Gwen. New name: Greta Joy's Web Page

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.

When Gwen came into rescue, her ribs were very visible, her coat was in poor condition, she was very stressed out, half-starved, had a ravenous appetite, and had several large loose stools every day. Gwen has now been tested for and diagnosed with Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI). EPI is a digestive disorder which affects a dog’s ability to produce the pancreatic enzyme needed to digest his/her food. There is no cure for EPI, however, it is easily managed by adding a digestive enzyme to each one of Gwen's meals :). It is essential that this enzyme be added to each one of her meals, as without it, Gwen cannot digest her food.

Gwen is a very sweet, loving, and happy girl. She has beautiful eyes that are like windows to her wonderful soul. She is cuddly and wants to be super close to her humans no matter what they may be doing. She would love to be allowed in bed with her adoptive parents, as sleeping in bed with her humans and curling up in a tight ball is one of her favorite things.

Gwen has a very high ball drive and will do anything for a game of fetch! She also loves to lay down and chomp loudly on her ball. She loves treats and can take them gently but sometimes forgets. She loves all the family members in her foster home equally. She loves to follow foster mom everywhere, and she doesn't just follow, she likes to be touching as they go. She is sweet and kind with the small dog in the household, and will try to groom him. She is cautious and very respectful with the male GSD in the household, normally choosing to not get in his space, although she will forget herself and try to grab the ball out of his mouth every once in a while. However, she truly is a pleaser and does not want to rock the boat, and she corrects easily. She is adorable, as she crosses her front feet when she lays down. Gwen rarely barks, she knows sit, down and speak. She loves walks and will now bark once or twice when someone comes to the door, but she is friendly and will go over to them once they are inside the house. She does not like being kenneled too much, but will not try to break out, although if she can unlatch the crate door easily, she will let herself out. When she first arrived in her foster home, she would rub her nose on the crate, wanting to come out, and bark. She still barks, but she has stopped rubbing her nose and crates fairly well now. Although we haven't seen this ourselves, as there are not cats in her foster home, we have been told that Gwen has lived with cats before and did fine. Gwen would fine as an only dog, or with a friendly, submissive male.

It's very important for GSDs to be on a high-quality diet, as they are prone to GI upsets, allergies, and sensitivities. This is especially important with Gwen, who came into rescue, truly skin and bones, and it has been a labor of love, lots of TLC, good vet care, and frequent nutritious meals and snacks, to get her to finally start gaining weight. She currently eats a diet of Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Dehydrated dog food (beef or any varieties other than poultry) mixed in with raw beef. This is more costly than other diets, but it has really helped Gwen thrive and we would like her to stay on it, or something comparable. She also requires her enzymes with meals, and the enzymes cost around $48/month.

Additional Information About EPI: Dogs with EPI require good veterinary follow up, added enzymes, and a highly digestible diet for their entire lives. The enzyme must be added with each meal, since it does not stay in the body (it's digested with the food). Without the enzyme, an EPI dog would be starving, as it passes everything it eats undigested through its system, resulting in large cow-pie poops, starvation, and failure to thrive.Gwen is not on a prescription diet at this time, but she is doing well on a combination raw/dehydrated diet with enzymes. We would ask that her adopter continue this, for her continued good health and wellness. Her meals need to separated into at least two meals a day, with digestive enzymes added with each meal, regardless of how many meals per day. Always remember, dogs with EPI, like Gwen, cannot digest their food (including treats!) without the additional enzymes. Very easily managed, just cannot forget to add the enzymes! ;)

About Gwen. New name: Greta Joy