Looking After Pets

As mans best friend, we want our favorite mutt to be well behaved in the different social situations it finds itself. This teaching needs to commence whilst the hound is young. We want the dog not to be frightened or belligerent towards individuals or other pets. Dog socialisation is a crucial part of dog training.
Studies at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine showed that the first 3 months are key, and the easiest for socialisation. For many puppies this period is dealt with by the dog breeder. After that period it is still key, but takes more time and planning and effort. This is also the experience of professional London dog sitters who are often asked for help.
Dogs are so similar to us humans, if the original experience is painful, we will avoid it or be anxious in the future, soone step at a time. Do not compel the puppy. If in doubt, stop and do it again later. Remember young puppies tire easily and need to rest often, so do new things for short periods and give plenty of rest in between.
So what approach should I take?
• Invite friends and family, small, large, varied looking, different sexes. Be careful and fully monitor introductions to children.
• Introduce him to a collar and then a leash. Just put the collar on, later attach the leash and let him walk around with it, then you can walk him around a bit with it on. Only use a lightweight buckle collar with a puppy.
• Visit your friends and families in their apartments.
• Try and introduce diverse bitches, particularly other sociable, vigorous and vaccinated bitches. Be prudent until the puppy is fully vaccinated, meeting hounds of unknown history.
• If you know people with bitch friendly cats, see if you can visit?
• Meet other animals, do you have a local farm near you? Difficult in towns, but look for opportunities.
• Driving is part of life. So take puppy out for as many practical short drives in the automobile. Park up and let pooch watch the world pass by, in the security of the car. This will introduce him to noisy. Initiate him to other piercing noises such as drills.
• Lug or walk him to spots where there is local bustle such as the mall and open spaces. Find a restaurant or coffee house where you can sit outside with your hound and watch the world go by. Loads of people will come and say hi to him.
• Introduce your pooch to activities in the house, within the constraints of safety, house work, cooking and TV.
• Puppy grooming, quality time for the two of you, develop the routine of brushing, bathing and inspection.
• Careful with training the pup on stairs, if you are a typical town apartment owner, this may be more difficult.

Dog socialisation, start today and have a wonderful sociable pooch.

The Irish Water Spaniel is a scarce breed, native to the Emerald Isle that is strongly built and taller and more square than most spaniels. Actually the fact the tallest of spaniels. Their coat consists of thick curls with a distinguishing puce / liver colour with a pronounced purple hue. Irish water spaniels are around sixty cms ( 24 inches) high and weigh twenty five – thirty kgs (around 60 lbs). The Irish Water Spaniel’s face and throat are smooth with the head topped with a “top knot” raising as a mound between the eyes. Irish Water Spaniel’s have a remarkable, a strange  average sized smooth, rat like tail. Which contrasts strongly with their curly hair.

Irish Water Spaniel’s were and are a working dog, so are very intelligent and active. Dog socialisation is important if they are to make good family dogs. Irish Water Spaniel’s require plenty of routine exercise and effort spent on dog training to really profit from them. Irish Water@ Spaniel’s are defensive of their family and have a fierce, deep sounding bark if provoked. They usually live for 9-11 years
.
Their coat is non-shedding so many people who suffer allergic responses might not be affected by the Irish Water Spaniel. Irish Water Spaniel’s do not require regular daily brushing unless showing. Every so often a spruce up to get rid of straggly ends with scissors and a comb to eliminate the mats. No surprise with their name that they love swimming, so an occasional swim will curl up the coat again and keep them contented.

The Irish Water Spaniel developed in the the early nineteenth century in Ireland. The origins of the breed are unclear, experts generally thinking they may have come from the Portuguese Water Dog, Poodle and Barbet. The Irish Water Spaniel hunted as a gundog in the marshes, rivers and bogs in Ireland.

Although happy to curl up and sleep at home, routine walks and exercise are a must for a healthy, trouble free Irish Water Spaniel. An unexercised Irish Water Spaniel may mean a naughty, mischievous dog. A great home for them is an active one, with plenty of activities going on and space, where the dogs’ minds as well as bodies are exercised. Dog walkers love them, as they appreciate good walks. Numerous Irish Water Spaniel lovers exercise their dogs in the hunting field, in obedience tests, in conformation show ring or agility competitions.

The Irish Water Spaniel’s intelligence results in them enjoying obedience and agility activities and combined with their great nose often results in them being trained for explosive and drug detection.

The major health issue with Irish Water Spaniel’s is caused by their size and may suffer from hip dysplasia, prior to breeding, the potential mother and father should be scored for this.

They can be greedy, so you need to control the calories that they eat.

A great dog for an active couple or family who have the energy and either experience of other dogs, or are prepared to invest in the training, perhaps with the help of a professional dog trainer.

The German Shepherd Dog also called the Alsatian comes literally from the German Deutscher Schäferhund. The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed of large-sized dog originating in the late 19th century. Originally a herding dog, particularly for sheep.

Often employed by the military and police for their obedience and intelligence. They are nearly always one of the top five global breeds.
The breed originates from a dog called Hektor Linksrhein. Hecktor so impressed Von Stephanitz that he bought it and renamed him to Horand von Grafrath and founded Alsatian Dog Society.
Horand became the focus of the Alsatian breeding programs and was mated with many other society member dogs.
The Alsatians popularity has increased rapidly through the 20th Century, though taking dives in popularity in the early days due to health problems from poor breeding and after the world wars with anti German feelings. To such an extent that the UK Kennel Club renamed it to “Alsatian Wolf Dog”, eventually the wolf dog addition was dropped and in 1977, the German Shepherd Dog was back as the official name, though it is still often known as the Alsatian. The Alsatian popularity was fuelled by animal actors such as Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. Now it is in most countries the third most popular dog breed.

They are a large dog of around sixty centimetres (around 24 in) at the top of the back and weigh around 30 kilograms ( 49 and 88 lb).

The Alsatian’s face has a long square cut muzzle, a doomed forehead, a long neck, powerful jaws, large erect ears (that are often pulled back when on the move), black nose and brown, medium-sized eyes. With a bushy tail.

Alsatians come in a variety of colours, the most common being the tan/black and red/black versions with black saddles and masks. Less common types include the sable, all-black, all-white, liver and blue varieties, which may not fit country breed standards. Alsatians have a double coat. A thick close dense outer coat, which is shed continually and a thick undercoat. There is also the rare long-hair variant.
The German Shepherd, like many working dogs is very intelligent, and are ranked as the third most intelligent breed of dog by Stanley Coren in his reference study and book “The Intelligence of Dogs”. This intelligence combined with the German Shepherds power makes the Alsatian sought after as guard, police, search and rescue dogs, the German Shepherd rapid learning ability and ability to interpret instructions are better than other large breeds.
German Shepherds have a reputation for aggression and have been banned in areas as a result. Statistically, in the States, the German Shepherd is responsible for more unprovoked indiscriminate bites than any other dog breed, and have a known tendency to attack smaller dog breeds.

Additionally research has shown that German Shepherds are the third most likely dog breed to attack someone and in another report found that Alsatians accounted for around fifty percent of the dog bites that needed medical attention, compared to a more typical twenty of bites requiring medical treatment, not surprising with their powerful jaws and sharp canine teeth.

The problem is not with the dog, but the owners. As with any bright active dog (or child), if they are not regularly active and kept busy, they can become difficult. Good dog training and dog socialisation are crucial for a dog like the German Shepherd. The German Shepherd is different from the collie, where a lot of its aggressiveness has been breed out from show strains, the German Shepherd has not lost this streak.

They can bond very well with their family, however they can become over-protective of their family and territory. This can give them an aloof personality.

Alsatians learn well and are very obedient and not easily sidetracked, but due to their tough character, you must be very firm with them.
The Alsatian will need to have two good walks a day. They are not a dog for a busy family without time for attention. For this reason, busy couples often ask professional dog walkers such as London dog walking to help out by walking them for a couple of hours a day.
Poor breeding has led to common health issues, elbow and hip joint problems (dysplasia) which is painful for the dog and often causes arthritis. The Alsatian also is susceptible from monorchidism (one testicle), weakness of temperament, and missing teeth, as well as folded or bent ears which never fully turn up when reaching adulthood. The Alsatian is often has ear problems due to his large and open ears.

German Shepherds, like many deep bodied dogs are sensitive to bloat, this is often fatal, so if you think this may be a problem, go straight to the veterinary. This is a gas build up in the stomach, caused by a number of different causes. The symptoms of distress for no apparent reason, a firm distension of the abdomen, general weakness, depression, problems breathing, hypersalivation, and retching without vomiting. A large percentage of dogs with bloat have cardiac arrhythmias ( 40 percent in one study), loss of appetite, vomiting and weight loss.

The German Shepherd also suffers from Degenerative Myelopathy, or DM is a neurological disease and are more likely to have Von Willebrand Disease, a common inherited bleeding disorder, which shows in differing degrees of bleeding tendency, usually in the form of easy bruising, nosebleeds and bleeding gums. .

In spite of these problems, the German Shepherd is sturdy with simple dog care and the average lifespan of a German Shepherd is 7 – 10 years, which is normal for a dog of this size.

The Alsatian has great olfactory sensitivity so is one of the often used in a wide variety of scent-work roles, including cadaver searching, search and rescue, explosives detection, narcotics detection and mine detection.

So the Alsatian is a great clever dog that will love you, if you have the time and dedication for him. Not advised for busy working families.

The Scottish Terrier also often called the Scottie or the Highland or Aberdeen Terrier is reknowned for its classic terrier personality. There are four other Scottish Terrier breeds, Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont and West Highland White Terriers.
The behaviour and qualities and more importantly the dog care of the Scottie comes from its historic roots.You should compare characteristics with with the other top dog breeds, of which there are around 500.
The Highland Terrier is often given the nickname of “little diehard”. Originally given in the 19th century by George, the fourth Earl of Dumbarton. George IV had a pack of Scottish Terriers, supposedly so brave that they were nicknamed “Diehards” and were the idea for his Regiment name, The Royal Scots, “Dumbarton’s Diehards”.
As always it is difficult to know the real origins of the Aberdeen Terrier, but it was bred for killing small rodents in Scotland for many years. It may be the original breed of the five Scottish Terrier breeds and there are some historical evidence dating back to the 16th Century.
The source of the name “terrier” is the Latin terra denoting “earth”. The Aberdeen Terrier was a hunter where these petite legged, sturdy dogs were designed and built for the reason of rooting out small pest animals such as badgers, foxes and rats out of their tunnels.
Scottish Terriers looks are characterised by long fur, heavy eyebrows and whiskers. The wiry coat exists in many colors, including black, wheaten or brindle of any shade. Scotties with ‘Wheaten’ (straw to nearly white) coats may occur, but should not be confused with the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier or West Highland White Terrier.
Aberdeen Terriers are sturdy, with a muscular body and a long neck. A Scottish Terrier has a long head in proportion to its body which averages just under a foot high. The Scottie has erect ears and tail. Aberdeen Terrierwere bred with strong tails so that their owners could pull them out of holes when they were stuck after tunnelling after vermin and voles.
Scottiehave small, intense almond-shaped and dark eyes.
The Scottie personality is one of independence and spirit. People have said a Scottie thinks he is an Irish Wolfhound in height! To the extent that he is quite fearless that sometimes appears idiotic in the face of a much larger dog, when he suddenly realises that he is only eleven inches high. Professional dog walkers, such as London Dog Walking love to walk them, they are never feel frightened by the bigger dogs!
Height at withers for both sexes of the Scottie should be roughly 25 cm (9.8 in), and the length of back from shoulder to tail is roughly 28 cm (11 in). Generally a well-balanced Scottie dog should weigh 8–10 kg (19–22 lb) and a female from 8–9.9 kg (18–22 lb). Scottish Terrier are about 11–15 inches (28–38 cm) in height.
Scottieare very attentive, jovial and sure in themselves. Scotties typically live around 12 years.
Scotties, whilst being very loving, can also be irritatingly inflexible. Because of this inflexibility, a Aberdeen Terrier needs strong, but kind handling from a puppy or it will rule the household. Every new Scottish Terrier addition needs to have a clear puppy training plan.
The Highland Terrier makes a great guard dog because it normally only barks when necessary and normally only for strangers. Dog socialisation is important as it is a courageous breed that is often antagonistic around other dogs unless instructed and presented to different dogs whilst a puppy or young.
Because the Scottie were used to hunt and fight badgers and other pests they love to dig and chase small vermin, such as Squirrels, rats, and mice. For this reason it is recommended that they are generally walked on a leash.
Whilst Scottish Terriers are generally a robust breed they have a propensity of going down with specific cancers than other purebreds. Studies have identified six cancers that Highland Terriers are more likely to be at risk of ( when compared to other breeds) are: (in descending order) bladder cancer and other transitional cell carcinomas of the lower urinary tract (more normal in more mature dogs and more frequently in females so keep an eye on blood in the urine, problems to urinate and often urinating – and search veterinary help); malignant melanoma; gastric carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; lymphosarcoma and nasal carcinoma.
Common prevention for dog cancer includes, ensure that your dog has little or no exposure to herbicides, pesticides, solvents and cigarette smoke; use caution when treating dogs with some flea medications; provide a healthy, vitamin-rich diet (low in carbohydrates, high in vegetables) and regularly exercise.
Two other genetic health concerns in the Scottie breed are von Willebrand disease (vWD) which is diagnosed with varying degrees of bleeding tendency, normally easy bruising, nosebleeds and bleeding gums.
The second is craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO); often known as lion’s jaw, that created major bony changes in the mandible and skull. Normally occurring between the ages of 3 and 8 months. The lesions stop growing after twelve months or so, and may regress. The firm swelling of the jaw, drooling, pain, and difficulty in eating. This is also an inherited disease and if extensive, could be difficult for the dog.
Because of these inherited diseases it is highly recommended to buy direct from a breeder, who can show he has not had a problem with these diseases.
Famous Scotties include former President George W. Bushs’ Barney and Roosevelts – Fala. Infact the Aberdeen Terrier is the only breed of dog that has lived more than three times in the White House.
Other famous people who are known to have owned the Highland Terrier include: Humphrey Bogart; Liza Minnelli; Queen Victoria; Theodore Roosevelt; Dorothy Lamour; Tatum O’Neal owned a Scottie. She was said to be so upset by her dog’s death to cancer and old age that she fell back into drugs.
The Highland Terrier is also a key part of the Monopoly board game, as the popular player token.
A Scottish Terrier and a West Highland White Terrier are featured on the Black & White whisky label. In Enid Blyton’s Mystery Series books, there is Buster a Scottish Terrier, who is often part of the mysteries.
So all in, a rightfully popular dog breed, particularly in personality per lb, but you will need to train and be firm with your Aberdeen Terrier.

The Scottish Terrier also known as the Scottie or the Highland or Aberdeen Terrier is reknowned for its characteristic terrier personality. There are four other Scottish Terrier breeds, Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont and West Highland White Terriers.
The personality and characteristics and more importantly the dog care of the Scottie comes from its historic roots.You should compare characteristics with with the other major dog breeds, of which there are many.
The Highland Terrier is often called by the nickname of “little diehard”. Originally given in the 19th century by George, the fourth Earl of Dumbarton. George IV had a pack of Scottish Terriers, supposedly so brave that they were nicknamed “Diehards” and were the idea for his Regiment name, The Royal Scots, “Dumbarton’s Diehards”.
As always it is difficult to know the real origins of the Scottish Terrier, but it was bred for killing small rodents in Scotland for many years. It may be the oldest of the five Scottish Terrier breeds , with some references back to the 16th Century.
The origin of the name “terrier” is the Latin terra denoting “earth”. The Aberdeen Terrier was a hunter where these short legged, powerful dogs were designed and built for the purpose of killing small rodents such as badgers, foxes and rats out of their tunnels.
Scottish Terriers looks are characterised by long fur, heavy eyebrows and whiskers. The stiff coat exists in many colors, including black, brindle or wheaten of any shade. Scotties with ‘Wheaten’ (straw to nearly white) coats sometimes occur, but should not be confused with the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier or West Highland White Terrier.
Scottish Terriers are robust, with a muscular body and a long neck. A Scottish Terrier has a long head in proportion to its body which averages about ten or eleven inches high. The Aberdeen Terrier has erect ears and tail. Scottish Terrierwere bred with strong tails so that could be pulled out of burrows when they were stuck after tunnelling after vermin and voles.
Scottiehave petite, intense almond-shaped and dark eyes.
The Scottie personality is one of independence and guts. Often people say a Scottie thinks he is an Irish Wolfhound in height! To the extent that he is totally fearless that often appears idiotic in the face of a larger dog, when he suddenly realises that he is only nine inches high. Professional dog walkers, such as London Dog Walking love to walk them, they are never feel frightened by the bigger dogs!
Height at withers for both sexes of the Aberdeen Terrier should be roughly 25 cm (9.8 in), and the length of back from shoulder to tail is roughly 28 cm (11 in). Generally a well-balanced Scottie dog should weigh 8–10 kg (19–22 lb) and a female from 8–9.9 kg (18–22 lb). Highland Terrier are about 11–15 inches (28–38 cm) in height.
Highland Terrierare very alert, jovial and sure in themselves. Highland Terriers typically live roughly eleven years.
Aberdeen Terriers, whilst being very loving, can also be particularly inflexible. Because of this stubbornness, a Highland Terrier needs firm, but gentle handling from a puppy or it will rule the home. Every new Scottish Terrier addition needs to have a clear puppy training plan.
The Scottie makes a great watchdog because it normally only barks when essential and in the main only for strangers. Dog socialisation is imperative as it is a fearless breed that is often antagonistic around other dogs unless presented and educated to different dogs whilst a puppy or young.
Because the Highland Terrier were used to hunt and fight badgers and other pests they love to dig as well as chase small pests, such as Squirrels, rats, and mice. For this reason it is recommended that Highland Terriers are kept on a leash.
Whilst Highland Terriers are generally a healthy breed they have a propensity of developing some cancers than other purebreds. Studies have identified six cancers that Scotties are more likely to be at risk of ( when compared to other breeds) are: (in descending order) bladder cancer and other transitional cell carcinomas of the lower urinary tract (more normal in older dogs and more common in females so watch for blood in the urine, problems to urinate and often urinating – and search veterinary help); malignant melanoma; gastric carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; lymphosarcoma and nasal carcinoma.
Common prevention for dog cancer includes, ensure that your dog has minimal exposure to herbicides, pesticides, solvents and cigarette smoke; use caution when treating dogs with some flea medications; give a healthy, vitamin-rich diet (low in carbohydrates, high in vegetables) and regularly exercise.
Two other genetic health concerns in the Scottie breed are von Willebrand disease (vWD) which symptoms are varying degrees of bleeding tendency, normally easy bruising, nosebleeds and gums that bleed.
The second is craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO); sometimes known as lion’s jaw, that causes major bony modifications in the mandible and skull. Normally occurring between the ages of 3 and 8 months. The lesions normally stop growing after twelve months or so, and may regress. The firm swelling of the jaw, drooling, pain, and problems in eating. This is also an inherited disease and if extensive, could be difficult for the dog.
Because of these inherited diseases it is highly recommended to buy direct from a breeder, who can show he has not had a problem with these diseases.
Famous Scotties include former President George W. Bushs’ Barney and Roosevelts – Fala. Infact the Aberdeen Terrier is the only dog breed that has lived more than three times in the White House.
Other famous people who are known to have owned the Scottish Terrier include: Humphrey Bogart; Julie Andrews; Queen Victoria; Ronald Reagan; Dorothy Lamour; Tatum O’Neal owned a Highland Terrier. She was said to be so upset by her dog’s death to old age and cancer that she fell back into drugs.
The Scottish Terrier is also a player token in the board game, Monopoly.
A Aberdeen Terrier and a West Highland White Terrier are featured on the Black & White whisky label. In Enid Blyton’s Mystery Series books, there is Buster a Scottish Terrier, who is often part of the mysteries.
So all in, a rightfully popular dog breed, particularly in character per lb, but you will need to train and be firm with your Highland Terrier.

The Scottish Terrier also known as the Scottie or the Highland or Aberdeen Terrier is well known for its classic terrier personality. There are four other Scottish Terrier breeds, West Highland White Terriers, Dandie Dinmont and Skye, Cairn.
The traits and individuality and more importantly the dog care of the Scottie comes from its origins.You should compare characteristics with with the other major dog breeds, of which there are many.
The Highland Terrier is often called by the nickname of “little diehard”. Originally coined in the 19th century by George, the fourth Earl of Dumbarton. George IV had a pack of Scottish Terriers, apparently so fearless that they were given the nickname “Diehards” and were the inspiration for the name of his Regiment, The Royal Scots, “Dumbarton’s Diehards”.
As always it is difficult to know the real origins of the Aberdeen Terrier, but it was bred for clearing small rodents in Scotland for many years. It could be the oldest of the five Scottish Terrier breeds and there are some references back to the 16th Century.
The origin of the name “terrier” is the Latin terra denoting “earth”. The Scottie was a hunter where these small legged, powerful dogs were designed and built for the reason of killing small rodents such as badgers, foxes and rats out of their tunnels.
Scottish Terriers appearance is  characterised by long fur, heavy eyebrows and whiskers. The stiff coat exists in many colors, including black, wheaten or brindle of any shade. Scotties with ‘Wheaten’ (straw to nearly white) coats sometimes occur, but may be Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier or West Highland White Terrier.
They are robust, with a muscular body and a long neck. A Highland Terrier has a long head in proportion to its body which averages just under a foot high. The Scottish Terrier has  erect ears and tail. Scottiewere bred with strong tails so that their owners could pull them out of holes when they were stuck after tunnelling after vermin and voles.
Aberdeen Terrierhave small, intense almond-shaped and dark eyes.
The Highland Terrier personality is one of independence and spirit. People have said a Scottie imagines he is an Irish Wolfhound in height! To the point that he is totally fearless that often appears idiotic in the face of a much larger dog, when he realises that he is less than a foot in height. Dog walkers love to walk them, they are never intimated by the larger dogs!
Height at withers for both sexes of the Scottish Terrier should be roughly 25 cm (9.8 in), and the length of back from shoulder to tail is roughly 28 cm (11 in). Generally a well-balanced Scottie dog should weigh 8–10 kg (19–22 lb) and a female from 8–9.9 kg (18–22 lb). Aberdeen Terrier are about 11–15 inches (28–38 cm) in height.
Scottish Terrierare very attentive, playful and sure in themselves. They typically live about eleven years.
Aberdeen Terriers, whilst being very loving, can also be irritatingly inflexible. Because of this obstinate trait, a Scottish Terrier needs resolved, but gentle handling from a puppy or it will dominate the home. Every new Scottie addition needs to have a clear puppy training plan.
The Scottish Terrier makes a great watchdog because it normally only barks when essential and in the main only for strangers. Dog socialisation is imperative as it is a fearless breed that may be aggressive around other dogs unless introduced and trained to other dogs whilst a puppy or young.
Because the Highland Terrier were  used to fight and hunt badgers and other pests they like to dig and chase small vermin, such as Squirrels, rats, and mice. Yet another reason to recommend that Aberdeen Terriers are kept on a leash.
Whilst Highland Terriers are normally a robust breed they do have a greater chance of developing specific cancers than other purebreds. Studies have identified 6 cancers that Scotties are more likely to go down with ( when compared to other breeds) are: (in descending order) bladder cancer and other transitional cell carcinomas of the lower urinary tract (more normal in more mature dogs and more frequently in females so keep an eye on blood in the urine, straining to urinate and frequent urination – and search veterinary assistance); malignant melanoma; gastric carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; lymphosarcoma and nasal carcinoma.
To help prevent cancer in any dog,  ensure that your dog has minimal contact to herbicides, pesticides, solvents and cigarette smoke; use caution when treating dogs with some flea medications; give a healthy, vitamin-rich diet (low in carbohydrates, high in vegetables) and plenty of exercise.
The Highland Terrier are also sensitive to von Willebrand disease (vWD) which is diagnosed with varying degrees of bleeding tendency, usually in the form of easy bruising, nosebleeds and bleeding gums.
The second is craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO); sometimes  known as lion’s jaw, that created major bony modifications in the mandible and skull. Normally occurring between the ages of 3 and 8 months. The lesions stop progressing after twelve months or so, and can regress. The solid swelling of the jaw, drooling, pain, and difficulty in eating. This is also an inherited disease and if extensive, could be difficult for the dog.
Due to these inherited diseases it is advisable to buy directly from a breeder, who can show he has no problems with these diseases.
Famous Scotties include Roosevelts – Fala and former President George W. Bushs’ Barney. Infact the  Highland Terrier is the only dog breed that has lived in the White House more than three times.
Other famous people who are known to have owned the Highland Terrier  include: Bette Davis; Liza Minnelli; E.B. White; Ronald Reagan; Eva Braun; Tatum O’Neal owned a Aberdeen Terrier. She was said to be so saddened by her dog’s death to old age and cancer that she relapsed into drugs.
The Scottie is also a key part of the Monopoly board game, as the popular player token.
 A Aberdeen Terrier and a West Highland White Terrier are pictured on the Black & White whisky label. In Enid Blyton’s Mystery Series books, there is Buster a Scottish Terrier, who is often part of the mysteries.
So all in, a rightfully popular dog breed, particularly in character per weight, but you will need to train and be firm with your Scottie.

The German Shepherd Dog also known as an Alsatian comes literally from the German Deutscher Schäferhund.  They are a relatively new breed of large-sized dog originating in the late 19th century. Originally a herding dog, particularly for sheep.

Often employed by the military and police for their obedience and intelligence. They are also one of the most popular breeds around the world.
The breed originates from a dog named Hektor Linksrhein. He so stunned Von Stephanitz that he bought it and renamed him to Horand von Grafrath and founded German Shepherd Dog Society.
Horand von Grafrath became the centre-point of the Alsatian breeding programs and was mated with many other society member dogs.
The German Shepherds popularity has grown quickly through the 20th Century, though taking dives in popularity in the early days due to health problems from poor breeding and after the world wars with anti German sentiment. To such an extent that the UK Kennel Club renamed it to “Alsatian Wolf Dog”, a while later the wolf dog appendage was removed and in the late seventies, the breed officially became the Alsatian Dog. The Alsatian popularity was helped by animal actors such as Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. Now it is in most countries the third most popular dog breed.

They are a large dog of between 55 and 65 centimetres (around 24 in) at the withers and weigh around 30 kilograms (60 lb).

The German Shepherd’s face has a long square cut muzzle, a doomed forehead, a long neck, powerful jaws, big erect ears (that are often pulled back when on the move), black nose and brown, medium-sized eyes. With a bushy tail.
 
Alsatians come in many colours, the most common being the red/black and tan/black versions with black saddles and masks.   Rarer versions include the sable, all-black, all-white, liver and blue varieties, which may not fit country breed standards. Alsatians have a double coat. A thick close dense outer coat, which sheds continually and a thick undercoat. The long-hair variety is rarer.
Like many working dogs, German Shepherds were bred for their intelligence,  and are considered to be the third most intelligent breed of dog (Border Collies is deemed to be number one by Stanley Coren in his book The Intelligence of Dogs). This intelligence combined with the Alsatians power makes the breed desirable as police, guard, and search and rescue dogs, being able to quickly learn various tasks and interpret instructions better than other large breeds.
Alsatians have a reputation for aggression and have been banned in areas as a result. Statistically, in the United States, the Alsatian is responsible for more unprovoked indiscriminate bites than any other breed, and have a known tendency to attack smaller dog breeds.

Additionally studies have shown that German Shepherds are the breed third most likely to attack a person and in another report found that Alsatians were responsible for almost half of the dog bites that needed medical attention, versus a more typical 20% of bites requiring medical attention, not a surprise with their powerful jaws and sharp canine teeth.
 
The problem is not with the dog, but the owners. As with any clever lively dog (or person), if they are not regularly active and kept busy, they can become troublesome. The German Shepherd must have puppy socialisation and good education from an early stage. The German Shepherd is different from the collie, where a lot of its aggressiveness has been removed by breeding for shows, the German Shepherd has not lost this streak.

They can bond very well with their family, however they can become over-protective of their family and territory. Due to this they may appear a bit aloof.

Alsatians learn well and are highly obedient and not easily diverted, but due to their strong personality,  you must be very forceful with them.
The Alsatian will need to have two good walks a day. They are not a dog for a busy family who cannot give them the time and attention.  For this reason, busy families regularly ask dog walkers to help out by walking them for a couple of hours a day.
Poor breeding has led to common health issues, hip and elbow joint problems (dysplasia) which is painful for the dog and may cause arthritis. The Alsatian also is susceptible from monorchidism (one testicle), weakness of temperament, and missing teeth, as well as folded or bent ears which never fully turn up when reaching adulthood. Due to the large and open nature of their ears, Shepherds also are prone to ear infections.

German Shepherds, like many large chested dogs are prone to bloat, this is a very dangerous and often rapidly fatal problem, so if you think this may be a problem, go straight to the vet. This is a gas build up in the stomach, caused for varying reasons. The symptoms of distress for no apparent reason, a firm distension of the abdomen, general weakness, depression, problems breathing, hypersalivation, and retching without vomiting. A large percentage of dogs with bloat have cardiac arrhythmias ( 40 percent in one study), loss of appetite, vomiting and weight loss.

The Alsatian often suffers from Degenerative Myelopathy, or DM is a neurological disease and are more likely to have Von Willebrand Disease, a common inherited bleeding disorder, which shows in varying degrees of bleeding tendency, usually in the form of easy bruising, nosebleeds and bleeding gums. .

In spite of these problems, the German Shepherd is robust with simple dog care and the average lifespan of a German Shepherd is around nine years, which is typical for a large dog.

The German Shepherd has a great nose so is one of the most widely-used breeds in a wide variety of scent-work roles, including search and rescue, cadaver searching, narcotics detection, explosives detection, accelerant detection, and mine detection dog, amongst others.

So the German Shepherd is a superb clever breed that will love you, if you have the time and dedication for him. Not advised for busy working families.

As mans best friend, we want our darling bitch to be well mannered in the different social situations it finds himself. This education should start while the fido is young. We want the dog  not to be startled or belligerent towards individuals or other pets. Puppy socialisation is a key part of dog care.
Studies at Veterinary Medicine College at Cornell showed that the first twelve are crucial, and the easiest for socialisation. For many puppies this time is tackled by the dog breeder. After that period it is still important, but takes more energy and planning and effort. This is also the experience of professional dog sitters who are regularly asked for tips.
Puppies are like us, if the original experience is painful, we will steer clear of it or be nervous at similar occasions, so  take things slowly and small. Encourage compel the puppy. Take no risks. Yound pups rapidly tire and need to rest often, so do new things for short periods and give plenty of rest in between.
So what practical things should we do?
• Invite people, any friends and family, petit, grand, different looking, different sexes. Be cautious and vigilant with experiences with other children.
• Start him on a collar and then a leash. For short periods just leave the collar on him, later attach the leash and let him wander around with it, then you can take him for a walk around the house. Only use a lightweight buckle collar with a puppy.
• Visit your friends and families in their flats.
• Try and introduce diverse pooches, particularly other friendly, vigorous and vaccinated mutts. Be careful until the puppy is fully vaccinated, meeting  mutts that you do not know.
• If you know people with fido friendly cats, see if you can visit?
• Meet other animals, do you have a friendly farm near you? Difficult in towns, but if you go away for the weekend.
• Driving is part of life. So take hound out for as many convenient short drives in the automobile. Stop and let him watch the world pass by, in the security of the car. This helps with him getting used to noisy. Introduce him to others such as drills.
• Take or walk him to spots where there is local bustle such as the mall and parks. Find a pub or seat where you can sit outside with your pooch and watch the world go by. Tons of people will come and say hi to him.
•  Keep him close to activities in the home, within the constraints of safety, house work, preparing food and TV.
• Puppy grooming, quality time for the two of you, develop the routine of brushing, bathing and inspection.
•  Introduce the puppy to stairs carefully, if you are a typical town apartment owner, this may be more difficult.

Dog socialisation, do not procrastinate and do something today and have a superb sociable dog.