Article: Like all breeds, the German Shepherd suffers from many inheritable diseases that you can't see just by looking at the dog. Common genetic diseases for the breed include degenerative myelopathy, megaesophagus, and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. If you're getting your puppy from a breeder, they should know about the history of disease in the puppy's lineage. Discuss the likelihood of these diseases developing in your own puppy. You want to see the puppy on multiple occasions, if possible, so you can get a better sense of its overall temperament and health. Just like people, puppies can have their good days and their bad days, so you don't want to make a decision based on a single interactions. Take your time and look closely at each puppy you're thinking of adopting. Puppies should be the appropriate weight not too chubby, but not too thin and odor free. They should have clear eyes (not runny or red) and clean ears. The coat should be full and glossy (no balding spots), and free of mats or fecal matter. Look for signs of excessive scratching, which may point to skin or coat problems. It should have a healthy appetite, and no signs of vomiting or diarrhea. Also assess the puppy's social health. Puppies should be curious and well-socialized, playful and friendly. Temperament testing a dog or puppy helps you choose a dog that fits your family and lifestyle. For example, a high-energy puppy may be the right fit for an active outdoor family, but wrong for a family who likes to relax indoors. For temperament testing, separate the puppy from the litter to make sure it's focusing its attention on you. Walk around to see if the puppy follows you. A puppy that follows humans is well-socialized to them and enjoys their company. Kneel and call the puppy to you. It should show interest in you and come when called. Lift the puppy in the air to see how well it deals with being carried. Gently restrain the puppy with its belly up. Though a little bit of struggle is okay, you don't want a puppy who fights you when you try to handle it. Look for a puppy that isn't afraid note if his tail is between his legs. In all interactions, look for signs of fear or mistrust. These puppies may not adjust well to your home. If you see a puppy who guards its food or toys, think twice about adopting it. While these behaviors can be improved through training, it's an extra obstacle you don't have to face if you choose a dog with a better temperament. Look for behaviors like growling or snapping when people or other dogs approach their food or toys. A dog who runs away may also have problems interacting safely and comfortably in a home. If you decide to take on a "project" with behavioral concerns, make sure you have a behaviorist or trainer you trust lined up first. Beware that having a "reactive" dog will add to the potential liability of ownership. You want a puppy that's playful and not fearful because many dogs bite out of fear. German Shepherds are large, powerful animals as adults, so you absolutely cannot start out with a puppy who's fearful by nature. Puppies born with a fearful personality may be harder to train, and may display fear aggression as adults. You may visit a litter and fall in love with a puppy a few states away. If you cannot take the dog home immediately (for example, if it's too young to be weaned), you need to arrange for its transportation at a later date. For the puppy's health, you should make the trip to pick it up yourself. Shipping puppies is very stressful on them, and often results in a sick puppy when you pick them up from the airport. If you want a puppy that lives far away, be willing to travel for it.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Research the history of diseases in the puppy's lineage. Visit the puppy more than once. Examine the puppy's health. Test the puppy's temperament. Look for bad behaviors. Play with the puppy. Think carefully about adopting a faraway puppy.
Article: Apples are ready for picking earlier in warmer areas than the fruits in colder climates because the heat helps them ripen. Likewise, south-facing fruits will get more sunlight and be ready for picking earlier than apples on the north side of the tree. In cooler climates, harvest time is generally September through October. In warmer climates, harvest time could be anywhere from late summer through early spring. The most obvious sign to watch for is color. Golden delicious apples will change from green to yellow when they are ready to be harvested and red delicious will turn entirely red. If the tree produces apples with stripes or red blush, the green part of the apple will turn yellow when it is ready to pick. Unfortunately, some of the newer apple tree cultivars are not so obvious. The skin on these apples may turn entirely red before they are ready for harvest or the green part of the skin may not turn yellow until the apples are stored for a few months. To overcome this obstacle, heck the flesh of the apple before harvesting all of them to determine if they are ready. When these apples are ready to harvest the flesh will have changed from pale green to white. The color of the indentation near the stem is another way to tell on certain varieties. The shade of this area generally lightens as the apples ripen. Apple trees naturally drop their apples when they are ripe to self-seed and reproduce. Watch for an apple or two to drop from the tree to determine if they are ready to pick. When your apples are ripe, they should be fairly easy to pick from the tree with a simple upward twist of the apple. Try to avoid picking an apple by pulling the fruit straight down and tugging. If otherwise healthy fruits begin to fall off the tree, they are probably beginning to get a little too ripe and should probably be harvested as soon as possible. Apples that are nearing maturity will generally have dark brown seeds rather than white ones. However, keep in mind that this may not be the case for varieties that ripen early. Their seeds may still be light-colored when they are ripe and some types have seeds that turn brown weeks before the optimal picking time. This is where researching the variety in your yard can also prove helpful.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Take the growing location into account. Consider the color of the apples. Wait for a couple of apples to fall from the tree. Look for dark brown seeds inside the apple.
Article: The liner is likely to be the dirtiest part of your cap, as it soaks up sweat and skin oils while wearing. Pick an enzyme-based laundry pre-spray and spritz some on to break down this type of grime. Most modern baseball caps made in the last 10 years or so can be easily machine washed without issue. It's better to hand wash wool baseball caps. Older baseball caps tend to have cardboard brims. These caps should never be soaked completely in water. Instead, it's best to clean them with a spray bottle and washcloth. At this phase, treat your cap like any other type of laundry. Pair your cap with similarly-colored clothing and use whichever laundry detergent you prefer. Wash with cold water for the best results. However, warm water should be fine, too. Do not use hot water when washing your cap. Do not use bleach. Once the wash cycle has finished, remove your cap and place it on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area. You may choose to position an electric fan nearby to speed up the drying process. Do not put your cap in the clothes dryer; it would likely shrink or lose its shape.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Pre-treat the liner or headband. Toss your cap in with your normal laundry. Leave your cap to air dry.