About Josie |
- Status: Adopted!
- Adoption Fee: 250.00
- Species: Dog
- Rescue ID: 2010-069
- Color: Blk/Tan
- Current Size: 80 Pounds
- Potential Size: 80 Pounds
- Current Age: 22 Years 4 Months (best estimate)
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- Housetrained: Yes
- Owner Experience Needed: Breed
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(8 years old) Good with kids, cats, and dogs.
Meet Josie! Josie is about 8 years old, but you'd never know it by watching her! She thinks she's still a puppy as she has a ton of energy and wants to play all the time. She is housetrained and is good with other dogs, cats, and kids! Josie is an absolute sweetheart who just wants to find a home that will play with her to her heart's desire.
Josie is beautiful and has lots of the traditional German Shepard traits. She is very loyal and loves “her people.” She likes being outside (LOVES digging, but we're working on that!) and will do a “perimeter check” whenever she goes into the backyard. She loves chasing balls and is starting to understand that if she brings it back to you, then you'll throw it and she'll get to chase it again! Even though we are still working on teaching her basic obedience commands, Josie is a remarkably well-behaved dog. She doesn't jump on people and will wait patiently for her food at dinner-time. She only barks if she hears a noise and isn't sure what it is, but she will typically stop as soon as we say that everything is okay. Her only real “bad” habit is sneaking onto the couch at every chance she gets!
Josie has made huge strides in the few short months that she's been in her foster home. She came out of the shelter as an incredibly anxious and nervous dog, but we have been shocked at how quickly she has calmed down. It has been so very rewarding to watch her as she realizes that, finally, she is safe and begins to let her natural personality shine through. Although she has come a long way in a short amount of time, Josie will still need a home that is willing to be patient and work with her. For the first few days in a new situation she is much more nervous and will pace and pant a lot. But as she gets comfortable, she settles right down. It is very important that she has a crate that she can go in at night and when she's by herself at first because she definitely feels much more safe and secure in there. Josie gets very worked up during thunderstorms but we've found that if we just put her in her crate, she calms right down and will just sleep through it.
Once Josie gets comfortable in a place, she is a remarkably content dog. While she does love playing and needs exercise, she is also happy to simply enjoy the sunshine outside, or nap next to you inside. She will happily spend several hours outside in the yard napping, watching cars go by, digging, chasing balls, and chewing on toys. Josie is a low-maintenance dog when it comes to needing attention. She loves being given praise, but doesn't need constant stimulation. Just being near "her person" is enough for her!
Josie would enjoy a home with a canine sibling, but it's not a requirement as long as her family is willing to play with her enough to get her energy out. Right now she has 2 canine foster sisters who are puppies, so they do a great job of wearing her out and playing with her as much as she wants! As with many nervous dogs, exercise helps relieve Josie's stress and calm her down. Because of her age, Josie really should be a sedate and low-energy dog, but no one bothered to tell her that! She plays like a puppy, but will eventually let you know when she's had enough and is ready to go rest.
Josie likes toys and will play with them, but her absolute favorite is a good plastic bottle. No plastic bottle is safe with Josie around! Empty or full, soda bottle or shampoo bottle, she loves them all. Her eyes just light up when she sees us bringing her a new plastic bottle to chew on and she will happily chomp on it for hours.
A recent x-ray did show that Josie has hip dysplasia that is common in German Shepherds and other large breed dogs. Once again, however, she doesn't let it slow her down. She never showed any signs of pain or discomfort and the x-rays were done just as a precauti
