Basic Tips on How to Raise an Alsatian

Most dog owners prefer to raise a dog from puppy hood. Although it would require more work and attention, people would usually like their pets to go through the usual stages of growth and development so that their genetic qualities will be influenced by the training and learning that they get from the trainers. Unlike getting an already adult dog which is like buying a "finished product" most dog owners would prefer getting a "potential" that they would train and raise by themselves. 

It is best to purchase a puppy from a pet shop or from a successful Alsatian dog owner in order to avail of a quality puppy that has minimal chance of having any hereditary ailments that occur in the breed. Likewise, since raising an Alsatian would require more time and attention, a prospective owner also needs to talk to the other family members and discuss whether having a dog in the home will be advantageous to them.

Once the puppy is brought home, it is important to ensure that it is kept clean, healthy and outgoing. The veterinarian or breeder would usually provide a diet sheet and recommend the right food that is suitable for the puppy's development. Since an Alsatian puppy would not need much exercise, it may just be permitted to play and rest as much as it likes to. Within the first four months, it would still be too young to go on work as it can cause much stress on developing bones and joints. Upon reaching its 16th week, an Alsatian puppy can start going on short walks for at least five minutes. The duration of the walks will become longer as the dog continues to grow. 

After one year, an Alsatian puppy can now walk and run as often as the dog and the owner would like. Walking and exercise should be done moderately and as carefully as possible in order not to adversely affect the dog's adult development.

When it reaches its eighth week of age, bringing the Alsatian puppy to an obedience training by a dog club or a dog training expert can be helpful to its development. Joint training with other dogs will also help the Alsatian to master its socialization skills. Formal training will also provide the opportunity for the puppy to be checked regularly for vaccinations and medications. Vaccinations are first given at six weeks and then when it reaches twelve weeks old. Afterward, vaccinations are done every twelve months. Vaccinations, regular healthcare and proper feeding is very important in taking care of an Alsatian puppy. With diligent care including balance nutrition, regular veterinary care, consistent exercise and careful grooming, an Alsatian can live up to 14 years.

Aside from taking care of the physical health of the puppy, it is also important for the Alsatian to learn socialization skills. Socialization starts in the owner's home, where the puppy needs to be loved and cared for well. This includes walking the dog out and letting it meet people and other dogs to make it adjust well to the social environment and different outside situations. 

Socialization, however, should be done gradually in order for it to learn how to react with calm and undergo everyday experience. It should also involve the whole family especially in instilling structured training and discipline.

»»  READMORE...

Alsatian Dogs

Size :

• Alsatian dogs also known as German Shepherds stand at the shoulder about 22-26 inches.

Build & Weight:  Approx: 34-43kg

• They can weigh as much as 43 kg. Their body looks quite long and elongated but very muscular and powerful and they have a particularly strong neck and throat. Their muzzle is quite long and the head is also elongated and quite slim.

Coat

• The Alsatian's coat is normally long but their are also short haired and wire haired varieties. The color of the coat varies significantly from dog to dog and can appear - brown-red, tan normally with a black saddle, entirely black - some are even grey or iron colored grey. Some have what is called a 'Wolf's coat' that has a variation of colors throughout.

Grooming

• It is a good idea to groom their coat on a regular basis - but you shouldn't have any problems with grooming.

Life Span:

• 12 - 13 years

Character, Temperament and Disposition.

• Alsatians are possibly one of the most popular dogs as they combine several quite desirable qualities throughout their character.
• They are quite energetic, vigilant and very courageous - they were trained by the Germans during the First World war as a messenger to locate the wounded on the battle field.
• This breed are keen to learn - but if you don't start obedience training early and are consistent with it they can develop a tough and aggressive demeanor - but that's up to you as the dog trainer.

Appropriate Surroundings.

Alsatians need:

• Plenty of training
• Lots of space
• Plenty of exercise, stimulation and activity
• As an owner of this breed a garden is an absolute must have.
• They need to have a task to perform to keep them stimulated.
• As a breed they are not problem barkers.
• They can develop very good relationships with people - but as with all dogs early socialization with children on a regular basis is very important.

»»  READMORE...

The German Shepherd or Alsatian Dog

The German Shepherd, also known as Alsatian, is a very intelligent dog with a very noble look, he has elegant flowing lines and intelligent expression. He is an active dog and an obedient worker. He has all the qualities to make him what is considered to be the ideal dog. He has a very good nature and is a natural sportsman, being nimble and fast he makes a fantastic pet or work dog. They enjoy being around people and other animals. German Shepherds are well suited to obedience training.

The Alsatian is most often black with tan but can also have variations of coat color including all black. There are three varieties of coat, rough coated (short), long rough coated and long haired.

As a working dog German Shepherds are suited to various jobs, some of the more obvious are police and guard dog, in this role they can be used to apprehend criminals, sniff out drugs and explosives and find lost people. They are also used by rescue associations to find people trapped in collapsed building or buried alive in disaster zones. German Shepherds can also be used as guide or help dogs due to their high level of intelligence they are ideally suited to the task.

In the case of the German Shepherd its history is not very old, in fact the dogs you see now have only been around since the end of the 19th century, which came about from a breeding amalgamation between various Shepherding dogs by Capt Max von Stephanitz who is classed the father of the breed.

There are lots of famous German Shepherds in the history vaults, this is due to the popularity of the breed and the versatile and intelligence of the animal. Some have even become movie stars such as The Littlest Hobo and Rin Tin Tin who made 26 movies and at his peak was receiving 10,000 fan letters a week. Others just have famous owners such as Clipper who was president Kennedy's dog. Over the years German Shepherds have rescued and saved hundreds of lives either by being trained to or just because they love their owners.

The German Shepherd will live for approximately 10 to 12 years and will need lots of exercise, including a large play area or garden. You will have to give extensive training in the early years, but with its high ability to learn good training is essential. They will also shed hair all the time and seasonally it will shed heavily. Brushing twice weekly is recommended but if hair is a problem in the home daily brushing is recommended. Bathing should happen rarely and at the most only twice a year to avoid removal of essential skin oils. Watch out for hip problems as this is an area where German Shepherds are prone to having problems.

Above all if you decide to have a German Shepherd as a pet or working dog you will have a animal which is intelligent, loving, loyal and will give you lots of enjoyment.

»»  READMORE...

The Alsatian Wolf Dog - Revealing a Modern Wonder Dog

The Alsatian Dog or Alsatian Wolf Dog, more popularly known as the German shepherd dog, is particularly liked for its willingness to work, keen observation and learning skills, loyalty and ability to protect its master. The name "Alsatian" originated from the British and American veterans of the First World War who brought home some of the German farm dogs and renamed the breed since they were afraid of the anti-German sentiments that continued to prevail even after the war. A well-trained Alsatian dog will bravely perform its duty even in dangerous situations and is so intelligent that it has the initiative to carry out its work even without someone looking at him.

But the development of its potential qualities would require that the Alsatian dog undergo a rigorous obedience training especially considering its high intelligence and strong tendency for independence. Alsatians have a dominant personal and would likely want to be the leader of the group. When training an Alsatian, a trainer needs to be firm and patient. Good dog training should progress from basic obedience skills to increasingly challenging tasks. Regular exercise and a balanced diet are likewise important for the Alsatian at this stage.

A well-trained Alsatian can easily follow signals like sit, down and come and can behave in a calm and steady manner in any circumstances. Since it is suspicious of strangers and is extremely loyal to its owner, it can best serve as a good guard dog and protect both the owner and the surrounding premises.

However, an owner of an Alsatian dog needs to pay particular attention to its health and grooming. Since this particular breed has two coats of hairs, it is important to brush out the coat daily in order to take off dead hair and massage its skin. An Alsatian does not usually need a full bath too often and mud and dirt on the coat can be removed by spraying water on the outer coat. The dog's toenails should be trimmed once every three months. It should also be check regularly for parasites like fleas. A dust powder or other anti-flea aids may be used to eliminate the fleas.

In feeding an Alsatian dog, dry food should be preferred in order to prevent tooth decay. Select a good dog food that contains the necessary nutrients and vitamins that could keep the dog healthy. A supply of clean water should always be available for the dog. It is best to house the dog in a cool and shady area. Bring the dog out for daily walks especially in the cool evenings. Since an Alsatian is very protective of its owner, it is important to put a leash on it in order to keep it from instinctively attack others that it perceives to pose a threat.

Although it is properly called Alsatian wolf dog, the veracity of whether or not there is wolf blood in the Alsatian breed continues to be uncertain. Although modern research shows the Alsatian is related to a more primitive wild dog, the exact ancestry of the Alsatian continues to be uncertain despite claims that it is a progeny of a wolf-shepherd mix developed by breeding wolves into the original Alsatian breed. Although the Alsatian is supposedly identical to the more popular German shepherd, the term Alsatian has later on been used to refer exclusively to the pure white variety of the German shepherd breed.

»»  READMORE...