Flying D German Shepherds

11/24/2023

11/23/2023

11/23/2023

Teacher and author Helen Keller rests beside a window with her German shepherd standing beside her.🐾

https://showsightmagazine.com/german-shepherd-dog-loose-leash-evaluation/

11/18/2023

11/14/2023

Excited to announce we have a litter on the way, will be due in January 2024! KingxCarbon-pics of parents on our photos tab.

11/04/2023

10/15/2023

When considering purchasing a German Shepherd puppy, there are several important factors that you should take into account. These factors will help ensure that you make an informed decision and choose a puppy that is a good fit for your lifestyle and needs. Here are some key considerations:

1. Time and Commitment: German Shepherds are intelligent, active, and social dogs that require a significant amount of time and commitment. They thrive on daily exercise, mental stimulation, and social interaction. Before getting a German Shepherd puppy, ensure that you have enough time to devote to their training, exercise, grooming, and overall care.

2. Space and Living Arrangements: German Shepherds are medium to large-sized dogs that need ample space to move around and exercise. They are not well-suited to small apartments or homes without a yard. Consider your living arrangements and whether you have enough space to accommodate a German Shepherd comfortably.

3. Exercise and Mental Stimulation: German Shepherds are a highly active breed that requires regular exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom and behavioral issues. Be prepared to provide daily walks, playtime, and training sessions to keep them physically and mentally engaged.

4. Training and Socialization: German Shepherds are intelligent and highly trainable dogs. However, they also require consistent and positive training methods to ensure they grow up to be well-behaved and obedient. Additionally, early socialization is crucial to expose them to various people, animals, and environments to develop good social skills.

5. Financial Considerations: Owning a German Shepherd comes with financial responsibilities. You should budget for their food, veterinary care, grooming, vaccinations, training classes, and potential unexpected medical expenses. Make sure you can afford the ongoing costs associated with their care.

6. Breed-Specific Health Concerns: German Shepherds are prone to certain health issues, such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and degenerative myelopathy. It is important to be aware of these potential health concerns and choose a reputable breeder who screens their breeding dogs for these conditions.

7. Breeder Selection: Choosing a reputable breeder is crucial when purchasing a German Shepherd puppy. Look for breeders who prioritize the health and temperament of their dogs, participate in health testing, and provide a clean and caring environment for their puppies. Visit with the breeder, ask for health clearances, and ensure they are knowledgeable about the breed.

8. Long-Term Commitment: German Shepherds have an average lifespan of 10-12 years, and sometimes even longer. Consider the long-term commitment involved in providing a loving and stable home for your German Shepherd throughout their life.

Remember, owning a German Shepherd is a significant responsibility, but with proper care, training, and socialization, they can be loyal, loving, and wonderful companions. Take the time to research and evaluate your readiness before bringing a German Shepherd puppy into your home.

10/12/2023

We are proud of the health testing we have done on our dogs! Full Embark Panel, OFA Hips, Elbows, Basic Cardiac & Dentition!

To test is best! 💪

10/12/2023

As well as harder on their joints…..which with this breed & hip dysplasia…please keep your dog fit

09/25/2023

The Tulsa Sighthound Association has confirmed that they will be doing FastCAT at the Sooner State Kennel Club dog show in Enid on October 14 and 15. The event information on the AKC website lists the contact information for the people to contact about entering: https://www.apps.akc.org/apps/events/search/index_results.cfm?action=plan&event_number=2023270711
We look forward to seeing you there.

09/22/2023

The German Shepherd Dog (Deutshe Schäferhund) descends from the family of German herding dogs that, until the late 19th century, varied in type from district to district.

In the waning years of the 1800s, a German cavalry officer, Captain Max von Stephanitz, made it his mission to develop the ideal German herder. Von Stephanitz and like-minded breeders crossed various strains from the northern and central districts of Germany, resulting in the ancestors of today’s German Shepherd Dog (GSD).🐾

Enjoy the Article: https://bit.ly/44Di48O



📸AKC Library

08/28/2023

MEETING INFORMATION

DATE

2nd WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH

PLACE

HOOVER BUILDING

GARFIELD COUNTY FAI

08/10/2023

There will be AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and Trick Dog evaluations at our Sooner State Kennel Club dog show this October 14 and 15 at the Garfield County Fairgrounds.

08/08/2023

Have you ever heard of a big dog suddenly chasing and killing a much smaller one? Perhaps they were playing even, just before the sudden switch. I have. It's unfortunately happened in the last few years in my own village. It's devastating, it's unpredictable, and it's real.

Importantly, IT IS NOT AGGRESSION. It's a phenomenon called predatory drift and it's why my own canine family are managed so closely and responsibly.

Pictured are two of our dogs. Little and large. Beast and button. Big sis and little sis. Call them what you like, but just because they know each other VERY well does not mean they will ever coexist together like similar sized dogs can. It would just not be safe. And it would be neither of their faults.

Just a run and squeal from the little'un could trigger off the big'un. Any "prey-like" behaviour and she could trigger off instincts in her that are akin to a wolf catching and ingesting prey. It's instincts, not aggression. It's not even a choice she would be making.

ALL DOGS CAN BE TRIGGERED INTO PREDATORY DRIFT if the environmental circumstances around them trigger it off e.g. if they're around a dog much smaller than themselves. Daycares for example and even dog walkers need to be aware of this when mixing breeds.

The risk of predatory drift is heightened as well if:

* There is more than one large dog to the small
* They are allowed to play (which has its risks just for sheer size differences as well!)
* The smaller dog is in any way fearful and likely to run, whine or squeal
* The dog is likely a "finisher" i.e. would normally not hesitate to catch a squirrel and eat it right then and there. Some parts of the predatory sequence have been enhanced and/or inhibited in some breeds, but some dogs would still exhibit the full sequence from eye to kill to digest.

How do we manage our family?

* The dogs are never walked together without the both of us humans present. EVER.
* We use long lines as a management tool
* We keep all walks calm and environment focused.
* Absolutely no direct interactions with each other is encouraged on walks. They are in fact called away from any direct interactions.
* They are kept in separate rooms in the house. ALWAYS.
* We do not slack on our management or supervision even for a second. Because that's all it could take. And again, it would be neither of their faults.

(It is our choice to implement this level of management from our own risk assessment of these particular dogs since our family joined together a year ago. Our dogs also have other difficulties beyond the risk of predatory drift so strict management is key for their safety).

As you can see the size difference is significant. They have a lovely relationship. Their tails will wag when they see each other coming into the house and they will touch noses either side of the baby gate. But being the "best of friends" wouldn't stop an accident happening. Predatory drift is not born out of anger, frustration, dislike of one another. It's completely separate. The only way of ensuring it doesn't happen is through awareness and management.

A quick google search will bring up lots of articles on predatory drift and the risks. It is important to be aware of this, whether you're the guardian of a giant breed, or guardian of a toy breed, or frankly, anything in between. Predatory drift between dogs is not too common, but it always has devastating consequences.

Knowledge and awareness is key 🐾💜

Please note: predatory drift is NOT dogs fighting as a result of over stimulated play. Predatory drift is NOT dogs arguing over a resource such as food. Predatory drift is NOT dog-dog reactivity. There are many reasons why one dog may show aggressive behaviour responses to another and the majority of them would not count as predatory drift.

07/24/2023

😂😂
👉 .jakoba

06/13/2023

Perhaps one of the most famous dogs in history and the most famous of his breed, Rin Tin Tin, was found in war-ravaged France during WWI and adopted by an American soldier named Lee Duncan.🐾

The rest of Rinty’s – an affectionate nickname he would come to be called – litter, sadly, didn’t make it. In his new life in Los Angeles, Rin Tin Tin was catapulted to stardom when he caught the eye of a filmmaker at a dog show where he reportedly jumped 12-feet high.

Shortly thereafter, Rin Tin Tin came to star in nearly 30 films, many of which were written specifically for him.🐾

Enjoy the Article: https://bit.ly/3F59wvj

06/08/2023

Need BEFORE breed 🙌

06/06/2023

This is something everyone should see. This xray is of a 2 week old puppy.

When you get your 8/10 week old puppies, please keep this image in mind. Their bones do not even touch yet. They plod around so cutely with big floppy paws and wobbly movement because their joints are entirely made up of muscle, tendons, ligaments with skin covering. Nothing is fitting tightly together or has a true socket yet.

When you run them excessively or don't restrict their exercise to stop them from overdoing it during this period you don't give them a chance to grow properly. Every big jump or excited bouncing run causes impacts between the bones. In reasonable amounts this is not problematic and is the normal wear and tear that every animal will engage in.

But when you're letting puppy jump up and down off the lounge or bed, take them for long walks/hikes, you are damaging that forming joint. When you let the puppy scramble on tile with no traction you are damaging the joint.

You only get the chance to grow them once. A well built body is something that comes from excellent breeding and a great upbringing-BOTH, not just one.

Once grown - around 12-18 months depending on their breed, you will have the rest of their life to spend playing and engaging in higher impact exercise. So keep it calm while they're still little baby puppies and give the gift that can only be given once.

06/02/2023

05/09/2023

Anyone needing any health testing done?

05/01/2023

Generally considered dogkind’s finest all-purpose worker, the German Shepherd Dog is a large, agile, muscular dog of noble character and high intelligence.

Why do you love the breed?

04/27/2023

If working with a responsible source means taking a little extra time in your search, then it's well worth the wait— for you, for your companion, and for the dog world at large 🙌

04/13/2023

Hip Dysplasia: Body weight is a MAJOR environmental factor!
If there is laxity in the hip joint, the amount of damage done to the femur and acetabulum will depend on the magnitude of the forces in the hip joint. The heavier the dog, the greater the forces will be and also therefore the higher the risk of hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis.

​Puppies that weigh more at birth as well as those with higher growth rates (so they get heavier sooner) have a higher risk of degenerative changes in the hip joint (Vanden Berg-Foels et al 2006).

​As this graph shows, puppies kept on a restricted diet (gray line) have a dramatically lower risk of dysplasia and it develops much later in life than in puppies kept on normal rations (black line) (Smith et al 2006).
Picture
At four years old, less than 10% of dogs kept on a restricted diet (25% less than the control diet) were dysplastic, while at the same time more than 30% of the dogs in the control group were dysplastic. As an added advantage, dogs on restricted diets live longer, too (Kealy et al 2002)!
Unfortunately, many dogs (including show dogs!) are overweight (McGreevy et al 2005, Corbee 2013), and obesity could well be the single most significant environmental factor affecting the development of hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis. But body weight is a factor that we can control.

​Although progress from genetic selection will take many generations, the incidence of hip dysplasia in dogs could be immediately and dramatically reduced simply by practicing better weight management.

https://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/blog/the-10-most-important-things-to-know-about-canine-hip-dysplasia?fbclid=IwAR2wZSt7Zq1W_F4YKyOcd7vehmKbTQxVsVsxsR2FK8fL76S_lJrMCfZ2z-c

By Carol Beuchat PhD Hip dysplasia is a hot topic in dogs, if it's possible to stay "hot" for 50 years. Researchers have been working hard for decades looking for solutions, and breeders have been...

04/13/2023

03/27/2023

02/27/2023

02/23/2023

02/07/2023