Cattle

Posts Tagged ‘leader’

The Giant Schnauzer, also referred to as a Riesenschnauzer, is a German breed that was developed to be a cattle dog. It is suspected that this breed was created by crossing rough-coated shepherd, Bouvier des Flandres, smooth-coated drover dogs, and Great Danes. Today this breed is used as a guard dog, as a watch dog and as a family dog.

This impressive breed stands between 23.5 and 27.5 inches tall and weighs between 70 and 77 pounds. Their coat is short and wiry and it comes in solid black or salt and pepper variations. This is a very loyal and protective breed that can fit into just about any type of family as long as they are socialized properly. To keep the Giant Schnauzer happy and healthy you will need to provide it with plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Giant Schnauzers are actually not gigantic dogs as suggested by their name, but simply a larger and more powerful version of the Standard Schnauzer.

They will only reach the heights of 28 inches for males and 26 inches for females. Giant Schnauzers that go beyond 80 pounds are considered overweight.

Origin:

The breed was developed in the Wurttemberg and Bavarian sections of Germany. These places were agricultural areas. Dogs like the Giant Schnauzers are in high demand as farm workers that help in variety of tasks. They were used as livestock controllers and they aid shepherds with driving livestock to market. They were also used as guard dogs

Appearance and Abilities:

Giant Schnauzers are practically enlarged standard schnauzers. In general appearance, they should resemble their smaller relatives. They are robust, strongly built, nearly square in proportion of body length to height at withers, active, sturdy, and well muscled.

They have a rugged build with a dense weather resistant coat that is wiry. They are powerful dogs and are very useful as working breeds. Giant Schnauzers are versatile and very intelligent. Their high train-ability makes them useful for police work as well.

The Giant Schnauzers coat, distinctive beard and eyebrows are its trademark appearance. The breed is accepted in solid black or salt and pepper.

They have free, balanced and vigorous gaits, with good reach in the forequarters and good driving power in the hindquarters. When moving at a fast trot, a properly built dog will have a strong, firm, and flat gait.

Temperament and Tendencies:

Giant Schnauzers are active and always in high spirits. They are extremely intelligent and have reliable temperaments. This breed loves to work and it naturally wants a job to do.

They have strong territorial; instincts which makes them very good watchdogs. The Giant Schnauzer loves his owners and feels great responsibility to protect them. Fortunately, its remarkable intelligence makes it learns quickly to distinguish between friend and foe.

Giant Schnauzers are bold and valiant creatures. They are courageous and enduring. They have profound alertness with intelligence and reliability. However, they are genuinely composed and deeply loyal to family. They can be amiable and playful with people they are comfortable with. But they are very commanding creatures when aroused.

Training and Care:

The objective in training this dog is to achieve the alpha dog status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack works together under a single leader. As an owner, always assume the top position to manage and control your Giant Schnauzers behavior.

This breed must be socialized early and extensively to prevent the strong territorial instincts and to keep them from becoming hostile.

Giant Schnauzers need a lot of exercise, requiring daily walks, playtime with another dog or romps in the yard.

The breed requires regular grooming, including brushing and stripping. Giant Schnauzers’ owners should be prepared to spend time maintaining the breed’s coat.

Cats are unlike any other domesticated animal in that they have retained an independent streak despite centuries of living with humans. In fact, the history of feline domestication is thought to go back as far as the Ancient Egyptians in the third millennia B.C.

It is clear that the Egyptians had a fascination with cats that can be seen in pictures, art and artifacts. However, it is almost impossible to tell whether these were domesticated or wild animals. Nevertheless, by 1600 B.C. the volume of cats featured in Egyptian art has led historian to believe that cats were, at least to some extent, domesticated by this time.

Why Did Cats Begin to Live with Humans?

In most cases of domestication, humans instigated the relationship with the animal for their own gains. However, with cats, the story is slightly different. It is thought that cats were drawn to humans for warmth, security and food. You may have noticed in your own cat that felines tend to take the path of least resistance and the offer a free meal and a cozy fire seems to have been too much to resist.

It was then that humans realized that cats came with benefits – a reduction in mice and rats. So, understandably, people tried to encourage the cats to stay. As the relationship was just as beneficial for them, they did.

Why Did Cats Retain Their Independence?

Whether you are a cat lover or not, you will be aware of the huge difference between cats and other domesticated animals. Sometimes known as the most domesticated wild animal, the vast majority of cats look upon humans with disinterest and, at times, utter disdain. There can be no question, cats live with us, but, as has always been the case, very much on their own terms.

So, why are cats so different to other domestic animals? Well, there are two principal reasons. First, is the way that a cat would live in the wild. Cats are solitary creatures (with the exception of lions and cheetah), therefore they do not live in a pack or herd that has a defined leader. In other words, a wild cat is a law unto itself. Consequently, when it comes to training or domesticating these animals, it is almost impossible, because humans cannot assert themselves as surrogate leaders.

Moreover, the domestication of cats did not involve any kind of selective breeding until the late part of the 1800s. Subsequently, unlike dogs, horses, goats, sheep and other domestic animals, the feline breeding program is centuries behind. Obviously, the aim of selective breeding is to select the character traits that are most suited to a life lived with humans. Due to religious and superstitious reasons, cats were seen as handy assets, but not pets. Therefore, human intervention over breeding was not considered necessary.

Recent Changes in Domesticated Cats

Now, of course, there are many pedigree breeds of cat and it is thought that this can make all the difference in terms of personality and willingness to be around humans. The longest standing pedigrees, in other words, those that have been selectively bred for the longest period of time, are thought to behave very differently to non-pedigree felines. It should be said that there has been no official research to ascertain this, but cat breeders and fanciers have noted behavioral inconsistencies, which indicate that cats will become more domesticated as time goes on.

Of course, so little is known about early humans and their relationship with animals. It certainly seems as though cats and humans have had a mysterious relationship for millennia. Quite why they continue to live with us is also a bit of a mystery, but maybe that is the attraction.

Corgis are usually easy dogs to train, having a natural ability to understand what is wanted and being anxious to please. One kind of behavior problem, however, is nipping. Corgis were bred as working dogs, and in some regions of the world they are used to herd cattle. They nip at the cows’ heels to get them to go where they are wanted. Thus, corgis like to nip, especially moving objects, such as your heels. If your puppy is less than ten weeks old, he or she cannot understand what you don’t like, so wait until the pup is at least ten weeks old to start your Corgi Training. Here are five practical methods:

1. In a wild dog pack the leader will hold the puppy’s neck or muzzle and keep it still for a few seconds to give it the idea that nipping is unacceptable. If you do the same, the dog will understand that you are the pack leader and will not tolerate nipping. As you hold the muzzle or neck, use a command such as, “No nip,” and use it consistently.

2. Another method is to hold the skin at the back of the neck and lift the puppy so that its front paws are off the ground for a few seconds. This, too, shows that you are in command. Again, say, “No nip, ” No bite,” or some other words consistently during dog training.

3. If you prefer, you can hold the puppy down, using two hands to hold it at the shoulders and lower back. Hold the pup until it stops wiggling, again saying a command that it will learn to recognize.

4. A bottle or glass of water, or a squirt gun can also be used. When the puppy nips, squirt it in the face or pour water over its head. If your puppy seems think this is a fun game, then abandon this method.

5. Distraction is another method you can use. Get a soft chew toy or rope for the puppy to chew, and substitute this object every time the puppy tries to nip your heels.

If the above methods do not work for you, then take your pup to a veterinarian or trainer before he or she gets any older. It is best to nip bad behavior in the bud as soon as possible.

Walking your dog is a great way to bond with your furry friend, but for many of us, those daily walks can also turn into a nightmare. If your dog is pulling you down the road, it’s hard to enjoy your time spent together! If your dog is walking you, instead of the other way around, you aren’t the only unhappy one. Dogs pull because you allow them to. When walking, a  dog should never be allowed to walk in front of you. In a dog pack, the leader always walks in front. When you allow your dog to walk in front of you, you let him become the leader, instead of the other way around. As the leader, your dog will become very anxious and pull. Being the pack leader is a big responsibility to your dog and this stress is what causes him to pull ahead of you and loose his manners. If you train your dog to “heel”, or walk beside or behind you, he will view you as the leader and can then relax and enjoy his walk. Dogs do not care what their  position in the dog pack is, as long as know that they have a place and what it is. By asserting yourself as the leader, your dog will respect you and obey more, making for a nice, enjoyable walk for the both of you! Click here for more information on training your dog to heel and walk properly while on a leash.

Description: The Great Pyrenees is a large, shepherding dog. The dog will be between 27 and 32 inches at the withers and will weigh up to 110 pounds. The bitch is a little smaller, measuring 25 to 29 inches and with a weight of 80 to 100 pounds. This dog has a medium long double coat consisting of a dense under layer and a coarse, weather proof guard coat. The Great Pyrenees has a double dew claw on the hind feet. This dog can live for 9 to 12 years. The Great Pyrenees is also known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog and Chien de Montagne Pyrenees.

History: The original stock that led to the Great Pyrenees probably came from Eastern Europe or Asia. The ancestors of the Great Pyrenees are the Maremmano and the Hungarian Kuvasz. This dog was used in the Pyrenees Mountains of Spain and France for nearly 5,000 years as a herding dog. It was not until the 19th century that the breed became known to the outside world. The Great Pyrenees was used not to herd sheep in the way a Border Collie will, but to live with the sheep and provide protection against wolves and bears.

Temperament: While the Great Pyrenees becomes attached to its human family, it will always be a somewhat independent dog. It will never be as needy of affection as most dogs because it was bred to stay with the sheep and protect them. Older children are recommended for this dog breed. This dog had to be able to make decisions on its own, without human direction. The Pyrenees is very protective of its human companions as well as any sheep it has in its charge. This dog needs a strong leader and must be trained while young, as it is very strong when adult and can be difficult to control if it does not understand its limits. This dog has a tendency to wander.

Health Issues: The Great Pyrenees can suffer from hip dysplasia, as can most large dog breeds. This breed is also subject to bloat or stomach torsion. Symptoms of this will be acute discomfort and attempts at vomiting that are unproductive. The dog must be given medical attention at once to save its life. Smaller meals and a rest time after eating are thought to help prevent bloat.

Grooming: The coat of the Great Pyrenees should be brushed out several times a week and should be checked for burrs and other debris. The under coat is shed once a year and more intensive grooming is called for at this time. As the ears are floppy and can retain moisture in the ear canal, they should be checked every week and cleaned if necessary.

Living Conditions: The Great Pyrenees is totally unsuitable for apartment living. This large dog needs space and likes to roam. While the Pyrenees gets quite attached to its human family, it is a dog that does not need intensive interaction with people. It was developed to be a guardian of sheep in isolated pastures and carried on most of its work without the presence of a human. This dog loves cold weather and enjoys being outside in winter.