Ginger

Hi everyone, my name's Ginger! 

Now, before I tell you my story I want you all to promise you won't feel sorry for me- no matter what! Promise? Ok, here goes: I am actually a former AGSDR rescue who has been returned. How did this happen? Well, I was initially found on the streets very badly abused. Someone had really hurt me, beat me, cut me, and I was in bad shape. AGSDR took me in, nursed me back to health, loved me, and when I was ready, found a new home for me. I was with that home for 4 years, and then my family broke apart. Because my family was splitting up (it had nothing to do with me, promise!) they decided they could no longer care for me and returned me to AGSDR. When I saw my Mom close the gate behind her as she left me with my foster Mom, it broke my heart. I really thought that would be my forever home.... 

There's good news here too, though. My foster Momma is really gentle and patient with me. She gave me some time to warm up to her, and then lots of ear rubs and kisses when i showed her how sweet I was. I have a 12 month old GSD to play with here too! She's actually a brat and keeps running in to me and gnawing on me trying to play. I really like playing chase in the yard with her (and sometimes in the house too!). 

Foster Momma says I have some really wonderful traits. For instance, I like other big dogs, I like people as long as I have time to warm up to them, I'm housebroken, very laid back, very sweet, and quite fetching to look at, if I do say so myself. I'm about 5 or 6 years old, which means I don't have the obnoxious crazy high-energy personality of a three year old, but I also don't have the couch potato attitude of a ten year old dog either.

I would really appreciate a home with a relaxed family. People who will walk me once a day, play a bit in the backyard, and then don't mind when I find my bed in the room near them and just hang out and quietly watch what goes on around me. If this describes your family lifestyle I'd like you to come visit me please! 

Note from Ginger's foster Mom: Let me first say the "returned dog" stories really tear me up. I feel Ginger was loved in the home she was in and I'm grateful for that. She definitely is on the sweeter, shy side for German Shepherd Dogs, but I really appreciate dogs like that, who exude a quiet, loving demeanor and laid-back attitude. There was a dog at her previous home she played well with before he passed away, and she gets along with the resident GSD at my house. Given her history, i think an adult only home would be ideal, so she doesn't get scared from kid-exuberant behavior. I can't emphasize enough the best thing for Ginger would be to find a home with mature, loving people, and possibly another dog, who will be patient and kind with her. After three weeks here she has shown she can bond very deeply with people and other dogs, and can be a happy, playful, and fun dog with the right family. Although she will likely always be shy with strangers, at home she is a funny, playful, curious and happy dog who fits right in- definitely a great companion!

Update 3/9/2015 

Ginger has been doing great at her foster home. In addition, she also had a sleepover with a temp foster while I was away on a business trip, and she did great with them as well. She continues to have wonderful manners inside and outside. I've been to socializing her with more people, and while she is still - and will probably always be- shy with new people, she remains friendly and well-behaved. The big news here is that I have added a 5 month old GSD to my own pack, so Ginger has learned all about the joys of having a new little brother (while I remember all the trauma of having a 5 month-old puppy). She loves him- they play and chase and along with the 13 month old puppy I also have, make merry fun for themselves. The biggest thing I notice is when the play starts to get too rough between the two puppies, she will usually go sit down or walk around them without participating. I wish more foster dogs were like this! 

Although I still crate her when I leave for work, I have forgotten to close the crate door once, and when I got home she and my pup were just hanging out. No mess and no problems. If she were my dog and not my foster I would likely leave her uncrated after a few months anyway, once she's proven she knows the rules of the home, and the boundaries. Some dogs can take many months before they are ready for that step and some can never be left uncrated when the owners are away. I continue to leave her uncrated at night, and she sleeps in my bedroom on one of the dog beds. I can't say enough good stuff about her, and I hope a lucky family will soon find her sparkle as rewarding as I have.