Tracking Canine for Finding Wounded Deer

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Around 15 million U.S residents take part in hunting every year. Each hunter has the goal of killing their game with as little error as possible, so that they can easily find where the game has landed. Regardless of how skilled of a hunter you may be, everyone will eventually make a bad shot. When the less than perfect shot is made, the deer will become wounded and most likely wander off. This makes it difficult to recover the animal, especially if the hunter can not visually see the path or blood trail that it took. The best thing that you can have when you find yourself in a situation like this is a trained tracking dog German Wirehaired Daschshunds started off as the predominate breed for tracking dogs, but other breeds like the Labrador, German Shepherd, Begian Malinois and Basset Hound have been just as successful. It is a matter of personal preference as to which dog breed you chose to use a a tracking dog. The most important thing is finding a dog with a great sense of smell, intelligence, and a desire to please their owner.

A well trained tracking dog can recover the wounded game hours, or even days after the shot has been fired. Once you have given up on the trail you have been following and have decided to bring in a tracking dog, make sure to mark the last blood sign first. It is important not to start your dog at the place where you lost the blood trail, mostly because this spot will be covered with human scent in your attempt to find the next spot of blood. So even though it may be time consuming, it is always a good thing to start your dog yards off the visible blood trail and possible even at the very beginning. This will also help your dog to become familiar with this individual deer scent. A well trained tracking dog must learn how to follow day old lines of wounded deer and ignore the fresh scent of deer that may have recently passed the trail. Remember that the dog could get lost because of the blood and deer scent that the you have on your shoes. If the dog is having trouble slowly lead the dog on a 50 or 100 yard radius, carefully watching them because the dog may find a new drop of blood that has not been spotted before. Continue searching until the dog finds the deer, and make sure that you give the tracking dog a lot of praise. Please understand that success is not always guaranteed, but your chances of finding the wounded game will definitely be enhanced by having a tracking dog.

Do realize that almost all dog breeds have some natural hunting and tracking ability but we find that the Labrador, German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois and Basset Hound have the greatest sense of smell, intelligence, and desire to please their owners.

The Importance of Regular Hip and Elbow XRay for your Dog

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Hip and elbow dysplasia can be found in a variety of animals, including humans. However, the disorder is commonly found in, and associated with canines. Larger and especially active dogs are particularly at risk due to the excess stress put on their limbs and joints.

Dysplasia is an inherited disorder, and diagnosis can be tricky. While some sever cases are recognizable in a dog's infancy, many cases go unnoticed until well into the dog's adult years. Dysplasia is the most common cause for arthritis in canines. The disorder often worsens as the dog ages and can be both painful and debilitating.

Work as a Protection Dogs often involves rigorous exercise. As a result, flaws in the hip joints affecting balance and posture often become apparent far sooner than in less active dogs. Because dysplasia is inherited, dogs from poorly maintained German Shepherd bloodline are often at high risk. Working line German Shepherd breeders need to pay special attention to the hips and elbows of their dogs in order to ensure that they are not introducing dysplacia into their bloodlines.

While your Personal Protection Dogs may not show symptoms of hip or elbow dysplasia for the majority of its adult life, there is still a chance that minor deformations in the joints will worsen over the years with standard wear-and-tear caused by the exercise your dog needs. Regular x-rays of your dog's joints can help you and your vet monitor your Executive Protection Dogs for signs of dysplasia in the joints. For working dogs who may be getting on in their years, signs of hip and elbow dysplasia may be an indicator that it's time to retire your canine to a less active lifestyle.

All about Guard Dog Anal Glands

When taking on the responsibility of owning a Personal Protection dogs, it is important to be educated about their health, especially the different types of health problems they could develop. Dogs have two small glands located on both sides of their rectal opening, they are called anal glands. Each gland is filled with a small amount of sickly smelling brown liquid. Each time your guard dog urinates or defecates, a small amount of pressure is applied to the anal glands, and a tiny amount of the fluid is released. Each dog has their own unique scent that is produced from the anal gland. If you have ever wondered why dogs tend to sniff each others rears, it is because they are smelling the other dog's scent. It may seem strange, but this is how your protection dog will learn to identify other dogs. This behavior is as normal to dogs as the behavior of humans shaking hands when meeting someone new.

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Although it is not common, it is possible for anal glands to form a infection. This happens when the anal gland liquid is not released sufficiently, and bacteria begins to build up. When this infection is left untreated it can turn into an abscess. This abscess can then rupture the skin, which will obviously lead to more complications. It is often believed that dog anal gland problems can be linked back to the quality of pet food that it is given. Cereal fillers are often used in inexpensive dog food brands, and they tend to make the stool soft. If the stool is not able to press firmly on the anal glands, it will not provide enough pressure to release the fluid. That is why you should take the necessary actions to buy a higher quality dog food, that will produce a firmer stool. This will not only help to prevent anal glad problems, but it will more than like be a better food for your Executive Protection Dogs.

If your personal protection dog, for example your German Shepherd does however develop a anal gland infection, there are many signs that you can look for. This infection will make your guard dog very uncomfortable and being able to see the abnormal signs will be simple. One sign is that your dog will be scooting or dragging his rear across the floor. Another sign is if your guard dog keeps licking or chewing near his rectum. Also if your dog's stool becomes soft and mushy. If you notice a foul or fishy smell from your dog's rear, this is also a sign that they may have a anal problem. When you notice one or more of these signs, it is a good idea to take the Guard Dogs in for a check up with their vet. If the infection has not progressed too severely, then the vet will most likely manually express the anal glands. This type of procedure is a job that is better to be left to professionals.

Cloudy Eyes in Your Dogs

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As a dog owner, making sure that your Personal Protection Dogs is healthy should be one of your main priorities and responsibilities. One health problem that may occur for you dog is a cloudy eye or otherwise known as keratitis. Keratitis is the inflammation of the cornea, causing the cornea to become cloudy. The keratitis infection occurs when a bacterial infection complicates the corneal ulcer. The bacteria that most commonly infects the eye is Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Pseudomonas. When this happens the eyelids become swollen and matted. Some dogs are more likely to develop keratitis for example, dogs with short noses and prominent eyes and breeds such as the boxer. This infection covers the iris and pupil and limits light to enter the interior of the eye. The inflammation can also be accompanied by loss of the first layer of the cornea or loss of deep layers. At first, the eye might not be noticeable which could lead to trouble diagnosing your dog's keratitis. That is why it is very important to be alert and take your protection dog to the vet if there are any signs.

There are many signs that you can look for in your dog to diagnose keratitis. One sign is if your dog's eye looks red and painful. Another is if the eyes are watery or teary and if the animal squints. Also if they are sensitive to the light or rub at their eyes. The eye might remain closed and discharge could become present on or around the eye and eyelids. And one of the common signs is the eye becoming cloudy. If any of these signs are noticeable, take your protection dog to the vet as soon as possible. Once there the keratitis will be diagnosed through a complete eye examination. The vet will inspect the eye and cornea carefully and a test for the presence of corneal erosions by placing dye into the eye will be done. If keratitis is is diagnosed then certain steps will be taken to treat the infection. The treatment ultimately depends on the cause and severity of the corneal disease. Dogs with deep or rapidly progressive corneal damage may require hospitalization for surgery or frequent medical treatment. If it is not severe then surgery is not needed and antibiotic will be applied. Like any other health problems, be alert for signs of abnormalities in your Protection Dogs, and be prepared to take the necessary steps to keep them healthy.

What is Line breeding ?

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Line breeding is the mating of two individuals that share one or more common ancestor. There are many different degrees of this type of breeding, such as close line breeding. Close line breeding is often used to describe matches like a uncle and niece, two half siblings, or a grandfather and granddaughter. The purpose of this type of breeding is to ultimately make the breed stronger, such as the German Shepherd, this is done by using one ancestor as a "pivot point". This means that each generation is planned to utilize the genetic benefits of that one German Shepherd ancestor. The breeder will keep combining the dogs in ways to eliminate weaknesses through the generations. The goal for the breeder is to maximize and build on the strengths of that German Shepherd ancestor. Many species line breed naturally, however, many do not because of the limited number of available mates.

Along with other types of breeding there are both advantages and disadvantages to line breeding. An advantage is that the breeder mostly knows what they are going to achieve as a result of this type of breeding. Line breeding is the most common form of breeding used by hobby breeders. This is because it allows them to learn the strengths and weaknesses of the dogs they are working with. For example, it allows they to know what types of physical and temperament traits will be present in each litter. Overall it gives the breeder the opportunity to set desired characteristics. There are a few disadvantages that this type of breeding has however. One being that there is a chance that some characteristics could be set in your line that you do not want. These unwanted traits are then usually very hard to lose. Also, because of the fact that the breeder is working within a small gene pool, they risk the loss of hybrid vigor. Hybrid vigor is when a offspring is born with stronger, healthier characteristics. For example a German Shepherdcould be born with a much stronger build and temperament than its parents. Without question line breeding can be both beneficial and risky, but like always it is the breeder's decision on what chances they are willing to take when breeding dogs.

Airedale Terrier As a Security Dog

The Airedale Terrier is one of the largest terrier type breeds, and the largest among those originating in Britain. However, Airedales bred for dog shows are often much smaller. The Airedale has a medium-length double-layered coat with a soft undercoat underneath a coarse, wiry topcoat. The coat is most often black around the back and sides of the dog, with tan around the head, legs and tail. The tail is sometimes docked shortly after birth, although this practise has been made illegal in Britain.

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The Airedale Terrier was originally bred in the late 1800's, and is most likely a cross between smaller Terrier breeds and a larger hunting dog known as the Otterhound. Like the Otterhound before it, the Airedale became popular among hunters. However, unlike Terriers before them who were often accompanied by a pack of Bloodhounds, and expected to enter the dens and burrows of prey after the Bloodhounds had sniffed them out, Airedales became more of a jack-of-all trades breed capable of both sniffing out and taking down larger animals. As well as being efficient hunting dogs, the size and temperament of the breed suited it well to work as a guard dog on British farms. During the the First World War, Airedales were used to deliver messages during battle. Later, they were also given the task of finding and retrieving wounded soldiers from the front lines.

After seeing the impressive work of Belgian Malinois police Protection Dogs in Belgium, Airedales were also adopted into British police forces. However, they were later replaced by the German Shepherd as the most common breed used for police work. During the 1930s, American breeders in Ohio developed what is known as the Oorang strain of Airedale Terrier. Bred to be larger and sturdier than previous Airedales, an attempt was made to market the Oorang as "the greatest utility dog in the history of the world." The kennel closed and breeding of Oorangs ended in 1970 upon the death of its creator, Walter Lingo. However, some kennels still claim to produce original Oorang Airedale Terriers today.

Today, the Airedale Terrier is still an impressive breed. However, they have mostly been replaced by other breeds for work as Guard Dogs or police dogs, and their role as a hunting breed is now largely obsolete.

The KNPV Bicycle Exercise

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Starting in the early 1900's Koninklijke Nederlandse Politiehond Vereniging (K.N.P.V.), translated as "Royal Dutch Police Dog Sport", was created to test the breeding potential of working dogs to ensure their bloodlines remained strong. This program has provided trained working dogs to police, military, and rescue organizations. Certificates that are offered in this organization are among the most coveted and respected in world. Dogs that undergo this training are demanded of great character, physical strength agility and stamina. There are many different exercises and training programs that the dogs go through in K.N.P.V.. Points are given in each part of the K.N.P.V., each part of it consists of different exercises with over 50 exercises in all. An example of one of these training exercises is the bicycle exercise.

The K.N.P.V. bicycle exercise is an essential exercise that evaluates the dog on how it will handle an assailant fleeing on a bicycle. The exercise reviews the dog in five different areas; waiting & obeying command, way of pursuit, way of stopping, out, non biting and guarding. Each area starts out with a decoy (playing an assailant) fleeing on a bicycle, each area of this exercise has a max score of 5 points. The handler will give the dog a command while the decoy is fleeing on the bicycle and in one of the areas of the exercise the dog must bite the decoy in an attempt to stop him. Early in K.N.P.V. this part of the exercises the dogs were trained to bite the decoy on an arm or upper body but after some time they had to change the bite location to the legs because too many decoys were being injured falling off of the bicycles. The total points scored in the complete K.N.P.V. bicycle exercise is 30 points out of the complete 435 points for a perfect KNPV score.

Even though K.N.P.V. is a sporting title and not all of the exercises relate to a Personal Protection Dogs there are a lot of exercises that do relate such as the bicycle exercise. If you were robbed or injured by an assailant and he tried fleeing on a bicycle your Executive Protection Dogs could possibly attack or stop the assailant.

KNPV And The Dutch Shepherd

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The Koninklijke Nederlandse Politiehond Vereniging (KNPV), or translated in English as the Royal Dutch Police Dog Association was founded in 1907 in the Netherlands. This organization was originally formed as NPV and the K was not added until February 28, 1912. When looking at the KNPV logo, many will wonder where the K is, but it is actually represented by the crown above the crest. KNPV was created because there was not a organization whose goal was to organize training of police dogs or to spread the knowledge of this training. This organization conducts police dog trials and then offers certificates that are coveted and respected around the world. These tests require a dog of great character, physical strength, agility and stamina.

The Dutch Shepherd is one of the many dog breeds used in KNPV. Normally most of the dogs that get the title for the KNPV is the breed of the Belgian Malinois. However, there are other breeds that are chosen as well. For example, there is 1% of German Shepherds chosen and 3% of Dutch Shepherds chosen. This year however most of the trials in all parts of Holland there was a higher percent of Dutch Shepherds that received the KNPV certificate.

The major different between Dutch Shepherd and the Belgian Malinois is there distinctive brindle coloring. They have a coloring that is predominately brindle. Hollanders selectively choose Dutch Shepherds as a breed that they take a lot of pride in. The fact that more have been titled this year then any other year is a great thing for these Hollanders. They have genetically strong bred nerves, which is very valuable. They are social, affectionate and loyal yet very guarded toward strangers. Also they make great Family executive Protection Dogs. These characteristics help to make the Dutch Shepherd a great Personal Protection Dogs and Executive Protection Dogs.

Introducing Your Protection Dogs into a Home With Cats

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Bringing a new Executive Protection Dogs into the home can be a wonderful experience, and a great addition to the family that adds both loyalty and protection. However, it may take some time for family members to adjust to a new dog in the home. More so than the humans in your family, pet cats may have the most difficulty adjusting. However, making the right preparations can help ensure that your pets and your protection dog can live together peacefully.

The first step is always to educate oneself on canine and feline behavior. If you can predict how the animals in your home are going to react to one-another, then you can make the right preparations to ensure that initial introductions go smoothly. First and foremost, understand that canines are social creatures. When introducing your new Personal Protection Dogs to your cats for the first time, you must ensure that you have complete control of the situation at all times. Under no circumstances should the animals in your home be left alone to sort things out for themselves.

The initial introduction between your new dog and your cats should be done in an environment where you control the safety of your dog and your cats at all times. The use of a dog crate is extremely helpful. To a dog, the crate is a comfortable and relaxing place. Keeping your dog in its crate while inside the home will help it to associate the smell of your cats with comfort of its crate. It is important that your cats recognize the new addition to your home as a safe companion, and not a threat. With time, you can allow your dog into the home while on a leash. Take your time, and don't rush the process. Remember that you must be in control at all times.

Some cats may insist on instigating problems even after all the precautions you take. Be aware of your pets' behavior, and how they seem to be handling the new situation. Fortunately, given time, the majority of pets should be able to live in harmony with your new Guard Dogs. Whether you have a new German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois or Dutch Shepherd, taking it slowly and remaining in control are key to ensuring a peaceful and happy bond between your protection dog and your pets.

KNPV - Not Barking Under Gunfire

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We've all seen someone jump at the sound of a balloon popping, or the classic prank of bursting a paper bag next to an unwitting friend, but few people realise the importance of understanding our reactions to loud noises, and how working dogs might react to these noises. There are many people who have never heard the sound of a gunshot in their lives. They may understand what a gun is, and that it makes a loud noise, but hearing that sound for the first time is almost guaranteed to be a nerve-wracking experience. Now imagine how a canine might react, having no knowledge of what a gun is, or what it might sound like. The sound of gunfire immediately provokes fear and confusion in many animals. However, conditioning Working Dogs to remain focused during gunfire is something that hunters and police officers have been doing for centuries.

The sport of KNPV recognizes the need for a dog that can remain calm during gunfire, and includes exercises which are designed to test a dog's reaction to gunfire. The most basic exercise is simply training the dog not to bark during while using firearms. The most natural reaction for a dog to have in response to loud noises is to bark. This makes training a dog not to bark during firearms exercises exceptionally difficult, but it's certainly not impossible. However, good training is only one side of the equation. It is extremely important for a dog to have strong nerves, as it will make a calm and controlled reaction to frightening noises that much easier to achieve. It is for this reason that police Personal Protection Dogs are specifically bred to have strong nerves.

It is commendable of KNPV to include exercises, such as not barking under gunfire, which test the needs of working police dogs. Of all dog sports, KNPV comes the closest to mimicking real life scenarios with its exercises. However, one should always remember that KNPV is just a sport. True Protection Dogs should be trained for protection work in the real world, not for sport.

Understanding Your Protection Dogs Needs

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As a protection dog owner, you have taken the responsibility of doing anything possible to ensure that your dog is happy and healthy. This responsibility is not always something that everyone takes to heart. Sometimes people get so caught up in their own lives that they forget about their dog's needs and well being. It is very important for you to understand your Protection Dogs needs in order to fulfill them successfully. The basic need of your dog which you should most definitely know are food, water, and shelter. You should be well aware as a protection dog owner that your dog needs to be fed regularly and have water available for them at all times. Also your dog needs exercise, bathing and grooming, these are all necessary in order to ensure that your dog has the proper nutrition and stays healthy. Another need that is necessary to keep your protection dog healthy is stimulation. Your dog's brain needs to be stimulated often, in order to keep them satisfied and balanced. What many people do not realize is that your dog need the mental stimulation by watching everything around them, this can be done by simply taking them for a walk.

Consistency, it is something that is essential for your Personal Protection Dogs to have, in order to feel safe and secure. Your dog needs to feel like part of your family, meaning that you must think of it as such. You must include them in family activities. It is important for you to assess your current situation before bringing a dog into your home, because it is not fair for them if you neglect them due to your busy life. Your protection dog needs to socialize with other dogs and people starting from when he is just a puppy. A responsible dog owner will provide their Executive Protection Dogs with medical care, including taking them to the vet regularly for shots and check-ups. If you ever have to leave your dog for something like a vacation, it is crucial to consider ahead of time what you will do with them. If you choose to board them, visit the kennel in person to make sure that it is a clean, safe, inviting environment, so you know that your dog will be taken care of. More than anything it is important to know that one of the most important needs of your dog is love. It is essential for you and your family to give your dog as much love as you possibly can. Treat your Elite Protection Dogs in a way that is kind, loving way and in return they will learn to love and respect you.

KNPV and Water Exercise

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KNPV is a lot closer to real protection work than many other dog sports because it comes the closest to mimicking real scenarios. One scenario seen in KNPV that isn't seen in other sports is the presence of water in the environment. In the real world, a police Protection Dogs must not only be able to swim, but must be able to do so with speed and efficiency in order to engage a target across a body of water, or to rescue a drowning person from a river with strong current.

KNPV uses two exercises to test a dog's swimming ability. In the first exercise, the dog is instructed to swim across a canal with a minimum distance of 15 meters, wait at the other side, and then return to the handler when instructed. Unfortunately, while it is admirable that KNPV would include water exercises, this exercise does not come close enough to a real scenario to be effective as training for a true Personal Protection Dogs. In the real world, the dog will be sent across a body of water in order to perform a task, such as engaging a target. To have the dog sit and wait for a second command to be given on the other side of a river is absurd, and wastes valuable time. The dog should be trained to swim the distance and engage the target with one command.

In the second exercise, the dog is instructed by the handler to retrieve a large object in the water, approximately 7 meters out, and bring it back to shore. Again, it is admirable that KNPV would include this exercise, but it is still not close enough to the real scenario. The most important thing a dog could be bringing back to shore in this instance would be a human life. To depend on a dog that has only been trained to haul an inanimate object in calm waters to save a living human being is simply unacceptable.

The bottom line is that KNPV is just a sport. Whether you're training a Belgian Malinois, a Dutch Shepherd or a German Shepherd as a police protection dog, it must be trained for the real world, using real world scenarios and real danger. There is simply no substitute for true Executive Protection Dogs training.

When Will My German Shepherd Finish Whelping

The term "whelping" is used to describe the final stages of canine pregnancy and the birthing of litters. As is true for pregnancy in any mammal, a pregnant canine will require care and attention to unsure that the whelping goes smoothly and that the pups are born without difficulty or complication. Unfortunately, some complications are impossible to avoid, but knowing what to expect and when to expect it will help you prepare for the best possible whelping scenario.

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Canine pregnancy typically lasts about three months from the date of conception. This varies from breed to breed, but is generally true of most medium-sized dogs, such as the German Shepherd. Mark the expected date of birth on your calendar. The litter may not necessarily be born on this exact date, but it should serve as a good reference for when to start preparing for whelping. One to two weeks before the litter is expected, your dog should be noticeably pregnant, with an enlarged abdomen. You should being taking your dog's temperature regularly during this time, as changes in body temperature will mark the first signs of labor.

Labor typically begins between 24 and 48 hours before birth. The first stages may not be immediately noticeable, but the temperature of your dog will begin to drop from its regular temperature of about 99-101°F. As her temperature drops, she will begin to pant heavily. She may vomit, or begin shaking, and will likely need to urinate frequently. Her temperature should bottom out at about 98°F, at which point she will begin giving birth within 2-12 hours, depending on whether or not it is her first litter. At this point, your dog will be in her second stage of labor, and will be visibly straining with contractions. Newborn German Shepherd puppies will not be far behind, so be sure not to leave her side during this period.

Of course, having your veterinarian on speed-dial is a necessity during whelping. Complications in whelping can risk the life of the pups as well as the bitch. Be prepared to transport your dog to a veterinary hospital if the need arises. Hopefully, all will go well, and your female German Shepherds will have successfully whelped a healthy litter of German Shepherd Puppies.

KNPV Guarding an Article Exercise

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The Koninklijke Nederlandse Politiehond Vereniging (KNPV) is a dog sport originating in Holland that uses a number of exercises in an attempt to mimic situations encountered by police k9 units. One such exercise is centered around guarding an object.

For dogs with a natural protective instinct, training to guard an article should not be a difficult task. The same guard drive that a canine would have experienced in the wild to protect food, a den or young puppies, can be applied to any object. For the K.N.P.V. exercise, the dog's are trained to ignore distractions such as a people walking past the article, and to attack the decoy who will attempt to take the article. The article can be any object, but medium-sized objects such as a bag, or coat are often used. After the dog has taken a bite on the decoy, the decoy will  step back, at which point the dog will return to the article without any outside command.

As with many K.N.P.V. exercises, the idea behind it is well-intentioned, but the execution of the exercise as a sport is inevitably unsuitable for a real world scenario. The scenario that this exercise depicts is one in which someone has carelessly left something of value in a wide-open, public space. Imagine that you have something of great importance that you need protected, but instead of locking it inside of a building, within a contained, fenced-off area, you have left it out in the middle of a park. This is, essentially, the K.N.P.V. scenario. In a real scenario, Protection Dogs are most often used to prevent intruders from entering a specific area rather than guarding a specific object. This is due to the simple fact that if you have an object valuable enough to hire highly skilled Elite Protection Dogs to protect it, you are better off preventing intruders from even coming near the object rather than waiting until they have fully grasped it.

Although we have great respect for the KNPV dog sport, one should always remember that it is only a sport. Guard Dogs and Personal Protection Dogs should be trained for real world scenarios, not for sport.

When Will My Female German Shepherd Come 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.

Can a Guard Dog Break Out Of Its Dog Create ?

Dogs bred and trained to be Guard Dogs or Protection Dogs are often among the strongest, most agile and most intelligent dogs in the world. While these are all necessary traits for a working dog, it means that your German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois guard dog is far more capable of escaping its dog crate than a standard house pet.

The act of escaping confinement is usually not out of a dislike for the crate itself. Canines, by nature, feel safe and secure in confined places, and often enjoy relaxing in their crates. However, escaping the dog crate can become somewhat of a game to your dog. It is a self-rewarding experience that your dog will repeat. In the event that your canine escapes his crate, it is extremely important that you take immediate action to prevent further escapes. If you move your dog directly to a more secure crate after repeated successful escapes, it may injure itself in an attempt to escape the new crate.

The weakest parts of a crate are the hinges on the gate, and the latch. If your guard dog has escaped its crate, it is most likely that it has done so by pulling on the gate to bend the hinges, or by knocking the latch out of place. In both cases, a more expensive aluminum crate will be much harder for the dog to escape from, but more important than the crate is ensuring that the dog's behavior is corrected. Securing the gate with cable ties, or bungee chords will make it more difficult for your dog to escape, and can be implemented immediately after your dog's first escape, or sooner as a preventative measure. Positioning the crate with the gate against a wall or solid surface can also help prevent further escapes. It is important that your dog associate the crate with a calm and relaxed state of mind rather than an energetic or playful one, and removing the reward of escape can help accomplish this.

Purchasing a more expensive crate may prevent further escapes, but it may also cause your Guard Dog to injure itself. With proper training and reinforcement, your German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois will view the crate as a place of sleep and relaxation rather than a challenge or game to be overcome.

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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.

KNPV Clubs

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Founded in 1907, K.N.P.V., otherwise known as the Royal Dutch Police Dog Association has the job of certifying dogs with coveted certificates. Located in the Netherlands (Holland) this association is divided into eleven provinces, each one having its own board. Each provinces' board represents the members of the K.N.P.V. at the Head Board meetings. As of April in 1994 there were 509 K.N.P.V. clubs in Holland. According to many, Holland is a very dog loving country. Especially in the southern area where many of their clubs are located. In Holland, if you leave one of the training fields you are already headed into the next. That shows just how dedicated and involved the people of Holland are in the K.N.P.V. organization.

Holland's clubs have always been different from other countries like Germany, Belgium, and France when they train dogs like the German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois. They prefer to hold onto the old fashion dog training, to make sure that only strong dogs are produced. In other countries, training programs have changed significantly over the years, but not in the Holland K.N.P.V. clubs. They have never changed their rules, exercises, or making sure that they are breeding qualified dogs like the Belgian Malinois. Unlike other countries that changed their program to fit the breed of dog rather than starting off and dogs fit for the program. The Holland clubs know that K.N.P.V. wants working dogs and not just show dogs.

The members do everything they can to make sure that dogs accepted into the program are qualified. Members of the clubs are usually people who previously owned a dog. Most of the time they come to the club for the social aspect, commodity, and to be with other dog lovers, or enthusiasts. Many of the club members are already into dog training before wanting to join. If they do have a pup or young adult dog, they must be qualified for the program unless they do not keep them. Either the dog is fit for the program and gets a title, or else he gets sold immediately. This may seem harsh to other people, but the main reason for doing this is getting the dog titled as soon as possible. The main goal for all members of the Holland clubs is to train their dogs in the proper way to make them strong and qualified. By setting this goal, the Holland clubs are great examples of how all K.N.P.V. clubs should strive to be like.

Please note that just because a German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois dog receives a K.N.P.V. title certification it does not mean that they are certified as a Personal Protection Dog as the KNPV is only a sporting title. But if your Protection Dogs has one of these prestigious titles it is an additional asset.