German Shepherd dogs, as well as the other herding breeds that we have in rescue, are highly active, energetic, working breeds. They require considerable vetting, exercise, socialization, training, leadership and mental stimuli in order to be well-adjusted, well-balanced, and well-mannered dogs. Even if you exercise and play with your dog daily in your fenced yard, you MUST still take your dog out on daily walks and outings in order to work on his/her leash skills, manners, and social skills. These breeds make great additions to active families who will pamper them, but who will also work with them, as they are smart dogs who need leadership, structure, plenty of activity and mental stimulation. 

If you are new to German Shepherds (and other herding breeds), please research the breed to make sure this is the dog for you. We ask that you consider the time and financial commitment that your German Shepherd (or other herding breed) dog will require before applying for one. Please review the section on our website (www.heartlandgsrescue.org) "Is a HUGS Dog Right for You?" for additional information.

Mesa is one of Zia's five puppies. Zia is a young, very sweet girl, who landed pregnant at a kill shelter.  Zia was incredibly skinny and it was not immediately apparent to shelter staff that she was pregnant. However, when she delivered five babies, the little family found themselves in imminent danger of being euthanized. Not only was the shelter very full, they also lacked the resources to care for them. Luckily, thanks to a wonderful foster parent who stepped up to foster them, we were able to quickly whisk them to safety just 3 days after Zia gave birth. The puppies of the Desert Litter (Chile, Turquoise, Mesa -Girls-, Roadrunner & Roswell - boys) have grown in a very loving foster home with their mom, where all of them have been thriving. We are currently taking applications for the puppies!

Don’t let her small size fool you—Mesa is full of sass and spirit! This brown tri-color sweetheart has bright blue eyes and a fearless attitude. She keeps up with her bigger siblings and holds her own with confidence and spunk.

The adoption fee for Zia's puppies is $450, all of which goes back into offsetting our high-cost vetting expenses and rescuing more dogs. We are a 100% volunteer-run rescue group and rely on adoption fees and donations to continue saving lives. Adoption fees include spay/neuter, age-appropriate vaccinations, fecal, deworming, flea/tick and heartworm preventative, heartworm tested if old enough (and treated if positive), and microchipped. 

Please visit http://heartlandgsrescue.rescuegroups.org/info/adoption for more information about our adoption process and requirements, and to apply. Like all GSDs, and other herding breeds and mixes, Zia's puppies will need positive reinforcement training, consistency, boundaries, activity and socialization. Zia's puppies' ideal homes will be households with good routines, prior Husky, GSD (or similar herding breed) experience, and a friendly doggy sibling to help teach them the ropes. Like any of our dogs, sweet Zia's puppies will make a great addition to active homes that will provide the love, structure, activity and mental stimulation that their breed requires. Even if you exercise and play with your dog daily in your fenced yard, please remember that you MUST still take your dog out on daily walks and outings, in order to provide sufficient stimulation, ward off boredom, and work on leash skills and manners.