diet Archives - Keystone German Shepherds

June 10, 2015June 10, 2015

Historical of Keystone German Shepherds

Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge

Hi Everyone,

Today I’m posting an article about Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels in the Mannford Reporter written by by C.L. Harmon
Publisher:

Their names are Dean and Patty Heckathorn and they are a nice little secret tucked away in the country just off Hwy 48 South.Their secret is their success in breeding over 25 champion or grand champion Heidelberg Shepherds in the past several years.
Dean, a former biologist for the US Department of Fish & Wildlife for 18 years, raises, trains and cares for animals full time. Patty still works for the Wildlife Department as a secretary, but also works in the business as well as attending shows with Dean.

In 1996 while living in Daphne, Alabama, Dean started poking around the internet about a place where he could purchase a shepherd. His parents had had them and so he grew up with a fondness for them. After an exhausted search, he found a place with Heidelberg Shepherds in Springs, Texas. The next day, after a ten hour drive, the couple purchased a male and female shepherd.
Although, the couple initially only wanted a shepherd as a pet, they fell in love with the Heidelberg “brand” and decided to do a couple of breedings. They kept a few from the litters and then bought a few more dogs from the breeder in Texas and their kennel was born. In 1999,

Dean got transferred to Oklahoma. At this time the couple had 12 dogs and opened up shop here. Eleven years and several dog days later later, due to federal cutbacks, Dean was to be transferred again in 2010 to Albuquerque, NM. Only now they had several more dogs and uprooting wasn’t simply not feasible. What had been a hobby suddenly became a full-time business venture for the couple.

“I had always wanted my dogs to be available to everyone and so our prices had been $5-600 cheaper than our nearest competitor,” Dean said. However, he was forced to raise his prices in order to make the kennel a viable business that would make a living. They are still cheaper than their competitors, Dean said. Puppies sell now between $1,200-1,500.

One of the concepts the couple use in training is their choice to train family dogs as opposed to many types of shepherds which are trained for law enforcement purposes. They are trained home security, but are smart enough to know the difference between a kid climbing the fence to retrieve a football and the burglar breaking into a home, Dean said.

This breed is sweet natured and are very loyal have a natural herding instinct, Dean explained. “We raise family dogs that are loving family members and protective of the family,” Dean said. In their 18 years of raising, they have bred approximately 700 puppies.
The couple also offers several other services including: boarding, training, pet supplies, microchipping and even a free obedience class on Saturday mornings for all breeds to help teach them basic obedience and social skills.

For more information about Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels, call 918-261-4729, email keystonegsd@cimtel.net or visit keystonegermanshepherds.com

Please continue to check out our web page as we post updates on available litters: http://www.keystonegermanshepherds.com/PuppiesForSale.htm. We have several wonderful German shepherd puppies for sale that that are ready to go home.

Please call me at (918) 261-4729 if you would like to take one of puppies home with you. Please visit our web page to learn more about these wonderful Heidelberg German Shepherds that we raise at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels. http://keystonegermanshepherds.com/

Sincerely,

Dean Heckathorn

May 29, 2015May 29, 2015

Vitamins Are Essential to Your Dogs Diet

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to re post about how important it is to supplement your dog and even more so for growing puppies. Diets should be supplemented with vitamins and cod liver oil. Researchers have just discovered how important vitamin c is to proper growth and development of joints while German shepherd Dogs are growing. If insufficient amounts of vitamin c are provided in the diet during growth spurts that joint disease can develop even in puppies that are not genetically predisposed to joint disease.

Feeding just dry-food will leave your German Shepherd Dog or puppy deficient on macro and micro nutrients, vitamins, and certain minerals. The reason why these supposedly balanced and even the top-of-the-line dry-foods cannot supply these nutrients, vitamins, and minerals needed for proper growth and maintenance is due to the way it is manufactured. Dry-food is cooked at such high temperatures and extruded at such high pressures that the nutrient values that are in the starting ingredients are destroyed or altered in such a way that they cannot be assimilated or digested.

This is why we supplement our Heidelberg German Shepherd Dogs’ diet with our Pure Total Dog Supplement, which provides all the macro and macro nutrient, vitamins and minerals in a form that is readily digested and absorbed by your German shepherd. Our Pure Total Dog Supplement is loaded with vitamin C, all the B-complexes including biotin and B-6 and 12, Digest K yeast which helps with digestion, desiccated liver powder, which helps with finicky eaters, selenium that is important with skeletal growth maintenance, Omega 3 oils, which supports the circulatory system, and Diatomite powder, which provides the macro nutrients needed for joint growth and maintenance.

Our Pure Total Dog Supplement in combination with a daily tablespoon of Perfect Cod Liver Oil, which provides vitamin A and E and a good quality dry-food will provide everything needed for your German Shepherd Dog or puppy to grow correctly and thrive. Our Perfect Cod Liver Oil provides for proper growth and maintenance of the circulatory system and brain, as well as the eyes. The cod liver oil will also keep the coats bright and shiny and if used daily will reduce shedding in the house with proper brushing. Also, if you have seen dandruff or flaky skin on your dog, the cod liver oil will resolve that problem while eliminating itchy skin. Be aware that cod liver oil is the king of all fish oils, and common fish oils that are sold at feed stores will not provide the same level of benefits and are many times loaded with contaminants and are rancid.

Pure Cod Liver Oil — Perfect Cod Liver Oil

We sell our Pure Total Dog Supplement and Perfect Cod Liver Oil to the public. Our Pure Total Dog Supplement cost $19.95 and is a four month supply for one dog. Our cod liver oil comes in a quart bottle and will last two-months for one dog and is priced at $19.75. Our cod liver oil is imported from Iceland and is the most contaminant free cod liver oil available. We only purchase human grade for our dogs, which decreases possible contaminants such as PCB’s. Dioxins, and mercury. Please order online at https://squareup.com/market/keystone-german-shepherds-and-kennels or go to our web page and click on order online at http://keystonegermanshepherds.com/.

A Happy Healthy Correctly Fed and Supplemented Puppy

Please continue to check out our web page as we post updates on available litters: http://www.keystonegermanshepherds.com/PuppiesForSale.htm. We have several wonderful puppies that that are ready to go home.

Ask me a Question and I will provide my

March 18, 2014June 11, 2014

Fecal Exam for Your German Shepherd Dog

Hi Everyone,

Today, I am posting a interesting article written by Christine Wilford who received her doctorate of veterinary medicine from Texas A&M University, Texas. The point of the article is that doing fecal exam on your German Shepherd Dog is likely a waste of time and money. Like all animals, your dog will get stomach worms, such as round, hook, tape, and whip worms are the most common. We at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennel do not do fecal exams rather like livestock ranchers, we assume that our dogs will get worms; therefore we place them on a worming program. Thus, worming our dogs twice a year for less than the cost of a fecal exam, which as you will read is not a reliable method to determine whether your German shepherd has or does not have worms. You too can learn how to worm your German Shepherd Dog for less than the cost of a fecal exam.

I'm Worm Free Because Dad Worms Me Twice a Year — I’m Worm Free Because Dad Worms Me Twice a Year

Veterinary News

FECAL EXAM RELIABILITY

A common test for worms may not always give you the right results

A majority of owners may be surprised to learn how inaccurate the common fecal examination really is. Many owners are familiar with the annual regimen of bringing fresh fecal samples to their dogs’ annual physical examinations. Likewise, most owners take heart in hearing their dogs’ test are normal or, alternatively, owners are glad to receive medications for treating the worms lurking within the bowels of their companions. But what do these results really tell us? Understanding how the test is run and knowing a few facts about intestinal worms can help you understand the test’s relative inaccuracies.

In general, the fresher the sample, the more accurate the test results. As a sample ages, the contents of the eggs may hatch, may dry out and burst, or may mix well enough with the solution to be separated and float. How fresh is fresh? The preservation of worm eggs in a stool sample varies tremendously depending on temperature, humidity, and the consistency of the sample. AS time elapses, eggs will degrade and thus will go unrecognized when the slide is examined. During busy times of the day, other priorities may cause fecal samples to be left unexamined far beyond the optimal reading time. Even when a sample is fresh and handled appropriately, results may still be unreliable.

The chances of finding a worm egg depend on how many worms there are in the intestine, how many of the worms are female, the maturity of the worms and whether the females were laying eggs during the time that the feces was formed. If there are only a few worms in the intestines, the relative number of eggs laid in a fecal sample is usually much lower than if there is a heavy worm concentration in the dog. It is also possible to have a significant worm burden with relatively few female worms present; thus, a dog could have clinical signs of intestinal worms without showing evidence of that in a fecal examination. Similarly, if many of the worms are too immature to lay eggs, there will be no way to identify their presence through a simple fecal exam.

Additionally, because worms do not lay eggs at a constant rate, there may be no eggs in a fecal sample simply because the feces were formed and collected during a period when the adult female worms were not shedding eggs.

Based on this information, one could argue that an annual screening of an otherwise healthy dog is an unnecessary, and possibly inaccurate, test. So why bother checking a fecal sample if the results could be misleading? If no eggs are found, then there may be no worms present or there may be worms and they’ve gone undiagnosed. Owners cannot depend on a single negative result. Veterinarians who specialize in the gastrointestinal diseases recommend examining three separate fecal samples before concluding that a negative result is reliable.

When your dog’s stool is abnormal, that is, if you see blood, mucus, or a change of color or consistency, or your dog has loose stools, a fecal examination is advisable. Depending on the types of worms present, clinical signs may not occur or may be subtle. Worms do not necessarily cause weight loss or decreased activity.

In many cases, veterinarians use deworming medication as a diagnostic tool when fecal exams do not reveal worm eggs. In fact, it may be easier, cheaper, and faster to administer a deworming medication that eliminates the common types of intestinal worms. If the stools return to normal, it is concluded that the clinical signs were caused by intestinal worms. Sometimes, common sense and practicality should prevail over complicated and expensive diagnostic tests.

CHRISTINE WILFORD, D.V.M.

Don't Forget to Worm Your German Shepherd Puppies — Don’t Forget to Worm Your German Shepherd Puppies

Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds

Sincerely,

KeystoneGermanShepherds

March 11, 2014

Mass Cooking for Your German Shepherd Dog or Puppy

Hi Everyone,

Below is an easy way to prepare several evening meals for your German Shepherd Dog or puppy. Once prepared you can freeze in individual bags and sit out on bag per day to defrost. The defrosted contents can be added to the good quality dry-food in the evening to provide a fast, easy, and healthy meal for your German shepherd.

Healthy Food Means Healthy German Shepherds

To do a mass cooking for your new dog:

Get a whole chicken and place it in your crock-pot. Cook it for about 4 hours. Then put whole carrots in the crock-pot with the chicken. Cook 3-4 hours, until the chicken is done and the carrot are soft.

Healthy Food Means Happy German Shepherds

Let it cool to room temperature the let it cool in the icebox overnight. The next day take the fat off the top and debone the chicken. An ice cream scoop is about 3 ounces; place one scoop of meat in several zip-top baggies. Then put the cooked carrots (1/3 of a carrot per feeding), 1 clove of garlic for each carrot third, and two table spoons of cooked spinach (2 heaping tablespoons per feeding) to match the carrots in the blender. Put some of the broth in the blender. Make a purée of the veggies and separate that into the number of feedings (6 carrots = 18 feedings). Everything needs to be no warmer than room temperature.

Healthy Happy Shepherds Means Happy Owners

Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds

Sincerely,

KeystoneGermanShepherds

February 26, 2014

Providing Proper Vitamin and Nutrient Supplements for Your German Shepherd Dog

Hi Everyone,

It so important to provide supplement nutrition including macro and micro nutrients to the diet of your German Shepherd Dog especially as growing puppy. Researchers have just discovered how important vitamin c is to proper growth and development of joints while German shepherd Dogs are growing. If insufficient amounts of vitamin c are provided in the diet during growth spurts that joint disease can develop even in puppies that are not genetically predisposed to joint disease.

Our Pure Total Dog Supplement in combination with a daily tablespoon of Cod liver oil, which provides vitamin A and E and a good quality dry-food will provide everything needed for your German Shepherd Dog or puppy to grow correctly and thrive.

We sell our Pure Total Dog Supplement and Cod liver oil to the public. Our Pure Total Dog Supplement cost $19.95 and is a four month supply for one dog. Our cod liver oil comes in a quart bottle and will last two-months for one dog and is priced at $19.50. Our cod liver oil is imported from Iceland and is the most contaminant free cod liver oil available. We only purchase human grade for our dogs, which decreases possible contaminants such as PCB’s. Dioxins, and mercury. Please email me at keystonegsd@cimtel.net if you are interested in purchasing these items from us.

Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds

Sincerely,

KeystoneGermanShepherds

November 7, 2013

Bones for German Shepherd Dogs

Hi Everyone,

Today I have another diet tip for your German Shepherd Dog. It is fall again, and for those that live in rural parts of the United States that means it is hunting season and more specific it is deer season. Here in Oklahoma, we have two large deer processors nearby and daily I collect their scraps from their deer processing operations. I usually pick up four large trash cans full of meat and fresh bones. We separate the bones from the meat scraps and place the bones in the kennels every evening. The following day we remove the bones before they dry out and become brittle and, therefore, become possibly a danger by breaking off in sharp shards.

Heidelberg's William Loves Deer Bones — Heidelberg’s William Loves Deer Bones

Fresh bones have the consistency of a bar of soap in that you can shave them as you can shave soap. Fresh bones in moderation are easily chewed and digested by German Shepherd Dogs. We even provide bones to puppies as young as 8-weeks-old. Our shepherds enjoying chewing off the fresh meat still attached to the bones and they enjoy eating some of the bones and the nutrient rich marrow inside the long bones. Our shepherd get very fat and healthier in the fall. In addition to the nutritional benefits of fresh bones, the process of chewing on the bones removes all the tarter off our shepherds’ teeth.

Grand Champion, Champion Heidelberg's Kodi has a Perfect Smile Because He Keeps His Teeth Clean from Chewing on Deer Bones — Grand Champion, Champion Heidelberg’s Kodi has a Perfect Smile Because He Keeps His Teeth Clean from Chewing on Deer Bones

Give your German Shepherd Dog fresh bones from time to time. Find a deer processor near you, and ask them if you can collect some fresh leg bones from them. Offer to bring a container that they can throw the bones in it for you. Most processor are more than happy to provide their bones to you. For the most part they just throw them away anyway. Collect and freeze enough to provide a fresh bone treat to your German Shepherd Dog a couple of times a month.

Note a word of caution: if you have not previously given fresh bones to your shepherd, you may need to monitor their consumption for the first couple of times because they literally will eat all the bones that you give them, which can cause gastric upset and constipation. Your shepherd never before having fresh bones will devour them as a kid would if they were experiencing chocolate for the first time as teenager. No amount will satisfy. Once you give your shepherd bones on a regular basis of a couple times per month they will then just chew on them and eat very little of the actual bone, which is what you want. After twenty-four hours remove any uneaten bones from the yard and throw them away.

12-Month-Old Heidelberg's Nelson With A Perfect Smile — 12-Month-Old Heidelberg’s Nelson With A Perfect Smile

If you are considering getting a German shepherd puppy consider getting one of our older puppies and save a little money on some very high quality shepherds.

Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds

Sincerely,

KeystoneGermanShepherds

November 5, 2013

A Diet Tip for Your German Shepherd Dog

Hi Everyone,

A diet tip for your German Shepherd Dog; add one to two ounces of cooked carrots to their diet daily. Carrots are rich in vitamins including Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate and Manganese, and a great source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Potassium. All these vitamins and nutrients are need for the daily maintenance and growth of your German Shepherd Dog.

Carrots are rich in vitamins and nutrients and are good for your German Shepherd Dog

Unfortunately, many dry-food dog formulas add refined sugars to their dry-food to make it more palatable to dogs, thus making the owners think it is a good food because their dog prefers it over dry-foods without added sugars. Refined sugars are very bad for dogs causing tooth decay, obesity, and potentially diabetes. However, the natural sugars found in carrots can sweeten and improve the palatability your wholesome dry-food.

Heidelberg's Danny loves carrots — Heidelberg’s Danny loves carrots

Therefore improve the taste and health of your German shepherd Dog by adding one to two ounces of cooked carrots mixed well into the dinner. If you are going to cook your own carrots be sure and add the water you cooked the carrots in to the dry-food because most of the vitamins and nutrients will be found in the water.

Heidelberg"s Bart had his carrots today. Did you? — Heidelberg”s Bart had his carrots today. Did you?

If you are considering getting a German shepherd puppy consider getting one of our older puppies and save a little money on some very high quality shepherds.

Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds

Sincerely,

KeystoneGermanShepherds

October 25, 2013October 25, 2013

Importance of Vitamin C Supplement for Growing German Shepherd Dog Puppies

Hi Everyone,

It has been awhile since I last posted. I hope to post on a more frequently in the future. Nevertheless, what I am going to discuss is very important for those with new and growing puppies.

Most German Shepherds are born with good joints and good genetics to grow into healthy adults without joint problems later in life. However, since puppies no longer for the most part have natural diets where they consume fresh killed prey items, especially consuming the predigested stomach contents of prey animals such as rabbits, deer, etc., a vitamin C deficiency exists in most German Shepherd Puppies diets. Puppies grow fast; therefore, it is important that their diets bein balance with vitamin C in relation to their calcium intake. Excessive calcium encourages rapid bone growth especially in the long-bones, however if this takes place with a vitamin C deficiency the joints growth will not be congruent with the long-bone growth and joint disease and abnormalities can develop even in genetically normal and healthy puppies.

GCh. Ch. Heidelberg's Kodi X Heidelberg's Yoyo puppy — GCh. Ch. Heidelberg’s Kodi X Heidelberg’s Yoyo puppy

By providing vitamin C even in excess can help ensure that your puppies grow correctly and have healthy joints as adults. In addition, to our Total Pure Vitamin Supplement, which contains ample Vitamin C, we are recommending that you add an additional 500 mg Vitamin C tab daily to your puppy’s diet , especially if you are supplementing their diet with Yogurt.

An Healthy Heidelberg Female German Shepherd Female — A Healthy Heidelberg Female German Shepherd Female Enjoying Her Life

Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds

Sincerely,

KeystoneGermanShepherds

September 5, 2013September 5, 2013

German Shepherd Dogs (Start of a New Training Class)

Hi Everyone,

This is a quick post today to remind and encourage everyone about the start of our new Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and Basic Obedience Class at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 10:30 am. There is no charge for this class and all breeds and ages are invited. The only requirement is that your dogs must be up to date on all their vaccinations.

We concluded our summer training session in August with several owners and dogs passing the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen Class. Since the conclusion of that class AKC has announced a new advanced level for Canine Good Citizen. With the introduction of AKC Community Canine, the AKC’s CGC program now provides a comprehensive three- level training program for dogs and their owners. Beginning with AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, progressing to Canine Good Citizen and now to AKC Community Canine, the CGC program trains dogs through all stages of life to be well behaved in society. We are excited about the new program and will match our training class exercises to meet the qualifications of this advanced level of training.

We look forwards to seeing new faces and old friends. Please make it out for our free training. The more participants that we have makes for a better class and training opportunities for all.

AKC Community Canine expands on CGC skills and lays the beginning foundation for obedience, rally and therapy dog work. Many of you with young dogs are planning on moving through to bigger and better things for your puppy, and we thank you for allowing us to be a part of this journey.

Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds

Sincerely,

KeystoneGermanShepherds

September 4, 2013September 4, 2013

German Shepherd Dog (Another Heidelberg Hero Story)

Hi Everyone,

I am so sorry that I have been so sporadic on these posts. Ever since mid-June it seems that I have lost control of my time since I have been unbelievably busy. However, with summer ending and all the associated chores, I am hopeful I will have a little more time to share with you my stories and knowledge of the wonderful German Shepherd Dog. To make up for my tardiness I have a true and inspiring story for you today.

A Male Heidelberg Puppy that is currently Available at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels

A longtime friend and Heidelberg German Shepherd Dog owner, John had his life saved by his beloved male Heidelberg, but not in a way you would ever expect. John is a Heidelberg dog collector and has gotten into breeding and showing Heidelberg German Shepherd Dogs, but while over the years John has had several Heidelberg’s, he had his favorite male, Gunner that went everywhere with John. Gunner was approximately five-years-old and had already finished his Championship and was John’s prize stud dog.

Heidelberg Puppies that are currently Available at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels

One day John came home and Gunner immediately came to John and rather than giving John the regular greeting of sitting and waiting for John to lean over so Gunner could give him a kiss, Gunner immediately stuck his nose in John’s calf and started licking. John thought maybe that he had brushed up against a girl that was in-season and did not think too much of the calf licking. However, Gunner was persistent in licking John’s calf so much so that John took a shower so Gunner would stop. Gunner did not stop. This went on for a week, and so much so that Gunner got scolded and put outside several days.

John thought Gunner had developed some kind of personality problem and was upset that his prize stud dog and companion had become Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) over John’s leg. While deciding what he was going to do with Gunner, John had the television on and a program came on about how European Doctors were using dogs to detect cancer.

John scheduled an appointment with his doctor, and he found that John had under-the-skin melanoma in the calf. Almost anyone that has under-the-skin melanoma by the time they feel sick and seek medical help they usually die five days later because, by this time, it has spread throughout the entire body and is the brain and the lungs.

John had major surgery on his calf to remove the cancer and for two years had undergone chemo treatments. He is finally cancer free. Needless to say, Gunner was even elevated to a higher status in John’s house and while ten-years-old now, Gunner is still doing well.

A Female Heidelberg Puppy that is currently Available at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels

Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds

Sincerely,

KeystoneGermanShepherds