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Hazel Mae: 15½-Month-Old German Shepherd
Hazel Mae is a young sable German Shepherd, approximately 15½ months old and around 90 pounds. She is an adolescent working-breed dog with high energy, strong curiosity, and a genuine desire to engage with her people. Hazel is intelligent, observant, and eager to learn, and she does best with structure, routine, and consistent guidance.
Background & Health
Hazel was born on September 30, 2024, at her original home and raised alongside her littermate sister. She had early exposure to other dogs and livestock. On November 25, 2025, both dogs were surrendered to Boulder Humane Society due to family financial hardship.
Hazel was spayed and brought up to date on vaccinations while at the shelter. After adoption, we continued her veterinary care through Longs Peak Animal Hospital. During her initial adjustment period, she received short-term behavioral medication to help manage stress related to multiple transitions. As she settled into a calm, structured environment, she transitioned fully off daily medication and now regulates well with routine, enrichment, and predictability.
Hazel is spayed, microchipped, and fully up to date on vaccinations. All veterinary and shelter documentation will transfer with her.
Foster Placement Context
Hazel’s foster home has prior experience with German Shepherds and other long-haired breeds. Unfortunately, despite best efforts, Hazel cannot remain long term due to significant allergy-related health issues caused by her shedding and dander. This decision is based solely on medical necessity and not on Hazel’s behavior or temperament. She is deeply loved, and her foster family is fully committed to helping her transition into the right next placement.
Personality & Temperament
Hazel is affectionate, people-oriented, and highly attuned to human energy. She is not aggressive toward people. She can be enthusiastic during greetings and is still developing impulse control, which continues to improve with consistent boundaries and repetition. Calm, neutral introductions help her settle more quickly.
Hazel is a classic Shepherd “leaner” who enjoys close physical contact and loves belly rubs. She frequently seeks affection and will gently offer a paw for attention. At times, she may communicate needs through jumping, light mouthing, or air snapping. This behavior reflects her herding-style communication rather than aggression. In many cases, jumping indicates she needs to go outside to use the bathroom or is attempting to communicate a specific need. This remains a work in progress and continues to improve with consistency, clear cues, and routine.
Hazel is highly curious and environmentally aware. She likes to know what her people are doing and will investigate new activity. This curiosity makes her engaging and enjoyable to work with, but it also means she benefits from clear structure, supervision, and guidance.
Life in the Home & Yard
Hazel is generally respectful indoors and not destructive. She does not chew furniture. However, if left unattended or unsupervised and she becomes bored, she may get into minor mischief. Supervision and engagement are important for her success at this stage.
She may occasionally pick up shoes or socks and relocate them without damage. Hazel enjoys plush toys and appropriate chewing items, which help her self-regulate, particularly in the evenings. She is crate trained but does not currently require a crate in our home and does fine without it. Baby gates are in place to keep her from roaming the house during this stage.
In the yard, Hazel does best with supervision. When bored, she may investigate items within reach and has a tendency to eat stool if not watched. She often prefers having her person nearby during bathroom breaks. Hazel has a prey drive and may chase squirrels or birds but does not appear to be a fence runner, or a big barker. She barks more to alert or try to initiate play. Calm outdoor time focused on sniffing and exploration helps her stay regulated.
Hazel enjoys snow and would benefit from a home with space to move, explore, and engage her senses.
Training & Energy Needs
Hazel is intelligent, treat motivated (she loves Blue Bits), and eager to learn. She understands basic cues including sit, stay, down, come, leave it, and place. She responds well to clear markers such as “yes” followed by a treat reward, particularly for sitting and down, making eye contact, and offering calm behaviors.
Hazel has high energy consistent with a large adolescent working dog. Mornings are her most energetic time. She benefits from a balanced routine that includes physical movement, training, mental enrichment, and intentional downtime. Structured routines that incorporate activity followed by calming exercises, such as treated downs or chewing sessions, help her settle and succeed.
She enjoys flirt pole play, chase, and fetch, though fetch is kept structured to avoid overstimulation. She excels at enrichment activities such as sniff-and-find games that combine movement with thinking.
Leash Walking & Other Animals
Leash walking is a work in progress. Hazel may pull on shorter leashes but checks in well on longer (extendable) ones. She can be reactive to reactive dogs and would benefit from a knowledgeable handler experienced in reading dog body language and managing introductions. She has not been introduced to other dogs while in our care.
Hazel’s reaction to cats is currently unknown. One brief exposure during a stressful transition resulted in barking at a closed sliding glass door. A cat-free home or one prepared for slow, controlled introductions would be a better fit.
Ideal Home
Hazel would thrive in an experienced German Shepherd or working-breed home that understands adolescent development, high energy, and the importance of structure and consistency. She needs regular mental and physical engagement, clear expectations, and supervision appropriate for her age and size. Her exposure to children is unknown; a home with older children or one committed to slow, thoughtful introductions would be most appropriate.
Hazel is a work in progress in the best sense of the phrase. She is a young, intelligent dog with significant potential who is still learning how to regulate her energy and communicate her needs. With the right guidance, consistency, and patience, she has all the qualities needed to become an exceptional companion.