German Shepherd dogs, as well as the other herding breeds that we have in rescue, are highly active, energetic, working breeds. They require considerable vetting, exercise, socialization, training, leadership and mental stimuli in order to be well-adjusted, well-balanced, and well-mannered dogs. Even if you exercise and play with your dog daily in your fenced yard, you MUST still take your dog out on daily walks and outings in order to work on his/her leash skills, manners, and social skills. These breeds make great additions to active families who will pamper them, but who will also work with them, as they are smart dogs who need leadership, structure, plenty of activity and mental stimulation. 

If you are new to German Shepherds (and other herding breeds), please research the breed to make sure this is the dog for you. We ask that you consider the time and financial commitment that your German Shepherd (or other herding breed) dog will require before applying for one. Please review the section on our website (www.heartlandgsrescue.org) "Is a HUGS Dog Right for You?" for additional information.

Ethan is a 1-2 year old, happy and playful love bug. Ethan may be smaller in size, but in true GSD fashion, he takes great pleasure in teaching his toys who is boss by tossing them around, ensuring that there is a lot of squeaking involved! He is hilarious to watch and totally adorable! He is a young, lovable goof with good house manners. Ethan is potty-trained, kennel-trained and knows basic commands such as sit, down and off. Ethan has a gentle touch and takes treats ever so softly. His favorite treats include a tablespoon of natural peanut butter in his Kong, baby carrots and watermelon cubes.

Due to his gentle demeanor and petite size at 45 pounds, Ethan will make the perfect dog for a lucky adopter, including a first-time GSD owner. He is easily correctable and will thrive in a moderately-active home that will continue his training, take him on walks, allow play time in the yard, and provide him structure with lots of love. Ethan is smart and desires to please his humans. He does great with consistent, positive reinforcement, and loves to be praised for good behavior!

Ethan is learning to walk nicely on a leash, as he still gets distracted by all the sights, sounds and small critters. With just a little more practice he will make a great walking buddy. Ethan has an old injury to his front leg that causes him to limp a little (his left elbow is dislocated and healed inappropriately). This is not fixable at this point, but it does not slow him down, so if you don’t tell him, he will never know ;). Ethan loves to go for walks. He runs well on grass. Due to his foot flipping when he runs/walks, we would not recommend him as a running or jogging buddy. However, he loves to run in the backyard, and he can handle little sprints just fine on walks :).