Luna the gorgeous GSD came to our branch on the 24th July 2024, after being neglected and left to starve – she has now been in our care for over a year and is desperate for a sofa of her own.
She’s around 3 years old and has been through a lot of hardship in her short life so far, but she adores humans and is just waiting for a calm and safe home environment so she can be herself.
Luna will need a breed-experienced owner as she needs reassurance and a confident leader due to her fear around other dogs, so as well as being the only dog in a home, she will need some training to work on her reactivity.
She is a hugely affectionate and playful young lady who can’t wait to find a safe and loving home environment. Redirection and patience are 2 strategies which she responds well to – she is already doing amazingly with our kennels!
Here are some common traits of GSDs that you may spot in Luna’s behaviour:
- GSDs are very loyal and affectionate, especially with close family members, so it may be best if Luna’s new owner can be present for the majority of the day.
- 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 for a well-rounded dog.
- GSDs are usually very athletic and active, so ensure you are able to provide Luna with plenty of walks, a large garden to run around in, and lots of playtime to stimulate her properly. We’d recommend some extracurriculars – like agility, tracking or herding (did you know this breed was originally bred for herding sheep?) to keep Luna on her paws!
- 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.
