There's a lot to learn when you have a new pet. Our sister brand, The Wildest, is here to support you—with new pet checklists, virtual training, and expert guides. Sign up for free.
NOTE: BOSTON IS NOT WITH GSRSV, BUT RATHER WITH HER PEOPLE IN SACRAMENTO. GSRSV HAS NOT MET BOSTON BUT IS LISTING HER ON THIS WEBSITE TO GIVE HER MORE ADOPTION EXPOSURE. PLEASE CONTACT LISA OR CHELSEA AT HOMEFORBOSTON@GMAIL.COM OR 510-499-7143.
"Boston" is a 1½-yo, approx 65-lb spayed female GSD/ Cattle Dog/Pitbull mix who is high-drive, loving, and fearful of strangers—at least when on leash. Boston is very affectionate with her own people and loves to snuggle.
Boston does fine with people when she is off leash, such as at dog parks. However, when on leash she will she will bark, lunge, and snap at those she feels nervous around. Boston is not comfortable around children so a home without kids is in order for her.
Boston loves playing with other dogs and has excellent dog social skills. (See elsewhere on this page for a short video of her playing w/ other dogs at the beach.) She goes to off-leash dog parks every day and has a great time! Boston’s ideal home would include another playful dog for her to interact with, but this is not a requirement for adoption.
Boston is not a fan of cats so a home WITHOUT CATS is in order.
Boston has received considerable training, both for helping with her fear of strangers as well as for general obedience. UC Davis Veterinary School’s “Behavioral Team” prescribed two medications to help Boston w/ her fear aggression: gabapentin (3 X day) and sertraline hydrochloride (“Zoloft”—once/day). The medications have been a helpful tool in Boston’s training, but her people feel pretty confident (and GSRSV agrees) that if she lived somewhere quieter and with enough land for exercise so she didn’t have to encounter strangers she could be tapered off of it. Boston still receives both medications; together they cost about $25/month.
Tug Dogs’ work with Boston has helped reduce her aggression towards strangers but has not eliminated the behavior. Boston is a high-drive dog who thrives on “work” and learning new skills; her people often use a toy as a reward for her completing a series of commands.
Boston walks great on leash in the absence of human or “critter” (cats, squirrels) distractions. Further, her reactions to people are much less pronounced once she’s had plenty of exercise.
Boston is fully housetrained but her people do keep her crated when they are gone (usually with a treat-stuffed toy for her to work on). She sleeps either on their bed or in her crate.
Boston has yet to try a game she doesn't like. Favorites include fetch (with balls, sticks, Frisbees, etc), tug, "find it," and she enjoys obedience training. Boston does well riding in the car, but she is very reactive towards people who come near the vehicle when it’s parked. Boston likes to wade in water but has not yet gone for a full swim.
Boston’s people (Lisa & Chelsea) adopted her at 7 wks old in May 2020 from a rescue in Chico. They live in Oakland—a busy, urban environment that leads too often to the encounters with strangers that set Boston off. They are now seeking a new home for her in a more rural, private outdoor space environment with active people who can continue to give Boston the off-leash training and play that she thrives on.
Boston is located in Sacramento. Please contact Lisa or Chelsea at homeforboston@gmail.com or 510-499-7143.
NOTE: BOSTON IS NOT WITH GSRSV, BUT RATHER WITH HER PEOPLE IN SACRAMENTO. GSRSV HAS NOT MET BOSTON BUT IS LISTING HER ON THIS WEBSITE TO GIVE HER MORE ADOPTION EXPOSURE. PLEASE CONTACT LISA OR CHELSEA AT HOMEFORBOSTON@GMAIL.COM OR 510-499-7143.
"Boston" is a 1½-yo, approx 65-lb spayed female GSD/ Cattle Dog/Pitbull mix who is high-drive, loving, and fearful of strangers—at least when on leash. Boston is very affectionate with her own people and loves to snuggle.
Boston does fine with people when she is off leash, such as at dog parks. However, when on leash she will she will bark, lunge, and snap at those she feels nervous around. Boston is not comfortable around children so a home without kids is in order for her.
Boston loves playing with other dogs and has excellent dog social skills. (See elsewhere on this page for a short video of her playing w/ other dogs at the beach.) She goes to off-leash dog parks every day and has a great time! Boston’s ideal home would include another playful dog for her to interact with, but this is not a requirement for adoption.
Boston is not a fan of cats so a home WITHOUT CATS is in order.
Boston has received considerable training, both for helping with her fear of strangers as well as for general obedience. UC Davis Veterinary School’s “Behavioral Team” prescribed two medications to help Boston w/ her fear aggression: gabapentin (3 X day) and sertraline hydrochloride (“Zoloft”—once/day). The medications have been a helpful tool in Boston’s training, but her people feel pretty confident (and GSRSV agrees) that if she lived somewhere quieter and with enough land for exercise so she didn’t have to encounter strangers she could be tapered off of it. Boston still receives both medications; together they cost about $25/month.
Tug Dogs’ work with Boston has helped reduce her aggression towards strangers but has not eliminated the behavior. Boston is a high-drive dog who thrives on “work” and learning new skills; her people often use a toy as a reward for her completing a series of commands.
Boston walks great on leash in the absence of human or “critter” (cats, squirrels) distractions. Further, her reactions to people are much less pronounced once she’s had plenty of exercise.
Boston is fully housetrained but her people do keep her crated when they are gone (usually with a treat-stuffed toy for her to work on). She sleeps either on their bed or in her crate.
Boston has yet to try a game she doesn't like. Favorites include fetch (with balls, sticks, Frisbees, etc), tug, "find it," and she enjoys obedience training. Boston does well riding in the car, but she is very reactive towards people who come near the vehicle when it’s parked. Boston likes to wade in water but has not yet gone for a full swim.
Boston’s people (Lisa & Chelsea) adopted her at 7 wks old in May 2020 from a rescue in Chico. They live in Oakland—a busy, urban environment that leads too often to the encounters with strangers that set Boston off. They are now seeking a new home for her in a more rural, private outdoor space environment with active people who can continue to give Boston the off-leash training and play that she thrives on.
Boston is located in Sacramento. Please contact Lisa or Chelsea at homeforboston@gmail.com or 510-499-7143.
GSRSV became a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization in March 2013. All donations to GSRSV are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Since February 2001, Brian Foran has funded GSRSV primarily on his own. Donations have played--and continue to play--a huge part in keeping GSRSV afloat, as adoption fees are a drop-in-the-bucket compared with the costs of running a large rescue program.
To make a monetary donation, please go to the donation page on GSRSV's Website: www.gsrsv.org/DonationsNeeded.htm.
Thanks for your support!
Their adoption process
Additional adoption info
1. View my dogs available for adoption, either on this Website or on our own Website (www.gsrsv.org). I also list German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes for other rescue groups and inviduals on my Website.
2. Contact Brian Foran at 916-655-3125 or bab43@msn.com to discuss the particular dog(s) that you're interested in.
3. Complete my adoption questionnaire. It is a downloadable Microsoft Word file on the page of my Website titled "How to Adopt a Dog through GSRSV." If possible, return the questionnaire via e-mail.
4. Go see the dog you're interested in--at my rescue facility, at the home of the dog's foster caretaker, or at the home of the dog's owner.
5. If you decide to adopt a dog, I will have you sign my adoption contract and pay the appropriate adoption fee, which varies between $300 to $100, depending on the age of the dog and whether it is a purebred GSD or not. This fee includes spaying or neutering, rabies and distemper/parvo vaccinations, heartworm check, and a 6-month supply of heartworm preventative. The adoption contract is on the same page of my Website as is the adoption questionnaire.
1. View my dogs available for adoption, either on this Website or on our own Website (www.gsrsv.org). I also list German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes for other rescue groups and inviduals on my Website.
2. Contact Brian Foran at 916-655-3125 or bab43@msn.com to discuss the particular dog(s) that you're interested in.
3. Complete my adoption questionnaire. It is a downloadable Microsoft Word file on the page of my Website titled "How to Adopt a Dog through GSRSV." If possible, return the questionnaire via e-mail.
4. Go see the dog you're interested in--at my rescue facility, at the home of the dog's foster caretaker, or at the home of the dog's owner.
5. If you decide to adopt a dog, I will have you sign my adoption contract and pay the appropriate adoption fee, which varies between $300 to $100, depending on the age of the dog and whether it is a purebred GSD or not. This fee includes spaying or neutering, rabies and distemper/parvo vaccinations, heartworm check, and a 6-month supply of heartworm preventative. The adoption contract is on the same page of my Website as is the adoption questionnaire.
Because I am an independent rescuer caring for many dogs, I am presently unable to conduct regular adoption or "meet & greet" events.
I only arrange for people to meet the dogs that I have available for adoption after I have discussed the dog and have received an adoption questionnaire from them.
Because I am an independent rescuer caring for many dogs, I am presently unable to conduct regular adoption or "meet & greet" events.
I only arrange for people to meet the dogs that I have available for adoption after I have discussed the dog and have received an adoption questionnaire from them.
More about this rescue
German Shepherd Rescue of Sacramento Valley (GSRSV) is an organization dedicated to finding good homes for German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs) at risk of being placed in shelters, or who are already in shelters and possibly facing euthanasia. GSRSV is an independent rescue organization operated by one individual: Brian Foran. Though countless volunteers and benefactors have supported--and continue to support--GSRSV, I run and primarily fund the program, as I have since February 2001.
German Shepherd Rescue of Sacramento Valley (GSRSV) is an organization dedicated to finding good homes for German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs) at risk of being placed in shelters, or who are already in shelters and possibly facing euthanasia. GSRSV is an independent rescue organization operated by one individual: Brian Foran. Though countless volunteers and benefactors have supported--and continue to support--GSRSV, I run and primarily fund the program, as I have since February 2001.
