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Coton de Tulear dogs are an elegant rare breed. They are small but not toy sized. These dogs are largely unknown among the general population. They make lively companions that retain their puppy-like joy all of their lives.

In French “cotton” means cotton. That is what their coat’s look like. They are fluffy, flyaway cotton-like. These dogs have a long top coat but not all have a fine, thin downy undercoat. Their coats come in three colors – white, black & white and tri color.

Coton de Tulear’s are graceful and exceptionally agile. They have a compact, slightly larger than tall body. Their eyes are round in dark in color with an expression that is merry, lively and intelligent. They have a scissors bite, triangular ears set high, a strong neck, a pink or partly pink nose and small arched feet.

These dogs grow between 9 – 13 inches tall; weigh between 10 – 15 pounds and a life span of 14 – 18 years.

There is a rare Tall Coton, which grows up to 17”. This dog can be born into a litter of normal-sized parents.

Coton de Tulear dogs are calm and non-aggressive. They are people-oriented and love to play with children. Most seldom bark but some will with the approach of strangers. They are eager to please but have a mind of their own and can be a little stubborn. They form strong attachment to their master and family.

They can adjust to any reasonable climate and are primarily an indoor dog. They are content to lie at your feet or lay in your lay but can also take long walks with you. You may see that cock their heads attentively when spoken to, smile and stand or walk on their hind leg to please their families.

CHARACTERTICS AND TEMPERAMENT

• Intelligent

• Affectionate
• Playful
• Slow to anger
• Lively
• Enthusiastic
• Get along well with other dogs and pets

A short walk everyday will be enough exercise for them although they can go on longer walks. They do like play sessions and love to swim.

Coton de Tulear dogs are a hearty and healthy breed since they have not been over bred.

As far as grooming, brush every other day, baths on 1-2 times a year, clean ears, and trim their nails. These dogs are considered hypoallergenic which means they do not shed and their hair is a lot like humans.

Coton de Tulear is the official dog of Tulear, Madagascar. They were taken to Madagascar in the 16th Century by sailor from Portugal and Spain. They are believed to be related to the Bichon dog family. They were brought to the U.S. by Dr. Robert Russell in 1974.

Through breeding experiments, breeders have been able to create variations of the German Shepherd. Such experiments gave way to new kinds of German Shepherd dogs, one of which is the white German Shepherd. But in spite of these great results, there are some people who wish to stick to its roots by breeding old-style German Shepherds which are larger than your usual German Shepherd. These purists argue that though these experiments can produce German shepherds with special attributes, the qualities which gave the breed its reputation such as intelligence may disappear.

The different lines of German Shepherds

For those who do not know anything about German Shepherds, you may think that all of these dogs are one and the same. They are not. In fact, there are many lines of this breed and the old-style is just one of them. Each line was created for a specific purpose and these are:

- International working line. This line of German Shepherds is bred mainly to gain the working traits rather than the looks. Because of this, the appearance of these dogs may differ.

- International show line. This line was designed for breeders who are after the appearance of the dog rather than its working traits.

- North American show lines. This line was designed also more for the looks of the dog but with certain variations. These include sloped backs and sharper angulations. There are now debates on whether this line should be considered as a different breed of dog altogether. But breeders of this line argue that though there are great changes in the appearance of the dog, the working attributes have not been changed.

Appearance

Aside from the lines stated above, there is also another line which is called the old-style German Shepherd. The goal of the breeders of this line is simply to bring back the German Shepherd dogs to the way it was before. They aim to produce a line of dogs that looks and acts the same as its first ancestors. The old-style German Shepherd differs from the regular German Shepherd simply by its sheer size. A normal German Shepherd is around 24 to 26 inches tall. The old-style German Shepherds dwarf them by four more inches.

So an old-style German Shepherd is about 30 inches in height and would weigh around 124 lbs. or 54 kg. Though the features on the face are the same with regular German Shepherds, the old-style dogs have larger heads. The other physical attributes of this kind of breed include a straighter back, big bones, and no extreme angulations on the legs, giving it a noble and more poised look.

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The German shepherd dog also known as Alsatian in France, UK and Ireland, and more commonly in France as “Berger Allemand”, Schaferhund and by the acronym GSD or simply German shepherd. This dog breed is originally bred for herding sheep. German shepherd dogs are one of the most popular breeds in UK with 12,857 registrations and also in US with 43,575 registrations. These breeds are best for working as guide dogs for the blind, police work, guarding, search and rescue, therapy and in military. German shepherds can also make loyal and loving pets inside the home. These dogs are sociable and it is necessary for young puppies in order to prevent aggressive and dangerous behavior is an adult.

The standards for the breed differ by country and organization. The general definition of the German shepherd dog is large and strong dog between 75 and 110 lbs but can reach 150+lbs. Males will reach the height 24-26 inch (60-65cm) and females will reach the height of 22-24 inch (55-60). The dogs has double coat with under coat and outer coat fur. Short haired dogs are preferred while some of the organizations accept long haired German shepherds. The coats of these are in black with tan, sable or all black but also will come in blue, liver and white which are considered a fault according to most standards. White is not acceptable for the German shepherd and now recognized as a separate breed known as American White shepherd. The nose is normally black but with blue or liver will occur sometimes and considered as a fault.

The body of German shepherd dogs are elongated, sturdy, and muscular with a light but solid bone structure. The head should be proportionate with the body and a little convex head. Ears are wide at the base, pointed, upright and turned forward but of puppies less than six months may droop slightly. The eyes are almond-shaped, dark with a lively intelligent expression but never protruding. The tail is bushy and will reach to the hocks and hangs down when it is at rest. The front legs and the shoulders are muscular and the thighs are thick and sturdy. The feet are round with soles. There are three varieties of the German shepherd. They are rough coated, long rough coated and the long hared.

German shepherd is used as working dogs which are direct and fearless, eager and alert. The dog is known for its courage and loyalty towards their masters. They are confident but not hostile, high learning ability, serious, almost human in his intelligence and obedient. They bark, if it is necessary and love to be close to their families.

The human-dog correlation forms an essential part of the society. Legends and tradition have surrounded a part of the character and teaching guidance for the dog. With the introduction of science and human psychology, many scientists have made efforts to characterize and identify the activities of the dogs and the methods involved in training them. Difficulties in the relationship of dog and human aroused during the middle of the 20th century. But, in the 21st century, researches have proved that, hardships were removed depending on the selection of breeds of dogs appropriate to human needs. This small but momentous march may help in maintaining a good relationship with the owners of the dog and the public. There are several breeds of dogs available. A family can select a dog on the available breeds depending on their security requirements.

This article deals with the German shepherd dog also called as Alsatian Shepherd. This breed of dogs shows self-assurance, friendliness and devotion to the owners than other breed of dogs. The recognition of German Shepherds still holds good as they have an unjustified status as aggressive Shepherds, because of their similarity to their far-away predator, the wolf. These dogs become hard to be handled if meddled harshly. They act as watch dogs for houses and also are used for protection purposes because of their courage, heroism, stubbornness, power and vigor. German Shepherds are generally not used in the security services like in army and police. But they are used at homes, since they show loyalty, love and affection to their owners.

German Shepherds are medium sized dogs and normally weighs about 40 kgs. Ears of these dogs remain wilted and droopy and become hard after they grow. Shepherds have sparkling eyes with a package of dense fur and have a proportionate structure towards their adulthood. These dogs develop some problems around the waist called dysphasia due to over jumping and shaking of the body and this leads to joint problems. Skin problems are common in Shepherds and everyday grooming is a must for these dogs. Perfect good food is essential to avoid skin problems.

These dogs eat normally 800gms of meal per day. They normally prefer fresh foods like meat and vegetables, other than dried dog foodstuffs. Shepherds normally prefer long walks and like straying outside the home. These dogs usually sleep outside the door of the house and provide safety and security. In short, these dogs are called as pet dogs. Socialism and instillation of good habits can be made possible by providing proper training to these dogs. It is more important to keep them psychologically and physically engaged.

Scientific researches have proved that by ascertaining a dog’s physical structure and behavioral characters, it becomes possible to decide on the breed of dogs appropriate to specific tasks and environments. More significantly, community may be enhanced with a dog or breed of dog, reducing the occurrence of activities arising from unsuited human-dog interactions. However, further study needs to be done to simplify and recover the functioning and social interactions with dogs.

The Alsatian, commonly known as the German Shepherd Dog, is a working dog breed that often acts as military dogs, guard dogs, police dogs, or search and rescue dogs. They are used because they can be trained in protection and obedience easily and they like to please their owners.

German Shepherd Dogs are large, strong dogs that have coats with either long or short hair. Their coats’ colors vary, but are mostly seen in tan and brown. However, there are some German Shepherds who are completely black or white. German Shepherds’ ears stand up erect and they also have long tails.

There are several lines of German Shepherd, all of which have different looks, behavior and skills. The international working line of German Shepherds are bred as working dogs. They are quite tough but their appearance varies. The North American show line of German Shepherds are bred for their appearance, which is unique to them. Their backs are more angled than a typical German Shepherd’s and unfortunately this can be bad for their backs. They are also believed to not have the working dog traits of the other lines. The international show line of German Shepherd Dog also is bred more so on appearance, so they typically look the same.

German Shepherds tend to develop great loyalty and are very obedient towards their owners. Due to their strong teeth and jaws, they can be trained to attack. Unfortunately, they can also become too aggressive or become fearful if not bred properly. Many of these types of dogs, who are either poorly bred or have owners who don’t train them properly, end up in puppy mills. Since German Shepherds are frequently used as attack and police dogs, they have received an image of being quite dangerous. However, most German Shepherds make great pets for families and are not aggressive.

German Shepherds are very emotional dogs and are quite loyal. They are sometimes used as guide dogs, but that is on the decline as they can get separation anxiety and trauma. As stated earlier, different lines of German Shepherds vary in temperament. Working dogs have more energy and are more obedient. They are intelligent and become upset if they do not get enough exercise. They like to have a job to do, which is why they are often used as rescue dogs. North American lines of German Shepherd Dogs are more fitted for the role of companions.

Due their large size, German Shepherds can suffer from elbow problems and hip dysplasia. They may have skin allergies or have von Willebrand’s disease. The average life span of a German Shepherd is twelve years.

German Shepherd Dogs were discovered in the late 1800s by Captain Max von Stephanitz and were meant to be a diverse working dog. American and British soldiers of World War I then brought German Shepherds to their homes and they became popular dogs. They were used as family pets and as working dogs.

German Shepherds are very versatile in the type of things they can do. They are highly intelligent and like to please and protect their owners. For this reason, they can become great guard dogs, rescue dogs, or police dogs and also make good pets for families.

The German Shepherd breed is an excellent choice for a canine companion. However, just like many other popular breeds, there are certain health problems that you need to be aware of. Here are a few of the most prevalent German Shepherd dog health issues to look out for:

Developmental bone and joint disease is a problem common to many large dog breeds, affecting the younger animals. If your dog is affected, he may show no symptoms at all, or he may demonstrate pain or lameness, and seem cautious about movement. Hip dysplasia may cause leg muscles to actually waste.

Many German Shepherds also suffer from Hemangiosarcoma, a cancer of the cells of the interior lining of the blood vessels. This condition can affect the skin, heart, liver, and spleen, as well as other organs. If you dog has Hemangiosarcoma, he may display weakness, light-colored gums, a distended abdomen, or even physical collapse.

Another German Shepherd dog health problem is weakness in the hind legs. This can also include wobbliness or a lack of coordination in the affected limbs. Multiple factors can cause this, including bone or spinal degeneration or possibly a slipped disc in the dog’s back.

Another problem to look out for is a diseased thyroid gland which will cause either over or under-production of thyroid hormones in some dogs. If your dog is experiencing skin infections, lethargy, hair loss, or cold intolerance it could indicate a thyroid problem.

Keep a keen eye on the eyes of your German Shepherd, especially if you notice apparent squinting, excess tearing or discharge, redness, or rubbing of the eyes. You should also be alert for any growths over the eye, regardless of the color. A condition called Pannus, an inflammation of the dog’s cornea, could cause any of these problems and be detrimental to your dog’s optical health.

A bacterial infection of the skin, sometimes accompanied by puss, is known as Pyoderma and can be a problem in German Shepherds. It is unknown what causes this condition, but it may be due to an immune deficiency. Your dog may have this if he displays pimples or sores, hair loss, redness or other abnormal skin conditions. Some dogs also become lethargic, or lose their interest in food.

A first step to avoiding these German Shepherd dog health issues is to make sure that your dog does not come from a breeder where other dogs had these issues. Watch your dog carefully, and be sure to consult your Vet if your dog displays any symptoms, or behavior out of the ordinary.

Dogs are definitely one of my best friends! I have owned, trained and taken care of various breeds of dogs since I was a young child. I am not a professional dog trainer or breeder. I’m just a regular person like you who loves dogs. I especially love the German Shepherd Dog breed! I have two right now. My eldest is 12 and I’ve had her since she was a pup. The second is actually my son’s who is out at sea in the Navy. My son’s dog is beautiful, affectionate and playful, but he was a little harder to train. You see, my son did NOT train his puppy, so when I was asked to take care of him during my son’s leave, I had more of a challenge than with my own Shepherd. So, I’d like to share some tips on training Shepherds from the age of weening (6-8 weeks, when you’d normally buy/adopt a puppy) and after your dog is a year old or more with no previous training.

First let’s talk about puppy training. Since the majority of German Shepherd owners will purchase their puppy from a breeder, you can usually be assured the puppy is healthy, active and ready to become a beloved member of your family. If you haven’t bought your puppy yet, be sure to check out breeders beforehand to make sure they have a good reputation for breeding German Shepherd Dogs. When you bring your puppy home, it will be weened and may have it’s first shots, but that’s about it. The rest is up to you. If you want a happy, well-behaved, lovable member of your family training should begin the first day you bring you pup home.

First, I want to stress how important it is to consider your new dog a member of your family. Whether you plan to purchase or adopt your pet, ask yourself this question: “Am I willing to share my life with, love and care for another being?” The same thought should be put into the decision to bring a pet into your life as you would deciding whether or not to have a child. Some people might think this is an exaggeration, but I don’t believe it is. Pets are a joy, but they also come with much responsibility. If you have any doubt as to whether you and your family are up to that responsibility, please do not bring a pet home. You’re only setting yourself up for unhappiness, for both you and your dog.

If you’ve made the commitment to treat your German Shepherd Dog as a member of your family and care for them in the same way, then you’re ready to learn as much as you can about training. Training a dog is like disciplining a child, it can be difficult and tug at your heart strings,

Many people associate German Shepherd Dogs with being aggressive watchdogs, but this behavior is the result of training. A German Shepherd Dog will always be protective of his family and will always be wary of strangers, but they are not aggressive by nature. When you bring a German Shepherd dog into your home, you become part of the world of dogs.

For me German Shepherds are defined by beauty and soundness of mind and body all come together. Don’t leave the purchase of your German Shepherd to chance. German Shepherds also are prone to pancreas deficiency, which is where the pancreas stops creating enzymes and the animal is unable to pass any feces. There is medication available, but it is not 100% effective. and also expensive, so be sure you have a proper pet medical insurance.

German Shepherds are double-coated with a coarse, water proof outer coat and a heavy, woolly undercoat. They are heavy hair producers, especially in spring, and require regular combing. In the former East Germany , German Shepherds adhered more closely to the old prewar standard, marked by a straighter back, a longer and denser coat, and a darker color.

These dogs are now praised for their working ability. Since many German Shepherds have sensitive stomachs, it may be wise to phase in the new diet by mixing it with their existing food until they have adapted. Start by mixing the diet with their existing food in equal amounts. A typical German Shepherd’s body is slightly longer than tall is sturdy but lean. It has a slightly convex forehead, long muzzle, pointed ears and almond-shaped eyes that are set (as opposed to protruding) with an amiable expression. The coloring of the German Shepherd Dog can vary and includes black and tan, sable, and black. The German Shepherd Dog weighs in at 60-80 pounds for females, and 75-100 pounds for males.

The German Shepherd is a herding dog, originally bred from sheep-tending stock in rural Germany. The founder of the breed was Cavalry Captain Max Von Stephanitz, who almost single handedly developed the breed through judicious inbreeding and line breeding, from 1899 to 1936. German shepherd dogs are fearless, eager and alert. Known for their tremendous loyalty and courage. They are not “show dogs”, but they are the best because they are the the most unspoiled and uncommercialized, and the closest to the original German Shepherd Dog of old Germany. Those original German dogs were the ones that made the legends, and the legend still lives.

This is the root of our German shepherd dog breeder program and for the love of the this magnificent breed. Secondary sex characteristics are strongly marked, and every animal gives a definite impression of masculinity or femininity, according to its sex. The correct proportions of height to length and corresponding length of the leg bones results in a ground-eating gait that is low to the ground and imparts an impression of effortless progression. With his head thrust forward and a slightly raised tail, a balanced and even trotter will have a topline that falls in moderate curves from the tip of the ears over the neck and level back through the tip of the tail.

The German Shepherd, these days, is used more as a guard dog. The GSD is also one of the most popular breeds in USA, and the UK. The German Shepherd has a scissor bite, where the upper incisors must meet the lower incisors in a scissor grip. Level bite, overshot and undershot teeth are faulty, as well as widely spaced teeth. Many of us grew up with Rin Tin Tin, or we saw German Shepherds in nightly news reports breaking up riots, or we saw them in backyards protecting children. But that only scratches the surface of one of the most fascinating and confusing breeds on earth. So take care of your German Shepherd, they always need love and a good healthy life.

Love them and they will love you back, invest in them, and remember to give them every month frontline plus for dogs and have for them a proper pet health insurance. They deserve it !

A sound temperament is a must in a German Shepherd Dog (GSD). By sound, I mean a disposition where one minute you can let a protection trained GSD play alone with your 5-year old child, pull on its ears, pet its head, tug on its tail and NEVER-EVER be in harms way; while the next minute, it should turn into the “terminator” and crush its enemies as soon as it senses an intruder.

There are three conventional methods of dog training that you can choose from in order to train you German Shepherd Dog (GSD). They are training with treats, training with treats and clickers, and training with praise. All three methods of training will work; however, there is one that stands out from the rest. That is, oral praise. Why? Because you want your dog to listen to your commands even when you don’t have any toys, clickers, and/or food. Imagine you dog wanting to jump at your every command simply because it wants your praise and love and not because you are going to bribe it with treats. Once your dog gets used to getting treats for performance, it will cease to perform when you don’t have any more treats left. So, treat your GSD with kindness, and train it with praise!

Training a GSD which has not been genetically selected for working ability is that much more difficult than one that has already been selected for that trait. In my opinion, the age-old debate about beauty vs. functionality of the pure-bread GSD dog was settled by the founder of the German Shepherd Dog breed, Captain Max Von Stephanitz, when he said in his book,”…Utility is the true criterion of beauty…” (The German Shepherd Dog in Word and Picture, pg. 163). Many American GSDs today have been selected for beauty rather than functionality in order to win dog shows. In many of these dog shows, obedience and showmanship are separate events and a dogs’ working ability is never considered in events where the dogs are required to meet breed standards. Hence, you have the decline of the traits for which the breeds were originated for in the first place. So when you set out to buy your dream GSD, look for temperament, health, and working ability first, and beauty last.

The importance of beauty, however, should not be ignored when it comes to posing your dog for a memorable photograph. Unlike other breeds, GSD’s are shown differently in the breed ring. The proper method for posing your GSD for the breed judges is called a “stack”. “Stacking” is the method whereby one allows the forequarters of a dog to be shown parallel to one another when looking through the viewfinder of a camera and when one allows the hindquarters of the GSD to be arranged so that the limb facing the camera is placed backward while the limb facing away from the camera is placed forward. Most professional handlers who pose their GSD’s for photographers walk them into a “stack” instead of artificially manipulating them into it. If you plan to stack your GSD for a professional snapshot, remember to compose the image in such a way as to depict it from the tip of its nose to the tip of its hindquarters; NO MORE, NO LESS (please visit my web site to view photographs of how a GSD is stacked for the camera).

These topics cover just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to knowing the German Shepherd Dog breed. You can learn more about the GSD by visiting my web site or by getting involved in breed organizations like the German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA). With a little more reading, you can become familiar with this wonderful breed and all that it has to offer. And then perhaps you can decide whether this is the right breed for you or not.

German Shepherds are one of the most intelligent and versatile dog breeds in the world. But you need to know basic German Shepherd information to discoverwhat to expect from them before you bring one home. German Shepherd dogs are not satisfied until they are the center of attention. They are not vicious, but don’t know their own strength at times. German Shepherds are smarter than most people, which may get them into mischief in order to get your attention. They also can get more health problems than other breeds, especially hip and elbow dysplasia.

When anyone says the word dog, the image that pops up in most people’s mind is that of the German Shepherd. Also known as Alsatians (from the province in France where the breed was developed), the German Shepherd is one of the most popular dogs in the world. With their distinctive look, incredible intelligence and remarkable personalities, you would think the German Shepherd would be the perfect dog.

But a German Shepherd is not the dog for everyone. Their large size, their exuberant nature, their coats and sometimes health problems leave many thousands of German Shepherd Dogs to be abandoned every year. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that a quarter of all strays are purebreds, including purebred German Shepherds. Knowing basic German Shepherd information can help teach you what to expect from them as pets will help you decide if a German Shepherd is right for you and your family.

The incredible popularity of the German Shepherd has led to it being over bred. To keep up with the market for German Shepherd puppies, some breeders and puppy mills breed to death any German Shepherd they can find, no matter what it’s health. Responsible breeders and caring dog lovers are trying to stop this indiscriminate breeding and only breed healthy dogs. But German Shepherd can often seem to develop more health problems than other breeds.

The most common problem is hip dysplasia, which makes the hind legs crippled. This is a treatable condition that often involves X-rays and surgery. Many German Shepherds are abandoned just because the owners were not willing to pay the vet bills. You must be committed to caring for the dog’s health over luxuries for yourself. Many older German Shepherds also become blind, but dogs deal with blindness a lot better than people. The companionship of a German Shepherd should not have a price tag placed upon it.

German Shepherd dogs need to feel they have a job in order to be well-adjusted. They love company and to be part of the family. They hate being left out of anything. They use their intelligence to find ways of doing things they think you will like and praise them for. Whether you will like these actions is another matter. German Shepherds need supervision and training.

Because of their popularity, German Shepherd Dogs have been over bred, which has lead to health problems. Although responsible breeders would not breed an animal with health problems, which can be inherited by their puppies, many still do. The most common health problems with German Shepherds are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and cancers. Even though many of these health problems can be easily treated, the previous owners do not want to or cannot pay the vet bills and instead abandon the dog. When you get a German Shepherd keep in mind that they may need frequent visits to the vet.