Gunnar German Shorthaired Pointer Ingleside, IL

PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS:
Gunnar will require a FENCED YARD with room to run. Good with children and all people. NOT always good with other dogs so will be best to have a home where he is the ONLY DOG in the home. Not good with cats.

GUNNAR’S STORY:
Gunnar is a 10-year YOUNG GSP and behaves much more like a GSP puppy rather than a senior. He loves to run around in the yard where he can “let it all hang out”! Gunnar came to ISR from a situation where he was confined to a small outdoor kennel and chained up all the time. He had never lived inside a home and his confinement didn’t provide space for him to freely move around to get the exercise he now craves with his fosters. As you can see from the video, Gunnar absolutely LOVES his newfound freedom to run around in the fenced yard. His foster dad says this is one of Gunnar’s favorite pastimes!

Gunnar adores people and shows off the true definition of the GSP “wiggle butt” when he’s with them. As he greets people, his little tail and entire back end wiggle frantically and it’s so endearing to see how happy he is! He wiggles so hard it’s a wonder he can keep his balance! This boy was a favorite at the vet's office when he stayed with them for a bit after he was first rescued. They adored his personality and frequently let him "hang out" in the front office with them. He was also a favorite at one of our affiliate training facilities where he received some specialized training and socialization skills, including working with a young boy who's about 8 years old. Gunnar was an A+ student in all areas!

While Gunnar adores people of all ages (children, too) he’s not consistently good and accepting of other dogs; therefore, he’ll need to be in a home where he’s the only dog. He also barks at other dogs if they walk by the fence when he’s in the yard. Gunnar is not ok around cats.

As we mentioned, Gunnar is approximately 10 years young, but has the energy level of a much, much younger dog. His foster dad takes Gunnar on 2 neighborhood walks a day and Gunnar also gets to run in the back yard several times during the day. Gunnar is a big, strong dog and his new family will need owners who can meet his physical demands during walks and at other playtimes. He loves to play fetch with tennis balls and to zoom around the yard in typical GSP “zoomie” fashion.

Gunnar is truly a people dog and is happiest when he’s with them. He’s so receptive of people interactions and absolutely melts when he’s petted and loved. He has a favorite chair where he’ll curl up and nap when it’s time to wind down and get some R & R with his family. He much prefers this spot over his crate. His foster family is working on getting Gunnar more acclimated to being inside his crate, but Gunnar isn’t too thrilled with this option, so it’s still a work in progress. His foster family has also worked on some basic commands with Gunnar and he knows, “sit”, “come”, “Gunnar no”, and “uh-oh”. They’re also training Gunnar to “stay” when his crate door is opened and to actually release the ball when playing fetch. Gunnar is very sensitive to scolding and the word “no”. If he’s scolded his entire demeanor changes. His ears lay down and his big sweet eyes actually seem to say, “I’m sorry”. It’s apparent he doesn’t want to displease people.

Gunnar is very food motivated; training with treats has proven to be a good tool for his fosters. But, because Gunnar is very food motivated, he’s also an exuberant counter surfer, and in this case, we include trash receptacles and any other area where food may be within his reach.

In many ways Gunnar has just now, at this later stage in his life, been given the freedom to greet and explore his world the way he should have been able to as a puppy/youngster. Somewhat of a Curious George character in GSP form. Undoubtedly, because he was confined for much of his lifetime, his puppy tendencies for exploration can be just a tad troublesome if he isn’t supervised during his explorations. Gunnar wants to touch, grab, and yes…sometimes chew people items that are within his reach. His foster dad has found this true with tissue boxes, grocery bags, throw pillows, hats, scarves, socks, etc. Obviously, this late “puppy stage” isn’t usually expected in a 10-year-old, but Gunnar is exploring the inside of a house (and outside of confinement) for the first time in his life and he’s making the most of it. Moral: You may want to keep cherished items out of his reach until he learns not everything within his reach is a Gunnar toy!

Gunnar’s foster family loves this sweet “diamond in the rough” boy. They have so many kind things to say about him as seen from their following comments. “Gunnar is a very happy dog. Very friendly, affectionate, and wants to please. He loves praise and hates being scolded. He’ll look at you with those big eyes and melt your heart. Gunnar has a blanket and we use it for nights to cover his recliner and a spot on the couch. He’s earned a soft warm spot to rest, nap and sleep. His tail wagging will shake his whole rear end!” Gunnar’s foster dad also mentioned how amazed he is that Gunnar still has so much love to give, considering the life he lived prior to coming to ISR.

Gunnar deserves a warm, loving family. A family that will be patient and understanding as he continues to explore his new freedoms as an inside pet. We know Gunnar’s new family is just around the corner and hope it might be you. If you're interested in this sweet boy or any of our dogs, please complete our online adoption application at www.ilshorthairrescue.com. It’s the quickest and best way for us to learn of your interest.