Depressed Dog??

Well, I can tell you that Willow didn't eat more than a few bits for almost a month when she came here.  We really thought something was wrong with her.  But, it took her over a month to start eating and then even longer to really adjust to everything else.  I'd say it was a good six or maybe even 8 months before she felt comfortable. 

Some dogs just decide "I'm not going to get excited about this or attach because humans ALWAYS leave or send *me* away."

It can take them a while to discover you 'mean it'.

Well, yeah.  The dog was in the shelter, learned behavior that kepther out of trouble, and who knows what sort of home she came from.  Adjusting to YOUR home is going to take time.

As an example, I placed a foster pup, perfectly normal, happy, stinker of a pup.  I did a bad job.  When he came back two months later he was withdrawn, overly eager to please, and would not touch a toy.  We had to teach him how to play with toys again and had a party, literally, when he swiped a plastic bottle from the recycling!

IF, as they say, dogs live in the here and now, they do so with shadows of the past and their own little fears.  She just needs time to feel safe, and to feel like this is truly her forever home.  Make a real effort to interact with her and TEACH her to play, that it's ok to play with her stuff.  Sometimes it takes awhile to figure out just what toy is going to hit their hot button.  Maybe take her shopping with you and see what lights a fire in her.

The shelter experience may or may not have impacted her.  I'm not saying it doesn't, but some dogs are just like this.  I have such a dog.  She's never been in a shelter, never been abused or neglected or wanting anything she couldn't or didn't already have....yet unless you are giving her some command or actively engaging her she prefers to lie/sit under a desk or table all day.  My dog is a full German Shepherd, pure working lines, so definitely a dog that would be expected to have a higher energy level and very high drive.  But no, she likes to just hide out all day long.  I don't really know the answer other than I think some dogs are just wired differently and are far more dependent on the owner to give them some direction.  My dog will run for miles and miles if that's what I am doing, but she isn't interested in making her own fun.  She is not interested in toys either (well she will chew on chew toys but not really play with me with toys).  I trained her entirely with food treats.  She is a very smart dog, easy to train, and has many titles in various dog events but there again, that is something where I am actively motivating her and instructing her what to do.  Just being around the house she hides in her "cave" (my husband calls it).

Enroll in a training class with a positive trainer.  The more training you do with her, the better.   Get a doggie backpack and let her carry a water bottle and some other light weight items on walks. 

You say she lays around and sleeps but you also say she looks bored and restless.  Try a flirt pole.  Maybe you just haven't discovered the activity that interests her.  A beginner's class in agility or obedience might be another option.  Does she get along with other dogs?  Maybe you can set up a play date with a friend with a dog friendly dog. 

You've gotten some great advice here.  Invite her to play.  Invite her to just be with you during this time of acclimation.  She's not sure this is her forever home.

When we first brought Bruder home from the shelter (about age 1)....he seemed a bit unsure about his surroundings.  I remember sitting outside with all three dogs; and Bruder layed way out of reach, far away from all of us.  When I invited him over to me, he came to me and layed beside me for a bit....then would go back to a retreated place. 

Continue to invite and teach her how to play.  You will likely need to try different things to find what excites her.  Walks are a great way to bond.  Training classes are EVEN better.  Great way for you two to bond.

It will just take a bit of time.  Don't feel sorry for her, that energy will travel to her.  Be positive; throw off energy as if its no big deal....you are here to stay.  She will start to feel more comfortable over time.

Bruder is a couch potatoe in general.  And, it took me quite a bit of experimenting to find what he likes to play with.  He doesn't like fetch.  Sometimes he liked to catch a frisbee.  BUT, his most favorite thing to do (aside from walks around the neighborhood) is the flirt pole.

Good luck!

thyroid, anemia, tick borne illness, can cause lethargy and would require more than a routine going over. The thyroid would be one to especially look at...given the age and breeds involved. Especially if there's anything else like itchiness or strange odors on the skin or missing hair anyplace. 

Actually, the german shepherd was bred to be an independent thinker and able to do a job without human intervention.

That said, all of mine have very different indoor and outdoor behaviors.  They have an "off switch" and know that the crazy running outside doesn't happen inside, and even that the long lead/off lead romp is different than the "working" lead walk.  German shepherds are very intelligent dogs and very, very trainable.

Someone suggested formal training, agility, etc, and I agree 200%.  While you might not feel like your dog needs much training, it is a wonderful bonding experience for the two of you.