The King German Shepherd - Is Bigger Always Better?

The King German Shepherd, also known simply as King Shepherd, is an exceptionally large breed of dog with a thick double coat, a long, muscular build, and colourings similar to that of the German Shepherd. The breed was developed only about 20 years ago in the United States by Shelley Watts-Cross and David Turkheimer. They were bred for both size and working ability by cross-breeding the German Shepherd with Alaskan Malamutes and larger Great Pyrenees dogs. While an Alaskan Malamute might typically weigh between 70 and 90 lbs, the King Shepherd can weigh anywhere from 90 to 150 lbs.

Having been developed from some of the hardest working breeds, the King Shepherd is highly energetic, and predisposed to life as a working dog. However, while one may hope that the combination of breeds would result in the best qualities of each, this cannot be assumed. The breed, while based heavily off of the German Shepherd, is unique in its temperament and working ability. Having only been developed in the past 20 years, the breed is still young and still changing. It may be some time yet before its abilities as a working dog can be solidly determined. That said, the breed has so far shown great promise as a shepherd dog, and its intimidating size make it an excellent candidate for work as a guard dog. However, work as a protection dog requires solid nerves and a great deal of agility. Considering the size of King Shepherds, they may not be as agile as their German Shepherd counterparts. Whether or not the breed has retained the nerves and temperament required of true protection work has yet to be determined.

Perry Ahlgrimm, CEO Command Control K9 Ltd cck9.com 1.866.865.2259 (CCK9) We provide elite, executive personal protection dogs and guard dogs for Family home state security. We specialize in German shepherds, Belgian malinois and Dutch shepherds. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Perry_Ahlgrimm

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Anatolian Shepherd Dog - Dog Breeds

The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a very old and ancient breed. It's believed to have migrated from Turkey at about 1000 AD, but it's possible that this breed existed over 6000 years ago in Mesopotamia. During the centuries that passed different variations of the breed started appearing. During the 1970s western breeders gained interest in the Anatolian Shepherd Dog and developed standards, this being one of those. The breed was registered and listed with the AKC association in 1999. The Anatolian Shepherd Dogs were, as the name states, originally used by Shepherds. They are forceful and, independent and usually responsible on its own for guarding the masters flock. They have also been known to kill fully grown bears to protect their charges. They are intelligent, but not often very easy to teach, and having an Anatolian Shepherd Dog as a regular pet can be a great challenge.

The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is not aggressive towards children, family members or other pets, as long as all of those mentioned are considerate and calm in return. This Dog is a dog that likes to make up his own mind for everything, and instead of being interactive and playful he likes to play more of a supervisory and protective role. He will still be a good companion however if he receives the right training. It's defiantly not a breed suited for newcomers to dog life and was bred to work and knows that he has a job to do. Unless socialized properly they will quickly take over the role of leader.

This breed is a low maintenance animal when it comes to grooming. His fur-coat needs to be brushed weekly, although this will need to be more frequent at times of heavier shedding. Heavier shedding may occur seasonally. Depending on the sex, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog may grow to become between 28-32 inches long, weighing between 90-145 pounds. The fur-coat of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog is relatively short, harsh and dense, and with a thick undercoat. The breed has a general lifespan of 12-15 years, and the most common disorders are thyroid problems, entropion, and sensitivity to chemicals and medications. Overall it's a healthy species. Purebred Anatolian Shepherd Dogs are have very fluid movements and are even and calm. They won't be aggressive unless responding to another aggressive species. They are very agile and have high stamina. They are also very loyal, valiant and territorial, and will guard their grounds at all costs.

For more info on anatolian shepherd dog or a full list of Dog Breeds visit this Dog Training resource website.

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Dog Obedience Training - Everyone Wants a Well Trained Dog

It seems that every where you look today, someone is offering advice on obedience dog training--there are numerous programs on television offering dog training courses and books and magazines are loaded with information and quick tips to training an obedient dog.

We all know that a well trained, obedient dog is a pleasure to be around, more so than a dog that is not obedient. But, even with all the abundance of information available, many people who own a dog do not take the time to train the dog. Then when the dog exhibits doggy behavior that the owners do not approve of, they become intolerant of the dog.

An example of this would be-- if you have a puppy in the backyard digging holes because the puppy is alone all day, needing attention. The puppy should not be put in this position and then expected to just sit quietly all day, waiting for someone to come home and pay some attention to it. Is digging a trait of the breed? Some dogs dig more than others. Boredom causes dogs to dig, whine, bark or chew.

It is important to remember that dogs are born with a canine brain. They are pack animals and have a need of companionship--not isolation. They are usually full of life and fun as puppies, but they do not understand what is expected of them, unless they are trained. All dogs love to learn and they want to please their human companions. Dogs need to learn.

Left untrained, many breeds develop obnoxious behaviors and then their owners decide this puppy/dog is not cute anymore and get rid of it. Is this fair to the dog? All dogs deserve better than this. This is where responsible ownership comes into play.

There are many wonderful dogs in shelters that were abandoned or left at the shelters because of their behavior. These dogs are just waiting for someone to love and train them properly. It is so much easier to re-home a dog if that dog has had the benefit of obedience training. All dogs need to be leash trained and come when they are called.

There are many professional dog trainers, in most areas. Many animal shelters offer training classes at reasonable fees, if you do not have the time or temperament to train your dog yourself. If you do train your dog yourself, you will both benefit as your bond will become stronger. And getting to know your dog and spend extra time with him/her is so much fun and rewarding. If you have the patience--training is not done by yelling, jerking or hitting your dog. Fear does not train!

If you are considering getting a "first" dog or adding another one to the family, do some research on the breed you are wanting. Getting to know their traits early on will help you to understand their doggy behavior. Each dog has a different personality, just like people. They also have many different facial expressions--just like people. It is easy to see when your dog is happy or sad.

Your dog will be your very best friend--always loyal and always there for you. To repay that devotion and loyalty, give your dog the best obedience training available.

Obedience Dog Training can be a challenge, but with proper instruction you can have an Obedient Dog!
Have fun with your dog as you both enjoy the training experience. This is fun and easy. Train your dog at home. Sparrow Darling helps to re-home dogs with this training advice. http://www.obediencedogtraining.addgs.com

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