Mr n Mrs Pet

German shepherd is also called Alsatian in Great Britain. The same name also prevails in several European regions. Because of its friendly behaviors it is among the most popular Dog Breeds in the US. It finds a respectable position in top 10 lists of favorite pets.



Physical Characteristics and Behavior

The German shepherd is a fearless, dominant dog that can at times be suspicious. It is characterized by high energy and intelligence. This breed is slow to accept friendships but when it does, that is for the lifetime. It can sometimes grow suspicious of the fellow beings.

Tips for Owners

● The germen Shepherd dog loves to be engaged in various activities, Lazing around or silently standing in a corner is definitely not something that it appreciates. So it needs a spacious places and a person high on energy.

● Don’t even think of adopting a German shepherd if you live in a small apartment or start panting after a small sprint. You would require loads of energy to make your high energy- germen shepherd happy.

● And remember, if your German shepherd is not allowed to involve in variety of activity it can express its displeasure in no uncertain terms and will continuously bark to attract your attention. It will also start chewing the things around and in some cases might also bite.

● The breed is known to be suspicious and that is the main reason it is preferred for the military services. However the same thing might not be appreciated by your guests who don’t want to be treated as “thieves” by a constantly barking German shepherd of their hosts.” However if you make it acquainted with various people and different social situation at an early age (while it is still a puppy). Your German shepherd will be less suspicious and more trustful.

● You should avoid adopting a German shepherd of you spend long hours away from the home or the nature of your job requires frequently touring’s. These dogs are very attached to their owners and in their absence they easily get annoyed and anxious.

● This breed is blessed with high intelligence and energy. So it likes to learn constantly. It is a fast learned and you can teach it variety of activities. Long hours of inactivity might also cause depression to these dogs so you should constantly keep them engaged in one sort of activity other other. It absolutely loves exercise like Jogging and responds well to various mind boggling exercises.

● These dogs shed hair freely due to their natural physical characteristics, so it is highly recommendable to brush it frequently if you don’t like to see the strands of hair sitting on your chair or sofa. You can also use a vacuum for the better results.

● These dogs are a den dwelling animal and feel more comfortable in the secured environment of a safe enclosure. Though we would definitely not recommend you to dig dens in your floor, you can offer them the substitute. Crate is one such substitute. You can encourage them to enter the crate by keeping their favorite food or toys inside it. It is easier to train a puppy for the crate training than a grownup dog.

● Like any other pet dog, German shepherd dislikes it when it is chained and used as a substitute for security guard. They not only get frustrated and anxious but gradually become aggressive. As they are not allowed to release their pant up energy it comes out in the form of excessive barking, chewing of whatever it sees around and even biting,

Some Interesting Facts

● During World War I when Corporal Lee Duncan saw a small puppy in a devastated breeding kennel the kindness met chivalry and he instantly adopted the adorable puppy. He trained the puppy extensively and introduced it to the tinsel town. It went on to become one of the highest popular showbiz dogs and rechristened as Rin Tin Tin. A street performer in numerous movies, Rin Tin Tin won many fans in a short span of time. In fact it was not rare for him to get as many as 10000 fan letters per week.

● They make a good companion for blind and sick people due to their generous nature.

● They played a key role in rescuing the survivors of 9/11 terrorist attacks and thus a large number of people owe their life to German Shepherds.

Conclusion

The German shepherd has a quite luxurious look with double coat. It has an inner coat and a straight outer coat. At time the outer coat can be wavy in appearance. Its hair is usually tan and black and is of medium length. They shed profusely and all 365 days of the year. Some of the rare color include all black or all white. It has a long body around 2 feet. They are intelligent dogs that can be trained to accomplish many tasks.

While treating our pet as your family member is an appreciative idea, you should be very careful while feeding them. Animal’s digestive system is not similar to human beings. So the food that you can easily digest might not be suitable for your pet. Likewise the coffee that scampers away your fatigue might pose a threat to your canine.



Here are some of the foods that should be kept away from your pets in order to keep them healthy:

Milk Licking Cat: A Big NO

We all are very familiar with the image of milk licking cat and many people make it a rule to feed at least a bowlful (or 2 or even 3!) of milk to their “feline friends” everyday. They think that it will provide them the required nutrients to keep your cat strong. It is based on the notion that drinking a glass of milk everyday makes you feel energetic. Though, we agree that it works well with you, the same cannot be said of your cat. Instead it can be harmful for it. The reason is obvious, there is a distinct difference in the body structure and function of the human beings and cats (or for that matter dogs). While we can digest the milk and milk products easily because of the lactase (the enzyme that breaks down the lactose) in our body, cats do not have the same advantage. They lack lactase and find it very difficult to digest the milk and milk products. So it can upset their stomach or can worse leads to diarrhea that is not only inconvenient for you but is also risky for the animal’s health. So feeding a bowl of milk to your dog or cat will do more harm than good.

Dog and Bone: Not Always a Good Combination

Dog and bone seem to be made for each other. So much so that as soon as we mention a pet dog, one of the first things to come to your mind is a bone. But did you know that it can be highly dangerous for your pet dogs especially if it is a puppy. Because of its very nature the bone can break down in sharp, pointed pieces and the dog can eventually swallow them. It not only poses the risk of choking but can also result in intestinal damage or harming the dog’s digestive tract.

Spices Are Not Always Good

Several common seasonings, including onions, garlic and chives, can create problems for your pets by triggering irritation in their gastrointestinal tract, possibly leading to serious red blood cell damage, asthma attacks, and even liver damage. Immediate signs of ingestion include vomiting, diarrhea, discolored urine and lethargy. Reactions seem to be more prominent among cats than dogs, though both have been known to react when exposed to raw, cooked or dehydrated varieties of these ingredients. While cats and dogs aren’t particularly attracted to the smell of onions or garlic, these items are so present in cooked food, we must remember not to give our pets meat that has been sautéed or garnished with these seasonings.

While we like to make our food more palatable by spicing them up with garlic, chives and what not, please save it for you only! It is really a bad idea to spice up the food of your pets. Your dog might waggle its tail happily while gulping the sautéed meat but these spices or seasonings will definitely harm its health to a great degree. Apart from Vomiting diarrhea and other digestion problems these spices will also interfere with their lifestyle. They can feel more lethargic and listless. In fact a regular diet of spiced food items can do some permanent harm to their digestion system and make them less active. So it is best to avoid feeding spiced food to your pets.

Topsy Turvy Not for Tommy

While you might find it perfectly fine start a lively gab or to shake a leg after a peg (or 2 or few), the same is not recommendable for your dog. Giving a glass (or bowl!) of whiskey or other alcoholic drink to your dog can be extremely harmful for you dig. It can result in many detrimental effects including breathing issues, vomiting, diarrhea, vomiting, hallucinations and visual problems. More sensitive breeds can have more severe problems like nervous system failure and coma. In some cases alcohol can also end the life of your loving dog. So next time if you are going to give your dog a bowl of alcohol you must know that you’re actually “poisoning” it.

Caffeine: Neither you’re Friend nor Your Pet’s

A cup of coffee can pep up your spirits instantly and do a quick servicing to your fatigued brain cells. But hey what are you doing? Going to feed your Tummy this caffeine laden drink! For heaven’s sake, NO!
If caffeine is harmful for you, it is outright detrimental for your pet. That is due to methylxanthines a chemical that can extensively interfere with the normal body functioning of animals. It not only results in digestive problems like vomiting, painting, hyperactivity and diarrhea but will also result in excessive urination and eventually result in increased thirst. It can result in life threatening symptoms too like imbalanced heart rhythms, breathing problems and even death.
Tip: The above is equally true for other products that contain caffeine like colas and energy drinks.

Chocolates Are Not Always Sweet

Just because you are back from your shopping trip does not mean that you should feed your dog with loads of chocolates. In fact the list of effects of this sweet treat is so long and so bitter in context of your dog that you would prefer them to starve instead of feeding them with chocolates. It also contains some amounts of methylxanthine. The bromine, an active chemical of chocolate that can instantly react with your pet’s health and results in hyperactivity, diarrhea, panting and dimities. Even greater care should be taken in case of smaller dogs even the small amounts of chocolate can be detrimental for their health.

Conclusion

The body system of animals is quite different to that of human beings. So the foods that are quite palatable and healthy for us are not good for our pet. It is very important to know about the diet of your pet breed. It is best recommendable to avoid feeding those spices, chocolates ice cream and other things that are processed.