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.

Lennox is a sweet young boy who came to us emaciated and missing most of his fur, most likely having lived most of his short life neglected and alone, at the end of a chain or relegated to a life outdoors. Because of his lack of early human interaction, Lennox is slow to warm up to new people, but once he does, you have an extra shadow!

While Lennox takes awhile to come around to new people, he has zero hesitation when it comes to making new canine friends. In fact, Lennox's exuberant manner may be a bit too much for older or reserved pups - Lennox would do best in a home with another young, playful dog. In his foster home, he has an 11 month old furry foster sibling, and the two of them never tire of racing around the yard or wrestling in the house!

Likely due to his lack of early human interaction, Lennox has some ground to make up in terms of training and listening, but he is potty trained, crate trained, and can "sit" with the best of them! Lennox is looking for someone patient (and a handful of yummy treats!) to continue his training and, more importantly, scratch that sweet spot under his chin at least 17 times per day!  Lennox would benefit from a confident handler who will continue to gently socialize him in public while making sure strangers respect his space (which will help him feel safe and will allow him to relax), and provide fun, positive experiences to help him continue to gain confidence and blossom. This boy is a gem!

Lennox's ideal home would be an active household with prior GSD experience, and a playful dog buddy. While adorable, GSD teens require patience, structure, positive reinforcement, and redirection to channel their energy in appropriate ways. Like all German Shepherd teens, Lennox will need training, consistency, boundaries, and lots of activity and socialization. Lennox's adoption fee is $350, all of which goes back into offsetting our high-cost vetting expenses and rescuing more dogs.  Adoption fees include spay/neuter, current on age-appropriate vaccinations, fecal, deworming, flea/tick and heartworm preventative, heartworm tested if old enough (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.