BULL DOG

English Bulldog Puppy Care & Training
The wonderful affectionate and docile nature of an English Bulldog puppy belies their tough appearance.
English bulldogs are much loved and admired right around the world for their striking appearance, clownish behavior and for the unparalleled companionship they provide. When properly bred, socialized and trained the English bulldog of today has a sweet, tolerant and patient nature - they are a lovely family dog.
English bulldog puppies love to be indoors with their human family - all of the time. If you're looking for a jogging or swimming partner then a "bully" wouldn't be a good choice. On the other hand, if you are looking for a loyal companion to curl up with you on the couch watching TV, then this may be the right breed for you (as long as you don't mind snoring!).
English Bulldog Puppy Appearance & Size
Depending on who you ask an English Bulldog puppy is ugly, or is one of the most beautiful of all creatures! Their appearance really does divide opinion - some people just can't see their beauty.
Personally I like the look of them. The first thing you notice is their massive broad head and those big round eyes. They have a short muzzle and saggy skin droops from the face - this emphasizes their trademark frowning expression.
You can't help but be impressed by the compact and powerful body of an English Bulldog puppy. They have wide muscular shoulders and strong thick limbs. They waddle along with that distinctive shuffling gait.
The coat of an English Bulldog puppy is short, smooth and lays close to the body (they do shed!). The coat comes in a variety of colors including fawn, brindle, red, white, yellow, piebold and any combination of these.
A fully grown English Bulldog stands at an imposing 12-15 inches tall at the shoulder. They weigh in at up to 55 pounds!

History And Origin Of The English Bulldog
The English Bulldog really came to prominence as a bullbaiting and bearbaiting dog. These brutal "dog sports" were very popular in Britain in the 17th century. It is thought that English Bulldog puppies descended from the ancient mastiff breeds of Asia. The breed as we know it now is nothing like this old fighting breed in regard to temperament.
English Bulldog Temperament & Characteristics
The aggressive and vicious traits of the early English Bulldog have been bred out long ago.
These days "bullys" are highly regarded for being friendly, patient, playful, dependable and cuddly! They are a great all round family dog and are considered one of the best dog breeds for children. Children do need to learn how to respect and treat an English Bulldog puppy and should never be left unsupervised with any dog - regardless of breed type.
If possible, always purchase your puppy from a well respected and reputable English Bulldog puppy breeder. This will give you the best chance of bringing a physically and mentally stable dog into your family. If you find a good English Bulldog breeder, chances are you will also find a great little puppy for life.
A few general thoughts about the English Bulldog:
• English Bulldogs are a breed that craves human attention and companionship. If your dog is to be left outside for long periods or if you are away from home most of the day then a Bully may not be a good choice for you.
• Early socialization is crucial for English Bulldog puppies. Your puppy's breeder will begin this socialization process for you and then it's up to you to keep it going when your puppy arrives home. English Bulldog puppies who miss out on being habituated and socialized can become aggressive towards other dogs (among other things). A puppy Kindergarten class is a good environment to help develop these socialization skills.
• English Bulldog puppies are known to be stubborn at times and can go through periods of trying to exert dominance over their human housemates. Obedience training is the key to dealing with these issues - make it clear to your Bully that you are the boss!
• An English Bulldog puppy is usually a very energetic and often mischievous little beast. Bulldog puppies love to chew and many experience a very long puppyhood!
• Dog food aggression or object guarding is an issue which many Bully owners are confronted with. You can learn more about its cause and also how to prevent it here - English Bulldog food aggression.
• In general you will find your English Bulldog to be laid back and chilled out but they can be protective of their human family if the need arises - they actually make handy little watch dogs.
• Some English Bulldog breeders will tell you that the males of the breed are more affectionate than females.

Health Concerns Of The English Bulldog
Once again I want to stress that buying your puppy from a reputable English Bulldog puppy breeder is an important step to take to ensure you get a healthy pup. A good breeder will carefully plan each mating, breed from good quality stock and screen for hereditary disease.
English Bulldogs typically live up to 10 years of age - they do suffer from a wide range of health problems. Your Veterinarian and breeder are the best people to give you specific health care advice but here is a list of common health issues:
• English Bulldogs are very sensitive to extreme temperatures - both hot and cold. A nice mild climate is best for a happy and comfortable Bully.
• Keep a close on the weight of your English Bulldog. Overweight dogs are susceptible to a long list of health problems that fit and healthy dogs are not. Make sure you feed a good quality fresh diet and provide adequate exercise (English Bulldogs do not require too much exercise).
• It's also important to clean out the loose face folds on your dog's face. Use a soap and water solution every day or so to avoid the build up of moisture which can lead to infection.
• Depending on what you feed your English Bulldog puppy you may need to brush your puppy's teeth every couple of weeks.
• Their flat face and also soft palate causes many English Bulldogs to have breathing difficulties.
• Other health problems can include - hip dysplasia, allergies, cherry eye, cataracts, senotic nares, inverted tail, shoulder luxation and there's others....
One other thing! English Bulldogs are not good swimmers - be especially careful with your Bully around water.

English Bulldog Puppy Training
Lets be honest here, English Bulldogs are not one of the best obedience training students - but don't be fooled, they are capable.
It's important that you establish yourself as your English Bulldog puppy's leader. Give him/her clear guidance, in a positive non violent manner. Be consistent in your training, use plenty of encouragement and always enthusiastically reward desired behavior.
Below are some training issues you and your English Bulldog puppy should practice together:
• As soon as your puppy arrives home you need to begin teaching him/her proper household etiquette. This includes things like chew toy training (Bulldogs love to chew!), puppy house training, preventing food stealing and other basic tasks. Preventing problems before they arise is always a better alternative than trying to rectify established problem behaviors.
• Crate training is a good way to supervise and confine your puppy - for your benefit and your puppy's wellbeing. It is also a useful tool to use when housebreaking your English Bulldog puppy.
• All of the basic obedience commands are easily learned by Bullys. They should be taught sit, stay, down, heel, come etc.. Your puppy will enjoy these training sessions and you will build a very strong connection with your dog during the training process.
• Training your puppy to walk nicely on a loose leash is an important skill to master. English Bulldogs grow to be big powerful dogs, so it's crucial to educate your puppy how to behave on the leash.
English Bulldogs can be a bit stubborn or some may say indifferent towards training but if you keep your training sessions short, intense and fun you're sure to achieve pleasing results.
If you plan to train your English Bulldog puppy at home I recommend that you study and follow this comprehensive dog training package - Raise & Train Your English Bulldog Puppy Like A Professional Dog Trainer. All of the training issues mentioned above are covered in detail within this excellent dog training resource.
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Who Said English Bulldogs Aren't Good At Obedience Training?

Bulldog Breeds - www.BulldogBreeds.com provides info, photos, forum and breeders directory for english bulldog related breeds.

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SAINT BERNARD

For hundreds of years, Saint Bernards have been renowned for their bravery in rescue work, saving thousands of lives in the treacherous mountains of the Alps between Switzerland and Italy. At the same time, Saint Bernards have been just as well known for their big, loving personalities.
The breed was traditionally the companion of monks who lived in hospices high in the Swiss Alps. When a person was lost in the snowy mountain passes, the Saint Bernards were used to find the unlucky traveler. Their keen sense of smell and pathfinding skills, combined with their durability in the cold, made them life-saving naturals.
These early rescuers were short-haired Saint Bernards; the longhaired variety appeared in the 1830s when the breed was crossed with the Newfoundland to create a variety used mostly as a farm dog.
Both kinds of coats need brushing weekly, daily during shedding. Colors are white with red, brown-yellow, or brindle. St. Bernard Dog is a very large breed of dog, a working dog from the Swiss Alps, originally bred for rescue. The breed has become famous through tales of alpine rescues, as well as for its enormous size.The St. Bernard is a very large dog with a large and massive head. A full-grown male can weigh between 160 and 240 lb (73–110 kg) or more and the approximate height at the withers is 27½ inches to 35½ inches (70 to 90 cm). The coat can be either smooth or rough, with the smooth coat close and flat. The rough coat is dense but flat, and more profuse around the neck and legs. The coat is typically a red colour with white, or sometimes a mahogany brindle with white. Black shading is usually found on the face and ears. The tail is long and heavy, hanging low with the end turned up slightly. The dark eyes should have naturally tight lids, with "haws only slightly visible". Ectropion or entropion are listed in the breed standard as serious faults, indicating that the dog should not be bred. Other faults include aggressiveness, flews of the lower jaw turning outwards, eyelids too loose, curly coat, and sway back or roach back. See the article Dog terminology for an explanation of terms. Faults do not always indicate that a dog would not be a good companion, only that the dog should not be bred.Painting by John Emms portraying St. Bernards as rescue dogs with brandy barrels around their neck. According to legend, the brandy was used to warm the bodies of trapped people in avalanches or snow before help came.The ancestors of the St. Bernard share a history with the Sennenhunds, also called Swiss Mountain Dogs or Swiss Cattle Dogs, the large farm dogs of the farmers and dairymen of the Swiss Alps, which were livestock guardians, herding dogs, and draft dogs as well as hunting dogs, search and rescue dogs and watchdogs. These dogs are thought to be descendants of molosser type dogs brought into the Alps by the ancient Romans, and the St. Bernard is recognized internationally today as one of the Molossoid breeds.The earliest written records of the St. Bernard breed are from monks at the hospice at the Great St. Bernard Pass in 1707, with paintings and drawings of the dog dating even earlier.The most famous St. Bernard to save people at the pass was Barry (sometimes spelled Berry), who reportedly saved somewhere between 40 and 100 lives. There is a monument to Barry in the Cimetiere des Chiens, and his body was preserved in the Natural History Museum in BerneThe classic St. Bernard looked very different from the St. Bernard of today, because avalanches killed off many of the dogs used for breeding between 1816 and 1818. Severe weather during this period led to an increased number of avalanches that killed many St. Bernards while performing rescue work. In an attempt to preserve the breed, the remaining St. Bernards were crossed with Newfoundlands in the 1850s, and so lost much of their use as rescue dogs in the snowy climate of the alps because the long fur they inherited would freeze and weigh them down.The Swiss St. Bernard Club was founded in Basle on March 15th 1884. The St. Bernard was the very first breed entered into the Swiss Stud Book in 1884, and the breed standard was finally approved in 1887. "Since that time the St. Bernard has been a Swiss national dog."
Naming

The name "St. Bernard" originates from traveler's hospice on the often treacherous St. Bernard Pass in the Western Alps between Switzerland and Italy, where the name was passed to the local dogs. The pass, the lodge, and the dogs are named for Bernard of Menthon, the 11th century monk who established the station.
"St. Bernard" wasn't in widespread use until the middle of the 19th century. The dogs were called "Saint Dogs","Noble Steeds", "Alpenmastiff", or "Barry Dogs" before that time.
Related breeds
The breed is strikingly similar to that of the English Mastiff. This can be attributed to a common shared ancestry with the Alpine Mastiff. It is suspected that St. Bernards were used to redevelop this breed to combat the threat of their extinction after World War II.
The four Sennenhund breeds, the Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund (Greater Swiss Mountain Dog), the Berner Sennenhund, (Bernese Mountain Dog), the Appenzeller Sennenhund, (Appenzeller), and the Entlebucher Sennenhund (Entlebucher Mountain Dog) are similar in appearance and share the same location and history, but are tricolour rather than red and white.
Kennel Club recognition
The St. Bernard is recognised internationally by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale as a Molosser in Group 2, Section 2. The breed is recognised by The Kennel Club (UK), the Canadian Kennel Club, and the American Kennel Club in the Working Dog breed group. The United Kennel Club (US) places the breed in the Guardian Dog Group. The New Zealand Kennel Club and the Australian National Kennel Council place the breed in the Utility GrouActivities

St. Bernard demonstrating its strength
St. Bernard dogs are no longer used for alpine rescues, but do participate in a variety of dog sports including carting and weight pulling.The very fast growth rate and the weight of a St. Bernard can lead to very serious deterioration of the bones if the dog does not get proper food and exercise. Many dogs are affected by hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia. Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) has been shown to be hereditary in the breed.
St. Bernards are susceptible to eye disorders called entropion and ectropion, in which the eyelid turns in or out. The breed standard indicates that this is a major fault.
The breed is also susceptible to epilepsy and seizures, a heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy, and eczema.
Temperament
St. Bernard puppy
St. Bernards, like all very large dogs, must be well socialized with people and other dogs while young if they are to be safely kept as a pet. A St. Bernard not properly introduced to and socialized with children from a young age can pose a threat, not having learned to distinguish between a child and other, smaller animals.
Extremely loyal, the St. Bernard is eager to please its owners. Due to its large adult size, it is essential that proper training and socialization begin while the St. Bernard is still a puppy, so as to avoid the difficulties that normally accompany training large animals. An unruly St. Bernard may present problems for even a strong adult, so control needs to be asserted from the beginning of the dog's training. While generally not as aggressive as dogs bred for protection, a St. Bernard will bark at strangers and their size makes them good deterrents against possible intruders.
Notability
Record size
St. Bernards were exported to England in the mid 1800s, where they were bred with mastiffs to create an ever larger dog. Plinlimmon, a famous St. Bernard of the time, was measured at 95kg (210lbs) and 87.5cm (24 1/2ins), and was sold to an American for $7000. Commercial pressure encouraged carelessly breeding ever larger dogs until "the dogs became so gross that they had difficulties in getting from one end of a show ring to another".
The world's heaviest and largest dog in known history was a Saint Bernard named Benedictine, which weighed 162 kg (357 lbs), even though there have been unconfirmed reports of heavier Newfoundland (dog). Benedictine surpassed Zorba, the largest English mastiff on record, which measured 8 feet, 3 inches long and weighed 343 lb. Benedictine currently holds the world record for the heaviest dog that ever lived. This weight was provided, not by direct measurement, but by "successive studies", and the lower weight of 152.5kg (336 lbs) is sometimes cited, which would put Benedictine back into second place among all time heaviest dogs.

GREAT DANE

Standing 6ft 5in on its hind legs and tipping the scales at 19st 10lb, Samson is a giant in every sense of the word.
As Britain's biggest dog with a fearsome set of jaws to match, even the slightest growl is enough to make the bravest of postmen think twice before heading up the garden path.

He boasts a 59in chest and a 29in neck, meaning he has to wear pony coats when it rains and has had to have an extra large collar fitted. The dog's paws are almost the size of dinner plates.

While Samson's awesome build is impressive enough for a fully grown dog, this huge hound is only three years old and will grow even more.

Julie Woods, 54 and her husband Ray, 65, whose last dog was a small terrier, spend £60 a month on dried food and turkey legs for Samson and take him on four two-mile walks a day.
Mrs Woods, from Boston, Lincs, said: "He's a lovely dog whose bark is definitely worse than his bite. People are often intimidated when they first see him because he's about the size of a small horse and very quick.
"But he is so gentle and wouldn't harm a fly. He loves being patted and is very affectionate.
"When he jumps up on the garden gate, it's enough to frighten the life out of anyone."
She added: "To protect him from the rain we bought him a coat meant for ponies. Such a large dog getting soaking wet wouldn't smell very nice.
"He has also gone through two collars, they have to be specially made. His current one is becoming a bit tight so we'll have to buy yet another one.
"At the moment he is only three years old and we expect him to carry on growing over the next year or so. If he gets any bigger, we might have to move to a larger house."
Mrs Woods, who is unable to work after a stroke, and her husband bought Samson from an RSPCA centre when he was six months old. He was already well over 5ft on his hind legs and weighed 16st 2lb.
Mrs Woods said: "He came bounding over and pinned us both to the wall, even though he was little more than a baby. But we were smitten straight away.
"The other puppies were big but none of them came close to Samson. The staff at the RSPCA centre said they'd never seen such a large dog. He had been re-homed elsewhere before us but the owners were unable to look after him properly.They took him back when he tore their house apart one day while they were both at work.
"We've not had too many problems with him. He can be quite excitable at times but that's down to his age.
"The only problem is that he snores quite loudly - sometimes I swear I feel the house start to shake."
Samson is just over 2st lighter than the world's heaviest dog, a 22st English Mastiff called Hercules, from Massachusetts.

DALMITION

The Dalmatian's origins are mysterious. While researchers know they are an ancient breed, no one can be certain exactly where they came from. That may be because they were developed over the centuries by nomadic peoples wandering throughout Europe. The dogs were given the name Dalmatian after an area in the former Yugoslavia called Dalmatia.
He is a well-behaved gentleman, but needs plenty of exercise. He loves to jog for miles alongside his owner. He is reliably polite with strangers, but also a good watchdog. His love and devotion to his owner are boundless.
Dalmatians have short, hard coats with no undercoat. They need a quick daily brushing because they shed year round. Puppies are born white and develop their spots in two to six weeks. The spots, which can be black or liver, should range in size from a dime to half-dollar.
Excerpts from the Standard
General Appearance: Poised and alert, distinctively spotted, muscular and active, not shy, intelligent.
Size, Proportion, and Substance: Height--between 19 and 23 inches at the withers.
Fun Facts
When horse-drawn carriages were the way to travel, many drivers kept Dalmatians to trot alongside the coach. Here they put many of their skills to work. If loose farm animals wandered onto the road, they would herd them out of the coach's path. And when the driver stopped for a rest and a bite to eat at the village inn, he knew he could safely leave his coach and horses under the watchful eye of his Dalmatian. The dog's steady character even gave confidence to skittish horses as they traveled. For all these reasons, the Dalmatian was prized by firefighters using horsedrawn wagons. He became renowned as their mascot.
Fur of Boston terrier is fine, short and thin. They are characteristically marked with white in proportion to black, brindle, seal or a combination of all three. White color covers its chest, muzzle, band around the neck and halfway up the forelegs and up to the hocks on the rear legs. A short white blaze also exists between the eyes, but without touching the eyes. The overall frame ofBoston terrier is boxy with a nice muscular body. Head is big and flat with no wrinkles. Eyes are wide-set and dark. They have erect ears, short tail and a short muzzle. Boston terrier is an easy going dog that can adapt to almost any type of living conditions. Weight is about 10-25 pounds and height is around 15-17 inches. Average lifespan of Boston terrier is about 13-15 years. Boston



The St. Bernard Dog is a very large breed of dog, a working dog from the Swiss Alps, originally bred for rescue. The breed has become famous through tales of alpine rescues, as well as for its enormous size.
Appearance
The St. Bernard is a very large dog with a large and massive head. A full-grown male can weigh between 160 and 240 lb (73–110 kg) or more and the approximate height at the withers is 27½ inches to 35½ inches (70 to 90 cm). The coat can be either smooth or rough, with the smooth coat close and flat. The rough coat is dense but flat, and more profuse around the neck and legs. The coat is typically a red colour with white, or sometimes a mahogany brindle with white. Black shading is usually found on the face and ears. The tail is long and heavy, hanging low with the end turned up slightly. The dark eyes should have naturally tight lids, with "haws only slightly visible". Ectropion or entropion are listed in the breed standard as serious faults, indicating that the dog should not be bred. Other faults include aggressiveness, flews of the lower jaw turning outwards, eyelids too loose, curly coat, and sway back or roach back. See the article Dog terminology for an explanation of terms. Faults do not always indicate that a dog would not be a good companion, only that the dog should not be bred.
History
Painting by John Emms portraying St. Bernards as rescue dogs with brandy barrels around their neck. According to legend, the brandy was used to warm the bodies of trapped people in avalanches or snow before help came.
The ancestors of the St. Bernard share a history with the Sennenhunds, also called Swiss Mountain Dogs or Swiss Cattle Dogs, the large farm dogs of the farmers and dairymen of the Swiss Alps, which were livestock guardians, herding dogs, and draft dogs as well as hunting dogs, search and rescue dogs and watchdogs. These dogs are thought to be descendants of molosser type dogs brought into the Alps by the ancient Romans, and the St. Bernard is recognized internationally today as one of the Molossoid breeds.
The earliest written records of the St. Bernard breed are from monks at the hospice at the Great St. Bernard Pass in 1707, with paintings and drawings of the dog dating even earlier.
The most famous St. Bernard to save people at the pass was Barry (sometimes spelled Berry), who reportedly saved somewhere between 40 and 100 lives. There is a monument to Barry in the Cimetiere des Chiens, and his body was preserved in the Natural History Museum in Berne
The classic St. Bernard looked very different from the St. Bernard of today, because avalanches killed off many of the dogs used for breeding between 1816 and 1818. Severe weather during this period led to an increased number of avalanches that killed many St. Bernards while performing rescue work. In an attempt to preserve the breed, the remaining St. Bernards were crossed with Newfoundlands in the 1850s, and so lost much of their use as rescue dogs in the snowy climate of the alps because the long fur they inherited would freeze and weigh them down.
The Swiss St. Bernard Club was founded in Basle on March 15th 1884. The St. Bernard was the very first breed entered into the Swiss Stud Book in 1884, and the breed standard was finally approved in 1887. "Since that time the St. Bernard has been a Swiss national dog."

SHIH TZU

The Shih Tzu (traditional Chinese simplified Chinese pinyin: Shīzi Gǒu; Wade-Giles: Shih-tzu Kou; literally “Lion Dog”), is a dog breed which originated in China. The name is both singular and plural. The spelling “Shih Tzu”, most commonly used for the breed, is according to the Wade-Giles system of romanization.
The Shih Tzu is reported to be the oldest and smallest of the Tibetan holy dogs, its vaguely lion-like look being associated with the Tibetan Snowlion. The Shih Tzu therefore also has the nickname “Tibetan temple dog”. It is also often known as the “Xi Shi quan” (西施犬), based on the name of Xi Shi, regarded as the most beautiful woman of ancient China, and, less often, the Chrysanthemum Dog, because its face looks very much like the flower, and the Chinese or Tibetan Lion Dog. Owners often tie strands of fur from the shih tzu’s head into a pony-tail that sticks up. This is called a topknot, and many different hair clips and bows are added to make

POODLE

The Poodle is a breed of dog, and is regarded as one of the most intelligent breeds of dog. The poodle breed is found in small, medium, and large sizes, and in manycoat colors. Originally bred as a type of water dog, the poodle is skillful in many dog sports, including agility, obedience, tracking, and even herding.
Poodles are elegant in the conformation ring, having taken top honors in many shows, including Best in Show (BIS) at the Westminster Kennel Club show in 2002 and BIS at theWorld Dog Show in 2007. The poodle’s appearance made it popular as a circus dog and pet for the wealthy. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale lists the country of origin as France, but some experts believe poodles may have originated in Russia or Iberia; Germany is also frequently cited, including by the American Kennel Club, since the breed’s English name has German origins. (The name poodle comes from the German word pudel, short for pudelhund or “splashing dog”, reflecting the breed’s development from a water dog; the word pudel is related to the English word puddle.) However, most sources concur that the French are responsible for developing the modern breed into its current form, and developing the different sizes. The French name for the poodle is caniche, referring to ducks and the poodles’ water dog origins.

GERMAN SHEPERD

The German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian) is probably the most popular breed of dog in the World, this is a breed which inspires exceptional loyalty amongst his devotees; he excels at working for the police and military, guarding, obedience, tracking, guiding and absolute loyalty. His use as a dog in war time has been extensive - in 2003 350 dogs, GSDs and Malinois, were trained for work with the American military, both as sniffer dogs to find explosives and attack dogs. In World War 1 48,000 German shepherd Dogs were used by the German army to undertake a whole range of tasks from sentry duty to hospital dogs and messengers. Since then they have been used through out the World by many armies in areas of conflict.
The German Shepherd Dog was created at the end of the 19th century by Rittmeister Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry captain who together with a group of like-minded enthusiasts worked to bring the breed to a position of respect. As their use for herding was diminishing von Stephanitz promoted their use within the police and military where they have been outstandingly successful.
They are of medium size, up to 25" and weighing as much as 43kg which makes them a powerful dog, and having been bred for bravery it is essential that the German Shepherd Dog temperament is outstanding. In 1901 German specialists keen to protect the best qualities of the breed introduced the Schutzhund Test to ensure that dogs were of correct temperament.
"The tracking phase includes a temperament test by the overseeing judge to assure the dog's mental soundness. When approached closely on a loose leash, the dog should not act shyly or aggressively. The track is laid earlier by a person walking normally on a natural surface such as dirt or grass. The track includes a number of turns and a number of small, man-made objects left by this person on the track itself. At the end of a 30-foot leash, the handler follows the dog, which is expected to scent the track and indicate the location of the objects, usually by lying down with it between its front paws. The tracking phase is intended to test the dog's trainability and ability to scent, as well as its mental and physical endurance.
The obedience phase includes a series of heeling exercises, some of which are closely in and around a group of people. During the heeling, there is a gun shot test to assure that the dog does not openly react to such sharp noises. There is also a series of field exercises in which the dog is commanded to sit, lie down, and stand while the handler continues to move. From these various positions, the dog is recalled to the handler. With dumbbells of various weights, the dog is required to retrieve on a flat surface, over a one-meter hurdle, and over a six-foot slanted wall. The dog is also asked to run in a straight direction from its handler on command and lie down on a second command. Finally, each dog is expected to stay in a lying down position away from its handler, despite distractions, at the other end of the obedience field, while another dog completes the above exercises. All of the obedience exercises are tests of the dog's temperament, structural efficiencies, and, very importantly, its willingness to serve man or woman.
The protection phase tests the dog's courage, physical strength and agility. The handler's control of the dog is absolutely essential. The exercises include a search of hiding places, finding a hidden person (acting as a human decoy), and guarding that decoy while the handler approaches. The dog is expected to pursue the decoy when an escape is attempted and to hold the grip firmly. The decoy is searched and transported to the judge with the handler and dog walking behind and later at the decoy's right side. When the decoy attempts to attack the handler, the dog is expected to stop the attack with a firm grip and no hesitation.
The final test of courage occurs when the decoy is asked to come out of a hiding place by the dog's handler from the opposite end of the trial field. The dog is sent as the decoy runs toward the dog and handler. The decoy runs directly at the dog, threatening the dog with a stick. All bites during the protection phase are expected to be firmly place on the padded sleeve and stopped on command and/or when the decoy discontinues the fight. The protection tests are intended to assure that the dog is neither a coward nor a criminal menace."
German Shepherd Dog Breed Clubs in the UK have their own type of temperament tests, and before buying a puppy it is advisable to enquire about the puppy's parents and relatives, and certainly see at least the mother. It is wisest to buy from a specialist breeder who will have good knowledge of the dogs behind the puppy.
Although all German Shepherd Dogs conform to The Kennel Club Breed Standard there is a strong variation in type between the "British" and "German" German Shepherd Dog; to get the full picture you will need to discuss this with breed specialists. The coat is easy to manage and strong, clear colours are favoured. They can be black, black saddle with tan or gold to light grey markings or sable. Blues, livers, albinos and white or near white are undesirable, though there are breeders who specialise in these colours..
Like all working breeds the German Shepherd Dog should only be bought by someone who has a sufficiently strong personality to dominate him, and who has the time to give him opportunities to stretch his highly intelligent mind.