Brain Exercise For Your Dog. Peace + Quiet For You!

10 Fun Ways to Exercise Your Dog

Source: http://www.animalplanet.com

You've traveled this route many times. Your footsteps are on automatic pilot and your dog is tired of smelling the same patches of grass. You continue your daily walks sticking as closely to the same path like a beagle honing in on a scent because your dog needs exercise for his health and as an outlet for pent up energy. Walking is what you are supposed to do with a dog, right? Well, yes, but there's a movement afoot that challenges the traditional ideas of what dogs and humans can do together for fun and physical conditioning. So if you and your canine companion are getting a little bored with the same activities day after day, here are some suggestions to shake up your routine.

Follow the Dog

Try this twist for your daily walks. Instead of walking your dog, have your dog walk you. Wherever she goes, you go. Think of your dog as a four-legged, furry, walking GPS that isn't letting you know where the final destination will be. You'll be amazed where the nose will take the two of you.

Running

Running with your dog is like multitasking -- you and your four-legged athlete get to enjoy the great outdoors while increasing stamina and strengthen muscles. Dr. Lucy Spelman, renowned veterinarian, educator and author on domestic and wildlife animals, agrees that running with your dog is a great activity with one caveat: "Remember it's your dog's outing. You should be willing to stop when the dog wants to stop -- to sniff and greet other dogs and people -- even if that slows you down."

Flyball

Another high-energy activity is Flyball. In this competitive sport, dogs are part of teams and the rules of the game are similar to a human relay race. Dogs race down a course, which includes 4 hurdles. At the end of the first leg sits a box with tennis balls. The dog must stomp on this box to release a ball and then return to the starting line carrying the ball while jumping the hurdles. Once he or she crosses the starting line, the next dog takes off. The goal is to be the fastest team without penalties. Some penalties include dropping the ball or a dog taking off down the course before his or her teammate crosses the starting line.

Agility

If your dog has a lot of energy or pounds to burn off, find an agility group or class. This high-energy, running, jumping competitive sport is not only great exercise, but develops confidence and new skills.

Tracking

Not all dogs are tracking breeds, but just about any dog can participate in the sport of tracking, a competitive event for dogs and handlers. A scent trail is laid out hours before competition. Once the trail has "aged" dogs, with the encouragement of their owners, begin the work of finding an object at the end of the trail.

Fetch

A simple game of fetch can be all that is needed for your dog's daily exercise fix. Fetch is easy to squeeze into busy schedules, as there is no need to travel far to fit in a game. A close-by park or backyard works great and on rainy days, fetch can be an indoor sport, played from the comfort of your couch.

Group Exercise

The best forms of exercise for any animal are the activities they would naturally do. For dogs, playing with other dogs fits that definition. Dr. Spelman notes, "If you watch a group of dogs in this setting, they create their own games and expend their extra energy they way they choose."

Teach a New Skill

Don't forget to exercise your dog's brain. After puppyhood and the basic obedience commands have been taught, cognitive challenges tend to drop off. Find some silly, fun behavior to teach your dog, like high fiving or bowing on command or go for more advanced behaviors such as emergency down or command by hand signals.

Nose work

Similar to tracking, nose work takes advantage of a dog's innate scent capability. Training begins with simple tasks of finding a treats in a hidden box. As your dog gets better at locating objects the tasks get more challenging. Not only is nose work an excellent exercise as your dog bounds from place to place looking for the prize, but nose work also develops your dog's focus and confidence as well. 

Free Style

If you're a fan of Dancing With the Stars, you may want to try dancing with your dog. Based on obedience training, but with more elaborate footwork, movements are choreographed to music as you and your dog go through an original "dance" routine. Free Style also offers opportunities to strut your stuff in competition.

Taking your daily walk and following the same path isn't such a bad idea as dogs like routine and continuity, but throwing in some new ways to work off pounds and energy and just enjoy each other will open up new opportunities to expand skills, become more confident and just have fun – for you and your dog.

German shepherd foster mom raises cougar cubs in Russian Zoo

Source:  http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/

Staff at the zoo in Samara, Russia, were excited about the birth of three cougar cubs on July 15 -- but they were afraid to leave the cubs with their parents for fear that they could react aggressively and harm the infants.

The cubs were given instead to Cholli, a German shepherd dog with five young puppies of her own and a maternal instinct that just wouldn't quit. Since then, Cholli and her foster "kids" have gotten along swimmingly, and she's fed them and cared for them as if they were her own puppies.

We're always impressed by animals who overlook the differences between species to make sure that youngsters are okay -- whether it's a duck caring for kittens, a dog raising an orphaned monkey or a house cat nursing a litter of bobcats. Oh, animals, we'll never grow tired of marveling at you!

Time Lapse: German Shepherd Puppy to Adult in 40 seconds.

German Shepherd Fact Sheet

Source: http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Dogs/German-Shepherd/1000

Breed: German Shepherd Dog
Temperament: Loyal, protective, intelligent
Lifespan: 12 years
Recommended for: active families with older children
Maintenance: Low

A breeding program developed by the German Shepherd Dog League has been used to produce the best pure bred in Australia. The League has succeeded in developing a breed with a stable temperament and sound body by using a scoring system to eliminate critical problem areas. German Shepherd Dogs produced by the League (and only those dogs) are safe with the family, cheap to run and lead long and healthy lives.

Appearance

The true colour of a German Shepherd is not known until the puppy coat is shed and the full adult coat has grown. However the German Shepherd Dog's coat is generally a mixture of black, fawn and gold. Pure black german shepherds are also available, but white is considered undesirable in show ring dogs. Male dogs weigh 34-44kg (75-95lbs) and are 61-66 cm (24-26 in) tall, while bitches weigh 28-34kg (62-75 lbs) and are 56-61 cm (22-24 in) tall.

History

As the name suggests, the German Shepherd Dog originated in Germany where it evolved from herding dogs that were used to tend and protect sheep. Rittmeister Max von Stephanitz, the proclaimed father of the breed, founded the German Shepherd Dog Association in 1890.
The dogs were recognised as being excellent guard and attack dogs and were used by the police and the military. Consequently, there were 48,000 Shepherds enlisted in the German army during the First World War. After the First World War English owners changed the name to Alsatian because nobody wanted to be associated with anything German. However, now with the war long over, the breed has changed back to its original name and the German Shepherd Dog has become one of the world's most widely recognised breeds.

German Shepherds first arrived in Australia between 1923 and 1929 but then the government imposed import bans which were not lifted until 1972 because the dogs were believed to be dangerous.

Temperament

German Shepherd Dogs have suffered an image problem which was in part deserved. Many years ago there were significant problems in the breed with temperament. Today however, as a result of the work done by the German Shepherd Dog League, the temperament of these dogs is excellent. The League acknowledged that a gene for fear biting had crept into the breed. (Affected dogs are timid, can become frightened and will attack people out of fear). Over the last twenty seven years, the German Shepherd Dog League has used a Breed Survey Scheme to virtually eliminate fear biters from the breed.

German Shepherds bred by the German Shepherd Dog League are loyal, loving, intelligent dogs and are willing to do anything for the people they love to the point of giving their own lives. The breed adores and protects its family. Although the dogs are good with children, they should not be left alone with small children because both dogs and puppies can be boisterous.

Health and lifespan

German Shepherd Dogs not bred by the German Shepherd Dog League can be prone to health problems including haemophilia and hip and elbow dysplasia. The German Shepherd Dog League operates a number of Breed Improvement Schemes that are designed to reduce the incidence of diseases with a possible genetic link, by selecting for breeding only those animals which pass stringent selection tests.

In Australia, the German Shepherd Dog League has established an A-stamp Certificate system which is designed to reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia, a crippling disease of the hind legs. The A clearance means that the puppy is of a quality acceptable for breeding. A similar certificate system exists for elbow and haemophilia problems. People buying pups should ensure they view the certificates and should expect the parents to have been breed surveyed and x-rayed for hip problems.
In order for the Breed Improvement Scheme to be successful, all dogs are tattooed for identification at seven or eight weeks of age. The tattoos are a permanent link to the individual dog, to the breeder and to the details held by the Canine Council.
German Shepherds can also experience some skin problems. Proper care of a German Shepherd includes regular worming, about 3 times a year, and clean, flea free sleeping quarters. German Shepherds have an average lifespan of 12 years.

Feeding

German Shepherds are not particularly big eaters and breeders suggest one meal each day with a dog biscuit in the morning. A balanced diet could include a mix of dry food, mince or mutton flaps and heart worm tablets. The food bill for a German Shepherd Dog should cost around $25 per week.

Breeding

It is uncommon for German Shepherds to experience whelping problems, although some bitches do require caesareans. An average litter size is between 6 and 7 pups.

Cost

German Shepherds cost between $750 and $1200+ depending on the quality of the pup.

Housepet Potential

German Shepherds are good inside the house, but when shedding their coat they need to be brushed regularly to minimise accumulation of shed hairs on people or in the house. The dogs require house training; a relatively easy task because of their intelligence.

Grooming

The German Shepherd needs little grooming, however, during the seasonal change from winter to summer it is often necessary to strip out the dead, woolly coat. This should be done as quickly as possible with a rubber brush specifically designed for the job.

Uses

German Shepherds are used in police work, including tracking and searching for guns and drugs. They are excellent at obedience work, make good companions, guide dogs and guard dogs. The dogs can also be involved in schutzhund, a sport where dogs attack on command.

Trainability

German Shepherds are reliable, intelligent and responsive to training. They need obedience training early in life, particularly those that are boisterous, strong minded and dominating. Well socialised German Shepherd Dogs are easier to introduce to new people and situations and make a more stable companion.

Warning when purchasing

Not all German Shepherds are part of the German Shepherd Dog League. If you wish to buy a German Shepherd, ask if the breeder is part of the League. We would strongly advise that you avoid buying any German Shepherds which have not been produced by German Shepherd Dog League members