Top 10 Dog Questions About Max

Here are the top 10 dog questions I get about Max. I'm sure they apply to you as well! There are plenty of bigger breeds than the German Shepherd, but it's reputation is made on television from police shows. These tips really apply to almost any larger breed.

1. Is it hard to take care of a big dog?

A. Its not "hard". Its just different than taking care of a little dog or a medium sized dog. There is a misconception that "big" equals "bad"...as in personality. This is far from the truth. The biggest issues are the amount of money you must spend on food, and the amount of energy your dog needs to expend. A big dog like my German Shepherd Max needs lots of room and time to run.

2. How do you train a German Shepherd (or any big dog) not to be aggressive?

A. Well, that's really the wrong question. You don't train a dog to be "not aggressive" you teach and nurture your dog so that he or she is loving and will respect you. That means giving them your time and helping to give them plenty of exercise. You don't need a formal training class if you give your dog enough attention. Yes, training classes have their place too, but what I'm saying is that if you really want to have your dog listen to you , you have to give them attention every day. My dog Max will even run on my treadmill. It only took two times at it, and now he gets on when I say, "Let's get on the treadmill!" He gets right up and doesn't even need a leash. (If he could, he would turn it on himself). This expenditure of energy is great for him, he gets exercise and is a lot less aggressive. The number one thing is that often "aggressiveness" is actually just pent up energy that your dog needs to expend.

3. Does your dog sniff out drugs? Attack criminals? Rescue hikers?

A. Um, no. Not really. Those are very specialized animals who go through years and years of daily training. Max is definitely a "finder," in that he is predisposed to being very good at finding something based on scent, but he has no formal training. His bread is known for being very smart, and he definitely has a high intelligence for a dog. If I let him sniff a piece of clothing of a friend and then put it on the other side of a six foot wall, he would find it in seconds. (See the picture, I've done this many times with many different items). He goes to it almost right away. However, he is disciplined to respond to commands like "come", "sit", "stay". This is only achieved through spending lots of time with your dog.

4. How do you trim a big dog's nails?

A. With a nail clipper! Ha. Just a little joke there. There are dog clippers that are made special for bigger dogs. Basically, you get what you pay for, so keep that in mind. I like the guillotine type. The most important thing though is to keep them trim and don't cut too deep. Don't be nervous about this - a dog will sense your nervousness and get nervous too! One trick I will use is to wait for my dog to be dead asleep, then come in when he is calm and trim one or two nails at a time. Most of the time he doesn't even wake up!

5. How do you brush a big dog's teeth?

A. Just like your own, with a tooth brush. You should have a good enough relationship with your dog that brushing his teeth is nothing confrontational. You should be able to brush his teeth and handle him in any way (that isn't painful) and he should never growl or be aggressive about it. Its really not a big deal. Some people say to do this every day, but at least a few times a month is good.

6. Do you feed him people food?

A. No. (Ok, I'm lying). I try not to, and you really shouldn't feed your dog rich foods or food from the table. This will just cause them to "beg" and to annoy you when you don't want them to have your food, and its generally not healthy. Now, some dog lover's will say raw meat is the best food in the world for your dog, but I stick with dry food as recommended by my vet.

7. Does he bite?

A. No. (I never say "no" when asked that in public). I always say, "he's never bitten anyone, but I always treat him with respect"). Any dog who is not treated well will have a tendency to bite or show aggressiveness. This is usually out of fear. Whenever I introduce Max in public, he is always leashed and knows that I'm there and in control.

8. Is it hard to groom him or any big dog?

A. No, it just takes longer than with a little dog! A lot longer. What can I say, though, Max loves taking a bath!

9. Does he love kids?

A. He loves almost everyone.

10. Should I get a German Shepherd?

A. If you can give a German Shepherd a good home, you can spend quality time with him, and your life style will permit a big dog in your home, then of course, go for it! The breed is one of the best - very intelligent and loving.