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News of German Shepherds
Fanciers of the German Shepherd are already beginning to look forward to the 18th National Specialty of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America which, through the courtesy and at the invitation of the Morris and Essex Kennel Club, will beheld in connection with that famous outdoor exhibition next May. The show is to be judged by one of the recognized judges of the Verein fur Deutsche Shaferhunde, although negotiations with the SV judges have not as yet reached a point where individual names can be submitted to the American Kennel Club for approval. In deciding to resume the practice of having a foreign authority judge the National event, the Club is by no means blind to the fact that judging talent of the first quality is available to the breed in this country. But, both by reason of past experience and a view to the future welfare of the breed, its officers believe that it is an excellent thing, periodically, to bring fresh viewpoint from overseas to bear upon the qualities of Shepherds owned and bred here. That there has been a forward march in the average quality of material produced by American breeders, none can doubt. If one’s experience and observation runs back say 10 years in the breed, this improvement must strike him as very marked when he attends a good show of Shepherds today. Both in bodily structure – including its reflection in the movement of the dog – and in temperament, the American-bred Shepherd of today is a better animal by a wide margin than he was a decade ago. Rapid progress might perhaps be expected in a breed which, while an ancient one in fact, is only about 35 years old in the matter of scientific breeding and record-keeping. But the strides of the Shepherd toward uniformity, toward adherence to the breed type, have been ever more rapid in its native land and in the United States than one would have anticipated. There are many who hold that this fast rate of improvement may be explained in part, at any rate, by the fact that the breed exemplifies line breeding to an unusual degree and that, therefore, the fixation of desirable characteristics had been comparatively simple. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that Shepherd rings today show an average quality that is highly gratifying. The foreign judges who have come to America heretofore have expressed, without exception, their admiration for the worth of American-bred dogs. It is believed that next May, in the unequalled setting which the generosity of Mrs. M.H. Dodge makes possible, the best collection of German Shepherds ever brought before a judge in an American show ring may be assembled.
Regarding Ears of German Shepherds One of the most frequent inquiries that comes [sic] to the office of the parent club is a request for information from novice breeders or from individual owners as to how to make the ears of a puppy assume their proper carriage. Many of these inquiries are based on a lack of knowledge of what is correct ear carriage in the breed and of the stage at which it may be expected to manifest itself. It would seem worth while [sic] to give some general facts on this matter here. In the first place, the German Shepherd is not expected to carry its ears up or erect at all times; but only at times of interest or excitement. When a dog is lying down or nudging one’s elbow to be stroked it does not, and should not, have its ears up. Very frequently at the fast, extended trot, which is the characteristic gait of the breed, the ears will be laid back. So, as a premise in this matter, one should not expect his dog to have its ears pricked 24 hours of the day. In the second place, many persons just making a beginning with the breed, look for mature ear carriage in puppies that are too young to show it. The age at which puppies put their ears up differs widely. Generally speaking, the small, light, active puppies of any given litter will have their ears up weeks before their more sluggish brothers and sisters. Certain families seem to have a tendency to lag in this respect; some few have a definite tendency to produce soft ears. One should not despair of a puppy’s ears until it is at least 10 months old, although the usual time of getting them up is from the fourth to sixth month, and many of the very alert and active puppies already mentioned will have them up at three months. If the ears appear to be too slow to come up or if one has reason to be worried about their carriage, two procedures are of value. First, do everything you can to attract and hold the puppy’s attention for considerable periods several times a day. Teach him to retrieve a ball and to watch objects which you throw for him. Feed him by hand, making him catch morsels which you toss to him. The eye and the ear are very closely interdependent in the Shepherd and if you can awake and arouse attention, the battle is half won. Secondly, remember that the ears are help up by muscles, which, in turn, are fed by blood vessels. Circulation in the ears and in the muscles which affect them is therefore of importance. Massage of the ears themselves, with gentle pressure applied first at the base and then working toward the tips is sometimes helpful. More important, as a rule, is stimulation of the great cap muscle which crosses the top of the skull and which acts to bring the ears up by drawing them together. Finally, do not be alarmed if your puppy’s ears meet with their inner edges touching, or actually cross a little. This is usually the sign of good ear carriage later in life, especially if one remembers to gently stimulate the circulation at the lower base of the ear where the fold that allows the tips to come too close together may indicate a bit of weakness.
German Shepherds are Given Medals Two Shepherd dogs were among the recipients of honor awarded by the Anti-Vivisection Society of New York, recently. One, named Buddy, got a medal for intelligence by demonstrating how he could disarm a man who drew a pistol, and how he would stamp out incipient fires on the floor. To Prince went a medal for heroism for dragging his master to safety when he fell in front of an onrushing automobile. Three of four living dog heroes and one of two to receive posthumous awards at the Canadian National Exhibition this year were German Shepherds. Rex, owned by A.A. Beard of Toronto, saved a boy from drowning in Lake Ontario. A heavy sea was running, and the dog had a stiff fight to bring the lad to shore. Tauser von Whital, a black Shepherd owned by Dr. William Rogers of Bellwoods, Ontario, saved his master’s life by attacking an enraged bull which had knocked down and gored the doctor. The third was Cutie, owned by thirteen-year-old George Craven. She showed courage and intelligence by diving to the bottom of Wilcox Lake and bringing her master to safety after he had gone down following an attack of cramps. King, another dog of the breed, dived three times into the swirling current of the St. Lawrence near Brockville before he brought his unconscious master to shore. The man was saved, but King lay dead when help arrived.
In future issues, GSDbyDesign hopes to bring you more historical articles, news and images. If you have one dated before 1980, please send it along.
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