Nero is a beautiful young solid black shepherd. Nero is just shy of 2 years of age and was extremely neglected. Tracking his history through animal control we know that Nero was kept as an apartment dog along with another shepherd and provided minimal care. Upon his arrival at the shelter Nero was extremely emaciated with obvious malnutrition. This speaks to his physical state but unfortunately we do not know if Nero was otherwise abused. Nero is an interesting dog when meeting new people. He is generally pretty good but a bit on the skittish side. As he has bonded to his foster he has had a couple of instances where he has put his hackles up towards new people however his foster is very proactive in discouraging this behavior and setting clear boundaries. It is obvious that Nero was not well socialized and is not easily trusting of new people. That being said he is a very fun dog to have around when he does trust you. A bit on the needy side Nero is not as secure in himself as other dogs. He stays right with his person and even when he isn't glued to their side he is never far away. Nero is a very eager to please dog in that way. Although Nero has been working towards being better balanced around children due to his level of drive we would not suggest him for a home with children under 10 years of age. Nero is an annoying playmate but loves to play nonetheless. He has only known one other dog most of his life so social cues are not his strong point and if given the choice he won't socialize with the other dogs. He does get along with them well though and when separated from his "safety net" can be a very playful boy. He isn't very appropriate in his play and we have had to allow the other dogs to teach him some manners but he is learning quickly. Although Nero doesn't have the typical toy drive he has clearly been started on rag work and some other things geared towards protection training. Unfortunately his start was poorly done and we are working diligently to ensure that Nero doesn't become a bundle of nerves and bad habits. Nero is still a very energetic dog though and will require an experienced home. Nero would make a wonderful perspective for most of the sport dog categories or potentially as a SAR dog. He has a world of possibility combined with a willingness to please - he just needs a loving handler to guide him. Nero is searching for a home or family with an understanding of working Shepherds and their needs. While he will need a job Nero will also make a wonderful companion, partner, and family member to the right home. If you are interesting in providing a loving environment for Nero please email Tierhavenrescue@gmail.com for an adoption application OR Visit Tierhaven.petfinder.com for details on our adoption process and FAQ