Malinois are the best fit when it comes to KNPV because they are naturally good strong willed, and genetically bread with sound nerves and are a much harder dog than most breeds. Amongst other breeds they are very intelligent and possesses a strong desire to work. Belgian Malinois are naturally protective of their owners but are known to be not overly aggressive. Each year there are 800-1000 dogs titled KNPV each year with 90% of them being Belgian Malinois with the exception of 1% being German Shepherds. There are only a few KNPV German Shepherd breeders in the world and CCK9 is proud to be one of only a couple in North America.

Remember that KNPV is a sporting title and a certification program for civilians to train dogs and not necessarily a title that is given to represent a personal protection dog. Personal protection dogs are specifically trained to protect and having a KNPV title is just a bonus to any qualified trained protection dog.

Many people, possibly even yourself, may be shocked or confused by the level of grief that one can experience over the loss of a canine. Many people have the unfortunate mindset that if the loss was not that of a human, there is no reason to grieve. However, the emotional attachments one can feel towards their canine companions can be very strong. Often, the very things that make your dog different from a human are what make them so endearing. Dog owners are blessed with the unwavering loyalty and dedication of their canines. Owners of protection dogs, guard dogs or security dogs may also dread the thought of losing the sense of security that their canine offers themselves and their family. The most important thing to remember is that grieving over the loss of a canine is both normal and appropriate.

Considering the emotional attachments you feel towards your canine may not be much different than what you feel towards human members of your family, healthy grief over the loss of a canine may not be much different than grieving over a human. However, there are still a number of factors unique to the loss of a canine that must be considered. First and foremost is the idea of having a pet “put down”. No one would ever want to make the decision to have the plug pulled on a human being, but many dog owners are forced to make this decision with their canine. To make the decision to end a life to relieve suffering is no easy task, but once the decision is made, no amount of guilt or regret can undo what has been done. Another difficulty is choosing whether or not to hold a memorial or funeral for your canine. This is made especially difficult by those who may undervalue your loss due to the perception that canine life is not as important or as worthwhile as human life. The most important thing is to do what you feel is right. If a funeral will help you mourn the loss of your canine, then one should be held. Likewise, a funeral or memorial may be a good opportunity for your children to say goodbye, and may help them with their own mourning. Finally, one must decide when and if they will get a new dog. After the loss of a canine, it is usually best to allow yourself time to grieve before getting a new dog. Canines are unique in their personalities and abilities, and cannot simply be replaced. However, if your canine happened to be a working dog, such as a guide dog or protection dog, it may be in your best interests to purchase a new one sooner rather than later. While it may be difficult to accept a new canine so soon after your loss, the benefits of canine protection may not be something you want you and your family to be without.

German Shepherds were ranked high for their intelligence, courage and dependability. They noted that German Shepherd dogs are easily trained and will obey commands the first time they are given. German Shepherds were originally bred to be intelligent, athletic herding animals, so they made the transition to guard dogs, police dogs and protection dogs quite easily. In fact, German Shepherd protection dogs are now used in countries and cultures around the globe.

Dr. Ronald Schultz, a pathobiological scientist at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine has been studying canine vaccines for nearly forty years. In his research, he has found that immunities can last an entire lifetime in canines. This means that quite possibly, people only need to vaccinate their dogs one time, instead of the yearly vaccinations that many family pets and protection dogs now receive.

The annual vaccinations are usually comprised of a single shot that includes vaccines for over 16 different canine diseases such as Lyme disease, parvovirus, distemper and more. The rabies shot is often given every three to five years, but Dr. Schultz’s findings also show that this may be over-vaccinating dogs as well. He has studied the antibody levels in dogs as they progress through their lifetimes, and his data has shown that the dogs retain their immunities to these diseases for many years, sometimes even until natural death.

Over-vaccinating dogs can lead to side effects like skin problems, allergic reactions and even autoimmune disease. Dr. Schultz’s research is becoming widely acknowledged by vets across the country, who are rethinking the annual schedule of vaccinations. His results could lead to cheaper vet visits and healthier pets and protection dogs.