Hunter is a 9-month-old, all black, long haired German Shepherd.  He is very handsome and he knows it, but he still doesn’t realize his size as his foster family says he thinks he’s a lap dog.  Hunter spent his first 6 months living happily with a bustling family with 3 young children.  The family was home during this time due to the Covid pandemic, but when they returned to work, they realized that their schedules were not ideal for a spirited young dog.  He had to be crated long hours during the day and they worried that this would have a negative impact on his socialization, training, and overall quality of life.  German Shepherds have a short period during their first puppy year to learn how to behave around people and other dogs as well as to be taught proper manners.  It can be very difficult for older dogs to acclimate to new situations and surroundings once this window has closed.  We get many dogs surrendered to us because of behavioral problems that occur due to this lack of socialization.  In fact, Hunter himself was starting to show some reactivity on the leash.  We are very glad that Hunter’s family understood the importance of this time period and made the difficult decision to call us for help.

At the time of Hunter’s evaluation, we did not have a foster home available.  However, we had a new family looking to adopt with lots of German and Australian Shepherd dog experience.  We were impressed with their commitment and ability to handle their dogs.  They have a 9-year-old female GSD and a 2-year-old male Australian Shepherd and wanted to add to their pack.  Specifically, they were looking for a young male German Shepherd that could keep up with their energetic Aussie!  With 3 older children, including one daughter interested in pursuing a career in the animal sciences, we thought Hunter may be a good match for them.  We asked them if they would consider fostering Hunter and then adopting him if he fit well into the family.  They quickly said yes.  The first time they, dogs included, met Hunter he was a bit shy and not sure how to react to all the attention.  In fact, the day after taking him home, he wouldn’t enter their kitchen, he just watched the family from afar.  We stressed the importance of going slow with Hunter, allowing him time to get used to them and the other dogs.  Within a few days, we were getting pictures of Hunter beginning to integrate into their lives, getting comfortable with the other dogs, and bonding with the family.  A favorite picture was of a soaking wet Hunter after an encounter with the outdoor hose that he loves so much.  His foster mom noted that he is such a funny dog, always playing, and on the go.  She says that he “is so excited, he does everything fast, except when he sleeps!”.  To help learn to control his energy, Hunter began training with our training director who also helped him learn some restraint and overcome some of his leash reactivity.

After several weeks of training and bonding, his foster mom told us that they all love him so much.  We asked if that meant he had found his forever home with them and we received an emphatic yes.  Congratulations Hunter and family.