Clover

Clover came to Mattie's Place with her brother Basil, Mom Pepper & Dad Maximus after being bred and born with a backyard breeder. She is being fostered with her brother Basil so they can continue to learn from one another. Born January 26, 2024. I have no idea about her final adult weight, but based on her weight charting, likely in the 50 pound range. At her last vet appointment May 9th she weighed in at 6.20 kgs (13.5 pounds) Clover has had multiple deworming and 3 rounds of vaccines to date and will be spayed at the cost of Mattie's Place in the future when we have the all clear for her spay to be completed from her veterinarian. She is healthy but did undergo surgical correction for persistent right aortic arch with marked secondary segmental megaesophagus on Monday April 8 to TVEH. The cost was over $10,000 to diagnose and surgically correct, but she's doing amazing and is expected to have a full recovery without any further concern and go on to live a long and normal German Shepherd dog life. Clover may very well be a dog that regurgitates her meal once or twice a week. This is perfectly normal for a dog that has had this corrective surgery and may or may not improve over the course of her lifetime. We have recently added Slippery Elm to her diet and that seems to have helped with her weekly regurgitation bouts. She is also still just had major surgery April 8th, so she's doing awesome post-op with just a couple bouts weekly. She is in her rapid growth stage, so remember that when adopting. Her profile picture and the photos with her brother Basil as well as the video are current as of May 18th, 2024 and I will keep them updates as much as I'm able Clover is very much leaning into the German Shepherd personality. She will benefit from professional training to help her continue to learn and evolve into a great canine citizen. She's is exceptionally smart and very intuitive, curious and aware of everything around her. She is expected to head into her typical GSD fear reaction stage soon, where she's suddenly scared with everything new in life and will reactive bark at anything the wind blows past or anything she meets along her life journey the next couple months. Her brother Basil is currently in this stage. This is very normal GSD behaviour, but will need continued confidence building training so it doesn't become a problematic behaviour down the road. Clover's adopters will need to navigate this fear stage with understanding. You need to ensure you do not overwhelm her, but you should have options where she can explore meeting new people and having new life experiences without being pressured or forced to interact resulting in overwhelm for a pup. Clover is living with a dog trainer that is fostering her, so she's being set up for success, but that needs to continue into adoption. Her foster Mom does not work with individuals, but I can give you trainer suggestions if needed. Clover will fit best into an active home that understand working breed dogs. Clover doesn't need a job, but she should think she has tasks to accomplish often to fill that sense of need of accomplishment. Mental and physical stimulation will be super important so they don't get bored. German Shepard dogs can make amazing family pets, but they will always have a desire to do a task -- to work, to move, to be active, to achieve and accomplish. There are multiple ways to satisfy a GSD's needs; you could try various dogs sports or various training and interactive programs. If that's not your jam, daily adventures where they can really get out and sniff-explore-run, variations of food puzzles are another option to add into the day, trick training can be a fun. REMINDER: working dogs and couch potato humans do not mix. SOME NORMAL STAGES FOR YOUR GERMAN SHEPHERD PUP: Juvenile Period 4 months – 6 months Have all puppy teeth, start getting adult teeth at 4 months Playful and full of energy Improve their motor skills Develop their future social skills Working towards ful housetraining Constantly learning Needs continual training, socialization and new experiences Will start testing boundaries and may be extra stubborn Adolescent Period 6 months – 2 years Lose puppy appearance Are rambunctious May go through a second fear period Continue to need socialization Reinforce training Continue exposure to new experiences Establishing boundaries FROM HER FOSTER: Clover is clever, independent, and adventurous. She's very confident for such a young small girl and is more serious in her demeanour vs. her brother, who is very goofy. Clover takes to training extremely well and picks up new concepts quickly. She is mostly potty trained but is still learning to let you know when she needs to go outside. She's wonderful in her crate and is very neutral towards other dogs. ----------------------- To note: the above description is relevant to this dog in his current &/or previous setting. Home changes & adopter personalities can bring out different behaviours not previously seen. We also do not claim, endorse, suggest or hint at, that any of our dogs are hypoallergenic, low shed or no-shed. ----------------------- Adoption fee includes: spay/neuter, deworming, flea/tick prevention, vaccinations, food, nose to tail health exam, toys, leash|collar, go home preventative based on season.