How To Save a Choking Dog

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Your Personal Protection Dog is like any other animal, and can act curious about practically everything. Dogs often express their curiosity by picking up different things with their mouths. Being that they are low to the ground, this allows them to have numerous opportunities to gobble up objects, that could become choking hazards. It is important for a guard dog owner to know if your dog is actually choking and what to do if this emergency arises. If your Protection Dogs suddenly begins to run around in circles, pawing at their mouth, and is acting wildly and disoriented, they most likely have something lodged in their throat. These behaviors are what your dog does when trying to dislodge the item themselves. However, your protection dog may not be able to remove the object on their own, so it is your responsibility to step in and help them. Below are steps on how to save your choking protection dog.

First, if you think that your dog may be choking or have any doubts that they are able to breathe, call the emergency number for your vet immediately. Note that if your dog cannot breathe, they will not be able to cough or make noise. Once you get a hold of your vet you may be talked through first aid procedures, and asked to bring your pet in immediately. If for some reason you cannot contact your vet or until you get them to help, attempt to save your guard dog by using the following steps.

1. Restrain your dog if necessary.
2. Approach them slowly, speaking in a reassuring tone.
3. Clear their airway by opening the dog's mouth carefully. Do this by grasping the upper jaw with one hand over the muzzle. Press your thumb on one side of the mouth, and your fingers on the other. Apply firm pressure to force their mouth open. If you can see the
4.  object, try removing it with your fingers.
5. If you cannot remove the object, large dogs like German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Dutch Shepherds must be placed on their side on the floor. Place your hand just below the rib cage and press down slightly forward and firmly, then release. Repeat this several times until the object is dislodged.

Ear Mites, What To Look Out For

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What is an ear mite? Ear mites are tiny infectious organisms, similar to ticks, that infect the ear canals of dogs and cats. They are so small that to the naked eye, the look like a little white dot. Ear mites feed on the epidermal debris and ear wax. After burrowing into the ear canal, they cause inflammation which leads to the body creating more wax. Ear mites are usually transmitted through physical contact. This means that they are very contagious, so it is important for all of your pets to be treated at the same time. Ear mites are extremely painful and irritating because of the nonstop itching they cause your Personal Protection Dogs. As a result, the first symptom you will see is your dog constantly scratching, itching and shaking their head. A dark, waxy discharge can also be seen in Protection Dogs ears after awhile, caused from the ear mites. The amount of symptoms you see will also depend on the severity of the infestation. With more advanced infestations, the ear canals will begin to appear on the outside of your dog's ear canal.

Ear mites are very common in German Shepherds, but should be taken very seriously anyway. If they are left untreated, it could cause severe damage to the ear canal and possibly even hearing loss. If you see any kinds of signs that your dog could have ear mites, take them to the vet right away. It is always better to be safe, rather than sorry. When your dog is diagnosed, a cotton swab is used to sample the dog's ear wax. The vet will look for both mites and mite eggs, under a microscope. For treatment it is important to carefully clean out the dogs ears very gently, this goes a long way in trying to fix the problem. Dog ears are very sensitive, so any type of harsh movements could damage the ear drum. Next, a topical medication is applied to the ear. The medication contains anti-inflammatories to soothe the ear, anti-bacterial to minimize any other infection and an anti-paracidicital to kill the mites. This process of cleaning the ears and applying the medicine is usually continued for 7-10 days. The best way to prevent ear mites from every infecting your dog is to keep your Guard Dog away from any animal that could possible be infected. Most importantly just keep your eyes open for any strange behavior that your dog displays, and be ready to take them the the vet immediately.

Please remember that whether you have German Shepherd Protection Dog or any other breed of companion dog and they get a case of ear mites it's nothing to panic about just be sure to make an appointment as soon as you can to prevent any damage to the ear canal.

Allergy Problem in Your Protection Dogs

Sensitivity to environmental substances is incredibly common among human beings. While severe reactions to substances occur in many people, mild allergies to pollen or dust mites are much more prevalent. However, humans are not the only mammals affected by these strange sensitivities. Canines are just as likely to have allergies as humans are. However, the way in which these allergies present themselves can be very different. It is important to know what signs to look for in your Executive Protection Dog, and what actions to take if you suspect your dog may be having an allergic reaction.

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Unlike in humans, where mild allergies to pollen or mold manifest as a stuffy nose, or watery eyes, dogs with these types of allergies often suffer from skin irritation, especially around the ears, paws, flanks and groin. While this is often nothing to be overly concerned about, excessive licking and scratching can create sores in the skin that may become infected.

It is also possible for your dog to have a food allergy. In severe cases, vomiting, diarrhea or even seizures may occur, but often the symptoms are harder to spot. Flatulence, sneezing, and general irritation of the mouth, throat, or intestinal tract may all result from a food allergy.

Finally, canines can sometimes be sensitive to certain types of insect bytes. This is especially true of dogs who have previously had very little contact with this type of insect. A dog with an allergy to flea bytes may suffer from irritated skin and itchiness in the area for as long as a week after the byte.

Detecting and pin-pointing allergies can be a very difficult task. It is common for allergies to develop over time rather than being present for birth, which makes the task of narrowing down possible allergens even more difficult. In all cases, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian if your German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois is suffering from any of the above symptoms. Every case is different, so it is up to you and your veterinarian to pin-point possible allergies. Of course, knowing what symptoms to look for is the first step in keeping your Personal Protection Dog happy and healthy.

Which Breed Is Best For KNPV

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There are many different breeds that are associated with KNPV. Some breeds of course are better suited then others just as some breeds are better suited to be helper dogs then other. In this article we will explain why the Belgian Malinois is best for KNPV then most other breeds.

First we will give you a little bit of history on dog training and KNPV. Back in the early 1900's when people talked about a trained police dog, they mostly thought of the qualities of the dog's smelling sense, a quality that was highly overestimated, leaving the dog's ability to hear and bite was pretty much overlooked. As time went on it taught people that the protection abilities of a dog were also very important for actual police work too. Disappointed in not being able to create the perfect miracle dog that could find, track, and protect brought the realization that every dog breed is distinctive, and therefore, every breed is somewhat limited in what it can do. With this in mind trainers had to go about training a particular dog that fitted the breed best, however, the goal was always to pass the KNPV trial in discipline, tracking and protection.

Bouviers were one the first of the various breeds that were put to the many KNPV trial tests. Other breeds such as German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds, Dobermans, and Belgian Sheepdogs were also among the breeds tried in the KNPV tests. As most other breeds used declined over the years one breed stood out and received more and more titles each and every year, and that breed was the Belgian Malinois.

Belgian Malinois are the best fit when it comes to KNPV because they are naturally good strong willed, and genetically bread with sound nerves and are a much harder dog than most breeds. Amongst other breeds they are very intelligent and possesses a strong desire to work. Belgian Malinois are naturally protective of their owners but are known to be not overly aggressive. Each year there are 800-1000 dogs titled KNPV each year with 90% of them being Belgian Malinois with the exception of 1% being German Shepherds.

Remember that KNPV is a sporting title and a certification program for civilians to train dogs and not necessarily a title that is given to represent a Executive Protection Dog.Personal Protection Dogs are specifically trained to protect and having a KNPV title is just a bonus to any qualified trained Protection Dogs.

Responsibilities Of The Working Police Dog

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Working dogs have been used by police forces for over a century. In the late 1800s, Belgian police officers were under frequent attack during their nightly urban patrols. The unlucky officers demanded that additional forces be hired and trained to assist them. Unfortunately, lack of funding made this impossible. The Belgian government's solution was to, instead, train working shepherd dogs to assist with patrols. To the Belgian police, this was hardly an ideal solution. The intimidating size and ferocity of the dogs was effective in deterring attacks against the police officers, but there were often cases of the dogs attacking the officers themselves. However, through persistent training, the Belgian police were soon able to mold these working dogs into loyal, obedient, and highly effective protection dogs. The use of working dogs by police forces soon spread through Europe into Germany, Austria, France and The Netherlands. Today, police dogs are in use all over the world.

The roles of police dogs have changed considerably since their early use as a criminal deterrent. Protecting police officers is still top priority for police dogs, but aggressive attacks against police officers is an increasingly rare phenomenon. Often, these dogs are released to pursue and detain suspected criminals who are attempting to flee from police. Due to their size, intelligence and loyalty, the German Shepherd,Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherd are the most common breeds used for this purpose. While these breeds are fully trained and capable of sniffing and tracking, certain situations sometimes require the use of other breeds by police. For example, Beagles are sometimes used to sniff baggage in airports, due to their friendly appearance. While a properly trained German Shepherd is no less dangerous than a Beagle in reality, the smaller Beagle is used to avoid unnecessarily worrying airline customers who may have a fear of large dogs. Bloodhounds are also sometimes used due to their reputation as exceptional trackers, especially in missing persons cases where police are in search of a body. It is important to note, however, that these smaller breeds should only be used in situations where there is no possibility of confrontation with a dangerous criminal.

In the past century, police dogs have played an integral role in helping to maintain law and order in society. So valued are police dogs for their bravery and loyalty, that many are sworn in as official officers, and even given full police funerals in the event that they are killed in the line of duty. For the work they have done and the lives they have saved, police Dogs have truly earned that honor.

Can A Gun Dog Be A Protection Dog ?

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A gun dog, also known as a bird dog, is a type of working dog used by hunters. Their job is to assist the hunter by finding and retrieving game, usually some type of fowl. There are three types of gun dog: pointing dogs, flushing dogs and retriever dogs. Each is trained to assist the hunter in a different way. There are even a number of dog breeds developed specifically for pointing or retrieving. The Golden Retriever and English Pointer are common examples.

The difference between a pointing dog, flushing dog and retriever dog makes them appropriate for hunting different types of game, in different settings. However, personal preference of the hunter is also a factor in which should be used. Pointers, and also setters, are named after the pointing action they take upon discovering game. When game is found, the dog is trained to freeze in place, and remain perfectly still while indicating the location of the game by pointing towards it with its muzzle. The hunter is then able to flush out the game and take a shot. Flushing dogs are best used on game that is likely to run from the hunter on ground. Instead of freezing in place to point, the dog is trained to aggressively flush out the game, causing it to take flight. This allows the hunter a clear shot. Both of these types of gun dogs are trained to retrieve the downed game upon command, usually soon after the shot. Retrievers are most often used when hunting waterfowl, and are trained to sit calmly and quietly while the hunter takes shots on birds that come into range. The dog must watch the gun and mark each downed bird. After the shooting, the dog is then instructed to retrieve each mark. Retrievers are also able to take commands from the hunter in order to find birds which the dog did not see fall.

While each type of gun dog is trained for a different purpose, there are similarities between them and the way they have been trained. First and foremost, is their ability to ignore gunfire. Gun dogs are trained to sit still and calm in the presence of gun fire, and some pointers are even trained to freeze in place upon hearing it. The sound of a gunshot is loud and unnatural. Even most humans can be unnerved by it. To get a dog to ignore gunfire takes training and obedience. Obedience is another key factor in the training of gun dogs. The dog must be able to sit still, calm and quiet for extended periods of time. This is especially true of retrievers. Finally, communication is an important part of any working dog's training. Gun dogs are not just able to understand verbal commands, but are also able to understand the situation. This is especially important when multiple pointers are used as they are often trained to honor the point of another dog by pointing alongside of it.

There is no question that the work of gun dogs and the work of Protection Dogs are worlds apart. A breed developed for use as a gun dog could never perform true protection work the way that a German Shepherd,  or Belgian Malinois can. However, there is one key area of training where these two worlds overlap. Training for the event of gunfire. A good Executive Protection Dog needs to be able to remain calm and steady, and know how to react in the event of gunfire.

Do American German Shepherd Make Better Protection Dogs

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To the average person, the difference between a German Shepherd bred in America versus one bred in Germany may not be readily apparent, but the differences are numerous in both physical appearance as well as temperament and working ability. If one were to visually compare the German lines with American lines, the most immediately noticeable difference would be in the angulation of the back and hind-quarters. American German Shepherds are typically bred to emphasize a long body with strong angulation in the back and hindquarters.

Their build is often leaner with longer muzzles and a thinner head. On the other hand, German bloodlines often have a heavier build. Their heads are more square, and their backs are slightly sloped without excess angulation. Concerning temperament, the most important difference is in nerves. American bloodlines have a reputation for producing milder dogs with weaker nerves. German bloodlines, especially West German working lines and East German DDR working lines, are bred specifically to have strong nerves and a strong desire to work.

The key thing to consider is that American bloodlines are bred as show line dogs for aesthetic qualities over working ability. While long bodies and angulation may look nice, American show line dogs lack the balance, speed and agility required of Protection Dogs and Guard Dogs. This does not mean that working line dogs cannot be bred in America, but any capable working dog bred in America will be bred from import German working line dogs. German bloodlines have been bred exclusively for utility and working ability since the original development of the German Shepherd in the late 1800s. The Schutzhund trials were originally put in place to maintain to working ability of the German Shepherd breed. German working dogs who do not posses the required strength, agility and nerves simply aren't permitted to breed. This ensures that only the best and brightest working line dogs are produced in Germany. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for breeding standards in America.