Big City Little Dog Fashion Show Part 1.

Angels On A Leash Benefit. Dogs strike a pose to benefit a great cause.

Dog Training - Turn Your Little Savage Into a Performer

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Dogs are the most popular type of pet in the United States. They have so many characteristics in such a variety that just about anyone (even cat lovers) can find some type of dog to love. Whether it has cute, fluffy looks or a strong build; whether it is the best friend of the kids or a hard-working dog, there's a breed for everyone. But, no matter what type of dog you choose, there is an important first step to integrate the dog smoothly into the family. That step is to properly train the dog. An untrained dog can be disruptive to the family and even destructive. In the East, good choices are dog training Philadelphia style or dog training NYC style.

Once the dog is trained, it will be a loyal companion. When you take it for a walk in the park, it will be content to follow you on the leash. When visitors come to your house, you can teach the dog not to jump on them. The visitors will be able to greet the dog on their terms, which may range from a shy "Hi, dog" to voluble hugs and kisses. You can even train the dog not to jump on the furniture, which will reduce the inevitable coating of hair on the sofa. As you know, dogs are pack animals, and you want the pack leader to be the human and not the dog.

Once your favorite dog is obedience trained, the fun training can begin. Dogs like to please their masters and they love little treats. These traits mean that dogs often have as much fun learning tricks as the people have teaching them. With patience and rewards, you can teach your dog many tricks. The old standards are things like sit, lie down, shake, and play dead. Other fun tricks are catching a Frisbee, chasing a tennis ball, and flipping a treat from the nose to the mouth.

There are two final reminders. These are very important in today's crowded world. First is the overpopulation problem. Too many dogs are born, and too many must be destroyed. This is a very sad situation. A major part of the solution is to spay and neuter you pet dog. Another aspect of this problem is puppy mills. Puppies born in puppy mills get a very unhappy start in life. The best way to do your part to solve these problems is to adopt a dog from a shelter. The final reminder is about what happens after the dog has dinner. Remember that, basically, the dog is a fur-covered colon. Every dog owner must be diligent in cleaning up the mess and disposing of it properly. You may think it is OK to take the dog to a wooded area and leave the mess behind. After all, that is how the bears do it. But remember that when it rains the water washes the waste into the nearest creek. When you let your dog "go" in the woods, you are adding raw sewage to the watershed. Not a good idea.

Connor Sullivan recently looked into dog training Philadelphia for his pet pooch. His wife signed up for several dog training NYC classes to teach her dog agility training.

10 Little Known Facts About the German Shepherd

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Known for its beauty, keen intelligence, and loyalty, the German Shepherd is one of the most popular and sought after breeds of dog in the world. Though among dog breeds they are a fairly recent breed coming into existence in 1899 they quickly rose to prominence. While most people can easily recognize these dogs and even tell you a lot about their disposition, there are a lot about these dogs you probably don't know. For those who love this dog here are a few interesting and little known facts.

1. Max Von Stephanitz is known as the father of the German Shepherd dog breed. He first purchased this dog at a dog show in 1899 and named it Horand Von Grafrath. This dog would become the centerpiece of the German Shepherd breed.

2. These dogs were originally bred to herd sheep and therefore the AKC registers them as herding dogs. The AKC registered the first German Shepherd as a breed in 1809.From 1809-1813 the Westminster Kennel club referred to the German Shepherd dog as the the German sheepdog.

3. During World War II both the Germans and the Americans used this breed of dog to dectect mines. German Shepherds were also used as guard dogs helping to patrol the perimeters of battle zones.

4. These loyal and intelligent dogs are the world's number one police dog used for drug detection and rescue in many countries throughout the world.

5. A GSD named "Buddy" became the first seeing eye dog in 1928. Since that time there have been many Shepherds who have taken on this role.

6. Roy Roger's Shepherd was named Bullet, Jack Kennedy's bore the name of Clipper, Franklin Roosevelt's Shepherd was named Major, and Hitler was quite fond of his shepherd who he named Blondi.

7. These dogs are the third most intelligent dog following the Border Collie and the Poodle. It is because of their intelligence that this breed of dog is so versatile and can be trained for military service, search and rescue, guide dogs, police dogs, and family pets.

8. These dogs come in a variety of color combinations such as black and red, black and silver, black and cream, black and tan, solid black, sable, and white. The white shepherd is considered a fault by the AKC.

9. Although German Shepherd's quickly rose to popularity being consistently on the top 10 list for decades. In 2009 this dog rose to become the second most popular registered dog according the AKC.

10. Unlike many others dogs of it's size and background Shepherd's only need a medium amount of exercise. A couple of walks around the block and some playtime in the yard is enough to keep them active. They are also incredibly gentle with children and the elderly when trained properly.

Although Shepherd's are on many of the top 10 most dangerous dog lists it should be noted that these lists do not rate dogs on how likely they are to bite but rather on the amount of damage they can do should they bite. Unless trained as attack dogs shepherd's are not known to attack those they are familiar with and trust.

Glen Stevens is a German Shepherd enthusiast. He owns and maintains German Shepherd Answers, a resource for all German Shepherd lovers and where you can find more great information on German Shepherd dogs and other essential advice.