Description:
Tess is a really great shepherd/lab mix. She came to us a mix-up. We had agreed to take in Tess from another rescue, but the volunteer at the rescue gave us the wrong dog. When our volunteer got to Judy, she said, "That's not Tess!" The rescue realized their mistake a couple of days later and offered to swap out dogs, but Judy had already seen the joy in this puppy and no way was she going to give up on it. So, we named her Tess and proceeded full steam ahead!
Tess is a family dog, very playful, very busy, very loving but a bit cautious around men and young children. She is very loyal and protective ~ nothing gets past her eyes! And keep an eye on this one ~ she loves to get into things. When her foster dad was making a peanutbutter and jelly sandwich, he reached over to get something, turned around, and it was gone! Care to guess who the guilty party was? She is great with other dogs and loves to spend the afternoon swimming and playing ball. And at night? Well, she likes to watch TV of course! Her favorite show is "Mercat Manner," and actually perks up her ears, staring at the TV. So whether you're an outdoor kinda family or a bunch of couch potatoes, I guess she'll fit right in!

***According to dogbreedinfo.com, in April 1899, Capt. Max von Stephanitz registered a dog named Horan as the first Deutsche Schà¤ferhunde, 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.