Natasha

Natasha is a 4+- year old female German Shepherd who has the heart of a<br/>Golden Retriever. She is one of the most affectionate shepherds we've<br/>ever had. She was found wandering in the Knoxville area in the Fall of<br/>2005. She was emaciated and was full of worms. It appeared she had been<br/>out on her own for a very long time. The pads of her feet were very<br/>bruised and tender. Natasha absolutely thrived in her foster home. As<br/>she gained weight, her energy level increases. She is still a very docile<br/>dog, but does have a passion for chasing a ball. Mostly, she like to get<br/>it and just lay in the grass with it as her prize. As her activity level<br/>increased, we began to notice that she would limp occasionally, a few hours<br/>after play sessions. We had her evaluated and she has a birth defect in<br/>the elbow of her right paw. This is not an uncommon defect, however the<br/>fact that it had not been treated while she was young was. We had her<br/>evaluated by two veterinarians who have a lot of experience with this<br/>orthopedic condition. Based on their recommendations, she has not had<br/>corrective surgery. The consensus was that there is no guarantee that<br/>would improve the elbow and there was a chance her condition could worsen.<br/>We recently had another young male who had the same surgery. Because the<br/>correction was done while he was still growing, his prognosis is excellent.<br/><br/>Natasha is QUITE content being a very loving house dog. She is perfectly<br/>happy just stretching out for a nap where ever her people are. And if<br/>she is permitted, she will gladly curl up on the couch next to you! She is<br/>exceptionally sweet and loves attention. Periodically, she'll just come<br/>over to you and lean up against you in a gentle, but demanding sort of way.<br/>Where she is so tall, it is quite easy for her to lean over and almost end<br/>up laying in your lap as you pet her. She seems very appreciative of<br/>being kept warm, fed and dry... and loved on.<br/><br/>Probably due to her long exposure to the outdoors with no protection, she<br/>is very afraid thunderstorms and loud noises (like fireworks). She does<br/>not get destructive, but she might try to curl up in your lap, or<br/>stealthily climb in bed with you... which she did with us one night.<br/>There is Nothing stealthy about an 85+ pound dog who is trying to tip toe<br/>across you to get between you and your spouse in bed! We let her hide in<br/>the closet and she was fine the rest of the evening.<br/><br/>Natasha has been around cats and shows mild interest (curiosity) in them.<br/>She gets along great with other dogs, but she does want to be the alpha.<br/>If you are interested in adopting this sweet girl, please complete our<br/>on-line application at www.gashepherd.org

Natasha is a 4+- year old female German Shepherd who has the heart of a
Golden Retriever. She is one of the most affectionate shepherds we've
ever had. She was found wandering in the Knoxville area in the Fall of
2005. She was emaciated and was full of worms. It appeared she had been
out on her own for a very long time. The pads of her feet were very
bruised and tender. Natasha absolutely thrived in her foster home. As
she gained weight, her energy level increases. She is still a very docile
dog, but does have a passion for chasing a ball. Mostly, she like to get
it and just lay in the grass with it as her prize. As her activity level
increased, we began to notice that she would limp occasionally, a few hours
after play sessions. We had her evaluated and she has a birth defect in
the elbow of her right paw. This is not an uncommon defect, however the
fact that it had not been treated while she was young was. We had her
evaluated by two veterinari

Natasha is a 4+- year old female German Shepherd who has the heart of a
Golden Retriever. She is one of the most affectionate shepherds we've
ever had. She was found wandering in the Knoxville area in the Fall of
2005. She was emaciated and was full of worms. It appeared she had been
out on her own for a very long time. The pads of her feet were very
bruised and tender. Natasha absolutely thrived in her foster home. As
she gained weight, her energy level increases. She is still a very docile
dog, but does have a passion for chasing a ball. Mostly, she like to get
it and just lay in the grass with it as her prize. As her activity level
increased, we began to notice that she would limp occasionally, a few hours
after play sessions. We had her evaluated and she has a birth defect in
the elbow of her right paw. This is not an uncommon defect, however the
fact that it had not been treated while she was young was. We had her
evaluated by two veterinarians who have a lot of experience with this
orthopedic condition. Based on their recommendations, she has not had
corrective surgery. The consensus was that there is no guarantee that
would improve the elbow and there was a chance her condition could worsen.
We recently had another young male who had the same surgery. Because the
correction was done while he was still grow