Atlas

Description

ATLAS is one of five siblings that were taken in from a backyard breeder with signs of extreme neglect. All of the dogs were severely underweight, covered in fleas and ticks, coated in filth and sick with eye and ear infections. Almost all of them were covered in scars and scabs from teeth and claw injuries as well. Atlas and his siblings were basically living as a feral pack outside for their entire lives, with no exposure to other dogs besides the breeding pairs on the premises, and little to no human interaction. Their survival of the fittest environment left them desperately unsocialized, and fearful of everything and everybody.  TEMPERAMENT/BEHAVIOR Atlas is a high-energy guy who wears his heart on his sleeve — for his people, anyway. He's very much a Velcro dog, following his favorite humans from room to room or curling up for a snooze right next to the desk while they work. He adores playing ball, both indoors and out, and he's got the game figured out to a science: inside, he knows exactly which balls are house-approved, and he'll bring one to you, back up to give you room to throw, catch it, and bring it right back. Outside, he prefers a two-ball rotation with his Chuck-It balls so he never has to wait around for the next throw. He's smart and a fast learner, and while new environments make him a little nervous at first, he settles in more and more with every visit. That said, Atlas is still very much a big puppy at heart — if he's left to his own devices, he'll find his own fun, which usually means shredding a dog bed or pillow. His circle of trust is small, but once you're in it, you're in it — he'll bump you with his nose to ask for attention, and while he tolerates pets from guests, he'd really rather just be near his chosen people. TRAINING Atlas is fully kennel trained and keeps his space clean — though his kennel should stay bare of blankets or beds, since he'll shred and potentially ingest the fabric or stuffing. He's fully housebroken and will let you know when he needs to go out by barking and running back and forth to the door. He does need a fenced yard, and should never be left on a tether line unsupervised, since he's clever enough to slip the lead if given the chance. He walks nicely on a leash — currently a prong collar, and he also responds well to an e-collar — and while he has shown some prey drive toward small animals, keeping his attention engaged and moving means he won't pull and will walk right beside you. He may grumble a bit going into his kennel, but he settles down quickly once he's in. PEOPLE Atlas does best in a quieter household without a lot of visitors coming and going. He's unsure around children, and given his size and energy, he wouldn't be the right match for a home with young kids — though older, dog-savvy kids (16 and above) willing to earn his trust slowly could be a good fit over time. He's naturally fearful and tends to choose flight over fight, and one thing to watch for is that he doesn't love it when someone leans or bends down near or over him — even a quick motion, like picking something up off the floor, can trigger a reaction. Right now he lives with two adults, one man and one woman, and he's comfortable with both. Atlas can become very mouthy/nippy when startled or cornered. OTHER ANIMALS Other animals are a bit more complicated for Atlas. He's not recommended around small animals, and cats are an absolute no. He'd really prefer to be an only dog, but with slow, careful introductions and enough time, he could potentially do well alongside another confident dog of similar size — one with the patience for an 85-pound puppy who hasn't quite learned the concept of personal space. He hasn't shown outright dog aggression, but he can be reactive, and his current foster siblings don't have a ton of patience for his in-your-face energy. MEDICAL Atlas is up-to-date on vaccines, has a current Rabies tag, is microchipped and has been neutered. Atlas has allergies that are currently well-managed with a daily 30mg dose of Zenrelia. FUN FACTS Atlas isn't food motivated — he'll sometimes leave kibble behind after a meal — and somehow manages to trim his own nails. He's also got a favorite con he likes to run: he'll sit pretty for pets, then dramatically collapse to the floor and lift a front leg, angling for a belly rub. He's still working on keeping all four paws on the ground when he gets excited. He's also got a running feud with the neighborhood's feral cat colony and will bark them right off his property. But at the end of the day, his favorite place in the world is wherever his person is — especially if he can lean right up against them. If you're looking for a gorgeous, young, trainable German Shepherd who will love you forever,Atlas may be your ideal family member! ATLAS'S ADOPTION FEE:   $400  This fee covers only part of what we spend to vet, board and rehab the dogs we save.  On average we spend over $450 on each dog.  We made a decision to keep our adoption fee at the 2005 level even though vet prices have doubled and tripled since then.  We are constantly fundraising to cover the deficit.  At minimum, your adoption fee includes the dog's spay/neuter, heartworm test, heartworm treatment if needed, rabies shot, distemper/parvo shot, bordatella shot, deworming, monthly heartworm and flea preventives, and microchip.  In many cases it also includes surgery and various types of vet treatment for standard issues such as hot spots, ear infections and so on.INTERESTED IN ADOPTING ATLAS?Complete an Adoption Application Now!