Heartworm: Beware

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Greeting all our German Shepherd Import friends:

Over the last 25 years we have had good experience importing dogs from Europe which do not carry heartworm. But for one dog, we have had no other occurrences. And one is too many. However, the problem is growing and spreading at a rapid rate with certain parts of Europe. This is a serious problem for anyone importing dogs or breeders who may import their breeding stock from Europe. From my understanding, a stud cannot pass infected microfilariae to the puppies, but the mother can pass these worms directly to the puppies through the womb or milk. The best method for ridding dogs of heartworm is to begin treatment at an early age and continue it throughout their lives. It is not customary at most European kennels, including those in Germany, to treat their dogs with preventative. It may just be due to custom but it may also be that they don’t see the need to make the investment.

But even preventative is not fullproof. There are developing strains which are resistant to common preventative drugs. Heartworm is a killer and debilitating disease. Though treatment for infection is possible and can be effective, the cost can range from a few hundred dollars for early stage infection to several thousand for severe levels of infection. And even treatment can leave lingering future health issues.

Tests to indicate whether a dog is infected with heartworm can produce false negatives and are not sound indicatives if preventatives have not already been part of the dog’s regimen. We had a dog recently which tested negative on a heartworm test given during the 10 point health exam prior to shipment, which, when retested here on arrival i the US and found to have the disease. It is not just an economic problem, but a very difficult one for those who love and cherish their pets.

We are developing a protocol to try our best to screen out these occurrences. However, please remember to always treat your dogs for heartworm. This has been a practice of our breeding kennel in the US for decades and will continue to be. Please also encourage other kennels in Europe with which you have experience or those kennels in the US who import from Europe to encourage the European kennels start treating their dogs with heartworm preventative early in their lives. Let’s work together to ensure, as much as we can, to rid the spread of this disease.

If you have other questions, please contact us by sending us an email.

Buying Young Dogs Vs Puppies

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BUYING A YOUNG DOGS VS. A PUPPIES

In this short article we will explore the differences between buying an 8-10 week old puppy and a young dog, defined as between the age of 12 months – 2.5 years old.  I have bred, raised and trained dogs for over 20 years and feel I have an objective perspective on the issue.  

First, the pros and cons of a puppy will be presented, followed by the cons:

PROS OF A PUPPY

  1. Of course I hear from many clients how they want to grow up with and go through the puppy stage with their dog, so that they bond with them fully and enjoy the playful puppy years.
  2. Also, they can choose the puppy personally from a litter of a number of puppies.
  3. And some people say they just “know” when they see a puppy that it is the one.
  4. They love the furry, cuddly, bouncing pups and the cute stage.

CONS OF A PUPPY

First let me start with an introductory remark.  I am a bit biased after placing 100s of puppies and young dogs with families and experiencing first hand the results.  So please bear with me.  A puppy is fraught with risks. 

  1. You don’t know whether they will manifest congenital diseases (EPI, IBS, DM, etc) or faults until later, when it is too late to stop the heartbreak.
  2. You can’t know the joint health of the puppy for certain until around a year (which is the certification time in Europe although AKC uses 2 years for full certification, but this is another subject for discussion).Over 20% turn out with bad hips, and others with borderline.   Why gamble? 
  3. The puppy stage has to be dealt with in an educated way.You have to prepare the foundation for its future life during this time, and most people do a miserable job and end up with an unsocialized, poorly behaved, disobedient big dog that isn’t “cute” behavior anymore.  And then you can end up with a problem that is hard to address.
  4. You have to be so careful of accidents at this stage. You shouldn’t let them jump off of stairs, which can cause damage to developing hips which are fully in the socket until around one year old.  Poop and pee training can also be a real challenge.  You should keep them away from other dogs until their inoculations until they have had theirs.
  5. You never know how they will turn out in conformation and appearance until about one. They can turn out to have bad cow-hocking, poor conformation, bite, ears, etc.
  6. You need to spend around $1,000 for all shots (including rabies), food, vet visits, crates, toys, puppy collars for the first year. And the hip certification (OFA) with x-rays could cost over $300-400 (with anesthesia).Then add elbow x-rays and certification.

Truthfully, I refer to the puppy years as the “difficult period”. Now, we can compare this to buying a younger dog:

            PROS

  1. You can be certain of the hips and elbows as they can get a definitive certification from the European registry. I sell ONLY HD1/ED1 top hips and elbow.   It means we may have to pass up some nice young dogs, but it means less probability of problems for my clients.
  2. Many of the congenital problems have already been manifest.
  3. The dog has matured quite a bit and behavior and temperament can be ascertained. You can test nerves, confidence, intelligence etc. as the dog is basically fully developed.
  4. The young dog is still adolescent and bonding is not a problem.It makes no difference if you buy a pup or young dog.  The young dog will bond just as well with you and the family.
  5. A professional has raised them correctly through the “difficult” years and prepared them with a foundation for future life.
  6. Most all have been training started. This means the difficult part of learning to learn has already occurred and these dogs are easy to train, easy to acclimate to potty schedule and place, and a joy to take to obedience class.
  7. You also save the costs of the first year and all shots, vet, joint certifications or about $1000-$1500.
  8. Normally a breeder in Europe keeps back the best of the litter and does not sell them until they see how they come out. Then they only keep the ones they are certain will thrive in show and sell the rest. They wouldn’t want to invest in one which will not turn out well.  They have a pretty good eye for dogs that will likely do well and so when you buy a young dog, many times it is one that was selected for retaining because it was very promising, but lost out to the best. 

CONS:

I am sorry but it is difficult for me to be objective.  I have seen so many happy customers with these young dogs and so few problems that is it difficult to point out cons specific to buying a young dog.  Due to the pros above, it is just so much less risky.

  1. Some people’s lack of comfort with a new already grown dog.However I have never had this problem with a client.  It is rare to have a dog returned.
  2. Cost: This is probably the one most point out.  But remember, all the costs associated with the first year, inoculations and joint certifications are already done.  Also, getting a dog with a lower probability of future health problems is worth it. These can be very costly in the future. Also considering that a good started dog is around $3,500-5,850, including all shipping and papers and crate, the cost may turn out to be much less.
  3. Not all congenital problems can be identified.This is true, however it is also true with a puppy.  Also, the risks are substantially diminished as many of those problems would already be manifest at that age and therefore identifiable and the dog would not be sold.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, I highly recommend started young dogs from reputable breeders in the US or imported.  The risks are so much less and the benefits so much greater getting a dog with a foundation set by a professional.  I deal only with imported young dogs because I believe that the quality is better in European German Shepherds.   And I only deal with one or two breeder whom I know well and have had years of experience dealing with.

Read Amazing Story – A Life Saving Friend for Life

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Gideon with footballDr. Peter Banfe

I wanted to send you a quick e-mail to thank-you and update you on a puppy that you helped me purchase from Germany about 4 years ago. He is a big beautiful super intelligent boy named Gideon. You helped me pick out a pup in hopes that he would alert to seizures before they happen. He does his job quite well! He alerted for the first time at nine months.

He’s now four years old and gives me about thirty minutes. My seizures are well controlled about 85% of the time. I can go for several months and do great but hit a cluster of several weeks where I struggle.

Thanks to Gideon, I can keep my license and independence. I also taught Gideon to search for my cell phone, alert for help, and help with balance if needed. He’s a wonderful wonderful dog.

In addition to being a practical asset, we are very heavily involved in our local therapy dog program. He tolerates the nursing homes while chomping on a favorite toy but absolutely thrives on the many programs that we have in our local elementary programs throughout the year! His favorite thing in the world is to play with children. : )

Gideon swimming

 

The Automatic Dog Training

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Hello German Shepherd puppies lovers:

But now…on the automatic dog training technique.  This is a follow-up to the last article I wrote entitled “You are always training with your German shepherd”.  I know we would all like to know a way to ensure your puppy becomes all that it can be and become another legend in the family, your own Rin Tin Tin.

Well, here is the secret:  The environment.  Environment is one of the most important variables determining the success of a human child.  A nurturing, loving environment, one with encouragement and many avenues for learning and creativity improve the chances of a child’s success later in life.  While a broken and angry household, in which parents abandon children to their own devices, and let them learn and fend for themselves, normally contributes to a greater probability of truancy and delinquency.

Dogs are very routine animals.   I remember how at first when my parents drove me to military academy I resented it.  But the structure and routine was excellent for me and I flourished. There were loving, yet demanding, men and women who corrected me for mistakes but encouraged my successes.  Dogs, even more than humans, yearn for and thrive on order, routine and a firm social order.  They are just more confident and peaceful in such a structure.

So, of course you would want your dog to have every chance for success and to be a valued member of your pack.  But how do you do this.  I recommend you make an “K-9 Home Environmental plan” for Fritz.  Type it out.  Read it to the family and stick by it.  Don’t flinch and don’t move an inch.

It should include, for example, which rooms Fritz is allowed to come in, things he can and can’t play with, or lay on.  Be specific.  Do not ever let him have the same rights as the humans.  Yes, that means not on the couch.  That is reserved for you, with him loyally at your feet.  No, not in the kitchen during dinner.  That is your time.  Also, never let your huge, powerful, brilliant shepherd sleep in bed with you.  If you decide he is not to go upstairs, enforce it.  Choose potty areas and egress and ingress for your dog.  Give him his spot where he is to lay, rather than him choosing it.  Choose his eating place, which is best in a garage and not within the walls of the house.  Be specific and detailted.   Map this out, make a diagram, learn it, teach it to the family and, most of all, enforce it.

I will finish the discussion of the “K-9 Home Environmental plan” for your German shepherd puppy or dog in the next article.  I hope it has piqued your curiosity.

I hope these are helpful hints for understanding the behavior of your Banffy Haus German Shepherd puppies.  If you want to visit and K9 university.