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My basic info
Breed
German Shepherd Dog
Color
Tricolor (Tan/Brown & Black & White)
Age
Young
Size
Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg) (when grown)
Weight
–
Sex
Male
Pet ID
–
My details
Good with kids
Good with dogs
Needs experienced adopter
Shots current
Spayed / Neutered
Housetrained
Has special needs
My story
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Here's what the humans have to say about me:
**Nelson is currently being fostered in Houston. He is available for out-of-state adoption to the most amazing family. Our usual adoption fee is $500 for out-of-state adoptions, but we are wiling to drop this fee to $300 if his adoptive family will agree to spend the additional money on training and socialization classes for him.**
Nelson is our miracle transformation pup! When he was first rescued, he didn’t look like a dog because he was bald and had the worst skin infection imaginable at such a young age. Most people would have never given him a second look or smell because that was bad too, but here at Reggie’s Friends, we believe in the underdog because we’ve seen so many of them bounce back and become gorgeous and the most loyal friends ever. It just takes a little TLC and lots of affection. If you want to see his very first photos, just ask but we didn’t want to use those on his bio because he’s just so handsome now!
Nelson was rescued as a baby just a few weeks old and now he is about 10 months old. He is a German Shepherd mix, currently weighing in at about 45 pounds. We expect that he will be a medium sized adult at about 50-60 pounds. He is a tall and slender boy right now and has very handsome markings and cute floppy ears. The looks this little guy gives will melt your heart instantly!
At first meeting, you might not realize that Nelson is blind in his left eye, but prior to his rescue his eye was injured causing this condition. We do not know what happened, but like Nelson we just keep moving forward. We do know that after seeing the specialist here, they said that he cannot see out of the eye, but it doesn’t seem to currently cause him any pain, doesn’t currently require any ongoing treatment and he doesn’t seem to know that he is a little different. It is just one more reason we love this guy so much. His eye will always need to be monitored by his primary veterinarian for any changes that may occur in the future, but for now his eye is stable.
Nelson personality is almost cat like, he is a pretty independent guy and does better coming to new people on his own terms. We think this is likely a by-product of whatever happened to him prior to him coming to our rescue. He is happy to play with a toy by himself, go outside and sit in the grass, explore his territory or take naps just about anywhere. He currently lives with a foster family that has 4 dogs ranging in size from 15-60 pounds; he does enjoy playing with them, but it does take him a few minutes to feel comfortable around new dogs. He has never shown any signs of aggression toward other dogs, but will bark for a few minutes trying to figure out his place with them. He is very dog friendly, but if he joins a family with other furry friends, they also need to be pretty patient with his awkwardness in initial interactions.
Nelson is not comfortable around kids, so he needs a family that is either all adult or has old children.
Nelson loves toys of all kind, but his Nylabone is the winner every time. He likes to carry it around, play with it and just keep tabs on it throughout the day. He loves belly rubs and taking naps on his cushion in the middle of the yard. He is living a stress free life these days and can’t wait to meet his people and start making their days happier.
We think that at some point in his short life prior to rescue he was mistreated based on the way he reacts to being picked up and held. It is not comfortable for him and he will try to get out of your grasp if held up off of the ground. Our vet even said that could possibly be the position he was in when his eye was injured and thus his distrust of it. We will never know why he doesn’t like that, but as he grows up the chances of him being held like a puppy are slim anyway, so this may not be an issue at all within a few short months. He is just fine if you are holding him while sitting and in fact, he loves to cuddle in the position too.
Nelson's ideal family will be committed to working with him as he establishes that he is safe and will never be hurt again. He comes around quickly, but he is not immediately trusting of new people and situations - he needs a loving environment that understands he was hurt by people in the past and will provide comfort to him while he navigates his new life.
He absolutely prefers his harness to the normal collar/leash system, but he will get used to whichever you prefer over time. Nelson is neutered, fully vaccinated and micrcochipped. He is available for adoption and his ideal family is active, affectionate and will consider him an important member of the family.
If you can see this precious boy cuddling with you on the couch or napping on your back porch, you can fill out an adoption application found on our website, www.reggiesfriends.org under the Adoptables tab. If you have any questions or would like additional information please email us today at adoptions@reggiesfriends.org for an adoption application.
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