Socialization redefined

Earlier I posted about the importance of socializing your puppy and young dog.  

Now I would like to share an excellent premise about socialization from Ed Frawley at the Leerburg Kennels.  It was presented in the video "Your Puppy 8 weeks to 8 months."  Although I don't necessarily agree every Leerburg method is perfect for every dog and handler, I do believe there is plenty of sound advice from them.

From the article:  

Our definition of socialization is to get our dogs comfortable with new places and circumstances. We want our dogs to be indifferent to people places and things. I want my dog to look at strangers as part of the environment and something to ignore not something to interact with.

When we take our dog into strange new environments we want our dogs to willingly look to use for leadership and direction.

The full article can be found at:  http://leerburg.com/socializepuppies.htm

aus dem Tongass Wald at 1 year

Photos of eight of the nine aus dem Tongass Wald GSDs at around 1 year:

Smaragd "Jade" (and Vader "Kohl" on the right):

Rosa:

Pflaume "Salua":

Stahl "Steel":

Gold "Ludo":

Wasser "Sadie":

Rostig "Kenai":

Vader:

Sire Vader "Kohl" and Daughter Smaragd "Jade"

Photo of father and daughter August 20th, 2012:

Pflaume "Salua" updated photo

Here is "Salua" with his owner at their summer working home in Kodiak, Alaska at 9 months old:

Kriminalpolizei

The Kriminalpolizei kennel surely must have captured the GSD founder's favor.  In 1925 he crowned Klodo vom Boxberg conformation champion.  Klodo's pedigree certainly reflects von Stephanitz's early efforts with a sound representation of the modern GSD's primary foundation sire, Hettel Uckermark.

However, Klodo's dam's second sire, Jung Tell von der Kriminalpolizei, forever cements this kennel's breeding efforts in our German shepherd dog today.


Jung Tell von der Kriminalpolizei:

German shepherd dog dewlap:

There is plenty of concentration focused on the German shepherd dog’s physical characteristics that address the obvious structural issues. 

I see a trend in our breed that has not been approached.  The loose skin under the chin and on the front of the neck is certainly not acceptable.  Regardless, it remains and unfortunately is not commented upon.

There are some breeds of dog that have very loose skin around the front of the neck. 

I feel strongly that the GSD should have tight skin encapsulating the neck, male or female.  This is independent from the male “mane” that develops later towards his adult life.

I also concur that singling phenotypical traits is not part of a productive breeding program.  However, mindful consideration of the dewlap trait should eliminate it as an aberration in a decade if delicately addressed.

Photos: 6 Months

Here is a sampling of some of the pups at 6 months:

Smaragd "Jade":

Rosa:

Pflaume "Salua":

Stahl:

Wasser "Sadie":

Vader:

Nostalgic Image Comparison

Here are two prior photos of Kohl adjusted to black and white:

Here is Roland v. Starkenburg:

And his grandfather Beowulf Sonnenberg:

Founders' Tree

The following is a representation of the founding bloodlines for the Vader Kohl von Ruhl x Kora Lynn vom Fjordland litter aus dem Tongass Wald.

Founders' Tree

The left-side of the document is a five generation pedigree table.

On the right is a "tree" illustrating the ancestors' founding sires' bloodlines for five generations.

Dog Parks

A negative dog park event occurred today with one of the pups.  I expressed my feelings about dog parks in the Q and A section of the litter's website, but here is an article by Ed Frawley that should cover all the basis:

Leerburg.com - Dog Parks, Why They are a Bad Idea

Halo "Jackson" Update

We have received several updates on the puppies from their respective owners over the weeks through email and Facebook.

One owner in Fairbanks has no internet connection so we receive monthly telephone calls to update us.  Jackson, formerly known as Halo, is growing huge per the report.  She impresses them with her intelligence, although we hear about that trait from all the owners.  One good "scolding" is all it takes to correct any misdeed, and she appears to think twice about doing it again.

She loves the cold, which is a good thing because it is 10 below in her area presently.  She plays for hours outside in the subzero temperatures.

Jackson has made good friends with the youngest of the 4 Shih tzus she is homed with, and keeps to herself around the others, who can be nasty to her from time to time.  One of the Shih tzus is a male and lured her a distance away from the house the other day.  They both got in trouble for venturing too far, and the new owner intends to monitor that closely in the future.  Luckily for Jackson, she has several acres to frolic around in.

Yesterday, Jackson alerted and made a "ruckus" at the door.  Bewildered, the owner investigated and found a Moose out in the yard.  He is very pleased with her ears and response to unusual happenings outside the home.  She reminds him of his first shepherd from many decades ago, and could not be happier with his new dog.

Animal Digest Definition

Just today I was apprised that some commercial dog/puppy kibble contain "animal digest."

I found this definition for "animal digest" from the USDA website:

animal digest. A powder or liquid mixture of breakdown products from animal tissue resulting from the controlled action of one or more enzymes. Digest contains only trace amounts of feathers, hair, horn, or teeth. Digest must name its animal source (such as beef, chicken, or pork digests). Regulate as rendered and processed protein under  Animal Waste and Related By-Products on page 3-2-1

Here is the referenced document "Animal Waste and Related By-Products on page 3-2-1."

With all the complexity involved in "animal digest" as a rendered and processed protein and the fact that at least one major dog food manufacture does not name its animal source of "animal digest" (on the label) as presented in the above definition, I will be sure to feed "animal digest" free foods to my animals from this point forward.