In theory, dog parks sound great! Who doesn’t like seeing their dog playing happily with other dogs and getting exercise? Unfortunately, as good as it sounds, the potential for a good experience outweighs the great risk of dog parks.
Risks of Dog Parks Worth Considering
#1 – Risk from an aggressive or poorly behaved dog: Sooner or later, most friendly dogs who go to a dog park will be attacked, bullied, or cornered by another dog, and this experience can affect them for the rest of their lives, especially if they are young. Dogs who have such experiences tend to have anxiety leash reactivity and can develop aggressive or antisocial behavior themselves.
#2 – Risk of disease and parasites: The other risk with dog parks is disease. Given how busy and active dog parks tend to be, there will be a high concentration of potential diseases (distemper, parvo, kennel cough) and parasites (worms, giardia, fleas). While vaccinations and treatments can prevent problems, we simply consider disease risk as another excellent reason to avoid dog parks.
You Can Still Socialize Your Puppy
If you want your dog to have healthy and safe playtime with other dogs, arrange to meet friends with well-socialized and friendly dogs. Start a playgroup and meet in an open space or park not reserved for a dog park.
Looking for a White Swiss Shepherd puppy to join your family?
Investing time and effort in training your puppy will lead to a happier, healthier, and more harmonious relationship. Here are four important steps you should take to train your puppy.
1. Start when the puppy enters your house for the first time!
When people bring a new puppy home, they invite it into the house with free reign. The puppy can wander the hallways, chew on things in the home, go potty in a different room when you are not watching, etc. Owners then get frustrated with their puppy and begin setting new rules. This approach confuses the puppy, and it’s important to remember that retraining a puppy is much more complicated.
2. Have a plan and work the plan!
Before you walk into your home for the first time with your new puppy, have a plan.
How should the puppy enter the home?
Do you open the door and let it charge in?
Or do you want to set an expectation that the puppy waits at the door for you to enter? When not supervised, the puppy should be in a crate (see our blog on crate training).
Will you allow the puppy to jump up on you or to chew on your hands and clothes?
Will the puppy be allowed to join you on furniture?
When and where will they eat, etc.
3. Use a leash.
New puppies should always have a leash they can drag when you are not holding it (and not in their crate). This will allow you to react and guide the puppy to the rules quickly. We recommend cutting any handle off so it does not get caught on things.
4. Be consistent.
Berger Blanc Suisse puppies are brilliant, but as puppies, they will also have short memories, and like kids, they will “test” the boundaries. Remember, all dogs are most comfortable when they know where they fit in the pack, so it is your job to constantly be the leader and give consistent guidance to establish rules. If you are consistent and stick with it, your puppy will quickly learn the routines, and you and your dog will have a happy, calm relationship!
Learn More About Our Berger Blanc Suisse Puppies
Are you interested in raising your own Berger Blanc Suisse puppy? We can help. Our family-owned breeding and training program produces some of the world’s most beautiful, healthy, and well-balanced BBS dogs.
At Dances with Wolves Ranch, we strongly recommend crate-training puppies early. It is good for your dog and your family for many reasons, but here are our top five.
1. Mimics Their Natural Environment
First, dogs are naturally den animals. Some people express concern about “caging” their dog, but dogs, it turns out, feel more comfortable and safer when in a small, enclosed space.
2. Creates a Safe Environment
Second, as with human babies, we cannot keep our eye on a young puppy 100% of the time. When not interacting with babies, we put them in a stroller, a bassinet, or a crib to protect them. We don’t allow our young children to crawl around to play with electric wires or fall stairs. In the same way, puppies should go someplace safe when we are not actively interacting with them. They will feel more comfortable, happy, and safe.
3. Allows You to Control Your Environment
Third, crate training will give you better control of your dog for when guests visit, in an emergency, when it is time for a trip, or when you are away from home. If you have trained your puppy to go into a crate happily, they will feel comfortable going there when needed.
4. Improves Your Ability to Travel With Your Dog
Fourth, if you crate train your puppy, he will be used to the crate and will have a much easier, less anxious time when visiting vets or groomers later.
5. Aids in Potty Training
Finally, crate training is important for potty training your young puppy. A young puppy left to wander in a home will find it very confusing where and when he is allowed to go potty and will tend to have accidents and develop bad habits. Conversely, a puppy naturally won’t want to soil his den, and as long as you are diligent about taking your puppy out frequently, they will learn that there is a correct place to go potty (outside).
Interested in Raising a Berger Blanc Suisse Puppy?
To summarize, all young puppies should be crate-trained. They will be happier and feel safer, and this good habit will be very helpful to you and your dog as he grows up.
Berger Blanc Suisse dogs are bred to have the perfect disposition to serve humans in many different capacities. Because so many of our puppies leave our home to become service or therapy dogs, we often get the question,
“What is the difference between a service dog and a therapy dog?”
What is a Service Dog?
A service dog is specifically trained to serve one person, their owner. They are trained to be extremely in tune with the needs, mood, and health of the person they are serving. Because their focus is to aid just that one person, they are specifically disciplined to ignore other people and surroundings.
Most service dogs will (but legally do not have to) be wearing some sort of vest or collar to indicate that they are on duty and should not be petted or distracted from their job.
Service dogs can be trained for many different scenarios. Puppies from Dances With Wolves Ranch (DWWR) have gone on to aid people in wheelchairs, used as stability dogs, to warn owners of oncoming seizures, and as diabetes-alert dogs.
You may also hear the term “emotional support animal” which refers to a category of service dog that aids those with mental afflictions. DWWR dogs have helped owners with PTSD, anxiety, and even fear of flying on planes. A good service dog will silently do its job; focusing on the owner alone and ignoring all other people, animals, and distractions.
What Is A Therapy Dog?
Therapy dogs, on the other hand, undergo a different type of training. These dogs are certified with a handler as a pair and trained to serve others. They are supposed to be attentive and friendly, visiting and providing comfort and companionship for others (visiting schools, elderly homes, trauma centers etc).
Many DWWR dogs in our breeding program are registered therapy dogs and have served reassuring patients in hospitals and encouraging children to learn to read at the library. Unlike a service dog, anyone is welcome to pet and interact with a therapy dog. They are not usually specialized for one task but instead are simply bred and trained to be friendly, calm, and comforting to everyone they interact with.
While service and therapy dogs have different purposes and training, what they have in common is their calm, confident, and non-conflict disposition. Both service and therapy dogs need to love people, get along with other animals, be non-aggressive or dominant, and be sensitive to human emotions. This is why many Berger Blanc Suisse dogs make the perfect service and therapy dogs. They are highly intelligent, easy to train, thrive to please, and are gentle dogs who are very in tune with human moods and health cues. So, whether you’re looking for a service dog to serve you, or a therapy dog to serve everyone, Berger Blanc Suisse is the perfect choice. Interested in adopting a Berger Blanc Suisse for service or therapy purposes? At DWWR, we take special care to set our puppies up for success!
Stomach bloating is something every large breed dog owner should know about. Recognizing the early indications of bloating in dogs and implementing effective preventive measures can be the difference between life and death for your companion.
Gastric dilatation is the medical term for bloat, while severe cases involving a twisted stomach are referred to as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). While any dog or cat can experience bloat, it is more prevalent in large breed, deep-chested dogs such as Great Danes, German Shepherds and Berger Blanc Suisse.
The exact causes of bloat remain elusive, but certain factors are linked to an increased risk, including:
A breed’s genetic predisposition
Fast eating habits
The use of elevated feeding bowls
Consumption of dry food with high fat/oil content
Large meals versus multiple smaller ones
Exercising on a full stomach
Excessive water intake at once
When excess gas accumulates in the stomach, it leads to distension that obstructs both the entrance and exit, preventing the dog from expelling gas normally. The pressure from the gas compromises blood flow to the stomach wall, causing tissue injury. This pressure also affects blood vessels, leading to cardiovascular shock and circulatory issues. In severe cases, the stomach may twist, exacerbating the condition and requiring emergency surgical intervention to prevent a painful death.
What Are the Common Signs of Bloating?
Recognizing signs of bloating is crucial. Bloating dogs exhibit sudden discomfort, restlessness, pacing, drooling, panting, blue gums or tongue, and a potentially distended belly. Your dog may also try to vomit without success. If you see signs of bloating, seek immediate medical attention! Early treatment can prevent further complications such as stomach twisting.
What Is the Treatment for Bloat in Dogs?
Treatment may involve antibiotics, pain medication, intravenous fluids to combat shock, and abdominal x-rays to assess stomach twisting. Decompression of the stomach is crucial, achieved by inserting a tube or passing a needle to release gas. Surgery may be required to reposition and secure the stomach, with removal of damaged tissue.
Steps That Help Prevent Gastric Dilatation
To prevent bloat, refrain from using elevated feeding bowls (they were once thought to help but now studies show they actually increase incidence), use warm water or bone broth to soften kibble, consider purchasing a “slow feeding” dog bowl and avoid exercise immediately before or within two hours after a meal.
What About Prophylactic Gastropexy?
Even though bloating is rare in Dances with Wolves Ranch dogs, it is a condition that is associated with the Berger Blanc Suisse breed. Some people have asked us about prophylactic gastropexy. This is a surgery that prevents a dog’s stomach from flipping or twisting in the future. There are many opinions about this; it may just come down to what feels right for you after discussion with your vet.
A couple of things to consider is that this is a relatively major surgery for the dog and will be expensive. And, it is also important to note that there are always risks associated with any surgery. Once complete, a dog can still have bloating (but, won’t have the serious risk of stomach twist).
If you do elect to have a prophylactic gastropexy performed on your dog, we encourage you to find a facility that offers it as a laparoscopic procedure which is less invasive and has a shorter recovery time.
If your Berger Blanc Suisse dog fears loud noises, such as thunderstorms, firecrackers, sirens, or gunshots, implementing advanced training techniques can aid in overcoming these fears. This training approach is also beneficial for dogs frightened by various noises like motorcycles.
What Is The Training Process?
Start by determining which noise triggers the most fear in your Berger Blanc Suisse dog. Once identified, record the specific sound to use in the training process.
Step 1: Gradual Exposure
Low-Volume Introduction: Play the recorded sound at a low volume during mealtime. Ensure the volume is gentle enough not to frighten your dog. While he’s eating and remains unfazed by the sounds, praise him. Gradually increase the volume in subsequent feeding session.
Monitoring Relaxation: Decrease the volume if your dog doesn’t relax within a few minutes. When he does relax, offer praise or a treat and maintain the current volume for at least five minutes before any further increase.
Step 2: Progressive Session
Initiate short training sessions, gradually escalating the volume during each new session. Over time, extend the duration of the sessions until your White Swiss Shepherd can comfortably confront the recorded noise at a level similar to the real thing.
Step 3: Real Stimulus Exposure
Whenever possible, expose your dog to the actual stimulus gradually. For example, if your Berger Blanc Suisse fears firecrackers or lawnmowers, create the sound 100 yards away. Calm your dog and acclimate him to the noise, progressively reducing the distance until he remains unfazed by the sound near his home.
The Importance of Leash Control
During practice sessions, always keep your Berger Blanc Suisse on a leash. This precaution ensures that if your dog gets scared and you lose control, he won’t run off.
Remember That Patience is Key
Remember, overcoming fears takes time. Be patient and gradually expose your Berger Blanc Suisse to the stimuli that trigger fear. Your dog can conquer these fears with consistent training and positive reinforcement and lead a more comfortable, stress-free life.
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Summer is here and with it hotter weather! It’s around this time of year that we get asked by owners if they should shave their Berger Blanc Suisse dog. Shaving a single-coat breed such as a poodle works well, but Berger Blanc Suisse dogs have a double coat. You should never shave a double-coated breed.
Why You Should Never Shave a Double-Coated Dog Breed
Double-coated breeds have natural insulation which is good in both the winter and summer. In the winter, the long hair provides protection against snow, ice, and rain whereas the undercoat stays dry and keeps the Berger Blanc Suisse warm. In summer, your dog will shed its soft undercoat while the long hair will remain. This topcoat of longhair protects the dog from insects and sunburn and insulates against heat. Air will circulate through the long hair and cool the skin.
How to Groom a Berger Blanc Suisse
Shaving a long-coated dog will remove this important insulation. Unfortunately, their coat may never grow back the same! The best way to help your double-coated dog stay cool in summer is to bathe him and use a hair-dryer to blow out the undercoat. You should get a good “rake” type brush designed for removing undercoats.
Doing this thoroughly at the beginning of the summer will make a big difference. You might consider going to a groomer as it is a big job! If you do go to a groomer, be absolutely clear with them that Berger Blanc Suisse dogs should not be shaved; many groomers are inexperienced or will take the easy route.
