Bruce is a German Shepherd Dog who came to our branch on the 24th July 2024 – unfortunately, his previous owner had too many dogs to cope with, and he was neglected and very underweight, so he does need some TLC.
He’s around 2 and a half years old. We think he’s a GSD crossed with a Malinois, with the latter forming the majority of his parentage.
He hasn’t had much training and gets jumpy when excited, so due to this we feel he will be better in a home with adults only who are experienced with the breed.
He also needs someone at home a lot of the time and we feel that he would be better suited as the only dog in the household, with no other pets.
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.
