Foster Update 7/5/10: Bam-Bam is doing very well and getting well socialized! He loves our 80 pound dog they play until tired, take a nap and do it all again. He is a good sleeper and loves a comfy bed. We took him to the adoption event at Oviedo marketplace over the weekend and he did AWESOME interacting with the children and all of the people that wanted to pet him! He knows how to play fetch and loves toys, he is almost completely house trained but does like to chew (we are working on that). Some loud noises in the neighborhood startle him but everything is new to him as this is his first time out of a shelter.

 

***According to dogbreedinfo.com, in April 1899, Capt. Max von Stephanitz registered a dog named Horan as the first Deutsche Schäferhunde, which means German Shepherd Dog in English. Known for their tremendous loyalty and courage, they are calmly confident, but not hostile. This breed needs his people and should not be left isolated for long periods of time. They only bark when it is necessary. Serious and almost human in his intelligence, they have a high learning ability. The breed is so intelligent and learns so readily that it has been used as a sheepdog, guard dog, in police work, as a guide for the blind, in search and rescue service, and in the military. The German Shepherd also excels in many other dog activities including schutzhund, tracking, obedience, agility, flyball, and ring sport. His fine nose can sniff out drugs and intruders, and can alert handlers to the presence of underground mines in time to avoid detonation, or gas leaks in a pipes buried 15 feet underground. A quick daily brushing is best unless hair in the house is not a problem. They should be bathed rarely, only once or twice a year to avoid skin oil depletion. Shepherds have a life expectancy around 13 years.