From Haus-Neufus Bloodlines to Therapy Work: Meet Grimm
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
At Haus-Neufus, one of the most rewarding parts of breeding German Shepherds is seeing the lives they go on to impact. Grimm, a long-haired German Shepherd with a connection to the Haus-Neufus breeding program through his sire, is doing exactly that.
Grimm was recently featured by the Knoxville News Sentinel for his work supporting students at the University of Tennessee during midterm exams.
A German Shepherd Making a Difference
Grimm and his owner, Jordan Kaufman, participate in Human-Animal Bond in Tennessee (HABIT), an animal-assisted therapy program operated through the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.
During midterms, Grimm visited Pendergrass Library, where students could spend time with him, take a break from studying and decompress during a stressful part of the semester.
This wasn't a one-time appearance. Grimm and Kaufman also make weekly HABIT visits to the Veterans Resource Center at Hodges Library.
According to the original story, Grimm's calm temperament allows him to comfortably interact with students and handle the distractions and unpredictable environments involved in therapy work.
The Temperament Behind the German Shepherd
Stories like Grimm's are especially meaningful to us because Grimm's comes from Haus-Neufus breeding.
German Shepherds are known for their versatility, intelligence and willingness to work, but accomplishments don't always have to happen in a show ring or on a working field.
Sometimes success looks like a calm, confident German Shepherd lying beside a college student who just finished a difficult exam.
HABIT therapy dogs must demonstrate the ability to remain composed around unfamiliar people, wheelchairs, elevators, loud environments and other distractions. Grimm's ability to succeed in that environment is a wonderful example of the stable temperament and versatility we value in the German Shepherd Dog.
More Than Beautiful German Shepherds
At Haus-Neufus, our breeding program focuses on much more than appearance. We strive to produce long coat German Shepherds with sound temperament, intelligence, correct structure and the versatility to thrive in many different roles.
We're proud to see a dog carrying Haus-Neufus bloodlines representing the German Shepherd breed in such a positive way.
Congratulations to Grimm and Jordan on the important work they're doing for the University of Tennessee community.