Dog Parks

“Dog Parks” 

Why They Are a Bad Idea! 

“It’s Your Job to Protect Your Dog”

By: Ed Frawley

Click here to download ebook

About once every couple of days I get an email from someone asking about problems with their dogs being attacked when they are on walks or running loose at one of the local parks that many cities setup.

People question me on how to deal with overly aggressive dogs that belong to other people and they question me about their own dogs not trying to defend themselves. Some people want to know if they should just let the dogs work out the problems themselves.

I want to go on record as saying that the concept of ”Dog Parks” was well intended but a bad idea, especially when dogs are allowed to run off-leash. I do not recommend people take their dogs to these places.

The average dog owner does not understand pack structure or how strong the pack instincts are in their pet. These drives click into high gear when a dog is taken into a park with other dogs. When new dogs come into parks look they are viewed not as visitors but as intruders into “the personal territory of the dogs who come there on a regular basis.” This leads to territorial aggression.

When there is a group of dogs that are allowed to run together, they instinctively try to establish a rank order (or pecking order). If there are several dogs that want to assume a certain rank within the pack there are going to be problems. There is always a good possibility that fights will develop to determine what order various dogs fall in. 

With inexperienced dogs, or dogs that do not have strong temperaments there will be posturing going on before a fight begins. Many times owners can verbally control their dogs and warn them to back off. But all too often dogs that have fought before will launch into a full-fledged attack. These dogs have learned that a fast attack is often the best defense. In other words, they have learned to be good fighters.

You cannot assume that every dog in the park is a well-mannered, well-trained pet. Just because you see it playing with other dogs does not mean that it will play with your dog. The issue of rank has already been settled with these other dogs and the game may be going according to their rules. Your dog will not know the rules and can easily get into trouble.

I get emails from people who are disappointed in their puppy or young dog because it shies away from other dogs and shows avoidance to other dogs they meet on walks or in parks.

Most new owners don’t understand that their dogs EXPECT THEM to be “their pack leader.” In the wild the pack leader protects its pack. Your young dog instinctively expects you to protect it. When a handler does not protect his dog the dog is in conflict and loses confidence. If threatened before it is mature, these young dogs will show avoidance to strange dogs and strange situations. I am sure that what happens is that the pup learns that its owner is not going to step in and help, so it’s on its own. This breaks down to a young dog becoming unsure in other situations. After all, if his best friend and pack leader will not protect him who will have learned that a fast attack is often the best defense. In other words, they have learned to be good fighters.

When you stop to think about it, normal people would not expect their young children to fight adults that were threatening them. So why do people expect their young dogs to show aggression to older dogs or even dogs of their own age? In most cases, the owners simply lack the understanding of pack drives and dog training.

People get caught in the trap of thinking they have a German Shepherd from working police K-9 bloodlines and by God it should be tough!! Well, it doesn’t work that way.

If new owners do everything right when their pup is young the dog can grow up to be a confident,
strong protection dog if it has the genes to allow this to happen. But in the hands of the wrong person the same dog can grow up to be a basket case. This is one of the reasons I do not guarantee temperament in the pups I sell. Too many people out there lack common sense or the experience to properly train a dog.

So when your dog is approached by a dog that looks like it may be aggressive you need to take the aggressors role. Verbally tell the dog in a deep voice to get out of there. If another dog attacks your dog you need to do what I explain in my article on Breaking Up A Dog Fight. If I were to walk a dog in the city, I would not do it without a can of pepper gas to use on any dog that even looks cross-eyed at my puppy. I would not hesitate to physically go after a dog that approaches my pup. The only ones that would be allowed to come close would be dogs I know for a fact are well- mannered, friendly soles that will be tolerant and play with my puppy.

Ebook : Diarrhea in Puppies

writted by Ed Frawley

Click here to download ebook

Foreword

I have bred dogs since 978, over 340 litters of German Shepherds. This translates into raising a lot of puppies and a fair bit of experience with puppy diarrhea. Over the years I have seen my share of sick dogs and puppies. One of the most common problems we see with puppies is diarrhea. 

This articled is intended to help people come to terms with puppy diarrhea. It is not intended to diagnose all of the causes of diarrhea or even to tell the reader how to cure the problem under every circumstance. It is simply intended to pass on some of the knowledge I have gained over the years when my puppies get sick. 

I will explain the different kinds of diarrhea and pass on some of the options that I have learned that can be used by pet owners to control the problem of puppy diarrhea. 

THERE ARE 4 KINDS OF STOOL 

• - Normal Logs 

• - Pudding Diarrhea- soft stools that will mound up 

• - Brown Water Diarrhea 

• - Brown Water Diarrhea with blood 

We all strive for our dogs to have normal stool. If my dogs have a normal temperature (0 to 0 degrees 

Fahrenheit in dogs) and if they are laying logs I know that these are two important indications that the dogs are healthy. There are always exceptions to this rule (i.e. a dog with cancer) but in general this is a pretty accurate statement. 

PARASITES AND DIARRHEA 

If a dog gets diarrhea as a result of parasites, the most common causes are Coccidia or Giardia. Both will cause diarrhea, but each requires different medication. 

All dogs have some level of Coccidia in their gut. When a dog is stressed (i.e. being shipped, moving into a new environment etc) the stress can cause the Coccidia to bloom and flair up causing diarrhea. The solution is to give the dog ALBON. How much and how it is administered is a question for your vet. 

Humans get Giardia when they drink water that has fecal matter in it. When you go camping and drink water from a stream you can get Giardia. When dogs get Giardia they need to be treated with METRONIDAZOLE. It is difficult for a Vet to diagnose Giardia from a stool sample. It is best if the dog is at the vet who gets the stool sample right from the rectum of the dog. By doing this the sample is fresh and it’s easier to see the Giardia. 

Both Coccidia and Giardia need to be diagnosed by a Vet and the medication needs to be dispensed by a Vet. 

PUDDING DIARRHEA 

When a dog has pudding diarrhea I know that there is something going on with the dog. Pudding sends up a small red flag and my kennel staff knows they need to tell me when they see it. That dog needs to be monitored until it is back to laying logs. 

Pudding diarrhea can be caused from: 

• changing the food our dogs eat 

• over feeding the dog 

• eating garbage 

• stress 

• exercise or excitement 

The fact is that when I see pudding diarrhea I start to ask myself why it’s happening. 

When I see pudding diarrhea I have my kennel staff add a little canned pumpkin to their daily food ration. Canned pumpkin not only helps firm up stool’s on dogs it also helps when they are constipated ( a strange thing - it helps in both ways). 

If you feed a natural diet it is a simple thing to add pumpkin. The dogs will easily accept it. If you feed a kibble diet they may not want to eat it. In which case you may have to think about medication if the pudding gets too loose. 

Some of the options are Kaopectate, Imodium AD (A full human dose either in liquid or pill). 

You could also try a product called DiaBack. This is a homeopathic remedy that works for bacterial diarrhea symptoms. This can be used against e-coli, salmonella, diet, water changes, environment change, stress, or food allergies. 

BROWN WATER DIARRHEA 

Brown water diarrhea is a serious situation; it’s a sign of a sick puppy. 

Brown water diarrhea cannot be ignored. When a puppy has water diarrhea you need to be very careful that the pup does not get too dehydrated. If you cannot stop the diarrhea within 4 hours you need to get it to a vet. 

What I recommend new puppy owners do when they get their dog is to become familiar with what a healthy puppy feels like. By that I mean learn how loose his skin is. A healthy well hydrated pup has loose skin on his back. 

You can grab it and it will pull up and away from the muscle structure of the dog. When a pup begins to get dehydrated the skin feels tight. It is more difficult to pull it away from the body mass. 

When this happens you need to re-hydrate this pup as quickly as possible. Start by making sure he has plenty of water to drink. You can also give the pup Pedialyte. 

Go to the baby section of Wal-Mart and buy unflavored Pediatric Electrolyte. If the pup will not drink this by itself then try adding a little chicken broth (found in the soup section at the grocery store). 

When a dog has diarrhea it is a good idea to take the dog off solid food for a day. This allows the gut to rest. Dogs and pups can easily go for a day without food. They cannot go without water. So a dog that is drinking plenty of water is not as serious as a dog that will not drink. 

If a pup will not drink then it needs to go to your vet. The pup needs to go on IV fluids and receive the appropriate medical treatment. 

BROWN WATER DIARRHEA WITH BLOOD 

If you see brown water diarrhea with blood in it you have a medical emergency. You need to get this puppy to the vet right now. If you wait for a day or two you very possibly could have a dead puppy. 

Pups can dehydrate and die within 4 to 48 hours unless they have medical treatment. It is beyond the scope of pet owners to deal with blood in diarrhea. 

GENERAL COMMENTS: 

One thing I would recommend is to be sure that you don’t allow your Vet to give any vaccinations while your dog has any kind of issues with loose stools. You would also not want to give vaccinations while your dog is taking antibiotics. This can lead to long term health problems. 

If your pup continues to have long term soft stools you may want to take a look at what you are feeding the dog. Some dogs can be sensitive to certain dog foods. To determine if this is the problem you should try and isolate the source of the problem. If you are feeding a natural diet stop feeding grains and veggies. Just feed meat for awhile. If you feed kibble, feed something like California 

Natural or Sensible Choice. These foods do not have a lot of ingredients. 

If you are a new puppy owner I recommend that you get the DVD I produced titled YOUR PUPPY 8 WEEKS to 8 MONTHS - it addresses the topic of puppy diarrhea and much more. There are sections on house training your puppy and the DVD goes into detail on the amount of puppy training that legitimately can be initiated with a young puppy. 

Ebook : Dealing with the Dominant Dog

By Ed Frawley

Click here to download

Before you begin to read this article I want to point out that I wrote this article back in the 1990’s. 

In December of 2005 I finished my 3 1/2 hour training DVD of the same topic. This DVD was 5 years in the making. I have produced over 100 dog training DVD’s and think this may be my best. 

The information in this eBook and the DVD is a result of 45 years of experience in training dogs. 

Over 30 years of studying the art of protection training and breeding over 350 litters of working 

bloodline German Shepherds. 

The information in this article encompasses about 20% of the information in the DVD. 

If you have a serious aggression problem with your dog there are two DVDs that you need.

Many people, including experienced dog trainers, misunderstand dominance in dogs. 

There are a lot of people who give very bad information (dangerous information) on how to deal with dominant dogs. Some people don’t have a clue how to deal with a dominant dog, others try what I call the HALTY APPROACH (aka the tree hugger approach) while others feel force is the only way to handle the problem. 

Some think you just “alpha roll the dog and be done with it.” This is a common approach. In most cases, this is also the wrong approach. In addition, many people think that we should only be concerned with dominance in a large dog and not a small dog - this is also wrong. 

While a large dog (like the one in the photo above) can put you in the hospital, a small dog can put your child in the hospital. Dominance of any kind needs to be dealt with and if not eliminated at least controlled in ALL dogs. 

I have owned a number of extremely dominant male dogs over the past 40 years. These dogs have forced me to study dominance. I look at dominance in a different way today than I did 20 years ago. I have learned that dominance is often (not always) easier to control by using your brain and controlling the environment the dog is placed in. 

No one likes to get bit. I look at the scars on the arms of many of my friends and consider myself lucky. I have never had a serious dog bite, yet I have handled some very dominant aggressive animals. This includes more police dogs than I can remember. 

When I ask people about these scars, I always get the same answer: “I made a mistake with that dog.” Getting “dog bit” comes down to making mistakes in how we handle our dogs in a given situation. 

One of the biggest mistakes new dog owners make is to fail to realize that their family pet is a pack animal. The fact is most dog owners don’t even have a clue what this means, much less understand how strong pack drive is in their family dog. Their lack of understanding of this very important issue is what gets them in trouble. 

One of the best ways to start to learn about dominance is to study pack behavior in wolves. 

Look at the research done on wolf packs. A wolf pack always has a dominant pair of animals. 

Wolves don’t maintain their dominant position by fighting with pack members every day; they do it through subtle means. Body posture and attitude play a major factor in maintaining a dominant pack position.

Ebook : Dealing with the Aggressive Dog

writted By Ed Frawley

Click here to download : Dealing with the Aggressive Dog

The TV show 20-20 recently aired a segment on aggressive dogs biting people. I learned of this from an e-mail prior to the show. The individual (who did not sign their name) begged me to write a letter to 20-20 complaining about them daring to do a show criticizing dogs biting people. Needless to say I did not respond to the e-mail but I did watch the program. The fact is the show was rather well done and accurate. If I were to criticize anything, I would have liked to see it go into more detail on overly aggressive dogs and how to deal with them. 

Here are just a few of the facts that were explained by 20-20: 

•  90% of dog bites happen to people who know the dogs 

•  Most of the dogs that bite are the family pets 

•  60% to 70% of dog bites are to children or the elderly 

•  40% of the bites to children result in loss offacial tissue (lips, cheek etc.) 

• 1/2 of the claims made on homeowners insurance are dog bites claims 

• Over aggressiveness in dogs has a number of different causes that all can be traced back to 2 different areas: poor breeding or poor socializing. 

An over aggressive dog does not just rear its ugly head one day and become a monster. 

Throughout its life it has displayed warning signs that it is not a normal friendly pet. As a youngster it may have acted like a timid animal that wanted nothing to do with strangers or strange places. Or it could have slowly developed into a bully after growling at people who came near its toys or food dish. We can’t really blame the average pet owner for missing many of the early warning signs. 

If someone has never raised a dog before, he has enough problems teaching a puppy not to pee on the floor or to come when called. But this same pet owner still has the responsibility to recognize and deal with their adult dog that becomes overly aggressive at inappropriate times. 

There are a number of different types of aggression that dogs will display. Below I have listed the main areas of aggression. I then explain how to deal with the problems related to each type of aggression. Understanding where aggression has its roots will help people understand the methods used in ntrolling the problem.

Types of Aggression:

• Dominant Aggression 

•  Territorial Aggression 

•  Fear Aggression 

•  Prey or Predatorial Aggression 

Dominant Aggression: 

Many people think it’s cute when a young puppy growls and snaps at fingers that get to close to the food bowl or toys. They laugh and show their friends how tough this little pup is going to be when it grows up. 

What they don’t understand is that this dog is showing the early signs of dominance. The truth is that this pup is probably going to grow up to be aggressive to family members in addition to strangers. Early growling can easily develop into an adult that tries to take control of the house. 

Now, if this is an 8 pound Skipper Key there isn’t much chance of that happening, but if it’s a baby Rottweiler who is going to grow into a 120 pound monster then this is a definite problem. 

Dominant Aggression needs to be controlled from the minute it’s recognized, (no matter how young or how small the dog is). I have just written an article titled Dealing with the Dominant Dog. People need to read this article if they feel that their dog falls into this category.

...........

ebook : Bottle Feeding and Hand Raising Puppies

Writed By: Ed Frawley

Click here to download ebook 

Foreword

When you view this eBook in PDF format. Click on BOOKMARKS on the top left side of your PDF 

reader, these bookmarks are eBook chapters. 

Ed has owned German Shepherds (GSD) for over 45 years. Since 1978 he has bred over 350 litters of German working bloodline GSD’s. His dogs work in law enforcement, as S&R dogs, as competition Schutzhund dogs, and as family companions and protectors.

Since 1980 Ed has produced over 120 dog training videos and DVD’s. He was a police K-9 handler for 10 years, competed in several dog sports, including AKC obedience and Schutzhund. In addition he has built one of the top dog training supply businesses in the world.

I have bred over 350 litters of GSD’s in my 30 year breeding career. Over the years we have done our share of caring for newborns that need help. We have also come up with our own newborn puppy formula that I think is the best we have seen.

You can make our formula at home and it has 11 calories per CC.

The problem with commercial formula that you buy at your vet is that it only has about 1 or 2 calories per CC. In my opinion this is not enough nutrition to provide for adequate growth.

We have used this formula many times and it works better than any others that I have tried.

If you are hand raising puppies and they develop medical problems you will need to contact your vet. Please do not email me and ask what to do. It would be inappropriate for me to guess at the medical needs of your sick puppy.

Here are some general rules for bottle feeding puppies:

• Always boil your water before using - allow time to cool. 
• Burp your pups after feeding. 
• A pup may have little bubbles by his mouth but there should not be milk running out of his mouth. 
• When the bottle is held upside down the milk should drip out - NOT FLOW OUT in a stream - pups that get milk in their lungs will get pneumonia and more than likely die. 
• Calorie intake needs to be adjusted according to growth of puppies. A general rule of thumb (unless someone has a better idea) is 1 CC per OZ. of body weight every 3 hours. 
• You must have an accurate scale to weigh pups if you are going to get the best success. Use a kitchen food scale. The ones with grams is what we use in our kennel. It is easy to see any weight gain or loss. Keep a record that you can easily refer to. 

Another article to consider - Save Your Puppy’s Life

Bottle Feeding Recipe
11 Calories per CC

• 10 oz. of canned evaporated milk or goat’s milk (not pasteurized cow’s milk - this will cause scowers - dogs cannot drink normal cow’s milk) Goats milk is by far the best to use. Wall Mart sells it. 
• 3 oz. sterilized water (baby water or boiled water) this is not needed if using goat’s milk 
• 1 raw egg yolk 
• 1 tablespoon regular mayonnaise (optional) 
• 1 cup of whole yogurt (avoid skim or fat free) 
• 1/2 Tsp Karo Syrup or Corn Syrup 

(NOT HONEY !!!)

Place ingredients in a blender and blend or use a wire whisk. Be careful to not over blend and create a milk shake full of bubbles and then tube bubbles into the puppy.

Drever (Swedish Dachsbracke) dogs

The head is large, long and well proportioned. The eyes are clear, alert with thin, close-fitting eyelids. Although quite short, forelegs are vertical and parallel. His legs are straight, never bent like the Dachshund. The coat is thick, close-fitting, and flat all over the body. Coat colors come in fawn, black, or black/tan; always with the white markings on face, feet, neck, chest and tail tip. Canada allows all colors. The tail is carried with a downward curve. The upper lip is quite tight, and fits firmly over the lower jaw.

Temperament 

Alert, calm, friendly and even. The Drever is known for his ongoing slight wag of his tail. The Drever often wants to continue working long after its human companion has satisfied his own hunting instinct. It has a first-class nose and is a powerful tracker. Because of its short legs, it is slower than other hounds. This makes it ideal for maneuvering game toward the hunter's gun. The Drever is a steady worker, who hunts hare, fox, and occasionally deer; but this dog has the courage to pit himself against even a wild boar. In such cases, he circles and dodges the prey, warning the hunter by barking furiously. The Drever has an excellent nose and a musical voice which is much larger than his size would seem to warrant. The Drever was bred to be tenacious on the hunt and therefore it is very important that the owners of this breed are just as stern back when dealing with him in order to show him where his place is among his human pack. Owners who are determined, and consistent with the rules, displaying a natural firm but not harsh authority over the dog will bring out the best in this breed. Passive owners will find the dog to become stubborn and headstrong. Drevers who lack in mental and physical exercise and or leadership will develop quirks in their temperament. Socialize this dog well.

Height: 11-16 inches (28-40 cm.)

Weight: 32-34 pounds (14-16 kg.)

Health Problems 

Living Conditions Good for apartment living. They are fairly active indoors and will do okay without a yard.

Exercise These are active dogs with surprising stamina. When not hunting they need a daily pack walk or jog. In addition, they will enjoy a session of play in the park.

Life Expectancy About 12-14 years

Grooming 

The smooth-haired coat would do good with a regular rubdown with a damp cloth. This breed is an average shedder.

Origin 

The Drever is a re-creation of the type of short-legged dog used to drive game toward the gun, the Drever was developed from the now-rare Weshpalian Dachsbracke and local hounds. The Drever is rare outside Sweden, but it is almost as popular there as the Labrador Retriever in its home country. In a short period of time this industrious breed has become the Swedish hunter's most popular companion. Drev means to hunt in Swedish, and hunting was what the Drever did best. Officially named in 1947, the Swedish KG gave him the nod in 1949. Since then, the Drever has become one of the most popular breeds in his homeland. Its personality is typical of other Dachsbrackes and Dachshunds. The Drever was officially recognized in Canada in 1956.

Dogue de Bordeaux (French Mastiff) (Bordeaux Bulldog)

Description 

The Dogue de Bordeaux also called the French Mastiff and sometimes called the Bordeaux Bulldog is a relatively short, stocky mastiff. The wrinkled head is massive, heavy and broad. Males can have a head circumference of 27-30 inches (68-75cm). The muzzle is somewhat short (1/3 the total length of the head), wide, powerful and thick, with a pronounced stop. The nose is large with wide-open nostrils, color depends on the mask of the dog. The teeth meet in an underbite. The upper lips hang thickly down over the lower jaw. The thick skin on the neck is loose, forming a noticeable dewlap. The eyes are hazel to dark brown depending on the color of the dog and are set wide apart. The ears are small, hanging down, in proportion to the dog and are darker in color. The tail is thick at the base tapering to a point. The chest is deep, broad reaching lower than the elbows. The legs are muscular. The coat is short and soft with loose fitting skin. Coat colors include various shades of fawn to mahogany with a darker red or black mask around and under the nose including the lips and eye rims. There are sometimes white markings on the chest and tips of the toes.

Temperament 

The Bordeaux has a good and calm temperament. It is extremely loyal, patient and devoted to his family. Fearless and confrontational with strangers, he is a first class watch and guard dog. Socializevery well with other animals, preferably starting from an early age to avoid them being aggressive with other dogs. The Dogue de Bordeaux snores and drools. Despite his fearsome appearance, the Dogue de Bordeaux is gentle with children and family members. However this is a powerful animal, and is not suitable for an inexperienced dog owner. The objective in training this dog is to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined and rules are set. You and all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. That is the only way your relationship can be a success. This breed needs a calm, but firm owner who displays a natural authority over the dog. One who is confident and consistent.

Height: 23-30 inches (58-75cm)

Weight: 120-145 pounds (54.4-65.2kg)

Health Problems Most are healthy, but the breed can be prone to hip dysplacia. There are also cases of epilepsy, heartproblems and hyperkeratosis. Dams often have to have cesareans.

Living Conditions This breed will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. They are very inactive indoors and will do okay without a yard.

Exercise Needs lots of exercise. They need to be taken on a daily, long walk. Dogs who lack in mental and or physical exercise can develop behavior issues.

Litter Size Often small.

Life Expectancy About 10-12 years.

Grooming Very little is needed. This breed is an average shedder.

Origin 

There are numerous theories about the origin the Dogue de Bordeaux. It may be descended from theBulldog, Tibetan Mastiff and from the Greek and Roman Molossus, from mastiffs brought to Europe by the Alans, from the dogs of Aquitaine or from Spanish dogs from Burgos. At the end of the middle ages, the dog was used as a cattle driver and personal bodyguard. Lots of Dogues died during the French Revolution. After the war number rose again. Raymond Triquet and his French Dogue de Bordeaux Club saved the breed. The Dogue de Bordeaux is now thoroughly established in France and gaining popularity in other countries. The breed has served as a war dog, flock guardian, cattle herder, guard dog, trained to bait bulls, bears, and jaguars, and a hunter of boars. The breed was recognized by the AKC in 2008.

Dogo Argentino (Argentinian Mastiff) (Argentine Dogo) dogs

Description 

The Dogo Argentino is also called the Argentinian Mastiff or Argentine Dogo. It is a large, well muscled dog. The deep-set chest is wide. There is an abundance of skin on the muscular neck. The head is massive with a rounded shape from front to the back. The muzzle concaves upwards slightly, with a slight stop and is about the same length as the skull. The jaws are strong. The teeth should meet in a scissors bite. The nose is black. The eyes are set well apart, and are dark brown, light brown or hazel in color. The rims of the eyes should be pink or black. The ears are set high and are usually cropped to make them stand erect, and triangular in shape. The thighs are very muscular with a short hock. There are usually no dewclaws. The thick tail is long and carried naturally low reaching the hock. The thick, glossy coat is white and has no undercoat. While not accepted in all clubs, sometimes the Dogo Argentino can have a black spot on the head known as "pirata". This trait in the Dogo´s coat is accepted by Federacion Cinologica Argentina.

Temperament 

The Argentine Dogo is a loyal dog who makes a great guardian of the home and family. Playful and very good with children, giving kisses and cuddling. Highly intelligent and powerful, Dogos are easy to train if you are consistent, using loving but firm authority. The Argentine Dogo is not a breed for everyone. With the right owners even the more dominant Dogos can be submissive towards all humans and other animals. This breed needs someone who understands how to display leadership. Humans who are firm, confident, and consistent, this breed needs rules he must follow and limits to what he is and is not allowed to do. The objective in training this dog is to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined. You and all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. That is the only way your relationship can be a success. When you put this breed with a meek or passive owner, problems may arise as the dog will feel he needs to, "save his pack" and run the show. Adult Dogos can be aggressive with other dogs however, the Dogo does not usually provoke the confrontation but may if he senses another dog who is unstable. The breed needs an owner who can tell the Dogo it is not his job to put another dog in his place. They are good with other pets if they are raised with them from puppyhood. This white mastiff needs earlysocialization with other animals. It also requires early obedience training.

Height: 24-27 inches (61-69cm)

Weight: 80-100 pounds (36-45kg)

Health Problems *

Living Conditions This breed will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised and does best with at least an average-sized yard. Be sure to bring the Dogo inside when temperatures drop below freezing.

Exercise Give this dog plenty of exercise. They need to be taken on a daily, long walk or jog.

Life Expectancy About 10-12 years.

Grooming The single white coat is very easy to care for. Brush occasionally. Keep nails trimmed. They have no doggy odor. This breed is an average shedder.

Origin 

In the 1920's the Argentine Dogo was developed in Argentina by two Argentinians, Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez and his brother Agustin. The brothers wanted an ideal companion dog that was also a good pack hunter and guardian. The breeds that were used in the development were the Great Pyrenees,Irish Wolfhound, Pointer, Great Dane, Dogue de Bordeaux, Boxer, Spanish Mastiff, Bulldog, Bull Terrierand a now extinct mastiff-type breed called the Dog of Cordoba. The result was a bullish, fearless hunter who also had great stamina. The white coat deflected the heat rather than absorb it. Unfortunately the breed earned a bad reputation in Britain when people started using the dogs for dog fighting, which is an activity still popular in many parts of South America and elsewhere. Rather than go after the dog fighters Britain has enacted a national legislation to control dogs in public. The Dangerous Dogs Act which came about in 1991 totally bans the three breeds Fila Brazileiro, Dogo Argentino and Japanese Tosa. A fourth breed, the American Pit Bull Terrier, is allowed but is heavily restricted. The dogs must be registered, neutered, tattooed, microchipped and owners have to carry insurance. The dog cannot be bred or imported and when in public it must be muzzled, leashed and handled by a person over 16 years of age at all times. This is a real shame. When properly raised these are all great dogs. A dog is what the master makes of it. Not all breeds are for everyone. People teach these dogs to fight giving them a bad name. Banning the breed is not the way to solve the problem. Some of the Argentine Dogo's talents are hunting, tracking, watchdog, guarding, police work, narcotics detection, military work, guide for the blind, competitive obedience, and schutzhund.

Doberman Pinscher dogs (Dobe)

"Deevo, the Doberman Pincher at 9 months old. He is shy, until he gets to know you, then he will be jumping all over you. He likes to go for walks, run around the beach, and to play with other peoples dogs. (very friendly). He hates when they stop playing with him to relax or rest. Every once in a while he will dig a whole, happens rarely. Rarely barks, Never tries to run after other dogs, always sticks to me were ever I go around the house, he never leaves my sight. Doberman are not aggressive as many people say, no dog is born aggressive, they are created."

Pronunciation Doberman PIN-sher

Description : 

The Doberman Pinscher is a medium sized, squarely built dog with a compact muscular body. The head is long and when viewed from the side looks like a blunt wedge. The top of the skull is flat, and turns into the muzzle with a slight stop. The color of the nose depends on the color of the dog's coat, black on black dogs, dark brown on red dogs, dark gray on blue dogs, dark tan on fawn dogs and pink on white dogs. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. The color of the almond shaped eyes is various shades of brown, depending on the coat color of the dog. The ears are usually cropped to stand erect (cut at the age of about 12 weeks). The pup's ears have to be taped for a couple of months to make them stand up. A lot of breeders are starting to leave the pup's ears natural. If left natural they develop ears somewhat like a hound. The tail is usually docked at the age of 3 days. If the tail is not docked it grows a tail somewhat like a hound. Note: cropping ears and docking tails is illegal in Europe. The chest is broad and the legs are perfectly straight. Dewclaws are sometimes removed. The short, hard, thick coat lies flat. Sometimes there is an invisible gray undercoat on the neck. The coat comes in black, black with tan markings, blue-gray, red, fawn and white. When markings appear they are above each eye, on the muzzle, throat, forechest, legs, feet and on the tail. There is also a solid white color. While white markings are considered a fault in some clubs, in others it is accepted. 

Temperament 

Doberman Pinschers are very keen, super energetic with tremendous strength and stamina. Dobes like to be with their people and are not suited to kennel or back yard life, they need human interaction and leadership. Loyal, tolerant, dedicated and affectionate with the family. Determined, bold and assertive while working, they are very adaptable, highly skilled and versatile. They are intelligent and very easy to train. They are an outstanding watch and guard dog and do not need additional protection training. This breed is not for everyone. The Doberman needs an owner who is willing and able to display a natural authority over the dog. All family members must be firm, confident and consistent, setting rules and sticking to them. Learning to handle the dog properly, as Dobermans can become stubborn and willful if allowed to have their own way. Everything must be on the humans terms. The dog is the follower, and the humans are the leaders. The dog will appreciate knowing his place in his pack and feel secure about it. He should be thoroughly socialized when young to prevent skittishness. Mental stimulation and a lot of daily exercise is important in order to produce a happy, stable minded Dobe. The Doberman needs to be consistently and thoroughlytrained. Dobes can be good family dogs if the alpha role belongs to the human and if they receive enough exercise, are well trained and are socialized with children. Although the Doberman has the reputation of being a very aggressive dog, this is just not the case. For example, Dobes make great therapy dogs. Issues arise when they reside with owners who do not display the proper leadership and or do not provide enough exercise. They are sweet and gentle with nursing-home patients - tippy-toeing over IV tubing and walking at the resident's speed (which can be very slow), while at the same time will fiercely defend his master if it becomes necessary. Dominancy levels vary, even within the same litter and the breeds temperament will vary greatly depending on how well the owners understand canine behavior and how willing they are to take the time to provide what the dog instinctually needs.

Height, Weight 

Height: Dogs 26-28 inches (66-71cm.), Bitches 24-26 inches (61-66cm.)

Weight: 66-88 pounds (30-40kg.)

Life Expectancy Up to 13 years.

Health Problems

Prone to possible cervical spondylitis (wobbler syndrome) due to fusion of neck vertebrae and compression of spinal cord; possible inherited blood disorder (Von Willebrands disease); obesity in middle age. Also prone to skin issues, bloat, hip dysplasia, and congenital heart defects. The gene which produces the albino (White) Dobermans is said to be the same gene which produced the famous white tigers and lions owned by Siegfriend & Roy in Las Vegas. Some also believe the gene is a masking gene, meaning it "takes over" and masks the color that the dog would be otherwise. White Dobe fanciers say there is no evidence, that this gene carries with it any deleterious or adverse health concerns that are sometimes associated with all white animals such as deafness, blindness, or unstable minds. Some breeders beg to differ claiming the gene does cause health issues.

Living Conditions 

Will do okay in an apartment if sufficiently exercised, but does best with at least an average-sized yard. Dobes are very cold sensitive and are not an outside dog. That is why police in areas where it gets cold are not able to use them.

Exercise 

The Doberman is very energetic, with great stamina. They need to be taken on a daily, long walk or jog, and need to be made to heel beside or behind the human holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way and that leader needs to be the humans.

Grooming : Dobes need little grooming and are average shedders.

Origin 

This is a breed of relatively recent origin. It was developed in Germany in the 1860's, presumably by crossing among the old shorthaired shepherds, German Pinschers, Rottweilers, Beaucerons,Manchester Terriers, and Greyhounds. The creator of this mixture was a German tax collector named Louis Dobermann. Dobermann had to travel frequently through bandit-infested areas, and decided to develop a watchdog and bodyguard capable of handling any situation that might arise. The breed is named after its originator (shortened by one n). The Doberman was first presented at a dog show in 1876. It was immediately a big success. The Doberman was first recognized by the AKC in 1908. Doberman Pinschers have many talents including tracking, watchdog, guarding, police work, military work, search & rescue, therapy work, competitive obedience and schutzhund.

Evolution and History of Dogs

The Evolution of Dogs - Is Man's best friend really a descendent of tamed wolves? - The Facts!

Biologists have debated over the history and evolution of the domestic dog for hundreds of years. Most Scientists now agree that dogs are directly descended from Canis Lupus - the Grey Wolf. Dr. Robert K. Wayne, canid biologist and molecular geneticist at UCLA, has shown, through DNA research, that dogs are more closely related to the Grey Wolf than Biologists had previously suspected. In fact, due in large part to Dr. Robert K. Wayne's genetic research, the authors of the "Mammal Species of the World" the internationally accepted reference source on mammal species, reclassified the dog in 1993 from Canis Familiaris to Canis Lupus.

The Evolution Dogs from Wolves - How could Wolves be tamed and Why?

We will never now exactly why or how wolves were tamed by man, but remains of dogs dating back 10 to 15 thousand years have been found, so we at least have a "ball-park" figure of when which helps to build a picture of the History and Evolution of dogs. The wolf and man had several important things in common, we were both hunters and also hunted in packs. It is certain that during our history our paths would have regularly crossed, we would have even hunted and eaten each other! The most likely scenario is that a human hunting party came across a very young Wolf Cub and decided to take it with them. The Wolf Cub would have been very puppy like at an early age, when grown although far less trustworthy than a dog of today, would not have been quite as dangerous as a wild Wolf. A semi-tamed Wolf would probably have had considerable value to a hunter gatherer group, lending its superior hunting senses to the group. This would have helped not just in hunting but defensively as a warning system as well. The evolution of the wolf to the domestic dog began.

The Evolution of the Domestic Dog - Selective Breeding Process

Puppy rescue would not have been an isolated case but would have happened in many different groups of human hunters over our thousands of years of evolution and history. Selective breeding would have been automatic. Keeping a wolf that became overly aggressive towards the humans, or of little practical use, would have been both pointless and dangerous - such a wolf would have been killed. Only the remaining Wolves, with desirable traits, would have been selected to breed. Eventually the traits of each group of tame Wolves would reflect the needs of the group of humans it lived with: it's size, colouring, senses and even the length of its coat or swimming ability reflecting the needs of the hunters and their environments. Eventually as the number of humans increased some degree of trade would have occurred between groups, puppies being swapped and traded based on the inbred traits they now possessed - the evolution and history of various dog breeds are explained.

The Evolution of Dogs from Wolves - Descendent of the Domestic Dog

Dr. Robert K. Wayne's work implies that the modern dog, although very similar genetically to the Grey 

Wolf, has many separately distinct origins in both time and locations. The Grey Wolf and our modern "canine best friend" are in fact so closely related to Grey Wolves that they can still interbreed, producing fully viable offspring.

How did dogs impact Human History? - The Evolution of the Different Breeds of Dogs

Understanding the changing requirements of man through our history and evolution enables us to put into perspective the hundreds of different breeds which were developed by man. The Groups, Classifications and Standards all begin to make perfect sense. The various 'landmarks' of the history and evolution of dogs is detailed below - for more details of each particular type of dog please refer to the links at the top of the page.

The Evolution & History of Dogs - The Sight Hounds

Sighthounds , also known as Gazehounds as their gaze focuses on the horizon seeking game, specialise in hunting their quarry by sight rather than scent. Sighthounds have distinctive characteristics, features and traits which are perfect for their purpose. Sighthounds have extremely good vision. They also have a long jaw and lengthy neck which assists them in sighting their quarry. Their lean muscular body, deep chest and long powerful legs essential assets when following any fast and agile prey.

Dogs History - The Scent Hounds

Scent Hounds specialise in following the scent or the smell of its quarry. It was not necessary for Scent Hounds to be as fast and agile as Sighthounds - they do not need to keep their quarry in sight. Scent hounds are built for endurance. They can follow a scent for long distances and even across running water. Scent Hounds have distinctive characteristics, features and traits which are perfect for their purpose. They have large noses which have deep, open nostrils and their lips are loose and moist, designed to pick up scent particles and follow the trail of an animal. Their ears are long which concentrates the scent on the nose. Their bodies are designed for endurance, an essential asset when following any scent trail.

Dogs Evolution & History - The Hound Dog Breeds

Hound Dogs have been bred to chase (or hound) a quarry by sight or smell, or a combination of both senses. Sighthounds have exceptional eyesight, combined with the speed and stamina necessary to catch the intended prey once seen, typical examples being the Greyhound and the Whippet. Hounds which rely strongly on the sense of smell to follow the trail of a prey, such as the Bloodhound, quite literally follow their noses, speed and eyesight is of less importance.

The Evolution & History of Dogs - Working Dog Breeds

Dogs in the Working group, were developed to perform a wide variety of tasks, such as herding, droving, pulling, hauling, herding, hunting, rescuing and guarding. The very nature of many of these tasks require a big, strong dog. Working dogs have always been viewed as real assets to their owners and have worked with man replacing larger animals such as horses when none such animals were available.

Dogs Evolution and History - Sporting Dog Breeds - Retrievers, Pointers and Setters

Sporting Dogs hunt by air scent, as opposed to ground scent. The Retriever, Pointer and Setter dogs were bred selectively which resulted in them fulfilling the needs of man. Retriever dogs find and return killed game to the hunter. Some Retrievers are especially equipped, for instance with a water-repellent coat and webbed feet, for retrieving downed waterfowl. Pointer dogs stand in front of their quarry, with their nose and body rigidly still , thus directing (or pointing) the hunter to its location. Setter dogs were originally trained to set, or crouch, in front of game preventing the escape of the quarry. The hunter would make the capture with a net. Man's own evolution and development in technology moved the traditional hunting methods away from primitive tools and nets - the Sporting Dogs were then called the Gundogs.

Dogs History and Evolution - The Terrier Dog Breeds

Dogs in the Terrier group were developed to hunt and kill vermin. The vermin included control rats, mice and other predatory animals such as foxes that might raided a farmer's produce and livestock. The very nature of these tasks required an energetic, tenacious, brave and determined dog.

The History of Dogs - The Non-Sporting Breeds

The characteristics and features of Non-Sporting Dogs cannot be generalised. Each breed would have originally have been introduced and strengthened by breeding with animals who already demonstrated the desired traits. As times, fashions and societies changed man established the need for breeds to assist in what was once considered entertainment such as bull or bear baiting or performing in a circus.

The Evolution & History of Dogs - Toy Dog Breeds

The Toy dogs were initially owned by the wealthy and were viewed by others as status symbols - a luxury item with little apparent purpose. The trend continue to this day. The references to Toy and miniature dogs are slowly being exchanged with references to Teacup dogs - a cute and descriptive name which is ideal for marketing this diminutive type of dog. 

The History & Evolution of Dogs - Dog Shows

Man's passion and pride in his dog led to the desire to show his dog and compare it to other breeds. The organised dog shows were therefore born in the middle of the 19th Century. The dogs were unidentified except for their kennel names! This led to real confusion - there were quantities of dogs with the same names - Rover, Spot etc which were insufficiently described according to their breed or type. Organisation was required - descriptions and breed standards were needed - the Kennel Clubs were born!

The Evolution & History of Dogs - The Modern Domestic Dog

The history and evolution of the various dog breeds still continues today. New uses are being found. The technology and the innovation of the Space Age led to the Russian Space dogs (please refer to the category and link at the top of the page on Famous dogs for more details) Dogs have even become Movie Stars. What will be the next step in the History and Evolution of Dogs?