Belgian Shepherd Malinois and German Shepherd Dog Dogs Available for Adoption in Santa Cruz, California

Meet the Mushroom-themed Malinois German Shepherd mix puppies! This group of 8 puppies were surrendered to the Shelter after someone had an accidental litter. Mom is a German Shepherd Malinois while Dad is a German Shepherd. At three months old, these puppies are still perfecting life skills and manners like potty training, leash walking and age-appropriate, thoughtful socialization. These small-ish puppies will grow to be large breed (likely 75lbs or more). Adopters should plan to do breed specific research to learn all things nose to tail about both breed make-ups as they do require daily mental and physical stimulation beyond the average dog. The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation is now offering “Pawsitivity Bucks” with every dog adoption. This $200 training voucher is a way for newly adopted canines and their guardians to connect with local positive reinforcement based behavior consultants and get their relationship started off on the right paw! Please note: Our Santa Cruz location’s Shelter hours are 11-6pm, 7 days a week! Although clients can walk through and see any animals in their kennels during open hours, we end “meet and greets” (aka meeting an animal out of the kennel) at 4:30pm every day. If you’d like to meet an animal out of the kennel, please arrive before 4:00pm to allow for time to discuss individual animals and meet them.

The Belgian Shepherd Malinois is a versatile and intelligent working dog breed known for its agility, loyalty, and protective nature. Originating from Belgium, these medium-sized dogs have a distinctive short coat in shades of fawn with a black mask. Malinois excel in various roles such as military, police, search and rescue, and as loyal family companions. With proper training and socialization, the Belgian Shepherd Malinois thrives on mental stimulation and physical activity to channel its high energy levels effectively.

The German Shepherd Dog, known for its intelligence, loyalty, and versatility, is a popular and highly regarded breed worldwide. This breed excels in various roles such as police work, search and rescue, and assistance for individuals with disabilities. German Shepherd Dogs are strong, agile, and confident with a distinctive double coat that can be straight or wavy. Their character is marked by courage, loyalty, and a strong work ethic, making them ideal companions and protectors for families and professionals alike.

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is a non-profit Joint Powers Authority (EIN 90-0039494) serving the County of Santa Cruz,...