Toby is a large young male who just spent his first birthday in the shelter. His previous owners surrendered him because he was causing their small older dog to have seizures. He has shown no evidence of these superpowers in his foster home! Toby loves playing with his foster sister and loves all toys. He responds well to a simple verbal correction in the house and usually runs to bring you a toy as a peace offering any time you have to tell him no. He is very food motivated and is learning to control his puppyish exuberance in order to get the treats and praise he desires. He is a very loving guy and is happiest cuddled up next to you or right on top of you! Toby bonded immediately and strongly to us but is showing a significant distrust of strangers. He is very wary of meeting new people and does best when they show no intent of petting him and allow him to smell and become comfortable at his own pace. If they come into his space before this, he either barks or growls to warn of his discomfort. This behavior indicates to us that he has not had the opportunities out and about to learn that people are not scary, and being in a shelter probably did not help his confidence either. A perfect adoptive home for Toby will be patient, ready to take him to an obedience class, and socialize him a lot out the in the world. Because he is still a work in progress, Toby would probably do best in a home without children. We think he has tons of potential and is a great dog but just needs the time to learn. 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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