German Shepherd Rescue Guide: How To Find One, And What It Will Be Like

German Shepherds have garnered much popularity among the masses for their brilliant skills as security dogs. They are loyal enough to sacrifice their own lives to protect their owners. Although their nature being reserved, they are extremely affectionate and possessive towards their owners. These furry companions are intelligent and loving that makes them a great pet for the family.

If you are thinking to rescue and foster a German Shepherd, then you are just a step away from making a life-changing decision for yourself and the family. It is a noble cause to bless the life of a pet with food, home, shelter, and above all, a loving and caring family.

You must be thinking what exactly a rescue refers to. Well, rescuing a German Shepherd is directly associated with giving the furry companion a good life. You can easily adopt a German Shepherd from choicest authentic sources such as rescue centers or animal shelters and foster him in the best possible way. However, bringing home a pet like German Shepherd comes along with a bundle of responsibilities and challenges as well!

German Shepherd is considered to be one of the most preferable dog breeds all over the world. Owning to its worldwide popularity, it is easier to find a German Shepherd for rescue as compared to the other fancy dog breeds. There are certain factors that you need to consider before bringing a furry pal into your family.

In this blog, we would shed the light on finding a German Shepherd for a rescue and the steps that you can take to make you rescue worthy!

A Clear Mindset Along with a Noble Cause

It is very important to figure out why you want to rescue a pet. In the case of German Shepherds, people often do it to boost and enhance their social status, as for those pets are more of like a status symbol. On the other hand, there are many genuine pet lovers out there that are willing to foster a pet as they see it as a noble thing to do.

It is advisable to rescue a pet only when you have got immense love and affection for them, otherwise, it would only end up making the life of the rescued pet a miserable one.

Ask Yourself: Am I Ready to Foster a Pet?

One of the most common mistakes that are associated with the rescue process is that most of the people who decide to adopt a pet are not always fully ready to foster it properly. Rescuing a pet is not rocket science, but it takes a lot of effort, time, patience, and care to foster a pet like a German Shepherd.

When you are rescuing large dog breeds like German Shepherds, it is more important to be sure that you are ready to foster him. Raising a German Shepherd would require regular maintenance of the pet along with visits to a good veterinarian doctor that can be exhausting for you in monetary terms.

Besides this, there are handfuls of additional expenses that you need to incur for the betterment of your pet. In short, rescuing a pet is the same as raising a human baby. So before bringing a German Shepherd into your life, make sure that you are ready to cope up with the challenges and responsibilities that come along with it.

Sources of Pet Rescue

There are plentiful sources from which you can easily adapt popular dog breeds, such as German Shepherds. However, it is necessary to pick up the authentic sources as they are more reliable and do not indulge in unlawful practices for fostering the pets.

On the contrary, there are many shady sources too that are not at all reliable and they often breed the pets in unlawful and unethical ways. That is why it is necessary to identify the right source for the rescue process. However, do not forget to seek proper documentation and information regarding the health condition of the German Shepherd for future medication. The below-mentioned are some of the sources from where you can easily rescue and adopt a pet.

Shelter Homes/Rescue Centers

These are amongst the two of the best sources for pet rescue and adoption. These places are completely run and managed by the people who are strongly affectionate towards pets. Also, the pets are bred in ethical ways, unlike the puppy mills.

Apart from this, rescue centers and shelters homes do not charge a hefty sum of money for adopting a pet. So, if you are low on budget, these two options would be great for you. Most of the pets that are kept in such places are either lost or abandoned by their previous owners. These two places conduct a screening process for pet rescue purposes.

Reliable Pet NGOs

The undisputed passion and zeal in the hearts of the pet enthusiasts have given rise to the NGOs that are working with full dedication for the betterment of pets. The working of such types of NGOs is similar to those of shelter homes and rescue centers and they do not charge a large sum of money for pet adoptions. They get financial support through charity and donations by the pet lovers. They foster injured and abandoned pets until a genuine person shows up for the adoption.

Legally Verified Websites

There are many websites on the internet selling different types of pets. However, finding a dog breed, such as a German Shepherd is easy but it is challenging to find an authentic website from which you can adopt a pet. There is a pool of sellers that indulge in deceit or fraudulent practices while selling pets on their websites.

Also, there are shady websites too that are not authorized to sell pets online. Such websites often sell mixed breed dogs and most of them are not even bred properly.

Therefore, it is advisable to go for the pet-selling websites that are authorized and verified for the same otherwise, there are fewer chances of getting pure German Shepherd breed dog for adoption.

Authentic Breeders

There are many local breeders in the segment on which you can rely for adopting a pet. It is important to find a good and authorized breeder that would provide you an original German Shepherd breed dog. Few breeders only sell champions or dog shows winning breeds whereas some greedy breeders sell mixed breeds that are not bred in a healthy, hygienic, and ethical way.

If you are opting for a breeder to rescue a German Shepherd, then you must ask for the proper documentation and breed certificate before adopting a German Shepherd. It would be great if the breeder has been associated with many renowned and verified pet organizations.

Pet Shops

Adopting a German Shepherd from a pet shop is also a considerable option only if you do not have any budget constraints. Fancy pet shops charge a hefty sum of money for selling a highly popular and demandable breed like a German Shepherd. Also, the pets that you find at the pet shops come directly from the puppy mills or breeders on which you cannot completely rely upon.

If you want to get a German Shepherd from a pet shop, then make sure that the pet is not from a puppy mill. Also, verify the creditability of the pet shop for future references. Do not forget to seek complete documentation and pure breed certification for your German Shepherd. 

Bringing German Shepherd Home: Fruitful Steps to Take After a Rescue

After adopting a German Shepherd from a good reliable source, the next step is to give the pet a good life, endless love, and above all, a caring atmosphere where he can feel comfortable and contented. This can be challenging though at times, but it is worth it. The moment you would find that your German Shepherd has become affectionate towards you, it would be one of the best feelings that a pet lover could ever experience.

The following are a few tips that would help you to foster your German Shepherd in the best possible way!

Giving Your Furry Pal a Warm Welcome

The moment your German Shepherd steps at home, give him a warm welcome along with your family to make him feel loved. If you are living with family, make sure that all the family members should be there to welcome the German Shepherd as it would help your furry pal to recognize them.

However, at the initial stage, the German Shepherd might not socialize with you due to the change in his surroundings. In that case, give your furry pal some time to adjust to the new surroundings.

Allot a Separate Personal Space

Be it pets or humans, both of them need their own space where they can seek refuge comfortably. For this, you should allot a separate space in your house for the German Shepherd. You can place a crate that is bigger than the size of your pet and place cozy bedding inside it.

Additionally, you can even place a bowl of fresh water along with plentiful of pet-friendly toys that would keep your German Shepherd engaged. This would also help you in giving your pet the crate training, so in case if you are out for a few hours, your pet would stay safe and secure in his crate.

Pee and Poop Training

It is very necessary to teach and train your pet where to pee and poo, otherwise your German Shepherd would end up creating a mess in the house. If you are having a garden or backyard, then you need to make your pet understand that he can pee and poop only outside the house. You can even allot a separate toilet area in the house where your German Shepherd can pee and poop.

However, to make this happen, you would need to devote your time, and put in the best efforts. Also do not forget to remain calm as you cannot yell at your pet and expect him to obey your commands.

Letting the Pet Socialize

It is of utmost importance to let your German Shepherd socialize with the pets and the people around him. Firstly, you need to make your pet familiar with you and the rest of the family, and after that, you can take him outside. It would also assist you in making your pet comfortable with the new atmosphere.

Regular Walk and Exercise

German Shepherds are considered among one of the highly active dog breeds in the world. They need at least one hour of open-air walk and exercise to stay fit and healthy. They are super energetic dogs and require regular workout to release their energy.

Plentiful of Playtime

Besides walking, you can even play games with your German Shepherds, such as go-fetch and tug-of-war. It would also help in developing a strong, trustful, and loveable companionship between you and your pet.

Brushing and Grooming

German Shepherds require frequent grooming and brushing to keep their fur and coating healthy and manageable. Do not forget to invest in a good grooming brush for your furry pal. You can even use a dry shampoo along with wet wipes to keep your pet clean. You should bath your furry pal once in a week using a good quality pet shampoo.

Teach your Kids to be Gentle with the Pet

If you are having kids at home, then it is necessary to teach them to be gentle and calm towards the German Shepherd. Kids tend to indulge in notorious behavior quite times which can be disturbing for your pet. That is why you should establish harmony between your kids and the German Shepherd for the good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are German Shepherds disobedient or stubborn?

German Shepherds are intelligent, attentive, and obedient that makes them easy to train. Also, they are not as stubborn as compared to other dog breeds and can obey the commands of owners.

Is German Shepherd an ideal family pet?

Yes, if you foster and train them in the right way then they would prove to be an ideal family pet. German Shepherds are usually not much friendly as they are security dogs. They extremely loving and affectionate that makes them a good pet for the family.

Wrap Up

German Shepherds are extremely brilliant and loving pets if they are raised in the right way. For this, you can even hire a professional pet trainer to train your German Shepherd.

Fostering them is not that much difficult as all they need is your love, care, and attention. Also, not to forget to take your pet to a good veterinarian doctor for the vaccinations and medical treatment.

Nothing could be better than rescuing a pet that eventually fills up your life with endless love and affection.