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Posts Tagged ‘Guard Dog’
Saturday, February 12th, 2011
 Raised bowls were once thought of as an excellent way to feed your guard dog; however, people began to think the complete opposite. This sparked a controversy between top breeders and the people responsible for the study. So the question that many people wonder, “Is it safe to use raised bowls for large breeds?”. A study was created by the people of Purdue University with a goal to find out why Great Danes and other large breeds like the German Shepherd are susceptible to the “Bloat” or also referred to as “Gastric Torsion”. This disease is when your guard dog’s stomach fills with gas, and causes the dog’s stomach to twist itself from the build up of too much gas.
As a responsible protection dog owner you must familiarize yourself with the many signs of bloating, because it is crucial to act immediately. Some symptoms to become aware of are your dog attempting to vomit, restlessness, hunched up appearance, bloated abdomen that feels tight to the touch, coughing, gagging, heavy drooling, and many more. If you notice any of these signs from your guard dog, take them to the veterinarian immediately. It is vital that they are treated right away, because bloat is the second killer of dogs after cancer.
Before the study, Purdue along with other individuals felt that large dogs must be fed from raised dog bowls. However, now they still manage to scare dog owners by stressing the idea to not feed your guard dog from a raised dog bowl. Knowledgeable breeders of large dogs completely ignore this idea and believe it is complete nonsense that dogs should not be fed from dog bowls. Educated breeders no longer donate money towards this project, instead they believe in focusing their attention to the stomach itself. They are trying to create better quality dog food and raising their dogs nutrition with the use of probiotics. There are many reasons that are believe to be the cause of bloat in dogs. The professionals who have bred and raised dogs for countless years, believe that feeding from a raised dog bowl isn’t the only cause. Choosing to feed your personal protection dog from a raised dog bowl is ultimately your decision as a dog owner; however, take caution if any troubling symptoms arise.
Tags: Canine Health, CCK9, German Shepherd, Guard Dog, Personal Protection Dogs, Protection Dog, Protection Dogs
Posted in Canine Health, CCK9, German Shepherd, Guard Dogs, Protection Dogs | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011
 The nervous system for is just as complex for dogs as it is for humans. The nervous system is a large amount of nerve fibers which send electrical impulses that are described as messages to cells and organs. In mammals, this system is divided into different groups. There is the central nervous system (CNS) which is made up of the brain, brain stem, and spinal cord. Then there is the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that includes nerves which run from the brain through the head, neck and spinal cord. These nerves are also referred to as motor nerves, because they affect the muscles. Meaning that they control movement, posture, and reflexes. For example, this group of nerves is involved when your dogs shakes their tail. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is another set of nerves that control involuntary movements of organs like the heart, blood vessels, bladder and intestines. Your protection dog has no control over voluntary control of the autonomic nervous system, it functions automatically.
All protection dog puppies are born without a fully developed nervous system. This is because the brain, spinal cord, and nerves lack the ability to properly transmit electrical impulses. During the first few weeks of life, the system will start to mature. A owner may notice that during the first week of life, the puppies do little besides eating and sleeping. However the puppies do tend to move, even while fast asleep. By the second week, the guard dog puppies continue to spend a large amount of time asleep, but fewer body movements are involved. Most puppies will be able to maintain an upright posture and spend more time awake and alert, by the third week. They will attempt or push or slide, but will not be able to walk yet. This is simply because their muscles have not developed enough strength yet. As the next few weeks progress, the puppies’ nerves will grow immensely and it they will be able to walk and eventually even run.
Puppies are also born blind, with closed eyelids which is controlled by their nervous system. After fourteen days, the eyelids will begin to open slightly, exposing the eyeball. Once they are three to four weeks old, they will have vision. However, it will not become fully developed until ten weeks of age. Also, puppies are born deaf as well. Their ear canals will remained closed until they are two weeks old. Sounds, especially sharp noises will easily scare puppies this young, because they can not hear the sounds well enough. Four weeks old is the time when protection dog puppies will be able to hear quite normally. The nervous system development for you personal protection dog is something that takes time, and hopefully will happen without any flaws.
Tags: Canine Health, CCK9, Guard Dog, Personal Protection Dogs, Puppies
Posted in Canine Health, CCK9, German Shepherd Puppies, Guard Dogs, Protection Dogs, Puppies | No Comments »
Monday, January 31st, 2011
 Health problems like arthritis often referred to as degenerative joint disease affects not only humans, but also dogs as well. Arthritis is the breakdown of cartilage, which causes the bones to rub against each other. This will cause stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joints. As a protection dog owner hopefully you do everything in your power to keep them healthy. Including things like giving them medicine to prevent things such as heart worms, making sure they have good nutrition, and have a loving home. You will also naturally notice changes in their mood and behavior. Your guard dog will become like another one of your children, and if they begin to act differently in the slightest way, you will be able to tell. If you notice your protection dog not feeling too well, there is a possibility it could be arthritis. Arthritis affects one out of every five dogs in the U.S, and is a source of unbelievable chronic pain.
Being that your personal protection dog will not be able to verbally tell you what is wrong with them, it is your responsibility to look for signs of arthritis. Some signs that your dog will show you is favoring a limb and difficulty sitting or standing, these symptoms obviously result from the chronic pain they are in. Also, their joint deterioration will cause them to have stiff or sore joints, and also a hesitancy to jump, run or climb stairs. If your guard dog, for example your Belgian Malinois has arthritis they will have a large decrease in activity and will begin to sleep more and be a lot less alert. If your dog experiences these symptoms for more than two weeks, take them to the vet to be evaluated for arthritis. Therapies for arthritis may include a healthy diet and regular exercise to maintain a proper weight. Drug treatments will also help relieve some of the constant pain your dog is experiencing. The most common treatment for arthritis is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Also over-the-counter treatments, such as pills or foods which contain glucosamine and fatty acids have been known to relieve symptoms of dog arthritis. Regardless of how it’s done, making sure that your protection dog is happy and free of pain is the most important thing.
Tags: Belgian Malinois, Canine Health, CCK9, Dutch Shepherd, German Shepherd, Guard Dog, Protection Dog
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Friday, January 28th, 2011
 Cancer, which is uncontrolled growth of cells on or within the body not only is harmful to humans, but it can also develop in dogs as well. As a guard dog owner, the last thing you want to hear is that your dog has cancer. Cancer can often be fatal, if not treated properly and in time. Commonly found in pet animals, the risk for developing cancer will increase with age. Almost half of the deaths of pets over ten years is a result of cancer. Unfortunately, the cause of most cancers is still unknown, making prevention near impossible. Cancer can occur in any location or body system of your guard dog, for example, the skin, stomach, kidney, bladder, brain and bones.
Advance in cancer research have helped to give us the knowledge of knowing different signs to detect cancer before its too late for treatment. Each type of cancer has its own symptoms and own signs to look for. Skin tumors in dogs are quite common, the most diagnosed are melanomas, lipomas, basal cell tumors and mast cell tumors. If you ever see a lump or mass of any sort on your German Shepherd protection dog, take them to the vet to be examined. Lymphoma is another common cancer in dogs, that affects the digestive system, which will lead to lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. This cancer can also affect the liver, resulting in lethargy, vomiting and a yellow shade to the gums and skin. If you notice your protection dog is constantly coughing and having a difficulty breathing, take them to the vet to have a check up. A sign to look for if you are for example the owner of an older female Belgian Malinois is a lump in the breast tissue. It is difficult to make an early diagnosis for abdominal tumors, which include hemangiosarcoma, mast cell tumors, lymphoma, and prostate cancer. Signs too look for in your guard dog are weight loss, weakness, pale gums, protracted vomiting, continual diarrhea, and abdominal enlargement. If you notice anything that could possibly be these symptoms of cancer, consult with your vet right away, it is better to be save than sorry. This is because if found early, most of these cancers can be cured with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination. As a responsible personal protection dog owner, pay attention to your dog’s health and behaviors, it is crucial to keeping them healthy.
Tags: Belgian Malinois, Canine Health, CCK9, German Shepherd, Guard Dog, Personal Protection Dog, Protection Dog
Posted in Belgian Malinois, Canine Health, CCK9, German Shepherd, Guard Dogs, Protection Dogs | No Comments »
Friday, January 21st, 2011
 For some reason your protection dog may need to take medications, weekly, monthly, or even daily if certain health problems develop. Giving dogs medicine can be a process that creates a lot of anxiety for both you and your protection dog, so it is important for you to know how to properly go about it. If you develop a routine for giving them their medication it will greatly decrease the anxiety. Here are some tips that will make medicine time much less stressful for the both of you.
First, your veterinarian will let you know whether or not your guard dog’s medication can be given with food, or taken on an empty stomach. If the tablet or capsule medicine can be taken with food then you can make what is called a “meatball”. A meatball is when you place the pill inside the center of a small ball of food, such as canned food or cheese. This will obviously disguise the pill and make your protection dog excited to eat it. It is a good idea though to test this meatball trick first to see if your dog chews or gulps it whole. Most dogs gulp the whole thing, but if they do chew it there is a chance of them finding the pill and spitting it out. If they spit it out the tablet or capsule may have become partially dissolved and hard to handle, which could waste that dose of medicine. Also, if the guard dog bites into the pill, it will likely leave a bad taste in their mouth making it harder to give them medicine a second time.
If your dog’s medicine can not be given with the meatball, there are other ways to make the process much easier. The medicine given to you by the vet will most likely be in pill, capsule or liquid form. Being that you can not conceal the medicine your dog will become much more anxious and harder to handle. Start by holding your protection dog’s head from the top using your less dominant hand. Then tilt their head backwards, and gently fold their upper lip over their teeth as you open their mouth. This will protect your hand from getting bit if they do decide to bite down, because they will end up biting their lip instead. Next place your thumb on the roof of their mouth, and take the pill in your other hand. Drop the pill or capsule as far back over the tongue as you possibly can. Immediately close their mouth and blow on their nose, this will encourage them to swallow. If you have to give your guard dog liquid medication, take the dropper and squirt it into the pouch between their teeth and cheek. Then try and hold their mouth closed and stroke their neck or blow on their nose to encourage them to swallow. Liquid medicine could possibly enter the dog’s windpipe, to prevent this from happening do not tilt their head backwards. Although giving your protection dog medicine may be stressful, it is an extremely important factor to keep them healthy.
Remember if you need to give your German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, or Dutch Shepherd protection dog medicine it is not a big deal and by following these simple tips you will be helping your dog in no time.
Tags: Canine Health, CCK9, German Shepherd, Guard Dog, Protection Dog
Posted in Canine Health, CCK9, German Shepherd, Guard Dogs | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
 As a protection dog owner, it is important to know how to properly groom your animal. If you are the loving owner of a German Shepherd, it is a good idea to understand their grooming needs. German Shepherds are one of the few breeds that will “blow their coat”, this process is often referred to as a blowing coat. The dogs who undergo this process, typically do not shed throughout the year. Instead, their undercoats will shed drastically about twice a year and is often thought as a fur explosion. The period of their blowing coat will last about two weeks. The vast amount of dog hair that is shed within these few weeks can sometimes be alarming. It could easily fill several garbage bags depending on you dog, and note that this process is typically much more severe in females. This intense shedding period will require you to brush your guard dog quite often. If you do not follow through with this, you will find large clumps of hair everywhere. At this time grooming can be very challenging so it is important to understand how to handle it in the best manner.
It is important to know when your German Shepherd’s coat will begin to “blow”, a good sign is when small clumps of hair begin to fall out all at once. To begin the grooming process, start by buying a brush called an undercoat rake. The tines in this brush will make it much easier to remove large clumps of hair. Make sure that the rake you buy had teeth long enough to reach down to the skin, a longer rake is required for dogs with longer hair. However be careful not to use one that is too long for dogs with short hair because you could risk hurting them. Bathe your German Shepherd dog every few days, a special blower can be used to help remove some of the fur as well. It is a good idea to keep your dog off of the couch, because the large amounts of fur they are losing will likely end up stuck to it. Also vacuuming every day to every other day will keep the large clumps of hair from ending up all over your house. A good piece of advice is to brush your German Shepherd outside, this will help to keep your house cleaner and make brushing a lot easier. Overall, during your protection dog’s time of blowing their coat, brushing them as much as you can is the key to minimizing the extreme amounts of fur they will lose.
Tags: Canine Health, CCK9, German Shepherd, Guard Dog, Protection Dog
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Monday, January 17th, 2011
 Your personal protection dog is like any other animal, and can act curious about practically everything. Dogs often express their curiosity by picking up different things with their mouths. Being that they are low to the ground, this allows them to have numerous opportunities to gobble up objects, that could become choking hazards. It is important for a guard dog owner to know if your dog is actually choking and what to do if this emergency arises. If your protection dog suddenly begins to run around in circles, pawing at their mouth, and is acting wildly and disoriented, they most likely have something lodged in their throat. These behaviors are what your dog does when trying to dislodge the item themselves. However, your protection dog may not be able to remove the object on their own, so it is your responsibility to step in and help them. Below are steps on how to save your choking protection dog.
First, if you think that your dog may be choking or have any doubts that they are able to breathe, call the emergency number for your vet immediately. Note that if your dog cannot breathe, they will not be able to cough or make noise. Once you get ahold of your vet you may be talked through first aid procedures, and asked to bring your pet in immediately. If for some reason you cannot contact your vet or until you get them to help, attempt to save your guard dog by using the following steps.
- Restrain your dog if necessary.
- Approach them slowly, speaking in a reassuring tone.
- Clear their airway by opening the dog’s mouth carefully. Do this by grasping the upper jaw with one hand over the muzzle. Press your thumb on one side of the mouth, and your fingers on the other. Apply firm pressure to force their mouth open. If you can see the object, try removing it with your fingers.
- If you cannot remove the object, large dogs like German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Dutch Shepherds must be placed on their side on the floor. Place your hand just below the rib cage and press down slightly forward and firmly, then release. Repeat this several times until the object is dislodged.
Tags: Canine Health, CCK9, Guard Dog, Protection Dog, Protection Dogs
Posted in Canine Health, CCK9, German Shepherd, Protection Dogs | No Comments »
Monday, January 10th, 2011
 One of the factors that is so important when deciding to train a protection dog is the type of breed. The Chow Chow is a breed that was originated in Mongolia around 4,000 years ago. A guard dog needs to be somewhat large and well built, these characteristics help for the dog to be strong and powerful when needed. The Chow Chow does not exactly possess these traits, they are a medium sized breed that is not very strong. The males have a weight that is usually between 50 and 70 pounds. Chow Chows can become extremely lazy if they are not exercised regularly, so it is very important that they are taken for daily walks. This breed would thrive best if they had a lot of land to run on, it would give them their needed enrichment.
Another important factor when considering a breed for the possibility of becoming a personal protection dog, is their health. Unfortunately, Chow Chows are prone to having many different health problems. These problems include things like hip dysplasia, hot spots, stomach cancer and ear infections. All of these will be enhanced if the dog comes from a backyard breeder or untrustworthy pet store. That is why when buying a Chow Chow you should ask for the health history of both parents. Although it is impossible to predict the lifespan of a dog, this breed usually lives from 10 to 15 years old.
Lastly, another important factor is the dogs temperament and nerve strength. Chow Chows are typically well mannered and are a great family dog. They need to be socialized and trained starting from when they are puppies. It is important for the dog owner to start a set of strict rules for this breed starting from the very beginning. Chow Chows are usually a dominant breed and it is crucial for you a owner to stay in the alpha position and not let your dog dominate you. But this breed in no way possesses the overall nerve strength needed to become a good guard dog. In today’s world the the only dogs that have strong enough nerves to do functional protection work is the German Shepherd, Dutch Shepherd, Belgian Malinois.
Tags: Belgian Malinois, CCK9, Dog Breeds, Dutch Shepherd, German Shepherd, Guard Dog, Guard Dogs, Personal Protection Dog, Personal Protection Dogs, Protection Dog, Protection Dogs
Posted in CCK9, Dog Breeds, Guard Dogs, Protection Dogs | No Comments »
Friday, January 7th, 2011
 If you make the decision to become a protection dog owner, then you must understand that it is not just about loving your dog. Being a responsible dog owner is a serious commitment that you must make for not only yourself, but also as a promise to your guard dog. Along with meeting you dogs basic needs, there are also a few things that are important to know when becoming a dog owner. First, you must understand that when you get a dog you are committing to being the caretaker for the rest of their life, you’re in it for the long haul. This dog has become a part of your family and if you ever go through something like a environmental change, you much take them into account when making your decision.
It is your job as a responsible dog owner to keep them safe. Have an I.D made for your dog, with their name, address and phone number. Keep it on their collar at all times, to increase the chances of them being returned to you if they get lost or run away. If your dog spends some time outside during the summer or winter, make sure that they have a sheltered area. Also a important thing to know is to keep them away from overheated places. Dogs can succumb to heat stress within minutes, so never leave them in the car when the temperature is high. And if they are outside, make sure they have a shady place to lay down and plenty of water. If you ever go away on a vacation, make arrangements for them at a pet-sitter or boarding kennel. Responsible dog owners will be make preparations for their dog, in case of a disaster. Also it is a good idea to trust a family member or friend to care for your dog in case of a illness, or sudden emergency. This person should be someone that has spent plenty of time with your personal protection dog and is someone they are comfortable around.
If your dog is trained and well behaved, it will not only effect you in a positive way but also others. It is a good idea to keep you dog on a leash or in a fenced in yard when they are outdoors, do not let them wander the neighborhood. Also do not leave you dog barking outside, dogs that continuously bark can often be rude and annoying to your neighbors. If you ever take your dog for a walk, it is responsible to pick up their waste and dispose of it properly. As a dog owner it is your responsibility to socialize your guard dog with other people, and pets. Any type of accident, injury or anything of that matter involving your dog, you are the one who takes full responsibility for their behavior. Having a protection dog is a commitment and it takes a responsible person to care for them.
Tags: CCK9, Guard Dog, Guard Dogs, Personal Protection Dog, Personal Protection Dogs, Protection Dog, Protection Dogs
Posted in CCK9, Guard Dogs, Protection Dogs | No Comments »
Monday, January 3rd, 2011
 The practice of mating selected specimens of guard dogs with the intent to maintain or produce specific qualities and characteristics is known as dog breeding. The person who intentionally mates a dam & a sire to produce puppies is known as the breeder. A good breeder has to have good knowledge when breeding for top level guard dogs. One of the key factors is to make sure that both the dam & sire are proven, and that they have done the work, the work meaning both dogs have been trained in true protection work, and not for sport. One of the other important things to take into consideration is that both parents come from parents that have worked as true protection dogs.
It is very important to make sure that both dam & sire are in good health, and that they have clean x-rays. Another important thing to verify when breeding good protection dogs is that both parents have good bone density, a good head, and good pigmentation. In the case of breeding a good guard dog one has to take into consideration size, when it comes to guard animals, size does matter. A good guard dog has to not only be good at protecting but also look the part. The real key ingredients to producing a great protection dog all leads back to whether or not the dog has strong nerves.
So please remember, before you consider breeding your German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois or Dutch Shepherd be sure that all you ducks are in order to breed good strong protection dogs.
Tags: Belgian Malinois, Breeding, CCK9, German Shepherd, Guard Dog, Guard Dogs, Protection Dog, Protection Dogs
Posted in Belgian Malinois, Breeding, CCK9, German Shepherd, Protection Dogs | No Comments »
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