Meet Zion! A Sweet, Playful, Super Cute, Energetic Pup (currently in Hawaii)!

Meet Zion the Sweetiepup!

My sister recently told me that a guy she used to work for, in Aiea, Hawaii, is looking to rehome his young, energetic dog named Zion, because he is moving to another state, and is unable to keep him. 

Zion is a very sweet, playful dog, with a whole lot of "puppy energy." He is a little under 2 years old.

I love that he is just so sweet natured, and my sister, who is kind of shy, looooves this dog.  She really wants to help him find a good home (she'd take him, too, but can't because she takes care of my Mom, who has cats).  

Here's a classic view of Zion wagging his tail...

I can't say for sure what breed(s) Zion is, because even his previous owner is not sure, but someone who worked at an Animal feed store said he thought he was likely to be a mix of pitbull and part lab.  From what I know of labs, I think it's likely, as he does have that happy-go-lucky, waggy-tailed lab nature. But I just don't know for sure.  I can tell you he is VERY friendly. I would LOVE to take Zion because he's so sweet, but am already fostering german shepherds and can't have any more dogs!

 

A testament to Zion's nature

I spent a few hours with Zion one day, and I couldn't help but be impressed when we were in the car, and had to pull over to ask an older security guard for directions. Zion just happily wagged his tail, looking at the man, and I thought, man, every one of my German Shepherds would have barked at that guy, but not Zion!  

I have several videos that show how non-aggressive he was towards other dogs, when I take him on walks. Maybe to the average person, this might not seem like a big deal, but as someone who is used to German Shepherds, this is kind of mind-blowing. 

Every time I go for a walk with one of the shepherds (who tend to be reactive), they will usually start pulling me HARD towards other dogs.  So, it was a really nice surprise to see how Zion seemed to have NO aggressive reaction to the sound of another dog barking! If he saw another dog, he wouldn't start pulling me, like the shepherds would. At least, this was my experience. You can see videos of his non-reactivity in this post. 

I took him on a walk and made sure to get a video of every time he was around other dogs. I am posting 2 videos below (showing his non-reactivity), and you can find several more, further down the page.  

PLEASE NOTE, if you have high speed internet, you'll probably see the pics and videos load right away, but if not, it may take a minute. Thanks in advance for your patience!

 

As you can see, Zion is a very happy and fun-loving dog : ).  And he looves water!

You can see several more videos of Zion, further down the page (pics are below, but more videos are at the bottom).

There was a time when I was scared to death of pitbulls, because my neighbor's pitbulls had chased me when I was about 12 years old. But when I was about 18, my Mom rescued an older pitbull named Bruiser, who used to be a fighting dog.  He was so sweet, I got to see how sweet pitbulls (and dogs with a pitbull mix) really can be, I have seen some pitbulls that still scare me a little, and I realize that anyone adopting a pitbull should be aware that they have very powerful jaws and may not realize it. But Zion is so sweet, I can honestly say I would take him if I wasn't already fostering 4 dogs!

Zion is currently in Hawai'i, but my sister is willing to help out and pay to send him to another island or state, if we could find him another foster or rescue operation willing to take him in. Of course, if we could find him a great home, that would be ideal, but rescues tend to have good procedures that can help ensure dogs will go to a good home. Still, I am open to talking to any person who is interested, and can provide a lifelong, loving home to this sweet boy. 

You can see a little writeup my sister made for him, below. I told her I would post this in my neighborhood on Nextdoor in California, cause hey, you never know who might be looking for a companion like Zion. I have had really good luck in getting pets adopted in the past.

Zion reminds me a little of a sweet, white/brindle pitbull mix named Georgia (pic on the left) whom I found a great home for a few years ago, so I thought I'd put the word out there, for Zion.  If you have any questions about Zion, please fill out the contact form on the right side of this page. Thanks!

This is the writeup my sister made...

Aloha! My name is Zion. I am a sixteen month old pit bull/lab mix who loves people and most dogs. My human has to move back to the mainland and can't take me there, so he and his friends are searching for my new forever home. I am a high energy dog who would do best with a fenced property to run around in! 

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Here are some pics of Zion, that show off his vibrant personality : ). I will try to get some videos uploaded to the site, but this is what I have for now!

He's got a beautiful brindle coat that kind of reminds me of a tiger's coat. Please note, my camera takes pictures with a bit more saturation than my eyes see, but it's still a gorgeous coat. 

Here are several more videos that show how non-reactive Zion was, when we took him for a recent walk. Again, I got a video of every instance where there was another barking, and there wasn't a single time where he showed signs of aggression. I do realize that a dog's reaction to other dogs can depend on the person who is walking them, but I would imagine that others would have a similar experience.

 To be honest, Zion could use some training. He's just a happy-go-lucky dog who doesn't seem to be aware that he's not supposed to knock things over. If you're a dog owner, you're probably well aware of this, but I'm just pointing it out : D. 

Please note, my sister once had a traumatic experience giving kittens to someone on craigslist who sounded great, but turned out to be a total liar who abandoned the kittens, and one of them died. So I would feel a lot better being able to show her, via social media, that any potential adopter is truly a dog person. Dog people know, if you really are a dog person, you can't hide it : D. 

Again, please fill out the form on the right side of this page, if you'd like to know more about Zion. Thanks!

Laura

Meet Norah - A Gorgeous Large Female German Shepherd!

I am fostering 4 German Shepherds, and Norah is the most beautiful dog, with a gorgeous, thick coat.  She would also likely be the most loyal guard dog, of all the dogs I am fostering. 

People often stop and stare at her and comment on how beautiful her coat is.  I agree! 

Norah on the day she was rescued. She is a SUPER sweet, loyal dog, and LOVES people, but would probably be best as a single dog, or in a situation where she gets to be the Alpha Female Dog and the other dog is either male, or extremely sweet. 

 She could be ideal for a single woman who works from home, or a retired couple. She can get really anxious, and if she was by herself she would probably be lonely, so it would be ideal if she could be with a couple that works from home, and wouldn't leave her for long periods of time. 

As long as I am in the area, I could possibly do a little dog sitting for her in the future (like, if her new guardian needed to go on a trip), because I love this dog and would be happy to spend more time with her. If for some reason it didn't work out with her new guardian, I'd take her back in a heartbeat. My boyfriend also LOVES her (but he already has 3 dogs). If we can't find the perfect guardian for her, we're going to move to a ranch so we can keep all the dogs : D.  But if I can find someone who will love and care for her as much as we do, I'll be overjoyed : ). 

She has gained a little weight since we first got her. My friend who is the dog's primary dog walker is also their feeder, and after I got back from a trip recently I found out he was feeding the dogs way more than they are supposed to get. So we are working to bring her weight back down because I know it is NOT good for her legs and joints to be too heavy. 

Norah is the dog I always want to hug as soon as I see her, because she has these very deep, dark eyes that sometime express a heavy inner sadness that I can't figure out. So as soon as I see her smiling, it brings me great joy. I wish I could know what it is she went through, before she went into the shelter I rescued her from. I get the feeling she experienced some kind of deep loss, whether it was losing her babies or losing her owners. Sometimes she gets anxious, and she spends a LOT of time chewing on her giant Kong. When I see her, all I want to do is make her happy and get her to smile : ). 

One thing that ALWAYS makes Norah smile is riding in a car. This girl LOVES being in the car... to the point where I wonder if at some point she ever lived in a car. When I first got her, she'd jump up on cars to see who was inside, almost as if she was looking for a previous owner.  When I take her for walks, she immediately goes up to the car, hoping we're going to get to go for a ride. It's kind of cute how she just likes to chill out in the car and sit there, even when the other dogs go inside after a ride, it's like she gets a really comforting feeling from just sitting in a car or van.  

She also LOVES to go Urban Dog Mushing. All my foster shepherds LOVE it. As I probably don't have to mention, Shepherds tend to be high-energy, strong dogs that greatly benefit from exercise, so this has been a really great sport for them, and it's just as much fun for me (first sport in my adult life that I actually looked forward to doing). 

You can see a video of Norah going mushing with Titus, below. She typically likes to do maybe a lap or maybe even two, around Pacific Shores Center, but then she likes to just sit in the car or van and chill while the other dogs continue mushing. Even when we get home, she likes to sit in the car. 

I sometimes wonder if maybe she has a tiny little bit of Wolf Dog in her, because she has such a pointy snout and big, bushy tail. I don't know her exact age, but I am guessing she is at least 5, because she has some gray hair on her snout and chin. It's so cute how she has one little gray whisker on each side of her face : ). The rest of her whiskers are black, but you can't see them as well. 

Norah and Titus were very bonded when I first got them. Someone who worked for a German Shepherd rescue organization, who came over to see the dogs, even commented on how bonded they were, when we all went for a walk. They always seemed to be looking out for each other. 

 I was never 100% clear on whether they lived in the same house before they arrived at the shelter, or if they just hit it off on the ride home. The people at the shelter didn't tell us much about where they came from (I just know Titus was a stray).  I know they arrived at the shelter on the same day, and one of the women who helped me with the rescue said it was likely that they came in together, but even she didn't know for sure. 

They seemed like they were already "boyfriend - girlfriend" when I got them, and because they were unaltered, I decided to give them their "last hurrah" and allowed them to stay in the same room together. I figured, why not let 'em "live it up" while they still had a chance. 

But for some reason, after I got them fixed, I felt really guilty, because it changed their personalities. I am one of those people who is REALLY BIG on getting pets spayed and neutered. I hate seeing irresponsible pet owners letting their animals breed, and letting them run loose, only to wind up in shelters or get injured on the streets. 

So there was no question I would get all the dogs fixed. I didn't even have a choice, as it was a requirement of their adoption, and I had to do it within 30 days. It took a few weeks to find a good (but affordable) vet who could do all 4 dogs at a price we could afford, but luckily, I was able to get a recommendation for a great vet in San Jose who has a soft spot for Shepherds : ). 

This is Norah and Titus, before they got fixed.

 After the procedure, Norah and Titus seeemd confused, like they didn't understand what in the world had just happened to them. I suddenly realized that this was new territory for me. I was used to fixing cats and dogs that were younger, and not already used to mating with other animals (at least, none that were in my presence every day). For the last 2 decades, I mostly focused on cat and kitten rescue instead of dogs, and the cats I got fixed were either kittens who'd never had a mate, or they were stray males or females, and I had never seen their partners. 

There was something very guilt-inducing about knowing these 2 dogs had been having a great time "going at it"... only to have all of that come to a COMPLETE HALT.  When they were no longer able to (or no longer had the desire to) "get it on," They seemed kind of confused and depressed.  I knew the procedure had to be done, but I still felt guilty about it, and somehow it also made me feel guilty for taking away Norah's ability to have puppies. 

I realize, it's a silly thing to worry about, and I need to get over it. There are just too many dogs in this world that are euthanized in shelters! It was just a weird feeling I'd never experienced before. I guess the feeling stems from knowing she and Titus had been going through the motions of mating, and I had interfered with that process. In addition, it kind of took away some of their "spunk."  Titus was really depressed for awhile (until he started Urban Dog Mushing), and Norah just kind of dismissed him and was no longer interested in him, the way she used to be (which I think was depressing for him to deal with). She would also kind of nip at him for little things, so he was a little afraid of her. I think he is several years younger than she is.  

I don't know why I didn't feel so guilty about getting the other 2 female shepherds spayed. I guess it's because they didn't have "boyfriends" in the house. And it's also maybe because Norah seems to be the oldest of all my fosters, and she was the most likely to have been used as a "breeding dog" in the past. I was told my other 2 female foster shepherds did have a previous litter of puppies, and I'd never asked anyone about this with Norah (I just assumed she was used for breeding because there was a LOT of that in the area they were rescued from). But... maybe because she is older, Norah just has more of that "mother" vibe (the other 2 females are like kids, in comparison). 

So, I have a tendency to call her "Mama" or "Mommy."

I should also mention that Norah also has a really strong protective streak (maybe you could call it a jealous streak). If Titus so much as looked in the direction of another dog, she'd bark or even nip at him. I thought this behavior would stop once they were fixed, but it didn't completely go away. 

But to my amazement, she seems to be perfectly OK with allowing Titus to flirt and romp around with the younger females in the house. This is a HUGE improvement that just started a couple of months ago, when my boyfriend (unbeknownst to me) let them all play together in the same room. He was sure they would all be able to get along, while I was overly cautious and scared a big fight could break out, because I had seen Norah attack the other 2 dogs when they tried to get near Titus. 

I'm not sure what has changed, but she no longer seems to be worried about whether Titus flirts with the other 2 girls in the house. This is a HUGE relief for us... and for Titus, who really gets along well with Shelby, who is super affectionate and gives him tons of kisses. Norah seemed to stop caring too much about Titus after she got spayed (she seems more interested in my boyfriend's attention), so I am glad Shelby is able to put a huge smile back on his face. This has made me think maybe I should try to get Titus and Shelby adopted together, or at least, try to find guardians who would allow them to play with each other once in a while. 

 I am still working on trying to build her confidence so she doesn't feel so insecure. She's definitely made improvements, but still has some deep insecurities that make me wonder if she might be best as a single dog (preferably one with 2 owners). 

Norah in the morning. 

 

I took this video on a day when Norah busted out of the room she shares with my dog walker friend (who is staying a room on my property in exchange for walking all the dogs twice a day). She literally squeezed out the window when she heard me working outside because she wanted to come and hang out with me. Norah is a really sweet, loyal dog and I have no doubt that she would make a GREAT protector for a female (or male) guardian who loves her as much as we do.

From what I gather, she does NOT like cats (which is the reason I am looking for a home for her). I have 2 cats and get the feeling that she'd try to eat them if she was out of my sight (I could be wrong, but it makes me a little nervous). So, I have to keep her and my other foster shepherds separated from the dogs, on another part of the property.

Warning, this girl is a BED HOG : D. But for some reason that just makes her even more endearing, lol.  She often spreads herself out DIAGONALLY across the bed, and isn't the easiest dog to move. I think she likes to stretch out a lot because she has a VERY thick coat and gets very warm when she sleeps. We have a strong fan but no A.C..  Norah would be great for a couple who likes a big dog to sleep in bed with them (I realize these couples are rare, but they're out there). She would be ideal for a couple with a king-sized bed : D. 

When Norah injured her leg somehow during a walk, she was limping for over a month. Her leg healed beautifully, thanks to some healing devices I have at home. I have a device that is used on racehorses to repair bone and cartilege, and make them run faster (the video of her dog mushing, shortly after her month-long injury, is proof that it works... I never even had to take her to the vet). But when she was injured and couldn't walk very well, I got her this "doggie walker" from Facebook Marketplace. It was a little too small for her, but she looked SO cute in it, and she loved being pushed around, it was so funny. 

If you (or someone you know) think you may be interested in meeting Norah, just get in touch with me via the contact form on the right side of this page. Serious inquires and responsible dog owners ONLY, please. I would also prefer someone who has had prior experience with German Shepherds and / or large dog breeds.

Thanks!

Laura

Meet Poppy - A Cute, Sweet, Rambunctious, Energetic German Shepherd / Husky Mix!

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

Meet Titus! A Magnificent, Handsome, Sweet, Large Male German Shepherd!

 Titus is an exceptional dog. He may look intimidating, but he's really a big lovebug. This handsome boy is very sweet and playful, and likes to nuzzle his nose into your lap, or jump up on you to tell you how much he loves you.  If you don't like dogs to jump on you, I can show you a very simple exercise that will easily get him to stop. Titus is very smart, and he quickly learned how to sit and stay (I'm working on getting him to do it 100% of the time : D). Titus is intact (un-neutered) and scheduled to be fixed within the next few weeks, so you could say he gets extra distracted by other dogs - especially females - when we go for walks.

 He is about 80 pounds, and after someone in a German Shepherd rescue group saw he still had a lot of small baby teeth, he told me Titus may grow to be over 100 pounds. 

It's hard to believe this beautiful male German Shepherd was set to be euthanized a few weeks ago, but right now shelters are so overrun with dogs, they are even putting german shepherd puppies to sleep.

I am working with a german shepherd rescue group to find him a good home in the Bay Area. 

I usually walk Titus with his girlfriend, Kali. It would be great to get them adopted together, but I realize there may not be a lot of people looking for two german shepherds. I can tell you from experience that it's even more fun to have 2 german shepherds (1 is fun, but 2 is a party)!

Years ago, I dogsat for a beautiful 100 pound German Shepherd, and a few weeks after I met him, his owner got him a friend - a beautiful black female german shepherd. Both dogs were soooo happy, having a playmate around all day. Shepherds need a lot of attention and stimulation, so having two can be a good way to ensure they don't get too bored. 

The great thing about German Shepherds is, they look menacing, but they tend to be just as sweet as other dogs, if not moreso. They can be very silly and playful, but they are also extremely loyal. I have a doggie camera set up in the room where I am fostering the dogs, and it's funny to see how, as soon as you leave the room, they just sit there by the door, trying to figure out what's going on, and when you're coming back. 

This is Titus with Norah, his girlfriend, Norah. They would make wonderful family guardians! 

It would be wonderful if I could find someone who wanted to keep them together. I used to dogsit for 2 wonderful German Shepherds - a male and female (Parker and Nikki) who were a wonderful pair. Titus and Norah remind me of them. 

  

Update 3-21-23

OK so I have to report, I have kept these dogs waaaay longer than I'd anticipated I would. 

It basically boils down to two things. 

1) I want to have them adopted in pairs, but there is 1 very neurotic dog per pair, that needs a LOT of work, in order for me to feel like I won't have to worry the neurotic dog will get dumped at the pound. So, I am trying to give them more training, before they're adopted.

2) I've been having a lot of fun with the dogs, and OK I've gotten attached. But I cannot keep them, because I have cats, and my cats would be miserable with dogs. 

I want to be SUPER picky about who gets these dogs. If I have to drive all the way across the country to find them a home, I will do that. 

I've gotten to spend more time with Titus, than any other dog, because we go Dog Mushing, and it is sooo much fun. I've also gotten to see what a GREAT dog Titus really is. I already knew he was a great dog, but I've been able to see even more of how great he is. 

Yesterday, on 3-20-23, I saw him do someting I didn't expect, and was very proud of him for it. 

For the first time ever, I took all 4 foster dogs to go mushing at the same place (a large office complex with a huge parking lot that is always half empty). The dogs had to take turns, as me and my boyfriend can only take 2 at a time (1 dog per person). One of the dogs I have is Poppy, a somewhat neurotic shepherd who has come a long way since I got her. She's no longer terrified of the vaccuum, she doesn't spin in circles, isn't afraid of the dark, isn't extremely anxious to come right back home. But she still barks a lot at other dogs. And that includes Norah and Titus. 

When we got to the "mushing parking lot", my boyfriend Sean said we should let the dogs all get to know each other and let 'em mix and sniff each other. I am all for that, but Norah has a tendency to LUNGE at other dogs, including the female pair I have (Poppy and Shelby). So, doing it too soon is a BAD idea, and they need to do it gradually. So I don't think it's a good idea to just cross my fingers and hope for the best. 

But somehow, my bf was so confident it would be ok, that when they all were wagging their tails and not barking at the same time, and Norah wasn't freaking out, I kind of found myself slacking on the leash grip, and thought, well, it might maybe he's right. Maybe it's not so bad to let them get a little close and sniff each other from a distance... 

I expected Norah to go ballistic on the other 2 girls, as she has in the past, but to my surprise, she did not. I really think part of that is because she's exercising, and getting rid of a lot of that pent up energy she had before. 

But Poppy ended up being the one who got out of control. She suddenly pounced, gnarled her teeth, and tried to bite Norah. And as soon as she did this, Titus immediately defended Kali.  He growled and lunged at Poppy, nipping at her and commanding her to stay back, but didn't seem to hurt her (except for her feelings). I think it was a very humbling experience for Poppy, because she has a BIG crush on Titus, but he wasn't putting up with ANY of this bad behavior. 

Titus kind of reminds me of this strong (but chill) dog named Prince, who schools dogs in Beckman's training. 

What's really impressive about all this is, I had been starting to question whether or not Norah and Titus were a good match. Sometimes she is downright mean to him, to the point where he doesn't even want to go near her. Sometimes, he's scared of her. She's kind of neurotic and crazy, and sooo jealous. If he even looks at another dog, she growls at him and tries to bite him. But he just puts up with it (they stay in the same room). So, it was really nice to see him looking out for Kali and trying to protect her. 

I remember a day when I had Titus and Norah in the car, and before I took them home, I wanted to make sure they got a chance to poop. There's this area by my house that I call "the grassy knoll." It's a small grassy area ad the end of my street right next to where a few cars park overnight.

I took Norah out to go potty, and as soon as we left the car, Titus started wimpering and crying because he hates being left behind.  Norah immediately wanted to race back to the car to let him know everything was ok. It was a little distracting, because I couldn't get her to use the potty - all she could think of was getting back to Titus and letting him know everything was ok. So, while it was a little annoying, it was also really sweet.