Sadie is a loving girl with a gorgeous curly coat and the most expressive eyes ever!  She looks at you and your heart just melts.  She's a dog who needs an experienced GSD leader and will reward you with all the love and protection you could want!

BACKGROUND Sadie was a stray from a rough part of town and ended up at a local shelter.  We don't know her background but she was extremely thin and missing some fur, so had either been stray for some time and/or neglected.

TEMPERAMENT / BEHAVIOR  Sadie is currently living in a foster home with another foster (Margie) and the resident dog Sara who she loves to hang out with. Sadie is a happy-go-lucky kind of girl, super loving and adores attention and pets.  She also likes playing with the toys and running around. She can be quite calm indoors, and will gladly cuddle up with you.  Sadie loves human contact and loves to be brushed or pet and would probably sit for an hour. Sadie is not food or toy aggressive and is really laid back. She sometimes tries to chase the cows and chickens. Sadie does not like loud cars and occasionally tries to chase one. She is starting to do better in that area. She loves going outside and has quite a nose for finding any small animals that wander into the yard, such as rabbits, moles, mice, etc.

TRAINING She needs basics and strong canine leadership.  She now knows 'sit' and 'wait' at doors, and is a fast learner.  With consistency, love, structure and good leadership, she'll be an amazing companion and protector! She has decent leash manners unless she sees a deer or rabbit, and then wants to give chase but does respond to correction. Her foster home is not fenced, so Sadie goes outside on a long line. She is very strong and will try pulling her handler to any place she wants to go. If she were to see a squirrel, she could easily pull a frail person off his feet. We are working on breaking her of this.

Sadie is extremely protective of "her" home and territory.  It appears she was probably an outdoor dog who was isolated, ignored and left to her own devices.  So she did what GSDs instinctively do -- protected her territory by reacting to any strangers, human or animal.  When she sees strangers outside her fence -- people or dogs -- she barks and runs at them.  She is a TRUE GSD in that she is strong willed, protective, and therefore MUST have a family with strong leaders who understand this behavior and can handle it. She must always have proper introductions to new people (i.e., new people ignore her, have a high value treat in hand, make her sit for it, and after a few minutes of this can take her for a walk).

OTHER ANIMALS Sadie gets along well with the other dogs in her foster home. She loves to hang out with both dogs. She sometimes tries to chase the cows and chickens. at her foster home. She has been around the cats who are kenneled at the boarding facility, and she seems to do well (curious but easily redirected).  She didn't show aggression and appears to be trainable.

PEOPLE She does very well with meeting new people and dogs. Sadie has come a long way and once properly introduced to people she's all about them.  For a while at boarding, she would bark and nip at strangers from her kennel.  But now with a few minutes introduction by someone she knows, with a few good treats offered by the new person, she accepts all new people.  Then she's all about the walks and the pets and the loving! We haven't seen her around kids and that would have to be tested.  Just because of her need for proper introductions, we currently seek an adults-only home.

MEDICAL She's spayed, up to date on shots, microchipped -- and ready to go home.  She had a partial ACL tear in a back leg but we were unable to do surgery due to her being in boarding and being unable to properly supervise her recovery.  We had her on restricted activity for over 6 months and on some meds the vet recommended to speed healing, and today she has no problem walking and running. Sadie tends to have a limp in her back legs when the weather gets too cold. She has done just fine during the warm weather and will even try to run and play.

STOP!! READ THIS BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER!

1. We're picky about our adopters. 
2. Are you sure you're up to having a GSD?  They're not for everyone.  They take a lot of time, effort, training.  They shed year round.  They're big.  They scare lots of people.  They "mouth" and herd.  They're usually strong-willed and stubborn.  You have to have references and a home visit.  If you're not willing or able to deal with any of this, please don't waste your time or ours applying.  
   
3. Will the dog be an inside family pet? We do not adopt to outdoor-only homes. All dogs must be indoor dogs.
4. Do you leave your dog outdoors when you're not home?   We do not adopt to homes that leave their animals outside when they're gone.  You must put your dogs indoors when you're gone.  A 3 yr old adopted MOGS dog died when the owners went to run errands, left her outdoors, the gate was somehow opened, and she was hit by a car.  Tragic and 100% preventable. Even privacy fences get broken into.  Gates are opened.  Thieves steal dogs. Never leave your dog outdoors when you're not home!!
   
5. What's your plan for unexpected events and major changes?  New baby? Divorce?  Moving?   How you will provide for your dog if your family breaks up? 
   
6. Will you make a lifetime commitment?  It's your responsibility to keep your dog safe, loved and cared for FOR LIFE.
7.  Do you understand we expect you to keep that lifetime commitment?  It's YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to stick by your family member -- no matter what.
8. Are you unable or unwilling to make a lifetime commitment? Do not apply.

Have Questions? Email us at mogsrescue@gmail.com