On July 8 2013, momma dog Elle had 12 beautiful and healthy German Shepherd puppies.  The birth was smooth and easy, and all 12 puppies came into this world with ease.  All are healthy, well and HUNGRY!  The pups' father was a stunning coated male German Shepherd and beautiful Elle is an excellent momma.  As the litter grows she is proving to be an excellent guardian and teacher.  

Note the pictures of Elle nursing one puppy at a time in various locations.  With 12 hungry little mouths to feed, Elle is making sure that ALL the puppies get fed properly!  She literally takes one or two at a time away from the litter, settles down to nurse those few, then returns them to the litter and takes one or two more.

The pups are 6 males and 6 females.


ADOPTION PROCESS:  We are now taking applications for the puppies.  Applications must be submitted online at our website and go through a review process.  Once approved, applicants will be required to pay a $175 deposit (half the adoption fee), with the balance due at adoption. DEPOSITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE and are intended to ensure that adopters are serious about adopting. At this time the only choice available is which gender you wish, if you have a preference.  We will be overwhelmed with applications and will stop accepting applications when we believe we have sufficient homes for all 12 puppies.  We reserve the right to adopt the puppies to those homes we believe are the best suited, best qualifed, and most committed to the appropriate training and leadership of the puppies.


RAISING A GERMAN SHEPHERD:  Please know that raising a German Shepherd is not child's play. It's a commitment and often requires hard work. 

• That tiny puppy will quickly grow to 75 lbs or more, and WILL knock a small child over in play.  Are you prepared for that?
• That puppy will be physically mature but emotionally and behaviorally a puppy until s/he is 2-3 years old.  You will have a 75 lb baby on your hands. Are you prepared for that? 
• The things you think are cute or funny in a puppy - like jumping up on people or nipping them - are NOT cute or funny in a 75 lb dog. You must train them from the start to behave well - or as we like to say, to be "the best behaved dog on the block."  Are you prepared for that?
• That adorable loving puppy will likely try to "protect" you in inappropriate ways that must be trained quickly.  Are you prepared for that? 
• GSDs are one of the top 3 smartest breeds and like a genius child they can be a pain in the backside.  They require ABSOLUTE consistency during their formative years (the first 2-4 yrs).  If you let them get away with anything just once, they remember and try it again.  Are you prepared for that? 
• They're intelligent, strong willed, and MUST have strong canine leadership that doesn't allow them to get away with stuff.  Are you prepared for that? 
• They're naturally protective of "their" home and family.  You MUST socialize them extensively from the start, taking them many places and introducing them to many people and experiences.  You MUST teach them what "protective" behaviors are appropriate and which are not.  Are you prepared for that?
• You MUST be a good, consistent canine leader.  If they sense a lack of leadership, they will try to take over the leader role. And without proper guidance from you, they usually get it wrong.  Are you prepared for that? 
• GSDs are a herding breed and DO herd.  What's more, they herd with their MOUTHS.  Unlike herding breeds that are shorter and nip at the heels to herd, GSDs are too tall to nip at the heels and instead use their mouths to grab a nearby appendage - such as an arm or a leg.  This is called "mouthing".  They clamp down firmly and try to move the person away from a perceived threat.  Are you prepared for that?

The reason we emphasize this is our experience. 

We've adopted puppies out to lovely people who, not realizing what they were getting, ended up returning the dog a year or two later when they realized they were in over their heads.  They had not researched or learned about the GSD breed, and had not provided the training, leadership or consistency the dog needed.  One puppy was returned to us because at one year old and 85 lbs, he "mouthed" one of the family's children.  The reason:  the child, who the dog loved and protected, had been bouncing on a trampoline and screaming the whole time.  Perceiving this as a distress signal, the dog rushed over and the minute the child was off the trampoline, clamped his mouth on the child's leg and tried to drag him away from the "threat" of the trampoline.  As a young and immature dog, this full-grown puppy was not yet able to distinguish between a scream of joy and a scream of pain.  But the family panicked.  They didn't understand GSD behavior, had never heard of "mouthing", had never looked up or read about the German Shepherd breed despite their promises to do so.  They  thought the dog was trying to hurt the child when it was the exact opposite - the dog was trying to save "his" child from perceived harm.  But it wasn't the humans who suffered because of this - it was the dog.  He lost his home.  While he's now in a wonderful, informed, committed lifetime home, he went through hell getting there.  We want to prevent this from happening to others.

UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S VITAL TO YOUR PUPPY'S FUTURE THAT YOU KNOW AND UNDERSTAND GERMAN SHEPHERD BEHAVIORS, AND SEEK OR LEARN PROPER TRAINING FOR THEM.
Are you prepared for that?


We agree they're beyond precious.  We know how easy it is get carried away and fall in love with them. But recognize that puppies are a LOT of work, a lot of frustration, a lot of cleaning-up-after, a lot of chewed-up possessions, and a lot of tearing your hair out. It's exactly like having a baby in the house! 

In addition, please think long and hard about why you want a German Shepherd puppy.  German Shepherds are not a breed for everyone.  They are not a "casual" breed.  GSDs are serious dogs and require serious owners. 

You must be serious about training, serious about leadership, and serious about your lifelong commitment to the dog.  You will be doing non-stop training for the first 2-3 years.  You will be leading for life.  German Shepherds are not golden retrievers.  They are not goofy fluffballs who accept whatever, whenever.  They are strong willed dogs who are natural leaders, with natural protection instincts, that must be properly guided and trained in order to be appropriate. 

So just remember: 
without constant supervision, training and leadership, that tiny adorable puppy will grow into an oboxious 75 lb teenager and then into an unacceptable adult!  We do NOT want to get a call in a year, saying that the dog is ill-behaved and has to go!!


THESE PUPPIES ARE NOT TEMPORARY FURRY PLAYTHINGS. 
THEY ARE NOT PROTECTION DEVICES. 
THEY ARE LIVING, BREATHING, LOVING, LOYAL COMPANIONS AND FAMILY MEMBERS --
AND YOU MUST MAKE A LIFETIME COMMITMENT TO LOVE AND CARE FOR THE PUPPY.



DOGS:                     yes, would love a buddy to play with
CATS:                      yes
KIDS:                      respectful kids who will treat the puppy with love and kindness
IDEAL FAMILY:        an active, loving family who UNDERSTANDS GERMAN SHEPHERDS and will love, cherish, and lead him/her!  A family who is absolutely committed to training and providing excellent canine leadership, is aware of GSD protection tendences, and will train the puppy to be appropriate at all times and generally be the best-behaved, best-socialized dog on the block!

If you're looking for a gorgeous, precious German Shepherd
who will love you forever,
A PUPPY may be your ideal family member!

ADOPTION FEE:   $350
Half of the fee ($175) is due when your application is approved and you are notified of your acceptance to adopt a puppy.  The balance is due at adoption.  DEPOSITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE and are intended to ensure that adopters are serious.  This fee covers only part of what we spend to vet, board and rehab the dogs we save.  On average we spend over $450 on each dog.  We made a decision to keep our adoption fee at the 2005 level even though vet prices have doubled and tripled since then.  We are constantly fundraising to cover the deficit.  At minimum, your adoption fee includes the dog's spay/neuter, heartworm test, heartworm treatment if needed, rabies shot, distemper/parvo shot, bordatella shot, deworming, monthly heartworm and flea preventives, and microchip.  In many cases it also includes surgery and various types of vet treatment for standard issues such as hot spots, ear infections and so on.

INTERESTED IN ADOPTING A PUPPY?
Complete an Adoption Application Now!

Good with Dogs, Good with Cats, Good with Kids

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

Thank you for considering a homeless dog or cat.