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.

This beautiful, friendly young girl was once a stray who landed at a kill shelter in Missouri.  At the time, she was very underweight, scared and stressed out, and urgently needed rescue in order to make it out safely out of the shelter. 

Once she gets to know you, Journey really comes to life! Journey is a mid-high energy, spirited, happy, and a loving girl. She does entertain herself somewhat and loves to do zoomies around the yard while throwing a toy around. She uses her very keen sense of smell to keep busy also. She kennels beautifully, is potty-trained, and is a great car rider (she loves to tag along with foster mom for errands!). She adores her people and will be forever loyal. She did not have any skills under her belt on arrival: wood floors and stairs, people moving quickly and reaching for her, new places, sounds and walks were all pretty scary. She is a fast learner, though, very alert and responsive, and she is gaining confidence every day! Journey is doing excellent on walks, has mastered sit, down, come, and waiting for permission to come through doors and eat her food. She gives the best butterfly kisses on your hands and loves to sweetly maul you while cuddling! Journey is not a dog for first time shepherd owners but would be a fabulous addition to an active family with breed experience who understands the need for structure, leadership, and training. She will thrive on 2-3 miles (or more) per day, exercise along with mental stimulation. She can be a little dominant with submissive dogs but would do well with a larger confident male with proper slow introductions- no small animals (including dogs).

Like any of our dogs, this sweetheart would make a great addition to an active home that can provide the love, structure, good leadership, activity and mental stimulation that her breed needs. Because of that, Journey's ideal owner will have prior GSD, or other herding breed experience. Even if you exercise and play with your dog daily in your fenced yard, please remember that you MUST still take your dog out on daily walks and outings, in order to provide sufficient stimulation, ward off boredom, and work on leash skills, and manners. 

Journey's adoption fee is $350, all of which goes back into offseting our high-cost vetting expenses and rescuing more dogs.  We are a 100% volunteer-run rescue group and rely on adoption fees and donations to continue saving lives. Adoption fees include spay/neuter, current on age-appropriate vaccinations, fecal, deworming, flea/tick and heartworm preventative, heartworm tested if old enough (and treated if positive), and microchipped. Please visit http://heartlandgsrescue.rescuegroups.org/info/adoption for more information about our adoption process and requirements, and to apply.