Haven't been on in awhile, very busy with life etc, but I wanted I just got a GSD foster so I figure I will be on here a lot more now.

First, why a foster? Well a few months ago I posted looking for Mal breeders. I actually found a breeder, put down my deposit and was scheduled to get a puppy right around now. Unfortunately, real life struck. My relationship with my fiance ended so I started living alone, I took a new job that while definitely a career advancement did not allow me nearly the time I would need with a puppy, and I am tentatively making plans to join the military in a year or two and do not know/think that I could properly take care of a Mal during that. Although I REALLY REALLY REALLY did not want to, I had to email the breeder and let him know I could no longer take the puppy. It wasn't an easy choice, and I felt bad for doing that to the breeder, but I felt like it wouldn't have been fair to the puppy to bring him in to my life at this point.

After all that, I still missed having multiple dogs. I looked in to fostering and that seemed perfect for my situation, so I contacted Southeast German Shepherd Rescue (SGSR), as well as ABMC Rescue about fostering.

It just so happened that right after my home check with SGSR a breeder decided she didn't want to breed anymore and contacted SGSR to take her 9 GSDs. I volunteered to foster one and they set me up with Junior. He is a 4 year old neutered male. He was never bred, he was returned to the breeder as a puppy from someone who got in over there head with a puppy. He is crate trained luckily already, sadly because he spent most of his life in his crate. Still on the fence if he is potty trained or not, he only had one accident in the house but it might have been because he really had to go and I let him out of his crate without being immediately ready to take him out. He is also about 10lbs underweight. I am working on that now while transitioning him to taste of the wild.

He also barely knows any obedience, however he walks good on a leash because the rescue started working on that before I got him. He seems smart (he picked up leash walking in 2 days) and is food driven so I look forward to training him.

Finally, here are some pictures

Is his coat as ratty as it looks? It might be the indoor lighting, though. He's got a sweet face!

Yea it is kinda of ratty/wirey. I think he might just need a good bath, he smells like an outside dog right now. He definitely needs a good nail clipping. I am going to take him somewhere as soon as I get his shot records from the rescue. Unfortunately it is too cold outside here and my apartment bathroom isn't nearly big enough =\

When I saw the pictures I thought 'Wow, he looks like he needs a bath and a blow out'. See of the groomer will blow him dry and that'll loosen up all the dead fur. Some don't do it, some do without you even asking.

Best wishes with Junior Michael! He's lucky to have you, and I wish you all the best with training etc.
He just needs someone who can spend the time with him.
Congratulations!

I think it was very responsible for you to contact the breeder when your situation changed...and to open your home to fostering is a wonderful contribution to make.

Good luck!

 Quote: Janet Foley

I think it was very responsible for you to contact the breeder when your situation changed...and to open your home to fostering is a wonderful contribution to make.

Good luck!

Thank you, it definitely wasn't an easy decision. I have been wanting a Mal for over a year.

A groomer agreed to take him as the last dog of the day today since I don't have his shot records yet (in the mail), they just did a verbal/didn't expose him to other dogs. He looks so much better now. I am also feeding him fish oil which I think can also help the coat some.