Luna the gorgeous GSD came to our branch on the 24th July 2024, after being neglected and left to starve in the garden.
She’s around 3 years old and gets frightened around other dogs, so as well as being the only dog in a home, she will need some training to work on her reactivity. Redirection and patience are 2 strategies which she responds well to!
Luna needs a breed-experienced owner as she needs reassurance and a confident leader – otherwise, she is a hugely affectionate and playful young lady who can’t wait to find a safe and loving home environment.
She 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.
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. GSDs can be very protective, and may suffer from separation anxiety when family members are away, so it may be better if her 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 Luna’s case.
- 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.
