GSD Info

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German Shepherd Dog  Breed Standard FCI standard no. 166/30/08.1991./D   ^Top
Stages of Canine Development By Ellen Dodge   Drs. Scott and Fuller were the first to document critical periods in the development of the canine in 1953. Their efforts, recognizing critical developmental periods, the importance of socialization, the use of the puppy aptitude test and an effective breeding program, resulted in the remarkable success rate of over 9O percent in producing guide dogs for the blind. Clarence Pfaffenbeiger, Dr. Michael Fox and Joachim and Wendy Volhard have further documented and supported the results of Scott and Fuller.   Critical periods in a dog's life begin at birth, peak between six and eight weeks, and extend to maturity. It has been proven that environment and socialization make lasting impressions on the developing dog.   ^Top
Understanding your puppy From the Complete Dog training Manual by Bruce Sessions   Scientific studies have shown that, there are five critical periods in a puppy's life, that is  five phases of mental development during which adverse conditions can cripple a dog emotionally without hope for recovery. Conversely, positive conditions during these five phases of emotional growth can produce dogs of the highest calibre - mentally and socially. So important are these findings, that guide dog foundations instituted these "positive conditions" for puppies being raised to become leaders of the blind. Dogs trained to lead the blind receive the most rigorous and exacting training of any dogs and therefore must be perfectly adjusted.   ^Top
Stages of development in puppies By Nem Elliott   I have been asked to discuss in these notes the stages of development of puppies, what permanent faults may appear early, and whether you can rely on an adult dog reverting to what he showed at seven or eight weeks old. I must start by saying that there are no hard and fast rules of development and that one certainly cannot rely on a dog turning out as good as he looked at eight weeks, but I would also say that if a puppy doesn't look up too much at eight weeks it is highly unlikely to improve out of all recognition. The only exceptions are when they look poor at eight weeks due to bad rearing. It is perfectly possible for a weedy specimen, which gets a good home to improve and mature into an average animal, but that isn't construction and it isn't what my correspondent wants to know.   ^Top
Puppy Care By Ilse van Erp   ^Top
Hip dysplasia info About feeding exercise, and so forth…. From SA Bullmastif News, Winter 1998.   What is the best diet for my Bullmastiff puppy? I am confused because some people say to feed them puppy foods and others say to feed them adult foods…   Large and giant breeds such as Bullmastiffs, Great Danes, German Shepherds, etc., are at real risk to develop skeletal problems due to their rapid growth rates and enormous size potential. The skeletal problems we worry about most in our puppies are hip dysplasia, osteochodritis dessicans of the shoulder, elbow dysplasias, and weak cruciate (knee) ligaments.   ^Top
Hip displasia info Health Talk - Too much of a good thing is bad By Quixi Sonntag (BVSc) (Hons)   Too much of a good thing is bad - How overfeeding and calcium supplementation in puppies can cause skeletal problems (or: The relationship between nutrition and skeletal problems during growth in large breed dogs).   Large and giant breed dogs often suffer from lameness and bone deformities during growth. These symptoms are caused by disease of the joint cartilage or by abnormal development of the growth plate cartilage. The most commonly involved joints are the shoulder, elbow and hip. The conditions that affect these joints are osteochondrosis or osteochondritis diseccans (OCD) of the shoulder, elbow dysplasia (ED) and hip dysplasia (HD).   ^Top
Breed value and the GSD - the SV Zuchtwert programme By Fred Lanting Aug 2000   Many GSD fanciers (yes, unfortunately even breeders) have either not heard of the Zuchtwert program or have almost no idea of what it is. For nearly four decades, the world of dogs has known about canine hip dysplasia (HD) and has followed protocols laid down in the 1950s and ‘60s for diagnosis and control. In the U.S., pedigree registration has been taken over by AKC, UKC, and other organizations while the primary focus on dysplasia has been on and by the OFA; in Europe and elsewhere, the breed clubs have the responsibility for both registration and disease control. In both, the methodology of diagnosis had been basically the same.   ^Top
Elements of Temperament   By Joy Tiz, MS, JD 2000   When we talk about temperament, we are referring to a collection of drives, thresholds, traits and instincts that are inherited and innate. Yes, it's true. Temperament is a function of genetics. It is inherited, not developed. A dog's core temperament never changes. Some behaviors can be modified through training, but the temperament itself never changes. For example, a high energy dervish of a dog isn't going to learn to be a laid back, low energy dog. But, the dog can be taught to control his energy, to an extent.   ^Top
Heat Exhaustion   By Jason Nicol   Hot Summer Temperatures Coupled With High Humidity Can Overheat Dogs.   ^Top