Brilliant Bruce is a GSD who came to our branch on the 24th July 2024, from a multi-dog household where he had been left in the garden and neglected.
He was extremely underweight when he first came to us, and has now been placed in a foster home as he found the kennel environment very overstimulating.
He’s around 3 years old, and is a Malinois mix – he hasn’t had much training as of yet and is uncertain around other dogs, so will need to be the only pet in a household.
He also needs someone at home a lot of the time as he does have separation anxiety when left alone for long periods.
Here are some common traits of GSDs that you may spot in Bruce:
- GSDs are very loyal and affectionate, especially with close family members. GSDs can be very protective, and may suffer from separation anxiety when family members are away, so it may be better if his new owner can be present a large majority of the time.
- GSDs are often very intelligent – but this comes at a price: their stubbornness! An ideal owner would have breed experience or have thoroughly researched the ins and outs of owning a GSD breed – training is paramount, especially in Bruce’s case.
- GSDs are usually very athletic and active, so ensure you are able to provide Bruce with plenty of walks, a large garden to run around in, and lots of playtime to stimulate him properly. We’d recommend some extracurriculars – like agility, tracking or herding (did you know this breed was originally bred for herding sheep?) to keep Bruce on his toes!
- Positive reinforcement is often the best way to train a GSD – reward good behaviour verbally or with treats and tell them ‘no’ to any bad behaviours.
