Gertie is a beautiful young Shepherd female that is estimated between 8 and 11 months of age. Gertie was found as a stray therefore we do not know her history but know that she is excited to find her forever home. 

Gertie is all playful, energetic, mouthy young Shepherd puppy. She is a social, friendly, and goofy girl that meets new friends as a whirlwind of energy. She has a very outgoing personality with people and enjoys being the center of attention. Gertie does not have any manners to speak of but likes to make up for it in antics and laughter. She is a sweet girl though and is ultimately eager to please and very smart. She is going to make a great family member given some guidance and socialization to help her find her role in life. Gertie enjoys going on hikes around her foster home and playing in the shallow end of their pond. Gertie has had limited interactions with children at this time but done as well as can be expected of a young, jumpy Shepherd. Given her energy level we would not recommend her for a home with children under 6 years of age or children that are not used to large, energetic dogs. 

Gertie has no idea how to interact with other dogs. Gertie has settled into a routine with her foster siblings and is learning how to play. She has enjoyed exploring chase games and rough housing with the other young dogs but is still trying to figure things out. She can be extremely vocal when she meets new dogs but is mostly scared of them when they try to interact with her. She can be defensive and snappy if another dog is pushy. It seems like Gertie has not been around other dogs much in her short life and is having to catch up a lot of those skills. She is doing much better but will require ongoing structured socialization to ensure her continued success. Gertie has had one interaction with a pair of cats and did okay. She was very unsure of the cats - and even more unsure of going up a flight of stairs to meet them - but once she settled down she was able to calmly interact with them. She does not live with cats at this time and does have a high play drive so she will likely need a slow and structured integration with cats but should be able to adjust to life with cats given the guidance. 

Gertie is a sweet and playful young girl that is looking for a home that understands young Shepherds and their need for guidance and lots of exercise. If you're the home for Gertie please email Tierhavenrescue@gmail.com for an adoption application or visit our website at Tierhaven.rescuegroups.org to view our adoption process.