Behavioural Topics - Dog Friendly Dogs

Animal behaviours can be complex and just like human behaviour, are responses arise from to many stimuli. A significant factor in dog behaviour is often people, their owners, family, and strangers. 

In this latest article Lisa Hird outlines one common situation you can help your dog with. 

Discover more about her work and training experience on her website: https://www.dogbehaviourclinic.co.uk/

Dog Friendly Dogs

A common situation many dog owners face, on a daily basis, is their on-lead dog being harassed or frightened by off lead dogs running over, followed by owners shouting, “It’s OK, my dog is friendly” or another dog owner and their dog coming right up close so they can say “Hello” because their dog is sociable and “just wants to say hi”.

Having a sociable dog is great but it doesn’t mean that just because they are sociable, they should be in other dogs faces, especially if the other dog is nervous or even reactive. 

Socialisation is the process by which puppies learn to relate and act appropriately to people and other animals. That doesn’t mean they should interact with every dog they see. Quite the opposite in fact. Socialisation is exposure to – not get to meet and play with every dog they see. 

It is not the job of other dogs to teach our dogs sociable behaviours. 

Many sociable dogs just want to play and when they can’t, they may pull or whine or begin to lunge towards the other dog. Quite apart from being sore and unpleasant for the handler, it can often set the greeting off on the wrong foot.

Imagine someone you don’t know, coming over to you, screaming HELLO in a loud voice, running at you with arms outstretched… worse still, you are tied up….

Care Topics - Grooming Your GSD

To complement our existing Behavioural and Health topics we are now also adding General Care topics to help you provide your German Shepherd with the best care you can provide. This first article looks at grooming your German Shepherd and is provided by Debbie Hill, our chairman at the GSD Welfare Fund. If you have any tips or tricks for grooming your dog then share them in the comments below.

Grooming the German Shepherd Dog

Before you start grooming your German Shepherd, make sure that you have habituated him to the equipment you will be using. Let him see the equipment and pair it with a treat. Progress to touching him with the brush and reward him. If you have a nervous dog, don’t try to rush it. Think about using “The bucket game” (Chirag Patel) or chin targeting. You will find notes on this on our behaviour and training Facebook group. Once you have habituated your dog to the tools, you can start to brush him gently. Short sessions to begin with to stop him getting stressed or bored. After a couple of minutes, stop brushing and reward your dog with a treat or a game. Then resume the grooming for another couple of minutes and then reward with a treat or a game. Make grooming an enjoyable experience for him. 

With the standard coat GSD you can get away with grooming once a week or so, but with a long haired GSD, it probably needs to be done every other day. I prefer to use a rake on long coated and standard coats. I opted for the Karli double row rake. This will get the dead undercoat out. Once you have finished raking him, you can “polish” him with either a zoom groom or a slicker brush. I tend to use the zoom groom. You will be surprised how much dead hair this gets out. Don’t forget to check for knots. Their Trousers (boys) or bloomers (girls) can get tangled. If you have a long coated GSD, they are prone to knots behind the ears. I tend to cut these out if they are too bad as it can be painful for them if you try tugging the knots out.

Do not be tempted to bath your GSD too often as it can dry their skin. Every 3 months is plenty. I don’t even bath mine that much. Be mindful that some shampoos are carcinogenic. Try to use a more natural one with less chemicals. I like Cooper and Gracie or Avogel neem shampoo. Do not use human shampoo on your dog and avoid some of the dog shampoos available in the bargain stores. They are cheap for a reason. Some people use baby shampoo, but remember, Johnson and Johnson were successfully sued over cancer claims regarding their baby powder. Rinse thoroughly.

One of my best buys is my blaster. I could not be without it. You will be amazed at the dust and dead hair this blows out. I leave it at the back door, and give the dogs a quick blast as they come in if it has been raining or if they have been in puddles etc. They are powerful and noisy so the dog needs to be gradually habituated to it. Start by pairing the noise with treats. Do not have it too near the dog at this point. Only when your dog is not worried by the noise, progress to directing the nozzle towards his back from a distance making it an enjoyable experience paired with treats. Gradually work up to directing the nozzle on his coat. If the noise is too worrying for your dog, (some dogs are noise sensitive) try using ear mufflers on him, but remember, you will have to habituate him to these too. There are special licky mats (bath buddies) that you can use while blasting your dog.

Check nails and ears regularly. Most dogs hate having their nails clipped. If they struggle as you are about to clip a nail, it can cause a problem. Always habituate your dog to the clippers and then use the bucket game (Chirag Patel) or chin rest (instructions for this on our training and behaviour Facebook group. Be careful not to cut the quick as this is painful for the dog. Look at the back of the nail and you will see the “vein like” quick. I usually put my finder under so I am protecting the quick when cutting. Cut at an angle. If you do and it bleeds, you can use cornflower to stem the flow of blood, but your dog will certainly be more wary next time. I like these clippers. Doggy man 7 inch. They are more expensive than some but are good. 

Ensure your dog's ears are kept clean. Start with a good ear cleaner applied in the ear and clean with cotton wool. The Cooper and Gracie range is nice. If you dog has any issues with his ears, try Thornit. I have used this for years and have known it clear problem ears when all else has failed. Just a quarter of a teaspoon in each ear. Again, habituate your dog then use the bucket game or chin rest.

Join our Facebook group if you have questions or would just like to talk with like minded owners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/230713463690105

Tia's Pupdates - Start at the Beginning

Yesterday I promised you my life story, and that  was easy to say into a mic (I do like how shapes appear on the hooman glowy box when I do that), but the reality of remembering and sharing is not so easy. However a bitch's word is her bond - more so than you can imagine and so we start at the beginning.

A lady bought me as a young pup, and she wanted me to be a guard dog. She wanted me to be big, brave, strong, and fierce. I tried, honest I did - I'm no slacker despite what some hooman might say, but really, I lacked the traits she expected of me. 

The lady never introduced me to things, so everything I encountered frightened me, and I barked but not through courage - simply fear of the unknown surrounding me at every waking moment. Still a pup, I still lacked size and strength. 

One day, some people came to the house and the lady handed them my lead and they put me in their car. They hadn’t spent any time getting to know me, so remained a confusion of unrecognised features and scents. Petrified into submission I didn’t dare bark this time. I lay still and wondered what would become of me. 

After a long journey we arrived at a house. The drive must have lasted two hours, or maybe more, but in my fear I couldn't be certain. They opened the car door, the biggest dog I'd ever seen waited for me.

I reacted instantly not knowing why these strange hoomans had brought me to this great beast, only knowing that I needed to flee to be safe.  I leapt out and ran for my life. Who knows what these people were going to do to me? Escape offered my only chance for survival, so I ran into a field and hid.

These humans continued looking for me but every time they came  near me, I showed them my teeth and pretended how fierce I could be. That worked and I must have looked big, brave, and strong then because they left. I did it. If only my owner could have seen me then. Maybe she would not have sent me away.

Tia's Pupdates - Tia Joins Social Media

Hello everypawdy. Tia here. I thought I would write a pupdate to introduce myself on these social thingies that the hoomans have given me. I am a rather clever and delightful 18 months old German Shepherd. 

The GSD Welfare Fund brought me into their care about 6 months ago. Well, when I say I came into Welfare, I mean they dognapped me. Can you believe it? I didn’t know they were that desperate to collect dogs. 

My story had started before then though and I can tell you all about it if you like and subscribe to my own channels. They told me to write that, but I hope you will as there's so much fun we can have!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TiasPupdates

Twitter - https://twitter.com/PupdateTia
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tiaspupdates/

Well that's it for now, I'll be back tomorrow to start telling you my life story and I'm not naughty at all in it - you'll see!

Welfare Welcome to Ceto

Please give a warm Welfare welcome to this beauty. Ceto is a 9 month old female German Shepherd. Sadly she's found herself in Welfare due to family circumstances. She is very nervous but is now starting to relax a bit more. She is being loved and cared for by Uncle Lawrence. Welcome to the family Ceto  

If you're interested in providing a forever home for one of our dogs then read about the process here - https://gsdwelfare.blogspot.com/p/adopting-german-shepherd-dog.html

Lexi's Pups Depart For Their New Homes

Last Sunday the new owners joined us to collect their pups from Lexi's litter. It was an emotional day all round - we were sad to see them go of course, but also excited for their futures. And all of the adopters were equally thrilled as you can imagine! Discover the start of the journey for these pups here -

https://gsdwelfare.blogspot.com/2022/01/a-surprise-ending-to-2021.html

You can also find our latest news as well as an expanding collection of useful behavioural and health articles for German Shepherd dogs.

Health Topics - Canine Bloat (Gastric Torsion)

Image credit - jeshua.nace

This latest Health Topic for our blog is provided by one of long term supporters and examines the issues of Canine Bloat, also known as Gastric Torsion. GSDs (and  other breeds) can be prone to this condition so it is worth being familiar with the symptoms.

CANINE “BLOAT” or GASTRIC TORSION

There are many injuries and physical disorders which represent life-threatening emergencies. There is only one condition so drastic that it overshadows them all in terms of rapidity of consequences and effort in emergency treatment - this is the gastric dilatation and volvulus - the "bloat."

WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT SO SERIOUS?

The normal stomach sits high in the abdomen and contains a small amount of gas, some mucus, and any food being digested. It undergoes a normal rhythm of contraction, receiving food from the oesophagus above, grinding the food, and meting the ground food out to the small intestine at its other end. Normally this proceeds uneventfully except for the occasional burp.

In the bloated stomach, gas and/or food stretches the stomach many times its normal size, causing tremendous abdominal pain. For reasons we do not fully understand, this grossly distended stomach has a tendency to rotate, thus twisting off not only its own blood supply but the only exit routes for the gas inside. Not only is this condition extremely painful but it is also rapidly life-threatening. A dog with a bloated, twisted stomach (more scientifically called "Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus") will die in pain in a matter of hours unless drastic steps are taken.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR DEVELOPING BLOAT?

Classically, this condition affects dog breeds which are said to be "deep chested," meaning the length of their chest from backbone to sternum is relatively long while the chest width from right to left is narrow. Examples of deep chested breeds would be the Great Dane, Greyhound, and the setter breeds. Still, any dog can bloat, even dachshunds and chihuahuas.

• Dogs weighing more than 99 pounds
• have an approximate 20% risk of bloat

Classically also, the dog had eaten a large meal and exercised heavily shortly thereafter. Still, we usually do not know why a given dog bloats on an individual basis. No specific diet or dietary ingredient has been proven to be associated with bloat. Some factors found to increase and decrease the risk of bloat are listed below:

Factors Increasing the Risk of Bloating

• Feeding only one meal a day
• Having closely related family members with a history of bloat
• Eating rapidly
• Being thin or underweight
• Fearful or anxious temperament
• History of aggression towards people or other dogs
• Male Dogs are more likely to bloat than females
• Older dogs (7 - 12 years) were the highest risk group

Factors Decreasing the Risk of Bloat

• Inclusion of canned dog food in the diet
• Inclusion of table scraps in the diet
• Happy or easy-going temperament
• Eating 2 or more meals per day

2. 

In a study done by the Perdue University Research Group, headed by Dr. Lawrence T. Glickman:

• The Great Dane was the number one breed at risk for bloat
• The St. Bernard was the 2 breed at risk for bloat
• The Weimaraner was the 3 breed at risk for bloat
• The German Shepherd dog and the Boxer appeared to have a greater risk for bloating than did other breeds.

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR DOG HAS BLOATED

The dog may have an obviously distended stomach especially near the ribs but this is not always evident depending on the dog's body configuration.

The biggest clue is the vomiting: the pet appears highly nauseated and is retching but little is coming up.

If this is seen, rush your dog to the veterinarian IMMEDIATELY.

WHAT HAS TO BE DONE

There are several steps to saving a bloated dog's life. Part of the problem is that all steps should be done at the same time and as quickly as possible.

FIRST: THE STOMACH MUST BE DECOMPRESSED

The huge stomach is by now pressing on the major blood vessels carrying blood back to the heart. This stops normal circulation and sends the dog into shock. Making matters worse, the stomach tissue is dying because it is stretched too tightly to allow blood circulation through it. There can be no recovery until the stomach is untwisted and the gas released. A stomach tube and stomach pump are generally used for this but sometime surgery is needed to achieve stomach decompression.

ALSO FIRST: RAPID IV FLUIDS MUST BE GIVEN TO REVERSE THE SHOCK

Intravenous catheters are placed and life-giving fluid solutions are rushed in to replace the blood that cannot get past the bloated stomach to return to the heart. The intense pain associated with this disease causes the heart rate to race at such a high rate that heart failure will result. medication to resolve the pain is needed if the patient’s heart rate is to slow down. Medication for shock, antibiotics and electrolytes are all vital in stabilizing the patient.

ALSO FIRST: THE HEART RHYTHM IS ASSESSED AND STABILIZED

There is a special very dangerous rhythm problem, called a "premature ventricular contraction" or "pvc," associated with bloat and it must be ruled out. If it is present, intravenous medications are needed to stabilize the rhythm. Since this rhythm problem may not be evident until even the next day continual EKG monitoring may be necessary. Disturbed heart rhythm already present at the beginning of treatment is associated with a 38% mortality rate.

Getting the bloated dog's stomach decompressed and reversing the shock is an adventure in itself but the work is not yet half finished.

3.

SURGERY

All bloated dogs, once stable, should have surgery. Without surgery, the damage done inside cannot be assessed or repaired plus bloat may recur at any point, even within the next few hours and the above adventure must be repeated. Surgery, called gastrpexy, allows the stomach to be tacked into normal position so that it may never again twist. Without gastropexy, the recurrence rate of bloat may be as high as 75%!

Assessment of the internal damage is also very important to recovery. If there is a section of dying tissue on the stomach wall, this must be discovered and removed or the dog will die despite the heroics described above. Also, the spleen, which is located adjacent to the stomach may twist with the stomach. The spleen may require removal, too.

If the tissue damage is so bad that part of the stomach must be removed, the mortality rate jumps to 28 - 38%.

If the tissue damage is so bad that the spleen must be removed, the mortality rate is 32 - 38%.

After the expense and effort of the stomach decompression, it is tempting to forgo the further expense of surgery. However, consider that the next time your dog bloats, you may not be there to catch it in time and, according the study described below, without surgery there is a 24% mortality rate and a 76% chance of re-bloating at some point. The best choice is to finish the treatment that has been started and have the abdomen explored. If the stomach can be surgically tacked into place, recurrence rate drops to 6%.

In is crucially important that the owners of big dogs be aware of this condition and prepared for it.

Know where to take your dog during overnight or Sunday hours for emergency care.

Avoid exercising your dog after a large meal.

Know what to watch for.

Enjoy the special friendship a large dog provides but at the same time be aware of the large dog's special needs and concerns.