Izzy is a 3.5-year-old, female, medium-sized GSD that comes from a true working dog background. She was born in Germany (her original papers are in German) and brought with her litter to the US just after they were whelped. She was given up to VGSR by her previous owner who found her to be too intense for them to deal with. True to her background, Izzy has a very intense and high energy personality. She becomes strongly attached to her owner and is an extremely good listener, always looking to you waiting for a job to do or a command to follow. She really loves people and wants to be around you wherever you go. She initially will growl at other dogs [mostly out of jealousy] but will stop if you command her to do so. Izzy will chase and play ball, play tug of war, and has the intensity and drive to keep it up all day. She needs to have an owner that understands and is willing to take advantage of and train/work with her high-energy personality. She is extremely easy to train and handle due to her medium size and personality, but will get overly excited and mischievous if she is not given the love and structured discipline she needs to be her best self. Izzy is house-trained, crate-trained [she loves her crate] and great around the house. She has learned to get along well with the resident female GSD in her foster home with very little problems. She is alert and protective around the house but not an excessive barker. If you are looking for a true working dog GSD and have the confidence and energy to match hers, Izzy may be just the girl for you. She will be attending Northern Virginia adoption days in the coming weeks. Please check out our web site at www.shepherdrescue.org for more information about our dogs, our adoption process and to download an application. You must have a fully approved application on file prior to privately meeting our dogs. We do not have a facility, all our dogs are housed in private foster homes throughout MD/DC/VA areas. More information available on our web site, so please read through our web site before emailing questions, as it might save us both some time!

VGSR can only adopt dogs out in the Virginia/Maryland/DC area, no exceptions.

Although donations of all types are needed, our primary need is foster homes for our lovely dogs while they wait for their new family to find them. Fostering is an extremely rewarding experience. Vet care is paid for by our rescue, and we can even provide you with food. All YOU need to add is love and security.

The adoption process starts with the applicant filling out the adoption application. This can happen at any time during the process, before or after having met a GSD that might be the ideal companion. (It's an advantage to have a pre-approved application on file with VGSR. It should be stressed here that being pre-approved does not mean that any potential adopter can select any available dog at will and take that dog home immediately. VGSR will exercise its best judgement as to which GSD will be the best match for that specific adopter based on a number of qualifying criteria. Many GSDs that come to us are matched up with their new people very quickly because their people have been pre-approved.) The applicant then submits the application form with a non-refundable $10.00 processing fee. VGSR reviews the application, then schedules an interview and home visit during which a number of questions are asked and the home is reviewed to be sure there is a contained/safe yard, and to meet the family involved. Once the application is approved, the applicant is asked to submit a $250.00 donation to VGSR, and the adoption is completed.

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