 Which
dogs are available for adoption?
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Visit
our website and look under the 'Available Dogs' list to
see which dogs are currently looking for new homes.
We update the list frequently, but there is a chance
that a dog listed for adoption on the website may have
been adopted. Check the website every few days to
see the new dogs that have just arrived. We
always have plenty of wonderful dogs looking for
homes! |
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How do I determine which dog I want to adopt?
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The
only way to really find out which dog is the best match
for your family is to meet the dog in person.
Although many people are attracted to a dog because of
his or her looks, a good match really depends more on
the personality of the dog. Although you may love
the look of a particular dog, if that dog does not have
the temperament that fits in with your lifestyle, we
will recommend another match that is more suitable. |
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How can I tell if a dog will get along with my children?
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| First of
all, it is important that your children learn to
treat all dogs with respect. Your children
should learn to NEVER approach a dog that they do not
know, and to always ask for an owner's permission
before they pet a dog. They should NEVER pet a
dog while he or she is eating food or chewing on a
bone, and should not be allowed to hit or kick a dog,
or pull its ears or tail under any
circumstances. Children should also know not to
stare a dog right in the face, which could be
interpreted by the dog as a challenge by a smaller
"animal". Because of their size, children's eyes
are on the same level as the dog's face.
While some German
Shepherds are wonderful with children, others are
not. Much depends on the dog's past experience
with children, and his or her personality and
temperament. Because they are large dogs, a
German Shepherd can inadvertently knock a small child
over, or play too roughly with them. We have had
puppies turned in to the rescue because they
accidentally bit a child's hand while trying to get
the tennis ball that the child was holding.
German Shepherds can also try to "herd"
small children around by nipping at their heals, just
like they would do to herd sheep. They also need
to learn that the children are above them in the
family pack hierarchy.
That being said, much
of the dynamic between children and a dog is
determined by the adults. The adults are responsible
for seeing that the children treat the dog fairly and
humanely, and that the dog has its proper place in
the family hierarchy.
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How can I tell if a dog will get along with my other pets?
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| We
encourage potential adopters to bring their other dogs
along with them when they come to the rescue to
adopt. That way, we can introduce the dogs on
neutral territory and determine if the dogs will get
along. Of course, it will take the new dog a
little time to get acclimated to the new home, so
please expect that the dogs will need a little time to
work out their new "pack order" in your family. Be
patient, and give the dog time to settle in. A
few squabbles in the beginning are normal. Many adopters have
small dogs or cats and they want to know if the new
dog will get along with these pets. This can be
a difficult situation because some German Shepherds
see small dogs or cats as "prey", and will
chase them, especially if they run away. This is a natural
instinct for the dog, but many dogs can be trained to
ignore or accept the small animal. It just takes patience and
determination on your part to make it work out.
If you have a dog that is chasing a cat or a small dog,
talk to a professional dog trainer about tricks and
techniques to keep the peace between them.
Above all, you MUST be sure that your cat or
small dog has a safe place
to go to get away from any dog that is new to your
family! Do NOT leave a newly adopted dog alone
with a cat or small dog unattended, even if you believe that the
dog is okay with the other animal. Please do not take any
chances with their lives. Keep them separate
when they are unsupervised -- at least for a few weeks
until you are positive they can get along! |
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Are all of the dogs spayed or neutered?
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| All of
the dogs adopted from the rescue are spayed or
neutered. We do not want any of the dogs adopted
through our rescue to contribute to the pet
overpopulation problem, and we urge all of our
adopters to spay and neuter their own pets as
well. We have to turn so many wonderful dogs
away because we don't have the space for them, all
because people are not responsible enough to get their
animals sterilized. Please get your pets spayed
or neutered, and encourage all of your friends, family
and co-workers to do the same! Help us to stop
millions of dogs and cats from dying in animal shelters every
year! |
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Are the dogs up-to-date on shots?
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| All of
the dogs are up-to-date on their Rabies and DHLPP
(includes distemper and parvo)
vaccinations. Dogs require annual vaccination
boosters, and puppies require a series of vaccinations
that are given at regular intervals. After
adopting any dog, please talk to your veterinarian
about getting your new dog on a vaccination schedule
so that your pet will be protected against disease.
It is VERY important, and could save you the cost and
heartache of caring for a sick pet. |
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What is known about the health of the
dogs at the rescue?
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| If a dog
has been turned in by an owner, sometimes past medical
records are available. However, dogs rescued from
animal shelters come to us with no medical history. While the
dogs are in our care at the rescue, we provide them
with the medical care that they require.
Veterinary costs are the biggest expense at the
rescue, and we do our best to give each and every dog
any necessary medication or treatment. |
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Do you know if
the dogs have hip dysplasia?
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| Because
our resources are limited, we do not have the ability to
x-ray all of the dogs for hip dysplasia. If a dog
is turned in by an owner and we have this information,
we will pass that along to any potential adopter.
However, in most cases we just don't know, and the only
way to tell is by an x-ray. You cannot tell if a
dog has hip dysplasia just by looking at him or her.
If you adopt a dog from
our rescue, you are welcome to have their hips x-rayed
at your own expense. If you are not satisfied with
the results, we will gladly take the dog back into the
rescue. However, please know that hip dysplasia is
a very common problem in this breed, and there
are several operations that can be done to correct the
problem. Many dogs with hip dysplasia are now
living happy and healthy lives because their owners
cared enough to pay for this surgery for them. The
surgery can run anywhere from $1000 to $3000 per hip.
If you are considering adopting any large-breed dog, you
should probably expect to have to face this problem at
some point in the dog's life.
Depending on the extent of
the condition, there are also a number of non-surgical
treatments for this condition. Joint care products
containing Glucosamine, Chondroitin
and Vitamin C are available at local pet supply stores
or online stores like 'Doctors
Foster & Smith', and your
veterinarian can determine if the dog would benefit from
a prescription-strength medication. |
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What is known about the personality of the dogs?
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| When a
dog is turned in to the rescue by his or her owner, we
ask them to fill out a form telling us all about the
dog. We get as much information as possible from
the original owner in order to help us to find the
right situation for the dog.
Although we don't
have this kind of detailed information on the dogs
that we rescue from local animal shelters, our
volunteers get to know the dog while he or she is
staying at the rescue. We update the dog's bio
on our website with any new information that we
discover about the dog during his or her stay.
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What can I do if the dog has a behavior problem?
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| No dog is
perfect, and most dogs will have some sort of behavioral
challenge during their lifetime. It is up
to the dog's owner to find ways to work around the
problem. There are rarely any dog behavior
problems that cannot be resolved, given the right
approach to the problem, the right tools and knowledge
to solve it, and the love and patience required.
First, you need to
make sure that you get the immediate situation under
control so that no one gets hurt -- including your
dog. Make sure that the dog is safe, and that
you do whatever you can to eliminate or reduce the
risk of injury to any person or animal.
The next thing to do
when you recognize that your dog has a problem is to
do some research. Find out why the dog is
behaving in this way. Buy books on the subject
or go online and look up 'dog behavior' or the
specific problem. Find out everything that you
can on the subject. The key is to understand
from your dog's perspective why he or she is engaging
in this unwanted behavior.
Next, consult a
professional trainer or behaviorist. You can
ask your vet for a recommendation. If the
behavior could be related to a medical problem,
schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to rule
out any medical issues.
Start working on
solving the problem right away, but expect that it
will take some time to resolve. Changes in
behavior don't happen overnight, so please be patient
and consistent with your training. Dogs are like
children -- they don't always do what you want them to
do, but you don't give up on them in the meantime, and
you continue to love them in spite of their flaws.
If you are reading
this before having adopted a dog, please think about
this carefully. Most dogs lose their home
because their owner did not want to invest the time,
money, or effort into helping their dog to overcome a
problem. If this is an issue to you, please
reconsider your decision to include a dog in your
life.
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Why would I want to obedience train the dog?
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| Obedience
training is as much for the owner as it is for the dog!
It is the best way to learn how to communicate with your
dog so that you can work as a team. Your dog will
learn to respect you as the "alpha" member of the pack.
He or she will become a much better family member.
The more training you do, the better family member your
dog will become. This is especially important for
German Shepherd Dogs because they are highly intelligent
and respond to the "signals" that they are picking up
from their owners. |
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