Sheya German Shepherd Dog Des Moines, WA

******Please note, once completing the initial screen you will be connected with the placement for a video chat. Transports run every few weeks and we will have the dog on the next available transport once approved. If you are not able to accept a dog until a specific time period, please apply at that time************

We are a volunteer run rescue and donate our time to these dogs. IF you are not serious about moving forward in our adoption process, please do not apply. If someone other than yourself is part of the decision making process, please make sure you have spoken with them and they are on board. We really do not want to waste anyone's time if you are not serious about adopting this dog.

Sheya, 1.5 year old, spayed female, German Shepherd mix, 50 pounds. Sheya is in a foster home in Houston, TEXAS and can transport out of state once an approved adopter is lined up!

Sheya is a queen and commands respect but is willing to give it back too. She has been around many other dogs ranging in size from extra large - Anatolian and German Shepherd males, to large Rottweiler females, and those in between. She makes herself known and can play rough, but does not always pick up on cues from the other dogs. Overall though, she and her foster siblings play well together, watching and chasing squirrels, and other "assigned jobs." With males in particular, Sheya falls into a pack role with ease.

We have no history with cats, but Sheya has been around older children (aged 8 and 15) with success. She does still nip and can be bossy, so we would advise homes with kids over the age of 10yrs, or those who can understand and will respect animal behavior cues.

Sheya has a guard mentality and takes her job seriously, protecting her own in their space. When outsiders dare intrude on her turf, she is the world's best alarm system. She does best meeting new people outside the home or in slow doses with her person around to assure her it is okay. Once she has grown accustomed to you, Sheya is a lovey dovey cuddle machine and enjoys close proximity to you. She loves to the end of the earth and bonds tightly.

Sheya is higher energy than she is couch potato and is quite athletic. In her first foster home, she would go on 3+ mile walks several times a day and now, she has the run of a large backyard and active foster siblings to chase her about. She knows how to jump over crates or gates.

Sheya is nearly fully house trained and may have accidents while adjusting to a new routine. She does alert when she needs to go outside but she does best on a strict schedule of breaks. Sheya's current routine is an early morning potty as soon as she wakes up, a break in the mid-day and again after her pawrents get home from work; about an hour after dinner, she is let back outside to potty and roam before a final break before bed.

Sheya is crate trained and will go in willingly, although she is trusted to be left loose in her own space. She sleeps loose on a doggy bed and has not been destructive. Sheya knows manners - she sits when you tell her to and is learning to wait for food, not jump, and to settle down. She's learned the commands "easy" and "calm down." She is incredibly intelligent and listens to instruction well, but does try testing the boundaries of what is allowed.

Sheya should be fed separately from other dogs as she has previously exhibited food aggression around other dogs. She has no issues with humans picking up or taking away food, treats or toys though. Treats and toys in shared/communal spaces are generally limited as a rule of the foster. Through a lot of hard work with her foster, Sheya has been able to relax and accept treats nearby her siblings.

Sheya's ideal home would be with a shepherd/working breed experienced owner - someone willing to put in the work to earn her trust and assert structure and obedience. She has so many of the wonderful shepherd qualities that endear the breed to their people but is plagued by the anxiety and high-strung personality that makes their ownership a (rewarding) challenge. She has demonstrated a lot of growth in the time she's been in foster but will require patience and diligent attention to training.

If you thought you always wanted a shepherd because you love everything about them then she may be perfect for you!

***Listed BREED and AGE - We are taking our best guess & recommendations from our veterinarian on age, breed and size when fully grown. We rarely know a dog's exact age nor are we able to tell the true or full breed mix of dogs as our information is limited most of the time. ***

Interested in applying to adopt her? Fill out an adoption application at the link below!

https://www.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/DDAR/Dog