American Alsatian: his content

2024 Author: Arianna Cook | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:23

External parameters of the American Alsatian, manifestations of the character of the dog and the nuances of its health, requirements for care: walking, diet, training. Puppy cost. The American Alsatian or American Alsatian is a newly developed dog breed from California. Bred by Lois Denny (now Schwartz) in the late 1980s, the American Alsatian was raised to be a calm, level-headed, large companion dog that resembles the now extinct, ancient Dire Wolf.

Despite the fact that the animal has quite large parameters and impressive appearance, the American Alsatian is known for its calm nature and lack of working skills. For now, American Alsatian breeders have decided to keep their breed under the control of their own club and registry. Community members have shown little interest in having their species registered in any breed communities.

American Alsatian breeders place great emphasis on the health of these animals and the common sense of external parameters. As a result, any feature of the body that suggests poor health or is not justified is carefully discarded and excluded from breeding lines.

As a newly developed species, the American Alsatian remains quite rare. Throughout its development, the variety has also been known as the "North American Shepalut" and "Alsatian Shepalouth".

External parameters of the American Alsatian

The defining features of the appearance of the American Alsatian is that this animal is quite large with outward features similar to that of a wolf. Although American Alsatians are generally well balanced, they tend to be longer from chest to croup than in height from floor to shoulder.

It is a powerful breed with very thick bones. However, she should not appear overly bulky or stocky, but rather muscular and sturdy. Males - from 66.5 cm to 76.2 cm at the withers and weighing from 40.8 kg to 54.4 kg. Bitches - from 63.5 cm to 71, 10 cm at the withers, from 38.5 kg to 49.8 kg.

American Alsatian head almost identical to a wolf's head, although somewhat larger and wider. Skull slightly rounded, never domed or flattening in the area close to the eyes. It has a harmonious connection with the neck and is slightly longer than the muzzle.
Muzzle - large, about 10-17, 78 centimeters in length, and from 27, 94 to 33 cm in circumference. The flews are close fitting, the lips are black. The dentition is large, sometimes in the bite in the form of scissors.
Nose - big, black.
Eyes - almond-shaped, small to medium in size, set obliquely. Light, yellow to light brown eyes are more preferred. These eyes give the breed a very intense, wolf-like look, which is one of its defining features.
Ears American Alsatians are triangular in shape, rounded at the tips and moderate in size. The very expressive ears are straight and set wide apart.
Neck - large and muscular.
Frame - slightly elongated, large and powerful. The chest has excellent volume. Ribs are springy. The back is long and muscular. The loin is strong, the croup is slightly sloping. The belly sinks slightly from the sides.
Tail this breed is especially wolflike, long and usually set low. Omitted when the dog is at rest.
Front limbs - strong, rather long, straight, with powerful bones. Hindquarters - in proportion to the front, with strong hips.
Paws - oval, gathered in a lump.
Coat The American Alsatian looks very much like a wolf's coat, but is usually longer and slightly woolier. His "coat" is double coated, which means he has top guard hair and an undercoat. The coat is soft, short, dense and very thick. The outer layer is medium in length and moderately coarse. The hair is especially long on the tail (which looks fluffy), on the cheekbones (where it forms a distinctive ruff). During the winter months, the "coat" is considerably thicker than in the summer. The facial part of the muzzle, head, inner part of the ear, limbs and feet have significantly shorter hair than the rest of the body, even in winter.
Color American Alsatian has many patterns and colors, but some are preferred. Silver sable is the most desirable color, but gold sable, a tricolor sable showing both gold and silver color, black and silver sable, and cream are also highly regarded. Many of these dogs have a black saddle on their back, like a German shepherd. The ears and tails of American Alsatians are perfectly black, but this is not always the case. The heads are either black or cream, but usually lighten with age.

Manifestations of the character of the American Alsatian

Temperament has always been considered the most important aspect of this animal. This breed was developed exclusively as a companion dog and has the temperament that one would expect from such a pet. The American Alsatian is an incredibly people-oriented breed and this dog wants to be present with its family all the time. Although, as a rule, alone these dogs behave calmly, very rare individuals, sometimes, may slightly worry, staying alone for a long time.

This breed also tends to form very close attachments to those it loves, and often displays astounding loyalty. American Alsatians were bred to be excellent family companion pets. Therefore, this breed tends to handle children well when it has been properly trained. Many come to the conclusion that these are excellent nanny dogs. Most of the pets are very affectionate with children, although not all of them are especially playful.

American Alsatians should never be aggressive or timid towards strangers. This breed has been bred to be very confident and bold as well as friendly and calm. With socialization, most members of the species are inquisitive and tolerant of strangers, but many of them behave in a closed and somewhat aloof manner. Although problems with aggression have not yet been noticed in this breed, shyness has been observed in at least one individual from the litter. Currently, a lot of time is devoted to the issue of getting rid of this quality.

Most fans argue that American Alsatians make poor guard dogs, and even worse defensive dogs, since they are much more likely to be wary of an intruder than to be aggressive. Though their size and intimidating appearance are likely to keep many would-be villains from entering the home.

The health nuances of an American Alsatian

Health is a critical aspect in the development of the American Alsatian and is central to the work of breeders. The goal of the NAABA and the NAAC is to ensure that the breed has a gray wolf life expectancy of up to fifteen to twenty years of age. Currently, the life span of the breed does not exceed twelve to fourteen years, but this is significantly longer than that of most species of this size.

Although no official health surveys have been conducted for this breed, as breeders monitored every problem diagnosed in the Alsatian. Any dog with serious health problems (and usually even minor problems) is excluded from breeding, and several whole strains have been eliminated as a precaution. Because American Alsatian breeders know that genetic diseases cannot be completely ruled out, they do their best to make them less common in breed representatives.

More rarely, these animals show epilepsy or seizures. They have been diagnosed in about 0.5 percent of American Alsatians. At least twelve cases of symptoms of the disease have been reported. Some were diagnosed as epilepsy, while others were the result of trauma, infection, or other unknown cause.

Seizures in dogs are essentially human-like and can be unpredictable. The seizures range from very mild to very severe, and from seconds to several hours. Manifestations can be very dangerous for both the dog and others, because the animal can inadvertently seriously injure itself or strangers.

Some of the affected dogs had only one or a few episodes of this condition, while others did not require serious, further treatment. Canines diagnosed with epilepsy require care and treatment throughout their lives.

A complete list of health problems that have been identified in American Alsatians, even if only seen in one individual, include: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, arthritis, epilepsy, weak bladder, myelofibrosis, chewing myositis, enlarged heart, allergy to wheat.

Maintenance and care of the American Alsatian breed

Wool such animals require regular and careful care. Although this breed usually does not need professional grooming. However, owners who live in hot climates may want their dogs to be shorn in the summer to make it easier for their pets to endure the heat. In this case, of course, it is better to consult a specialist. The coat of this breed usually repels dirt, dust and plant debris, and this dog is said to rarely smell unpleasant. American Alsatians shed their hair very abundantly, even outside the period of change of coat, which very quickly covers furniture, clothes and carpets. Molting is much more abundant when it comes time to replace the old wool with a new one. During such periods, the American Alsatian leaves his hair almost everywhere he goes. Therefore, their owners are obliged to constantly comb their dogs. Many people manipulate the slicker, but this tool is much worse and longer copes with the task than the newest invention - the furminator. These dogs are not often bathed, because they are large, and the coat is thick. Before the procedure, it is necessary to moisten the cover very well, be sure to apply not only shampoo, but also a conditioner, and wash off all cosmetic concentrates well. Since the wool is thick, it dries slowly. So that she does not cheat and there is no fungus, it is necessary to dry the dog with a hair dryer.
Teeth brush the American Alsatian every 2 days so that the dog can chew without problems until old age and has no dental problems.
Ears in breed representatives they have a standing shape, but thick hair grows in them, which is better to periodically cut or trim for better ventilation. If the dog is constantly scratching his ear and inside it is redness, incomprehensible discharge and a pungent odor, then you should be concerned and take your pet to the veterinarian. The doctor will be able to make a diagnosis only at the place individually for each individual and, accordingly, prescribe treatment. In order to avoid the expected inflammation of the ears, they must be promptly cleaned of the accumulation of sulfur or mud deposits. Once a week or two, fill the ear with herbal lotion while holding the dog's head and gently massage the lotion deeper into the ear canal. Its effect is no more than three minutes, and then it is necessary to wipe off the dirt from the visible surface of the ear.
Eyes American Alsatians have no predisposition to problems. But, dogs have injuries or infections of the mucous membranes of the eyes. Therefore, in order to contact a veterinary ophthalmologist in time, check them regularly. If there is slight redness, you can wipe them off or drip them with a sedative.
Claws try to keep your dog in good condition. If the dog walks a little, then they will surely grow back faster and interfere with him when he walks. Using claws or a special file, their length must be removed.
Feeding it must be well balanced so that the animal's body gets everything it needs. This is what the super premium industrial feed is good for. Vitamins and minerals, and for large dogs and chondroprotectors are already contained there. Natural food is more difficult to find, but the veterinarian or breeder from whom the dog was purchased will help you in this matter.
Walking. This variety was bred with a fairly minimal energy requirement and low performance. As a result, breed individuals require much less stress than many representatives of breeds of the same parameters. As with any canine species, regular exercise is a must for American Alsatians to prevent behavioral problems such as destructiveness, agitation, and timidity. However, meeting the needs of this breed will probably not be difficult for the not-too-active family in which it lives.

In general, this breed is very quiet and peaceful indoors. Pets are sedentary and usually prefer to rest on their bedding. This behavior in the home makes them wonderful pets. But, in some individuals, slightly higher levels of activity and slightly stronger working manifestations are sometimes found in at least one line of American Alsatians, but breeders are working to eliminate this trait.

Because this breed is so inactive, many of its members do not like to jump, and some are not particularly playful. But, American Alsatians are physically capable and will gladly accompany their families on long walks. Those people who are looking for a pet to be with them on extreme adventures will probably not find a better four-legged arc.

The American Alsatian has other unique personality traits. The elimination of barking was one of the main goals in the development of this breed. They are very quiet dogs that do not make noise, especially over trifles. In particular, this breed practically does not whine or howl. These four-legged brothers are so devoted to their owners that they rarely want to escape their home. Such characteristics are so deeply rooted that the American Alsatian does not leave his home, preferring to stay on his own plot.

American Alsatian training

Intelligence and learning ability have always been very prominent in the development of the American Alsatian, and the breed still retains these characteristics. This dog is capable of a lot of learning and learns quickly. Pets are very sensitive to changes in any intonation in voices and different commands. As a rule, they react very quickly to correction of improper exercise performance.

Some American Alsatians may not be the most easily trainable dogs to train due to a general lack of drive, although this is likely to be a problem only for someone looking for a working dog or a leading competitor in sports. And, such skills are practically not manifested in the American Alsatian.