Clover German Shepherd Dog & Belgian Shepherd / Malinois Mix Scarborough, ON

Clover came to Mattie's Place with her brother Basil, Mom Pepper & Dad Maximus after being bred and born with a backyard breeder. She is being fostered with her brother Basil so they can continue to learn from one another.

Born January 26, 2024. I have no idea about her final adult weight, but based on Mom & Dad, likely in the 60 - 70 pound range.

Clover has had multiple deworming and 2 rounds of vaccines to date. She is healthy but did undergo surgical correction for persistent right aortic arch with marked secondary segmental megaesophagus on Monday April 8 to TVEH. The cost was over $10,000 to diagnose and surgically correct, but she's doing amazing and is expected to have a full recovery without any further concern and go on to live a long and normal German Shepherd dog life.

She does currently need to sit in a special chair post-op to help her food pass properly as shown in the video. She should be chair free in the next couple weeks as her esophagus heals post-op.

She is in her rapid growth stage, so remember that when adopting. Her pictures are current as of April 14, 2024 and I will keep them updates as much as I'm able

Clover is very much leaning into the German Shepherd personality. She will benefit from professional training to help her continue to learn and evolve into a great canine citizen.

She's is exceptionally smart and very intuitive, curious and aware of everything around her.

She is expected to head into her typical GSD fear reaction stage soon, where she's suddenly scared with everything new in life and will reactive bark at anything the wind blows past or anything she meets along her life journey the next couple months. Her brother Basil is currently in this stage.

This is very normal GSD behaviour, but will need continued confidence building training so it doesn't become a problematic behaviour down the road.

Clover's adopters will need to navigate this fear stage with understanding. You need to ensure you do not overwhelm her, but you should have options where she can explore meeting new people and having new life experiences without being pressured or forced to interact resulting in overwhelm for a pup.

Clover is living with a dog trainer that is fostering her, so she's being set up for success, but that needs to continue into adoption. Her foster Mom does not work with individuals, but I can give you trainer suggestions if needed.

Clover will fit best into an active home that understand working breed dogs. Clover doesn't need a job, but she should think she has tasks to accomplish often to fill that sense of need of accomplishment. Mental and physical stimulation will be super important so they don't get bored. German Shepard dogs can make amazing family pets, but they will always have a desire to do a task -- to work, to move, to be active, to achieve and accomplish.

There are multiple ways to satisfy a GSD's needs; you could try various dogs sports or various training and interactive programs. If that's not your jam, daily adventures where they can really get out and sniff-explore-run, variations of food puzzles are another option to add into the day, trick training can be a fun.

REMINDER: working dogs and couch potato humans do not mix.

Clover has her spay scheduled at the cost of Mattie's Place in Stouffville for June 5, 2024 which will be a contractual obligation to attend for 8:00 am and pick up post-op at 3:00 pm for her adopters.

SOME NORMAL STAGES FOR YOUR GERMAN SHEPHERD PUP:


Juvenile Period

4 months – 6 months

Have all puppy teeth, start getting adult teeth at 4 months
Playful and full of energy
Improve their motor skills
Develop their future social skills
Working towards ful housetraining
Constantly learning
Needs continual training, socialization and new experiences
Will start testing boundaries and may be extra stubborn


Adolescent Period

6 months – 2 years

Lose puppy appearance
Are rambunctious
May go through a second fear period
Continue to need socialization
Reinforce training
Continue exposure to new experiences
Establishing boundaries



FROM HER FOSTER:

It was evident from the 5 week mark that Clover is clever, independent, and adventurous.

She's very confident for such a young small girl and is more serious in her demeanour vs. her brother, who is very goofy.

Clover takes to training extremely well and picks up new concepts quickly.

She is mostly potty trained but is still learning to let you know when she needs to go outside.


She's wonderful in her crate and is very neutral towards other dogs.

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To note: the above description is relevant to this dog in his current &/or previous setting. Home changes & adopter personalities can bring out different behaviours not previously seen.

We also do not claim, endorse, suggest or hint at, that any of our dogs are hypoallergenic, low shed or no-shed.

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Adoption fee includes: spay/neuter, deworming, flea/tick prevention, vaccinations, food, nose to tail health exam, toys, leash|collar, go home preventative based on season.