Just adopted a 3 year old female Dutch shepherd

[bradyma3]

I just recently adopted the most gorgeous 3 year old Dutch shepherd her name is Rayas. From looking on this forum before I got her I saw that she was probably going to be high maintenance and need a lot of activity so I was prepared for that. We go for a 2 mile walk in the morning and 1 mile walk at night. But she always seems to slow down on our walks like she is super tired. And when we are inside she will play tug of war for maybe 5 minutes and then wants to go right back to sleep and she sleeps for a good chunk of the day and through the night. She is also very well behaved I haven’t heard her bark once she stays right by me on the leash and is very friendly to strangers and other dogs. My family members came over and just walked in the door and she just walked right over to them tail wagging and no barking she is even great with my little cousins. Not that I’m complaining about her good behavior I just want to make sure she is okay because I was excepting a very hyper active dog. If anybody has any input it would be very appreciated thank you!

[ladyjubilee]

Did you adopt from a shelter or was she with s foster home?

The dogs we have gotten from shelters have taken a little time to perk up. Shelters are noisy stressful places. Bramble was really calm...till one day about a month after we got her, she "turned on".

ETA: plus I think Henry and Laslo's owners have said their dogs are comparatively calm. Bramble is definitely calm...until, as the trainer says, the Dutch Shepherd comes out to play. It really is like a switch is thrown.

[bradyma3]

Thank you so much for your input! She was a stray and the rescue I got her from only had her for 2 days but maybe that has something to do with it. It almost like a light switch does go off when we are playing but only very shortly and then she goes back to relaxing. Also do you think she should be getting more exercise to increase her endurance?

[Tim91118]

Welcome. I would get a physical with a heart worm test included. Dutch Shepherd’s are not necessarily hyper, but should never tire from a walk.

[ladyjubilee]

Bramble was a stray too. I agree about the heartworm test.

I made an assumption based on my area that I really shouldn't have. Here most of the vets have joined together to off 1 visit at no cost within 10 days of a dog being adopted from a shelter and all our shelters heartworm test. I assumed that was true in your area....which I shouldn't have. If you haven't already done so, I would take her to the vet for a full check up, being sure to let the vet know her history and get any vaccinations she is missing.

In only 2 days, especially after being a stray, I definitely think that is too much exercise. A few short walks build trust and exercise the body....but for a dog that has had the stress of surviving as a stray...then living in a shelter with all the strange dogs, noise, scary people (who are actually provably animal lovers working hard for low pay), then going home with someone new.....it's tiring and takes time to adjust and recover.


ETA: I forgot to add that you might check her paperwork and see if she was treated for heartworms at the shelter. If so, she needs to be kept calm and "still" for a few weeks.