The Argentine Dogo

A guard dog, could potentially become a large part of your life and family. So it is important that you know what you are getting yourself into when purchasing the dog. Most dogs are territorial and watchful over their families, however there are some breeds that are more naturally suited. Some breeds are genetically born with the right amount of guard drive that takes to be a good protection dog. A dog breed called the Argentine Dogo has the potential to be a great one. Originating in Argentina, the Argentine Dogo was developed in the 1920s, by a doctor who desired a dog that could pack hunt and also provide protection for a family. The Argentine Dogo is a mutt that results from the crossing of dogs like the Irish Wolfhound, Pointer, Bull Terrier, Great Dance, Spanish Mastiff, Bulldog and the Great Pyrenees. It resulted in creating a strong, and fearless breed. The Argentine Dogo possess characteristics that make it a wonderful guard dog. They are considered to be playful, social, and very good with children. This breed is sometimes reserved with strangers until learning who is accepted by the family. It is a very intelligent breed and is fairly easy to train. They can excel if they are trained firm and consistent. As well as making an wonderful guard dog, the Argentine Dogo could make an amazing guide dog for the blind.

One of the ingredients that make a good guard dog are good nerves. The build of an Argentine Dogo can sometimes be intimidating, this is only because they are very muscular. In order to maintain its strong muscular structure, this breed needs to have plenty of physical exercise. The Argentine needs to be socialized with people and dogs from an early age. Training for this breed could sometimes be challenging because they are constantly intrigued by smells and sights around them. In order to successfully train them, you must keep their attention at all times. They are also strong-willed and independent, they will thrive though if their owner is equally consistent and confident.

Of course, one cannot assume that any dog of a favorable breed will be suitable for work as a Dog. Every dog is different, and choosing a suitable Dogs happens on an individual basis. However, the basis of a good guard dog is good genetics, and nerves, the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherd have some of the best bloodlines, which have been bred for years to be the very best.
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The Beauceron

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The Beauceron, less commonly referred to as the Berger de Beauce, is a centuries-old breed that originated in Northern France. While the name might imply that the breed is specifically from the Beauce region, its origins are actually spread across several regions in the North of France. The breed was originally developed for use as a shepherd dog, and to guard livestock. Since then, the breed has gained a reputation in France for it's abilities as a Guard Dogs and its service in both World Wars.

Physically, the Beauceron is a large, muscular dog. The coat is short, course and most commonly Black and Tan. Several color variations also exist, but they are not included in the breed standard, and are considered grounds for disqualification in comformation dog shows.

Unlike many other breeds which may or may not have a dewclaw, the Beauceron is known for having a double dewclaw on each rear leg. Lack of a double dewclaw is also considered grounds for disqualification in comformation dog shows

Similar in appearance to many of the Pinscher breeds, the Beauceron is one of the breeds from which the Doberman Pinscher was developed

The history of the Beauceron and its natural guard instincts make the breed a suitable candidate for use as a guard dog. However, the mental development of the Beauceron is slower than in other common working dog breeds such as the German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois. As a result, care must be taken to avoid rushing into vigorous training exercises before the dog is ready.

Does the Chow make a good Guard Dog ?

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One of the factors that is so important when deciding to train a protection dog is the type of breed. The Chow Chow is a breed that was originated in Mongolia around 4,000 years ago. A guard dog needs to be somewhat large and well built, these characteristics help for the dog to be strong and powerful when needed. The Chow Chow does not exactly possess these traits, they are a medium sized breed that is not very strong. The males have a weight that is usually between 50 and 70 pounds. Chow Chows can become extremely lazy if they are not exercised regularly, so it is very important that they are taken for daily walks. This breed would thrive best if they had a lot of land to run on, it would give them their needed enrichment.

Another important factor when considering a breed for the possibility of becoming a personal protection dog, is their health. Unfortunately, Chow Chows are prone to having many different health problems. These problems include things like hip dysplasia, hot spots, stomach cancer and ear infections. All of these will be enhanced if the dog comes from a backyard breeder or untrustworthy pet store. That is why when buying a Chow Chow you should ask for the health history of both parents. Although it is impossible to predict the lifespan of a dog, this breed usually lives from 10 to 15 years old.

Lastly, another important factor is the dogs temperament and nerve strength. Chow Chows are typically well mannered and are a great family dog. They need to be socialized and trained starting from when they are puppies. It is important for the dog owner to start a set of strict rules for this breed starting from the very beginning. Chow Chows are usually a dominant breed and it is crucial for you a owner to stay in the alpha position and not let your dog dominate you. But this breed in no way possesses the overall nerve strength needed to become a good guard dog. In today's world the the only dogs that have strong enough nerves to do functional protection work is the German Shepherd, Dutch Shepherd, Belgian Malinois.

Female Dogs Coming into Season

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The decision to have a female dog spayed is one that is often made under the assumption that caring for a dog in heat is too much work. For those who've decided to keep their female German Shepherd intact, knowledge and preparation are all it takes to keep things under control without it being hassle, and for those who've decided to take on the task of breeding, knowing your dog's cycle becomes key to success.

The first step is being able to predict when your dog is going to be in season. Unlike some animals who enter mating season at specific times of the year, female dogs can be in heat at any time during the year. However, this does not mean that your dog is ready to mate for the entire year. In dogs, mating follows a regular cycle. It varies between breeds, and between individual dogs, but the majority of female German Shepherds will be in season approximately once every six months. Take note of the end of your dog's last cycle, and you can predict that it will happen again another six months from that time.

You will know that your dog is in season because she will begin menstruating. Bleeding typically lasts about a week, and is followed by about three weeks during which your dog is fertile. Unless you plan on breeding, it is very important that you keep your dog separated from male dogs during this time. Nearing the end of this time, your dog may require more attention and petting than usual.

Whether you're planning for German Shepherd Puppies, or have kept your female German Shepherd intact for other reasons, knowing your dog's cycle and knowing what to do when your dog is in season are extremely important.

Frozen Semen

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Bloodlines are very important when breeding dogs; they've been refined and specialized over hundreds of years to create the best breeds for a wide variety of purposes. Even today, canine bloodlines are still being refined through selective breeding of only the best dogs. It stands to reason then, that when a breeder happens across a dog that performs exceptionally well, they will want that dog to sire or dam as many litters or possible. Of course, a dog can only be bred so many times in a lifetime, but there are methods that allow one to store a dog's genetic material for future generations.

For male dogs, semen can be collected and stored for long periods of time through freezing. When first collected, semen will only stay effective in storage for between 3-5 hours. It is important to remember that sperm are essentially alive, and tend to have very short life-spans. However, immediately chilling the semen allows it to remain in storage for a much longer time; when chilled, it can often last as long as 2 days. When properly frozen, the storage-time increases exponentially. Essentially, frozen sperm can last indefinitely, but its quality and effectiveness may still degrade very slowly over time. It is important to note that properly storing frozen semen at the appropriate temperature is a difficult task. It requires temperatures lower than -300°F, and should only be attempted by a professional with proper safety equipment.

Unfortunately, the amount of time a sperm cell spends in storage is inversely proportional to the amount of time it will survive once warmed to body temperature and introduced to the uterus. Fresh semen will typically survive in an intrauterine environment for as many as 5 days, while chilled semen may only survive between 2-3 days. Frozen semen has the shortest intrauterine life-span, and may only last about a day. The chances of pregnancy occurring are directly related to the amount of time that sperm are able to survive within the uterus. This means that fresh semen has the highest chance of successfully leading to pregnancy, while frozen semen has the lowest.

Whether you're breeding German Shepherd Puppies, Belgian Malinois puppies, or Dutch Shepherd puppies, you should keep in mind that fresh semen and natural conception are always the preferred methods. Due to the costs of having semen stored at the appropriate temperature, as well as reduced effectiveness after being frozen, freezing and storing semen should only be done when absolutely necessary.

Taking Home Your New Puppy

So you have finally made the decision to bring home a new addition to your family? Before bringing home your first German Shepherd puppy there are many things that you need to think about and plan for. Getting a dog can be such a rewarding experience but it is important to realize that it also comes with years of responsibility. Make sure that you are ready for years of daily care, exercise, vet visits and the ability to give unconditional love to this animal.

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Bringing home a new puppy can be both an exciting and new situation, remember that a lot is going to change. It is important to make sure that everyone in your family is completely comfortable with the idea of bringing in a new puppy to your home. Create rules for yourself and your family on how to care for your German Shepherd puppy. Also you will need to prepare your house and yard so that they are set up as a safe environment. Gradually begin purchasing supplies that you will need for your puppy, such as food, and a crate prior to the day you plan on bringing it home.

Be sure to find a crate that is suitable for your puppy's growth as it will spend a lot of time in the crate during the crate training process. It is always good to have everything set up before the arrival of your puppy, to ensure that it has what it needs. Please remember that this puppy will be leaving its mother and everyday environment and entering into a strange one, which could make it very stressful for them. The more prepared you are and the more structured of a transition you create, will make it that much easier for your German Shepherd Puppy to adapt to its new home.

Skin Problem With Your Dog

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Most of the time when a owner sees their dog itching or scratching themselves, they they do not think anything of it. However, excessive itching, scratching, or even chewing at the skin could be a response to a skin problem your protection dog has. To know how good of health your dog is in, it is helpful to look at there skin. This is because a dog's skin is one of the many indications of your dogs health. All dog breeds and ages can be susceptible to skin problems; however, dogs young, elderly and dogs living in unhealthy environments may be more at risk. There are many different types of problems that your protection dog could get such as, hot spots, dry and flaky skin, acral lick granuloma, color or texture changes, shedding an hair loss, impetigo, allergic dermatitis, and yeast infections. These can occur due to a range of different causes, and it is important to find out what has. If you cannot, of course contact your veterinarian. One cause of many skin problems is seasonal allergies, the scratching could be a result common allergens like pollen, weeds, and dust. Some dogs may also develop food allergies to some ingredients found in dog food or fillers and colorings. Grooming products as well have been known to irritate dog's skin, it is important to make sure that your are using products made specifically for dogs. Metabolic or hormones can cause a change in the skin color, consistency, and thickness. Overall there are many causes of skin problems and it is best to investigate on them before it worsens.

Skin problems are a serious matter and can affect your dogs health very much if not cared for properly. Symptoms of skin problems are usually easy to identify, if you pay attention to your protection dog's behavior. Scratching, licking, chewing, scabs, redness, scaly patches on face and paws, rashes, swellings and rubbing their face on furniture or carpet are all symptoms of a dog with skin problems. It is not always the most simple thing to realize that your protection dog could have have a skin problem. This means it is important to contact your vet as soon as you see any abnormalities on the skin or witness excessive scratching, licking or biting. The vet will usually diagnose your animal by a skin biopsy, testing for ringworm, microscopic exam of the skin and hair, allergy testing, and blood tests. If your protection dog is diagnosed with a skin problem the ways it will be treated are by shampoos and ointments to treat parasites, a balance diet, dietary supplements, antibiotics, or injections to decrease the dog's reactions to allergens. Please note that there are ways to prevent your Protection Dogs from ever getting a skin problem, like using hypoallergenic shampoos, brushing your dog regularly, giving them a healthy diet, cleaning your home regularly and mostly providing them with a calm living environment.