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Zoonoses is the term applied to a grouping of diseases that are transferable from
canine/feline to human. Basically, these diseases fall into three groupings based on
their means of transmission. This also groups these, ideally, in the means of
treatment and control. The three groupings of diseases are as follows -diseases
spread through :1) urine or feces, 2) hair and skin contact, or 3) bites and scratches.

Zoonoses - Spread through Urine or Feces

Hookworms

Hookworms enter the German Shepherd’s body in the area that directly comes in
contact with the feces-contanimated soil. Seen more commonly in the South, these
parasites are unsuited to ideally live in human beings. Traditionally they die after
crawling several inches underneath the surface layer of the skin. Inflammation
usually occurs as a result of these parasites in humans and causes a condition called
“creeping eruption” which may last several weeks or months depending on its
severity.

Leptospirosis

German Shepherd’s may come in contact with this disease through swimming,
drinking, licking their fur, or by eating food contaminated with animal urine. Many
animals may carry this, though rats are most often the culprit.

This zoonoses symptom in humans include flu-like including chills, body aches,
vomiting, fever and headache. Sometimes kidney damage may occur or the
membranes covering the spinal cord or brain may become inflamed. This disease is
not usually fatal though it does make its host miserable for weeks at a time.

Roundworms

If these parasites are swallowed by humans they migrate into the body tissues and
may cause damage, including symptoms of fever and liver enlargement which can
last up to a year in length including symptoms of fever and liver enlargement which
can last up to a year in length.

These parasites are most commonly found in small children (2-4 yrs. of age) who
mistakenly swallow the eggs and become infected. Children playing in an area in
which an animal has defecated in the past, who do not wash their hands after
coming in contact with the eggs and inadvertently sticks their hands into their
mouth are the most common receptors of roundworm. Only rarely fatal, the disease
is traditionally mild though it may be long lasting.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms can easily be ingested by any German Shepherd who swallows a flea
carrying the infected form when biting at or chewing their coat. Children may get it
virtually the same way- minus the coat chewing.

Tapeworm infestation in humans this way is actually quite rare when compared to
infestation from eating undercooked pork or beef.

Toxoplasmosis

Rarely this may cause death in humans since most people develop a resistance to it
during normal exposure. It can cause many types of birth deformities in children
born to mothers who have been infected for the first time without having developed
an immunity before becoming pregnant. Most commonly this is “picked up” through
contact with infected cat feces or in contact with contaminated soil.

Zoonoses - Prevention of Waste Transmitted Diseases

There are a few basic precautions everyone should take to prevent transmission of
any of the above mentioned diseases - zoonoses. First, clean up all pet droppings
and wash your hands each time you any come in contact with contaminated soil. It
is extremely important to teach children these steps. Also, if your German Shepherd
has gone wading or swimming in any water which may have become contaminated
with animal urine, bathe it at once when you return home.

Zoonoses - Spread through Skin/Hair Contact

Fleas

Fleas prefer feeding on your German Shepherd though they will not turn up the
chance of of making an occasional meal on humans as well.

Ringworm

Most commonly found in children (though anyone may be infected), this disease is
caused by a skin/hair eating fungus which first appears on people as a round, red,
scaly area. It grows outward in a circular formation and is the most common fungal
disease currently reported.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Tick borne, this disease or Zoonose can cause symptoms such as fever, chills and
headache though it is not usually fatal. Symptoms may last many weeks and it can
be treated with antibiotics.

Most commonly this disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. Also,
you may become infected while pulling a tick off your German Shepherd. It is best to
wear gloves when removing ticks.

Scabies

The less commonly found version of mange (as opposed to the demodetic version),
this may still cause intense itching, irritation and thickening of the skin. Animal
mange may live in human skin though it cannot reproduce there. Humans have their
own version of the scabies mite.

Zoonoses - Prevention of Skin/Hair Contact Diseases

Overall, proper nutritional care and health of your German Shepherd is the best
defense against the chance of your dog harboring any of these diseases.

Frequent grooming and herbal repellents are good choices in combating most of
these diseases or Zoonoses before they become major. Stress, roaming and contact
with other dogs are the three most common points of transmission among the
previous diseases.

Wash your hands after dog contact and minimize contact with any infected pet until
the problem is cured.

Zoonoses - Diseases Caused by Bites and Scratches

Cat Scratch Fever

Some people will develop a fever, enlarged lymph nodes and malaise near the area
of a bite or scratch from a cat a few weeks after the occurrence. Though not fatal it
can be very uncomfortable and can be followed by complications. Infected cat bites
may become infected with an entirely different bacteria though the symptoms are
similar.

Probably best, is to thoroughly wash an area bitten or scratched by a cat and to
clean it liberally on a frequent basis to prevent, hopefully, infection.

Rabies

Virtually 100% fatal once the clinical symptoms appear, this disease is carried by a
virus transmitted through the saliva of an infected biting animal. Symptoms include
frothing at the mouth, extreme behavioral/personality changes and convulsions
which usually ends in the aggressive, staggering and bleary- eyed condition.

If you happen upon an animal showing any of these disease symptoms, get away
from it as quickly as possible and call your nearest animal control unit. If by chance
you are bitten, try to follow it to where it lives (if it is a stray) so that the proper
officials may capture it for testing. If you do kill it, do not injure the head as this will
be needed for verification. Also, if you are bitten by an animal exhibiting any of the
symptoms above, thoroughly wash out the wound as quickly as possible and contact
your personal physician immediately. Overall, your chances of getting rabies are
rare though you can never be over cautious.

Zoonoses - Prevention of Bite and Scratch Transmitted Diseases

Best advice, keep your German Shepherd in tip-top physical condition through
exercise and proper nutrition to reduce its chances of picking up any diseases or
parasites from less healthy animals. Also, try to minimize your pets contact with
wild animals or sick pets.

The author, a lifelong dog lover and German Shepherd owner, has been a
German Shepherd breeder for over to 15 years. For more information and
articles covering other German Shepherd related topics, feel free to visit:
total-german-shepherd.com

Interested in other purebred dog breeds? Visit: pedigreedpups.com

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I can’t stress enough how important it is to perform GSD socialization and training
activities early, and often, in your German Shepherd’s life. Go to the park, to as
many dog-friendly stores as possible, on errands, etc. Take your GSD puppy with
you wherever and whenever you can. And when I say take the GSD puppy with you, I
mean take it with you, not leave it in the car while you’re in the store.

GSD socialization will occur whenever your puppy is introduced to new situations,
new people and animals, and new places. They need to actively participate in
socialization for it to really work - that means you must let them safely interact with
new people, places and things.

This is definitely a great step in building the GSD puppies confidence and building a
more stable temperament - more capable of coping with new and unusual
experiences. German Shepherds are highly intelligent and these early GSD
socilization lessons, being around new and different stimuli, will make your adult
German Shepherd much more stable and confident - and this is exactly what you
want.

Your new GSD puppy has spent the first few weeks of it’s life with his mother, litter
mates and breeders family. Your new GSD puppy may have gone on rides to many
new places such as the veterinarian, short shopping errands, and on short training
rides. It has probably heard many different kinds of noises: people, horns of cars,
birds chirping, children, sounds of traffic, etc. If your German Shepherd puppy was
raised in a farm type locale the puppy has probably seen, heard and smelled many
different types of animals, larger farm equipment, etc. Other interesting things to
introduce your puppy to are: slick floors (tile / linoleum), elevators, stairs and
carpeting.

One of your new jobs as the GSD puppy’s new owner is to add to all of those past
experiences with many other new ones. Ask the breeder what kind of socialization
has been done with your puppy and take it from there. The more new and exciting
experiences that your make your GSD a part of, the better. I can’t stress enough how
important it is that you continue to socialize your GSD puppy during the first several
months of its life. Discovery of new experiences and teaching the puppy to deal with
them positively and confidently is highly important.

Many studies have been done that show the critical socialization period for a puppy
is from eight to sixteen weeks of life. During this period it is essential that the
German Shepherd puppy safely and positively experience as many new things as
possible. Some of these experiences will be a little stressful, but you must support
your puppy during these times and encourage them throughout the entire
socialization process.

Here’s a short example of how simple this process can be: Several years ago I was
walking my 10 wk old GSD puppy, Cera, around our block on one windy day. Out of
nowhere a small piece of trash paper blew by both of us, quietly startling her. She
watched the trash as it continued to blow up against the curb, changed direction
and blew closer toward us. Curious, she wanted to check out the new object that
was moving around on the curb in front of us and now moving toward us but unsure
as how exactly to react to the new object.

It was obvious to me that she was curious enough to want to check it out, but also
fearful enough that she wanted to run away from it. I waited to see what she would
do. She watched the object as it moved around, sometimes backing up slightly,
sometimes moving toward it. I allowed her the time to observe the paper and waited
to see exactly what she was going to do about it.

It seemed longer, but I’m sure that it was only a few minutes until she decided to
slowly approach that piece of trash paper. What a brave girl. Eventually she pounced
on the paper and give it a good shake and chewing before I finally took it away from
her! I praised her profusely. Not for tearing up the paper but more importantly for
approaching it after her initial fear response. She met her fear of this new and
strange object face to face and overcame it. In future experiences with new and
strange objects she would now be more confident. Over time and with more and
more positive experiences like this one, Cera grew up to be a very emotionally
strong, good-tempered and confident GSD. As the owner you play a major role in
providing this confidence for your new GSD puppy.

It is extremely important to socialize your German Shepherd starting at as young an
age as possible to make them more comfortable with other people and dogs and
able to feel comfortable and confident in strange environments. Puppy obedience
classes, also referred to as “Puppy Kindergarten”, are an incredible means to
introduce your puppy to the world outside of your home. This is both a prime GSD
socialization experience as well as a wonderful training and bonding opportunity.

Puppy obedience training classes are set up in such a way as to teach the German
Shepherd puppy the actual commands, but also to teach you, the owner, how to
train the puppy specific behaviors and manners, now and in the future. Your dog
will discover the link between your commands and the desired behavior. It is
entirely possible that you can train GSD puppy at home as well but compared to all
the great socialization lessons your GSD puppy can gain from the puppy classes,
there really is no comparison. In fact, I highly recommend it.

The author, a lifelong dog lover and German Shepherd owner, has been a
German Shepherd breeder for over to 15 years. For more information and
articles covering other German Shepherd related topics, feel free to visit:
total-german-shepherd.com

Interested in other purebred dog breeds? Visit: pedigreedpups.com

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GSD history, relatively speaking when compared to many of the other breeds of dog,
is still that of a very young breed. Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry
officer, developed the German Shepherd Dog breed in 1899, based entirely on his
vision of the perfect working dog, one type of dog which could work equally well
under any conditions.

GSD history began in just this way. Using a variety of German sheep dogs as his
foundation stock, Max von Stephanitz developed a new and distinctive working dog
breed, the German Shepherd Dog.

He greatly admired the herding dogs of his native Germany, and believed they had
the full potential to be the total all-purpose working dog. Max von Stephanitz was
very aware of the historically declining need for herding dogs and believed that the
working abilities of the breed would decline unless they were put to other uses.

An idealist with both strong intellect and the financial capabilities to support his
ideas, Max von Stephanitz also possessed the determination, drive, and dedication
to put his ideas into practice. His perception of a herding dog was of an extremely
intelligent, vigorous dog, of stable character and with many of the physical
attributes belonging to the wild dog- fleet of foot, long of wind, and untouched by
the extremes of other breeds. He was well on his way to beginning the GSD history.

He saw no beauty in a non-functional dog and was ruthless in discarding what he
considered weak. Tireless and determined, he laid the foundations of the GSD
history that were later to make the breed the greatest all-round working dog in the
world.

Until Horand, herding dogs came in a variety of shapes, sizes, types and abilities.
Shepherds in Germany like elsewhere in the world, chose their dogs for their fitness,
mental and physical, and for work only, and cared little for the dogs appearance.
Max von Stephanitz had very positive ideas about the mental, anatomical, and bio-
mechanical characteristics required of a herding dog. He had a great understanding
of the mental and anatomical requirements of a working shepherd dog.

Very possibly by chance, the beginning of the GSD history started at a dog show in
Germany. While at the dog show, a medium-sized yellow-and-gray wolflike dog
caught the attention of von Stephanitz, attending the show with his friend Artur
Meyer. This dog, Hektor Linksrheim, was immediately purchased by von Stephanitz
and renamed Horand von Grafrath. Horand became the first registered German
Shepherd Dog, with the number SV1.

Only weeks later von Stephanitz and his friend Artur Meyer founded the Verein f

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