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for the rest of time.
Willow is a very sweet girl, but one who's life has had enough upheaval to take away some of her confidence. Lack of stability and big changes will unfortunately do that to a dog. Willow began life with the man who bred her litter. She was with him for approximately two years when he suddenly passed. His son brought her home, and while she was bonded to him and loved him, she never spared much of a thought for his wife. Willow is essentially a man's girl. It is her where her security and sense of calm lies - her bond with her guy. Willow doesn't dislike women, she just prefers men. She was adopted approximately a month and a half ago, and while she did fine with everyone, she once again only bonded truly with the man of the house. The women were of no consequence to her and she was basically indifferent to them. This simply wasn't what the family was looking for - they wanted a family dog, and though they tried to change her mind, Willow adamantly gave the bulk of her love to Dad. They knew that she just wasn't in the right home for her. When dad left, Willow wasn't happy, didn't engage, ignored the other members of the household. We get it - it wasn't the right spot. We also know that every dog has a 'right' spot, and we are determined to find Willow hers.
Willow is well mannered in the house. She did well with the male GSD in the house (she will not be placed in a home with other female dogs, no exceptions), though she would often push him away if he took up too much of her person's time. She was completely fine with cats and was great with the respectful young kids from the extended family that came to visit (as young as 3-4 years old). She can be a bit of a door dasher, and if she could get out that door, would have a merry time dancing around the neighborhood. For this reason, Willow will need a home with a securely fenced in yard. She walks well on a leash and settles nicely in the home. She knows basic commands and did not destroy items in the home at any time. She is somewhat fearful of the crate, but with some crate training and crate games, could probably become accustomed to one if needed. She will alert bark when people knock on the door, and is, quite properly for a GSD, aloof with strangers and people she doesn't know well.
Willow does have some level of anxiety that seems to rear its head when she is stuck amidst too much activity. She would do best in a low traffic/quiet household. She would prefer someone who is home more often than not and definitely would prefer that person be a man. We believe that over time she would become less indifferent to female household members, but it is doubtful she would have the same bond she has with a male owner. This can be disappointing to some and we understand that. Ideally, she would end up with a home where that wouldn't be an issue, and we will do our best to make certain everyone involved understands this. She will not do well in a place where there is constant activity and everyone is busy all of the time. That just causes her to be nervous, pace, and be generally uncomfortable. Make no mistake, it is going to take time for this girlie to adjust to and be completely happy in a new home. This will be the fourth place she has lived, and that is a lot of loss and upheaval for such a young girl - especially with a breed such as this. Our search is for patience and understanding - someone willing to help her adjust and feel safe, gain confidence, realize that she is home to stay. Through it all, Willow has maintained a sweet demeanor and is a dog who will choose to trust even though she is uncertain. She needs time to realize that her life isn't completely out of control and spinning out wildly. Consistency and structure. Someone to give all of her love and devotion and loyalty to. If you are willing to wait for it, this could indeed be the best dog you have ever owned. She IS a dog who will give her love completely and totally to that special person that helps her finally feel secure.