Ryker

Meet Ryker, a sweet and gentle 3-month-old German Shepherd mix who is ready to discover all the wonderful things life has to offer! Weighing 21 pounds now, Ryker is expected to grow into a large girl in the 61 to 100-pound range. With her beautiful tan, black, and white coat, sweet personality, and adorable puppy antics, she is sure to win you over.Ryker is a gentle snuggle buddy who loves being close to her people. She enjoys belly rubs, cuddles, playing in the yard, exploring her surroundings, and having fun with both dogs and people. She can be a little shy with new people or if she is startled, but once she feels comfortable, she happily comes to her people for affection. She is also a silly, pouncy puppy who gets especially excited when she gets to spend time with her humans outside and may happily follow you around the yard, right underfoot!Ryker has done well with other dogs. She may be unsure at first, but when given the space and time to greet at her own pace, she warms up and enjoys playing with other puppies. She is also comfortable sharing space with adult dogs. Having lived with her mom, sister, and many other puppies and adult dogs, canine companionship is a familiar and positive part of her life. A mature, dog-savvy canine companion could be a wonderful addition to her future home. Ryker has seen cats at the veterinary office and calmly observed them without showing much interest, so she may do well with a cat with proper introductions.Ryker is making great progress with her house training. She is accustomed to doing her business outside and rarely has stool accidents indoors, although she may occasionally have an accident in her crate. Her crate is her safe space, and she willingly goes inside. She is also comfortable being in a crate or exercise pen when she cannot be supervised.Ryker came to Pet Haven after being born and raised outdoors. She lived on a property with her mom, sister, and many other puppies and adult dogs, and she was accustomed to having a hiding space beneath a truck. Because of this background, she especially appreciates having her crate available as a cozy, secure retreat. Despite her limited experience with the world before coming into foster care, she adjusted quickly to indoor life and learned within her first day that her humans were safe.As a young German Shepherd mix, Ryker will need plenty of sleep, playtime, training, and mental stimulation as she grows. Right now, her days consist of puppy naps with bursts of energy for exploring, playing, and taking short walks. Her future family should be prepared for the exercise, training, and enrichment needs that come with a large working-breed dog.Ryker would greatly benefit from a securely fenced yard where she can safely explore, play, and burn off some puppy energy, especially while she continues working on house training. A townhome with shared walls could potentially work for the right family, but an apartment setting would likely not be the best fit for her. While a fenced yard is strongly preferred, an experienced adopter with the right lifestyle and a solid plan for meeting her exercise and enrichment needs may also be able to help Ryker thrive without one.Ryker is still a puppy, so she is looking for a family who is ready to patiently guide her as she grows into the wonderful dog she is meant to be. If you are looking for a sweet, affectionate, playful German Shepherd mix who loves snuggles and is eager to explore the world by your side, Ryker may be your girl!If you are interested in Ryker, fill out an application at this link to get the ball rolling - https://pethavenmn.org/adopt/adoptable-dogs/dog-adoption-application/The adoption fee is $550. Adoption fee includes spay/neuter, heartworm/Lyme test, all age-appropriate vaccinations (distemper, rabies, and Bordetella), heartworm and flea/tick preventatives, and microchip implant (including registration). Adoption fees INCLUDE a mandatory sales tax of 7.525%%. Age and breed are based on veterinarian and intake professional's recommendation and not guaranteed as a rescue animal's history is often unknown. Due to post-adoption services provided, we prefer to adopt within a 150-mile radius of the Twin Cities. However, we will consider up to 250 miles if the foster agrees to travel requirements and staff approval.