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Hi, my name is Nena and I am 7-8 years old.

Now don’t let the gray muzzle fool you. I love to run after the tennis ball. If you toss it, I will go get it. I might not bring it back to you, but I love, really love to play “go get the ball”.

When I see my foster mom get my leash, I start to do the happy dance and I sing a song. She loves to walk me as much as I love to go. She doesn't have to use one of those special collars, because I don't pull like some of those young pups. My foster mom loves that I walk nice, like a lady. Plus, when we get back home, I get to pick up the newspaper off the driveway and carry it home.

I am not a barker. Hmmm, come to think of it, I have not barked one time in the house. But...I do bark at the dogs in the next yard. I can't see them through the fence, so I am just letting them know I am here.

Like most German Shepherds, I am a Velcro dog. Which means I stick to my person just like Velcro. If she is at her desk, then I am laying at her feet. If she is in the kitchen, then I am laying on a kitchen rug. If she goes outside, I go outside. When my foster mom talks to me, I tilt my head from side to side. That makes her smile.

I have never had an accident in the house. She always takes me outside to do my business before bedtime. I sleep on my own comfy bed, that she made for me.

But when my foster mom goes to work, I go into my crate. And that’s ok with me, I don’t mind. She usually puts a few pieces of kibble in there for me. Sometimes, if she leaves and is gone only for an hour or two, she leaves me out of my crate. She also sometimes leaves my kong filled with peanut butter. Yummy in my tummy!

My previous owners turned me into animal control because they said I tore up furniture while being so scared of thunderstorms. Well, my foster mom is aware of how scared I am, but I have never tore up anything. This is the reason she crates me while she is gone. It makes me feel safe and sound.

If she is home and a storm comes up, I will start to pace, drool and whine. This makes my foster mom sad for me. She can see how scared and uncertain I am but she just goes about her business, like she hears nothing. This is helping me learn that the loud noise is no big deal. I might always have this fear, but it is workable.

I don’t like to be outside by myself. Remember, I am a Velcro dog. But I do like to play with you outside. If you toss the ball, I will go get it. Haven’t learned how to bring it back. But you can take it from me, very easily and toss it again. So much fun.

As much as I like to run, it is not good for me. I have arthritis, so walking and a little back yard play is about all I should do. I want to run fast, but my foster mom won’t let me. She gives me a supplement to help and it does make me feel better.

Currently my foster mom has another dog, and I really don’t like him. He is a young wipper snapper, and he is always trying to get me to play. Nope, I don’t want to play. I am not the least bit interested in him. I do my best to avoid him, to stay out of his way.

My foster mom keeps us separated most of the time, just so he won’t annoy me. If he bothers me, I try my best to turn away. I sometimes go to the closet, hoping he won’t find me. Or hoping my foster mom will put him in his crate. So, for my own piece of mind, my next home should have no other dogs. Or maybe it could have a dog that won’t bother me at all.

It might be a dog like me. A dog that enjoys the simpler things in life. A dog that has no drama. A dog that is quiet, calm and laid back. A dog who just wants to be petted and loved. My foster moms says I am an older lady, just like her. But if truth be told, she is older than I. Shhhhh….don’t tell her.

Also, children are probably not in my best interest, because I want to be left alone. My foster mom has an 8 year old granddaughter. She doesn’t chase me or annoy me. But she does play ball with me. She will play tug with me. And she loves to pet me. When she sleeps here, I sleep in her room with her.

My mom thinks that my previous owners were not very nice to me, so some things make me a bit nervous. Loud voices also make me uncertain, if someone is yelling, I will leave the room, but will come back when all is quite. But at Christmas time…my foster family was all here, opening presents, laughing, eating, singing songs and none of that bothered me at all. That was a good noise.

I don't give those big sloppy kisses. My foster mom loves that about me, she loves me and hugs and kisses me, but she doesn't like dog slobber. Lucky for her, I don't do that.

The worst habit I have is being too grabby when taking treats out of her hands. She is teaching me "easy". I am working very hard on being very easy when taking treats. She won’t give me the treat until I take it easy from her.

Honestly, I hear my foster parents talk about me. They have nothing bad to say about me. They think that I am as close as it comes to being a perfect companion for the right family.

I need a home where things are quiet and calm. A home with no children, or at least none under the age of 12. A home with no dogs or at least a dog that won’t pester me.

I will love you. I will stay beside you. I will be your best friend for life. Will you be all that to me?

Love,
Nena