German Shepherd dogs, as well as the other herding breeds that we have in rescue, are highly active, energetic, working breeds. They require considerable vetting, exercise, socialization, training, leadership and mental stimuli in order to be well-adjusted, well-balanced, and well-mannered dogs. Even if you exercise and play with your dog daily in your fenced yard, you MUST still take your dog out on daily walks and outings in order to work on his/her leash skills, manners, and social skills. These breeds make great additions to active families who will pamper them, but who will also work with them, as they are smart dogs who need leadership, structure, plenty of activity and mental stimulation. 

If you are new to German Shepherds (and other herding breeds), please research the breed to make sure this is the dog for you. We ask that you consider the time and financial commitment that your German Shepherd (or other herding breed) dog will require before applying for one. Please review the section on our website (www.heartlandgsrescue.org) "Is a HUGS Dog Right for You?" for additional information.

Wyatt is an 11-month old Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherd mix, and he definitely got the best of both breeds! He is incredibly smart, and will pick up on new commands after just a few minutes of practice. His intelligence also led him to quickly figure out how to get out of most crates, so he will need a heavy-duty kennel for crating.

Wyatt is very playful, and does well with other dogs of varying energy levels – he plays well with other dogs with similar playful attitudes, but also respects lower-energy dogs’ needs for rest. Given Wyatt’s young age, high intelligence, and high energy level, he’s in search of a VERY active forever home – he currently starts each morning with a 2-3 mile walk or run, as well as additional shorter walks throughout the day. Although Wyatt has lots of stamina, he also quiets down beautifully, and his favorite activities including cuddling with anyone who will let him!

Wyatt is truly a special dog – he adores his people, loves his foster fur siblings (but respects that they are not playful puppies like him!), and wants nothing more than to be loved by humans and other dogs alike. Wyatt loves all kinds of toys, from Kongs, to bones, to durable stuffed toys, and if another dog wants a toy that he has, Wyatt is happy to share and find a new toy for himself. Wyatt has been small-dog and cat tested, and has done well with both. While there are no children in Wyatt’s foster home, he has been exposed to children at public events, and has done great with them.

Like all German Shepherd youngsters, Wyatt will need lots of training, consistency, boundaries, and lots of activity and socialization, in order to become a well-balanced, well-behaved dog.

NOTE: We’ve quickly learned that Wyatt’s high levels of intelligence are also on display as an escape artist, and therefore Wyatt requires a heavy duty escape-proof crate. While there are many crate options out there, we have found that not all crates will work to contain our crate-busting dogs, and we have had the best results with the escape-proof crates sold on our website. Therefore, in order to adopt Wyatt, you will need a crate that meets or exceeds the requirements of the escape-proof crates sold on our website. Such a crate will be necessary in order for Wyatt's adoption to be successful. You may choose to buy one of these crates from us, which we sell at cost, or to purchase your own through whichever vendor you choose, and provide proof of purchase to HUGS prior to adopting Wyatt. If you choose to purchase your crate through another vendor, we recommend that you confirm with the HUGS team that the crate in question is approved before purchasing it. We have learned through experience that not all “heavy-duty” crates are created equal, and want to ensure Wyatt’s adopters get a high quality crate for the best possible results.