Haley the German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is a large, athletic, muscular dog. Known for their loyalty, trainability and versatility, this breed is used for a wide range of tasks, including police work, search and rescue, military duties, herding and guide and therapy dogs. Not to mention, they also make wonderful household companions.

This breed is consistently one of the most popular breeds in the U.S. every year. People love that they can wear so many hats. They can be the fierce protector, the gentle, loving pet and the family clown all in one day. But I think that what makes the German Shepherd stand apart from other breeds is their high intelligence. This is a thinking dog. This breed assesses and adapts to different situations. They form strong bonds with their people and are acutely aware of their human’s state of emotions. They are really, really smart!

I recently spent time with a rescued German Shepherd named Haley. My friend adopted her from a rescue about three months ago. Haley was found on the streets in Texas with her nine puppies. A rescue group picked them all up, but unfortunately, eight of her puppies didn’t make it. The one survivor was adopted in Texas and Haley was shipped to a rescue group in New Jersey.

Lord only knows what that poor dog had to go through, fending for herself and puppies on the streets. But Haley is resilient. She has already formed a very strong bond with her new family. They recently brought her to a barbecue with a bunch of people that Haley had never met, and I watched in amazement, as she transformed from tentative, timid and nervous, to a friendly, affectionate pup in a matter of minutes. I could see the wheels turning in her head: “Should I be on the defensive?” “Is this a dangerous situation?” I could see her absorb what was going on around her and take cues from her owners: “Well, they are at ease, and they seem to like these people,” so Haley followed suit.

She settled down and soon went from person to person, introducing herself, and asking for pats on the head with gentle nudges of her nose. As new people arrived at the barbecue, she would tense up and evaluate the newcomers, and then quietly approve of their presence.

Haley has had a hard go of it in her early life. But she is a credit to her magnificent breed. Her intelligence has allowed her to get over her past and embrace her new life and family. Some dogs can never get over earlier trauma and mistreatment. Haley is too smart for that. She is, after all, a German Shepherd!