THE STORIES YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ ARE OF A LOVING ANIMAL, BUT ONE WHO IS IN NEED OF A VERY SPECIAL ADOPTER.
ABANDONED PET RESCUE IS COMMITED TO FINDING A SUITABLE HOME FOR THIS DOG.
READ THE STORIES, LOOK AT THE PHOTOS AND VIDEO, AND IF YOU FEEL YOU MIGHT BE A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE TO MEET HIM THEN FILL OUT OUR APPLICATION AT: https://abandonedpetrescue.org/adopt/adoption-application/
Hi, I am Sampson. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am the longest dog resident at Abandoned Pet Rescue. Four years is way too long for an 8-year-old, majestic German Shepherd like me to be in a shelter.
When I first arrived, I became protective of my kennel and since, it takes me time to trust human friends, but over the years, I have made great friends with a handful of staff members and volunteers who love walking me, training me and playing with me. I need an experienced adopter who understands how loyal and protective I can be plus someone who is comfortable with my size as I’m 100lbs (that’s a lot of charm!).
I’m looking for a soulmate in the South Florida area who will be committed to getting to know me at the shelter for a while before I am able to go home. My friends at the shelter will show you how great I walk on a leash (I am even muzzle trained) and how quickly I learn new tricks like speak, paw, sit. I enjoy car rides and just recently I discovered the joys of a Starbuck’s Puppuccino.
I dream of a quiet, calm home of my own with a fenced yard and lots of squeaky toys (those are my favorite!). I need a home without cats and kids, but I do enjoy the companionship of some other dogs with a proper introduction. If you are interested in learning more about me, please fill out an adoption application at https://abandonedpetrescue.org/adopt/adoption-application/ and please tell your friends about me so I can finally find the right home, fit for a king!
Copy of Sampson by Administrator APR
My name is Erin, I started working at APR in august 2019, almost 3 years ago.
Sampson came to APR before I started working here. Initially I worked exclusively with the cats, helping clean the cat rooms and other daily chores. Despite being more of a “cat person” at the time, I always expressed interest in getting to know Sampson.
In 2020 I made it my personal mission to befriend Sampson, a slightly daunting task but I was excited and determined. I started by feeding him treats outside his run and accompanying him on his walks with members of his inner circle who could walk him. It didn’t take long for him to begin trusting me and I was able to walk him.
Fast forward to 2021 when I began training as a kennel technician. I began walking Sampson by myself and learning all about his many quirks and idiosyncrasies.
When I began walking Sampson in 2021, he struggled a-lot with reactivity, he would lunge and bark at dogs walking by and I knew I had my work cut out for me. We don’t know what Sampson went through before coming to APR in 2018, but I knew if I could help train him, it would increase his adopt-ability.
It took a little while to figure out what worked for Sampson in terms of training, but once we did, he picked it up so quickly.
Sampson loves food and is very treat motivated, he also responds well to positive reinforcement. So, with a combination of the two, I worked with him nearly every day on his behavior on walks. I can proudly say that his progress has been incredible. He still has emotions and feelings when he sees other dogs, but his reactions are manageable and drastically improved. By using positive reinforcement and treats, he has a more positive relationship with his triggers and now he behaves wonderfully on walks! He also now knows how to sit, speak, lay down, wait, leave it and give paw!
Once Sampson trusts you, he continues to open-up more every day. It is incredibly rewarding to see him show his goofy, affectionate personality. He initiates affection when he’s ready, by rubbing his head on you, almost like a cat.
Everyday he shows his true personality more and more, like how he loves the cold weather! When the temperatures drop he loves to sprint back and forth in our play yard and go on jogs around the neighborhood.
He absolutely loves to play, especially with squeaky toys. He’s a strong dog so it’s become an interesting trial and error to find “indestructible” squeaky toys, because not many toys are Sampson-proof. He absolutely lights up when you bring him a brand new squeaky toy, like a child on Christmas morning.
One of his favorite things to do on walks is walk back and forth in bushes, scratching his bottom. He has certain bushes around the neighborhood that he likes better than others, for their scratch-ability!
Sampson is an incredibly smart dog, possibly the smartest dog I have ever met, and he can be hilariously stubborn. If he doesn’t want to go a certain way on a walk, he will put the brakes on and sit his big fluffy butt down, until you break out the treats.
He loves to sunbathe, be brushed and enjoys bath time too! He is really one of the sweetest, goofiest, most loyal, affectionate and smart dogs I have ever met.
He needs someone strong and understanding, preferably someone experienced with German Shepherds and or owning a reactive dog because like most dogs, he does have boundaries that should be respected. Being the smarty pants he is, he needs mental stimulation in addition to physical exercise.
With the phenomenal progress he has made, if his training is kept up, there’s no doubt in my mind that he would continue to flourish in a home. He would do best as the only pet in a home with adults.
There’s nothing I want more than for someone to spend the time to get to know his true personality and give him the home he desperately deserves. He is a wonderful dog, a loyal companion and a hilarious friend.
