I am fostering 4 German Shepherds, and Poppy is not only the most photogenic, but she's also the one that gives the most kisses 😊. I believe she would also be the best guard dog of the 4. She is very wary of strangers.
I believe she may be part husky, partly because of her coloring, but also because she is SUPER strong, and.... she's howled a few times when there were sirens in the neighborhood : D.
Poppy LOVES Urban Dog Mushing. You can see her in action in this video, below. Again, she is a VERY STRONG dog, so she's kinda perfect for the sport. Urban Mushing is the most fun sport I have ever exeperienced. It's as much fun as skiing, only you don't have to pay to do it, and it benefits the dog as well : ).
I rescued Poppy with her "foster sister" Shelby, who is another German Shepherd mix. They are best buddies, so I would love to find a home for both of them to stay together, but I am also open to a situation where Poppy could be placed in a home where there is another high energy dog who likes to "rough play" like she does. She seems to want to dominate over other dogs, and sometimes I think it might be better for her to have a sibling who is bigger and lets her know she CAN'T be the alpha dog in the house.
Poppy is a VERY sweet dog, but she has some issues I have been trying to help her work through. When I first got her, she was afraid of the dark, and didn't want to go on walks at night (though she enjoys them now). She was EXTREMELY afraid of loud noises, and would panic and run in circles when I turned on the vacuum. She no longer does this with the vaccum, because I conditioned her to not mind the sound (by giving her scratchies and treats while it's on). But she is still freaked out by random unexpected loud noises, especially fireworks.
She is rambunctious and knows how to open doors (my only dog who does this). She likes to try to get past barriers and she's managed to figure out how to get out of her cage a few times. But she is also a homebody, and I wouldn't call her an "escape artist" because she really appreciates the comfort of her own home.
I get the feeling she may have been running around loose as a stray for a while, maybe during 4th of July or New Year's Eve, because she is COMPLETELY freaked out by fireworks. My dogwalker recently took her on a walk and a very loud BOOM from a passing car caused her to freak out and take off running, but she ran STRAIGHT HOME.
She also has a tendency to bark when she's excited. Out of all the dogs I am fostering, she would make the BEST watchdog. She will bark at any person whom she is unfamiliar with. I realize, this could drive some people crazy, but I also know there are some people who are just used to this kind of dog, and like a good watchdog who's sensitive to everything that's going on around them.
As you can see, Poppy is the kind of dog who could frustrate an inexperienced dog owner, so I have to make sure she goes to a home where she will be loved and appreciated for who she is.
She has a big heart and wants to please her owners. It takes her a long time to learn things, but when she DOES learn them, she's happy to prove she's learned it. When I tell her to sit, she sits more quickly than any of my other dogs. But she also has to be in the right frame of mind, and that comes from giving her a lot of positive feedback and praise for doing things well. She was very proud of herself for learning how to shake a paw, sit, and stay.
I've had a lot of luck with finding GREAT homes for pets on Craigslist, but it takes me a while to find the perfect fit, and I know I might have to post this ad for several months, if not years. Of course, we could do a trial period to see if she is a good match with your dog (she should definitely have a companion).
I feel like I have to be picky, because my sister had a horrible experience with someone on Craigslist who sounded like they'd be a great pet guardian, but they just dumped her kitten off in a field later, and she was traumatized. I would want Poppy to go to someone who sees dogs as a part of the family, like your own children. You wouldn't just give your kids up if you were tired of them, and the same should go for dogs. Ideally, I'd like her to go to someone who can show that they are a total dog-lover, because they've had dogs in the past, and have pics on facebook, etc.
I'm not in a rush to find her a home, and if I end up keeping her, that's ok too. It's just not ideal, because I have cats, so she isn't free to roam around my place like a normal dog, and I'm sure she'd like more space.
Thanks for your time, and if you have an interest in poppy, please send your contact info to bayareadoggierescue@gmail.com.
Thanks!
Laura
