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.

Winifred may be small in stature, but she has a big personality! She enjoys wrestling with your hand and showing off her muscles by carrying toys around. She prefers quiet toys though because the crinkly ones spook her a little bit. She is curious about her environment and loves to explore once she feels safe and confident. She is the biggest cuddler you will find! Her favorite spot to nap is near your neck and loves to be at eye level... apparently she wants to see things from your perspective! She gives the best kisses and is super affectionate. She is timid with other dogs at first but it doesn't take long for her to start following them around. She is working hard on potty training, but gets cold rather quickly so may need a puppy sweater when outside in the winter. She doesn't love her baths yet but currently she's small enough to bathe in a sink so it should be relatively easy to get her more comfortable with them. She is in the process of being crate trained. She seems to prefer having a light on and some background noise. She isn't used to being alone in her crate yet though, so patience is a must. So far with her foster family the longest she has been in her crate without crying is around 4 hours at nigh, then she needs a little lovin' and maybe some play time to wear her out again. She is spunky and very fun to play with! Her zoomies are the cutest thing you'll ever see. 

The adoption fee for Mary's puppies is $395, 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. Like any of our dogs, Mary's puppies would make a great addition to an active home that will provide the love, structure, good leadership, activity and mental stimulation that her breed needs. 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.