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.

We rescued Hawthorne and Oolong from a commercial breeding operation. Both young boys are very sweet. They each have their own foster home where they have been getting lots of one-on-one attention. They have been learning about indoor life, how to go up and down stairs, potty-training, and living with loving foster families. There have been lots of "firsts" for these pups like being groomed, going for walks, getting treats, and they have been thriving and loving their new lives! 

Looking for a gallon of personality in a pint-sized package? Then Hawthorne is the one for you! This 8-pound Yorkshire Terrier has been living with four German-Shepherd foster siblings since October, and since he doesn’t seem to realize he’s 1/10th their size, we’re not going to be the ones to tell him! Hawthorne is only a year old, and sure has the daily zoomies to prove it, although after a few minutes of zooming, he’s always down to curl up for snuggles. Prior to coming to HUGS, he lived in a kennel, so he had to start from scratch at his foster home, but he’s figured out that toys are awesome, and is still finishing potty training (but has already made huge strides!). Hawthorne’s mom didn’t hear a single sound from him for over two weeks, but he does have a voice, although he really only uses it when playing with his canine friends. Being so little doesn’t stop him from going wherever he wants – he’s becoming more confident every day, and has no problem climbing over dogs and humans in his path. Hawthorne’s main priority in life is to be touching one of his pack members, whether that be falling asleep with his head on one of the other dogs, or snuggled up on mom’s lap while she works. If you’re not giving him enough attention, he has no problem gently pawing you to remind you that he’s right there. Hawthorne has not been cat or kid tested, although foster mom think he’d do well with both. Hawthorne's biggest shortcoming is that he doesn't seem to realize how little he is, and lacking any sense of self-preservation, he nearly give his foster mom a heart attack when he ran towards a hawk instead of away! Thanks to a generous donation, Hawthorne does come with his own little punk rock spiked jacket to deter any future predator issues!

The adoption fee for Hawthorn is $500, all of which goes back into offseting 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, current on 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 any of our dogs, Hawthorn would make a great addition to an active home that will provide the love, structure, good leadership, regular grooming, activity and mental stimulation that her breed needs. 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.