Layla has been in her foster home for a week now and is the sweetest cuddle puppy ever. She doesn't know that she weighs over 50lbs and she doesn't care, she is sure that she'll fit in your lap.

Prior to her surrender, she lived her life, alone, in a pen in a yard. She is now learning proper household manners. She responds to the correction of a spray bottle of water. In fact, she only needs to see the bottle now. She is doing very well with house breaking and has more accident free days, even though she is taking prednisone, which causes excessive thirst and urination. She is keeping her crate dry for up to 7 hours.

Layla spent so much time alone in the past that she doesn't complain about being in a crate. However, she's starting to avoid getting in the crate in the first place. To help develop a positive association she eats in her crate.

Layla loves children, even little ones, but she is rambunctious and might knock them over. She is exceptionally welcoming to little people and their awkward advances. She clearly enjoys toddlers. Of course, like all dogs, she requires appropriate supervision to make sure that she doesn't knock a child down the steps or snatch a snack and get a finger. She has not shown any aggression over food or toys but she does not always remember to take treats nicely.

Layla has enjoyed everyone who she has met, readily offering her belly for rubs. She is not a couch potato. She enjoys jogging, chasing balls, and rough housing with her canine foster brother. She would do well as a companion for another energetic dog and/or a family that spends time outdoors and wants to bring their happy-go-lucky dog along.

She was reported to be a cat chaser. She met cats and small dogs on walks and in the kennel and has shown playful interest but doesn't show any aggression. Because she is energetic and does not know her size, teaching boundaries with smaller animals is important. However, she likely could be taught not to chase cats and small dogs.

Layla came into her foster home not knowing the command "sit," struggled with walking down stairs, and didn't understand how to walk on a leash. She is so young and puppy-like that training her is fun she and she is learning quickly.

Many shepherds do not do well with in a home with lots of new people coming and going. Not Layla! She loves anyone, anytime,  anywhere, she would love you too

Kolbi (KB) is a very shy girl who craves attention. She will be hesitant to meet someone new at first, but with a little patience and a lot of love, she will be your best friend.

Kolbi is great with other dogs, though can be protective of her food. She has a lot to learn, but is very quick on picking up what you want from her.

Kolbi needs a home that will include her in activities, such as walking or running; however, she prefers a relaxing environment that isn't full people entering and leaving all the time. 

She is a very sweet girl who is a little timid with people but loves to play with other dogs. She seems to be a hoarder of anything on the floor...bones, toys. She is not possessive or toy aggressive, just likes to collect items in her kennel.  She does very well in her kennel without any issues.  She is still learning what a leash is but doesn't fight it.  She is still a pup and doesn't have a lot of life experiences such as steps!  She learns quickly and once she feels comfortable with you, she is very affectionate.

Magda is a pretty sweet shepherd, who is doing well in her foster home. She calmly submitted to a bath that she did not enjoy and sat nicely to have her fur and teeth brushed. Magda is gentle with children and interested in playing with other dogs. She stays close to her people and seems unfazed by the ruckus of young kids. She is not accustomed to stairs and needs a little encouragement to walk down them.  Magda will put her paws on the counter to look for snacks, but she listens to "leave it." She does not seem food aggressive and rides nicely in the car. She rode well in a crate in the car, but hasn't been left alone yet. Magda has not had any accidents in the house, but she has been supervised on a leash a all times since coming home.

Lincoln is a gentle sweet boy that needs a forever home to help him continue all of his great progress. He is shy meeting new people but quickly gains trust with treats and positive assertive energy. He is a great walking or running partner. Today he even played on the nearby playground (slide included)!

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He will be a great addition to an active home that is comfortable working on his good manners. He is doing well keeping a feeding schedule and using the bathroom. He is housebroken. He is eager to please and to become the best he can be

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Harley is a sweet dog who loves his humans. When his family had to surrender him, he was sad and confused. Since being with his new foster, Harley is starting to settle in and open up to those in the household. He likes to be close by people and loves giving kisses.

He enjoys walks and will sit for treats. Harley is comfortable in his crate and is house broken. He would do great as the only dog in the home.

Harley may sniff other dogs, but not engage much further.

Harley would be a great dog if you are looking have a companion to give lots of pets and love. He enjoys long walks outside, sniffs all the things, and always with a smile. He loves spending time with us and only wants to give some love and get some love.

Harley started playing rope with us. He is strong! Harley is well mannered with all people and is happy to say hello.

Meet this sweet boy who needs a loving home that he so much deserves.

Before writing Sam's update, I interviewed other family members to see what they have to say about Sam.

ORHD aged 8: My favorite t​hing about Sam: he is sometimes funny when he steals pillows off of the couch and snuggles with them. If Sam had a human job it would be a boxer; no, the guy who shoots t-shirts out of the big gun at games and makes everyone cheer. Sam was very stinky when he came here but he smells better now. I hope his new owner likes to give dogs baths. He liked his bath.

HLHD aged 8: My favorite thing about Sam: he brings back the ball when I throw it. Also, he ran into the wall his first night here. He thought a shadow was a door. He put his head in my lap and made sad sounds and let me pat him. If Sam had a human job, he would says hello to everyone at [LARGE DISCOUNT STORE] and marker people's receipts. He would act like the job is fun. Sam can be annoying because he never wants to just do nothing, but he is very nice and silly. I hope his new owner buys a lot of tennis balls.

MSD aged 6: My favorite thing about Sam: he looks funny when I put underpants on his head and stick his ears out of them. He really, for real, likes hugs. Not like some dogs that you can hug, but they want to get away. If Sam had a human job it would be a clown or a hugger who hugs people that need hugs. I hope Sam's new owner hugs him and never forgets to feed him.

Foster dad: My favorite thing about Sam is that he does not have a mean bone in his body. He is starting to listen to his name, "No, Sam." If Sam had a job it would be the guy who really wants to tell you about his religion at the Metro. I hope Sam's new owner is expecting an eight-year-old dog to have as much energy as our 4-year-old one does.

Slinky (resident dog-neutered-male) aged 4: My favorite thing about Sam is that he is available for adoption. If Sam had a human job it would be: proctologist. I hope Sam's new owner feeds Sam enough. Even though he is annoying, he just wants to be friends, and no dog deserves to be starved - like Sam was.

Update from foster mom: Sam is enjoying life with a family, although he is really struggling to be calm and relax. He spends a lot of time pacing and seeking attention. He is not destroying anything, although he really likes an old couch pillow, which we are letting him keep. He carries it around but hasn't torn it up or taken anything else that he should not have.

Sam is very eager to please and responds to a sharp, no. He has had zero training and is starting to understand that he needs to "sit" to be served dinner. Sam is housebroken and he is fine when left alone at home in a crate - handled an 8 hour day without issue. He is dramatic and vocal when crated while his people are home because he wants to be with them. Sam has accepted that he is not permitted to be in the humans' beds or on the couch. He is having a harder time realizing that the resident dog doesn't like him "like that." That issue should improve after Sam is neutered. On a positive note, he accepts rejection well.

Sam walks nicely on a leash. He has met a males and females of all ages and sizes and done well with a variety of personalities. He would likely do well with a bossy female or any dog that wouldn't meet his exuberance with aggression. Sam has shown no interest in chasing rabbits or squirrels, when they are around, so it seems likely that he would be okay with a cat.

Sam is an all around friendly guy, who will 100% do well with training, consistency, and that all important trip to the vet.

Meet AWESOME Sam!  Guess what---I know sit, stay, paw, down and I come when called!  Some friends took me out for the day and they discovered I know all of these commands and more!  I know how to speak on command and if you ask me to smile I will give you one bark—its’ not really a smile because I don’t show my pretty teeth but it is so cute J  Someone loved me so much that they spent a lot of time training me.

My friend took me to a horse show and I was out and about with horses, people and other dogs. I was even polite to those little dogs that don’t really look like dogs to me J   I was amazing and she was so impressed with me.  She took a photo of me hanging out with a horse. I am good with cats too!   Neither one of my new friends can take their dogs out in public—LOL!  I rode great in the car with my friend and I was so good on a leash at the horse show.  Most dogs can’t do what I did that day.

I am over the top impressive with the STAY command---I stayed with tons of distractions in my friend’s back yard.  There were people walking down the street with dogs, joggers, lawn mowers buzzing around but I STAYED until I was released.  Next they did a series of recalls with me just to make sure that I would come when called.  I came every single time they called me---they tried to trick me and one hid on the side of house so I could not see her but I came when she called.  Every single time I came to them the girls made me do a sit and then a down.  They wanted to make sure that I was SUPER SMART and I am!!!!!        The girls gave me treats for my impressive behavior and they discovered that I take treats gently.  My  mouth is super gentle and my new friend was so impressed---sometimes she calls her dog Jaws because he takes treats so hard which is so impolite.  Then the girls pulled out the dog puzzles and I started to excel playing the Brick game by Nina Ottosson and then came the Bob-a-Lot which I got in a New York minute!

I am good with kids too!  What’s not to like about me---come meet me!  Everyone is special but I am super special because I am trained, housebroken, can go out in public, like people, cats and kids and I am very handsome and loveable!

Cagney has been in her foster home for a few weeks now and is settling in nicely. She loves toys and will bring them to her handler and drop them at his feet. She's been working on her social skills with her foster with dogs, cats & humans. She will need an experienced handler who will give her a structured environment. She gets along well with the other dogs in the foster home when its a toy-free environment. She's still got some work to do on her leash manners but that's because she's been working so hard on her social skills. She's improving with cats, but cannot be trusted at this time. Cagney loves people and dogs, but she's unsure about trusting them. Her foster will continue to work with her and building her trust with new people.

Angie is loving all the attention she is getting! She happily greets all of us who are working with her and taking care of her.

Most recently, we set up a small plastic children's pool and she went right in, playing with her ball and splashing around. So knowing that she likes the water, we introduced her to the ground pool. As you can see, she likes that one, too! Swimming is a great source of exercise for her and she enjoys retrieving her toy in the water.

Do you happen to have a pool and are looking for a really nice female shepherd?

Angie is doing fabulous with her new exercise regimen and diet! 

She's losing some weight and is enjoying all the activity, frequently swimming, going for walks and playing ball. She just loves squeaker balls. 

Angie's got a lot of personality and is such a joy to be with whether we are exercising or just hanging out relaxing in the shade. She's happy to do either so as long as she can be with you as she is eager to please.

Check out Angie's latest photo! We recently introduced her to
some agility equipment. She walked up the catwalk with no hesitation
whatsoever and sat for us just as pretty as she could to show off her
new slimmer physique! She is a happy girl who is feeling great!