Kira is a 4-year-old long stock coat German Shepherd who has found herself in the pound, confused and stressed. Kira is looking for either a foster or forever home, with someone willing to look beyond the shelter stress, and commit to helping her feel safe and loved. Kira is struggling with the shelter environment; the constant noise, unfamiliar people, and lack of routine have left her feeling overwhelmed and conflicted. While she will often approach strangers happily and seek interaction, too much handling can quickly become overwhelming for her. When she feels uncomfortable, Kira will jump up and mouth, trying to communicate to people that she is unsure and overwhelmed. For this reason, Kira is seeking an adult-only home where her boundaries will be respected and she won't be put in situations that make her feel pressured. Kira has previously lived with children, and once settled in her new home, may be ok again in future, but for now she needs a quieter, predictable home.Kira already knows her basic commands, has good recall, and clearly enjoys learning. She is a clever girl who will thrive with someone who enjoys training and is committed to helping her build confidence, improve her impulse control, and develop better leash manners. Kira is motivated by both treats and toys, she picks up new commands easily and wants to please her humans.Kira is looking for a home with someone that has recent experience with German Shepherds or similar breeds such as Rottweilers, Dobermans etc. she is not suited to a first-time dog owner; and will need a confident, capable handler.Kira is reactive towards other dogs; she can be distracted at a distance and will disengage to focus on her handler, however, tends to panic when dogs come too close and lashes out. Kira will need to be keep her distance from other dogs and will need to be the only dog in her new home; she is looking for an owner who understands how to manage her environment and advocate for her need for distance. Kira has a high prey drive and is not suited to a home with cats or other small animals.We believe that once Kira has the chance to decompress, settle into a routine, and realise she's finally safe, she'll blossom into the kind of dog that forms an unbreakable bond with her person. It is important to recognise that the dog we have met in the shelter isn’t the dog she will be once in an environment that sets her up for success.German Shepherds are known for their loyalty, intelligence, and devotion, and we know that Kira has all of those qualities waiting beneath the weight of kennel stress; she is looking for someone willing to believe in her while she learns to believe in herself. The reward will be a companion whose trust is earned, whose loyalty is unwavering, and whose second chance will be worth every moment of patience.
