Are you thinking of getting a German Shepherd but don’t want to pay the high price tag for a purebred German Shepherd? Or do you feel compiled to save an animal’s life? Where can you find a free German Shepherd?
Animal shelters, rescue organizations and online classifieds, pet adoption events, and social media groups dedicated to rehoming pets are common options to adopt German Shepherd Dogs for free.
While it is not impossible to bring home a German Shepherd dog free of charge, expect o pay around $25-$300 in order to cover the expenses of caring for the dog before adoption.
Where to find German Shepherds for free?
Finding a free German Shepherd for adoption can be a great way to bring a loving companion into your home, but it does take a bit of research and effort. German Shepherds are highly sought-after breeds, and finding one for free may not be easy. However, with the right approach, you can find a free German Shepherd for adoption, and give a loving home to a dog in need.
There are a few places you can try to find free German Shepherd dogs or free German Shepherd puppies for adoption:
Local dog shelters
Local dog shelters, also known as animal shelters, are facilities that provide temporary housing and care for stray, abandoned, or surrendered dogs. They often work to find permanent homes for these dogs through free adoption programs.
You can find free German Shepherds of all ages available for adoption at many local animal shelters. Because they almost always have an influx of dogs in their care, they are always willing to give up some for adoption at no or very little cost.
Every state has a local dog shelter you can contact to find out if they have GSDs for adoption. To make your work easier, here’s our list of
The dog itself is free. But usually, you have to pay an adoption fee that can range from $25 – $300. The adoption fee will normally cover an initial vet checkup with puppy shots and a spay or neuter.
Rescue organizations
German Shepherd rescues are organizations specialized in taking stray or unwanted German Shepherds and working to find them new temporary homes until they are successfully rehomed.
The best way to find one near you is to google: “german shepherd rescue near me“.
Keep your ears open for when they run their adoption events, and you may be lucky to get a good healthy GSD to foster and eventually adopt.
Here are a few German Shepherd rescues you can start looking at:
Websites and online classified
There are many websites and online classifieds where you can find German Shepherds for free. However, you must do extensive research before choosing a website, as some may be scams.
Most websites require that you adopt the dog from within a certain radius, or they may require that you attend an adoption event. Be sure to ask questions about the adoption process before you contact the person who is listed as the contact person for the dog.
Some great websites to find German Shepherds for free include Petfinder and Adopt-a-Pet. These sites allow you to search for adoptable pets by breed and location, and they provide information about each animal’s personality, history, and care needs.
We, however, caution you to be careful when finding a free GSD from websites. Some are scams or a source of puppy mills or backyard breeder puppies. These puppies may not have received proper care or medical attention and may have genetic health issues that could land you in a financial burden.
You obviously also don’t want to be a perpetrator of animal cruelty or a promoter of irresponsible breeding. Watch this video on complete adoption for beginners as a guide to safe adoption.
Social media groups dedicated to rehoming pets
You can also find German Shepherds for free on social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram. Go on Instagram, for instance, and search for #dogforfree or other relevant hashtags, and you will find so many people who are willing to give you an extra GSD puppy or even an adult GSD.
On Facebook, you can find a free GSD on these groups:
As with everything else, however, exercise caution when it comes to finding a puppy on social media platforms.
Instagram, particularly, has been found to have so many puppy mill advertisers. Be sure to find all the information before accepting to take in the dog.
In a post about How to Prepare to Bring Home a New Dog or Cat, Dr. Deborah Thomson, DVM, recommends that you also consult your vet even before taking in the dog.
Dog adoption forums
You can also find a free German Shepherd in dog adoption forums. These forums are usually safe and reliable as they comprise fosters, rescue organizations and shelters, adopters, and dog lovers who are willing to share adoption information. You can simply join and share that you are looking for a free GSD for adoption.
We suggest checking out Maddie’s Pet Forum, Dog Rescue Forum, and Petforums They are great places to start your search.
Are there any risks to getting a free German Shepherd?
While there are many benefits to adopting a German Shepherd for free, there are also some potential drawbacks that you should keep in mind.
Lack of information about the dog’s history: When getting a free German shepherd, the dog may come with no documentation or information on its background, which might lead to potential issues such as aggression or anxiety.
Health risks: The dog might have health issues that the previous owner was not aware of or did not disclose. These can be costly to treat and can put the dog’s life at risk.
Potential behavioral issues: Getting a free German shepherd might come with certain behavioral issues which are not evident at the first moment, such as separation anxiety, fear or aggression that could be difficult to address and require professional help.
Unrealistic expectations: Some people might acquire a German shepherd thinking it will solve certain problems or fulfill certain expectations, such as providing companionship or protecting the household. When these expectations aren’t met, the dog may end up being neglected or abandoned.
Financial costs: Owning a German shepherd entails high costs for food, veterinary care, grooming, training, and other expenses which should be considered.
What to look for when searching for a free German Shepherd
When looking for a free German Shepherd dog, there are a few key things you should look out for such as:
Age and sex of the dog
First, it’s important to decide if you want to adopt a puppy or an adult or even a male or a female German Shepherd.
German Sheperd puppies tend to have more energy and take longer to adjust to new environments and people. Adult German Shepherds, on the other hand, have been around people and dogs, so they may be easier to integrate into your home.
Once you have decided on either a puppy or an adult German Shepherd, you should also consider which gender would fit best with your lifestyle. Female German Shepherds are good protectors and generally easier to handle due to their calmer temperament. Male German Shepherds are also capable protectors but happen to be more stubborn and challenging.
Vaccinations and deworming
Make sure the pup has been given all of its necessary vaccinations, deworming treatments, and check-ups. This is essential in keeping your new pup healthy and safe. Also, ask if they are providing any health guarantees or warranties so you know what to expect down the road. A responsible owner should be able to provide this information in writing.
According to American Kennel Club, the most important vaccines are distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvo, and parainfluenza (DHLPP), and the rabies vaccination.
Here is the recommended schedule according to the AKC:
| Age of Puppy | Core vaccines | Additional vaccines (optional) |
| 6-8 weeks | Distemper and parvovirus | Bordetella |
| 10-12 weeks | DHPP | Influenza, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, and Lyme |
| 12-16 weeks | DHPP and rabies | Influenza, Lyme disease, Leptospirosis, and Bordetella |
| 16-18 weeks | DHPP and rabies | Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella and Lyme disease |
| 1-2 years | DHPP | Influenza, Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, and Lyme disease |
| 1-3 years | Rabies | None |
The additional or optional vaccines will be as recommended by the vet. The vet will make a decision based on the dog’s lifestyle.
Health conditions
You should also watch out for any signs that suggest a puppy might have bad genes or an underlying illness. Look for signs that hint at poor nutrition, parasites or any other health problems that may affect your pup’s health in the future.
Be wary of German Shepherd puppies that seem too young — these could be flags of poorly managed breeding practices leading to unhealthy puppies hence being given out freely.
Training need
Even though German Shepherds are highly trainable, it’s still important to find a dog that has received at least the basic obedience training and has been socialized with people and other animals. This will make it easier for you to continue training them and will also make it easier for the dog to be integrated into your family.
Temperament
German Shepherds are known for their intelligence and loyalty, but they can also be strong-willed and protective. Make sure your lifestyle and experience level can match up a GSD’s temperament and personality.
History
The history of the dog is super important. You need to know things like the dog’s medical and behavioral history so as to ascertain whether or not the dog is a good match for your family. It is for this reason that we highly recommend getting a GSD from either a rescue organization or an animal shelter.
Conclusion
When you adopt a free German Shepherd, not only are you saving an animal’s life, but you are also saving a ton on neutering, vaccinations, and microchipping fees by paying the adoption price (at a small fraction of the cost), which means you’ve scored a major bargain.
Here are a few related posts you may find useful:
10 Reasons To Adopt A German Shepherd
Before Getting a German Shepherd: 10 Questions To Ask Yourself
$500 German Shepherd Puppy For Sale: Does it Make Sense?
Are German Shepherds Good for First-Time Owners?
