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PO Box 34676
Kansas City, MO 64116

Last Updated:
3/28/2024 2:31 PM
 

Gunnar's Web Page

German Shepherd Dog  : :  Male  : :  Adult  : :  X-Large


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Learn more about the German Shepherd Dog.

About Gunnar

  • Status: Adopted!
  • Adoption Fee: 350.00
  • Species: Dog
  • General Color: Black with Tan, Yellow or Fawn
  • Current Age: 4 Years 2 Months (best estimate)
  • Housetrained: No

GUNNAR is a big, super happy, friendly one year old who has a TON of energy and needs a LOT of room to run and blow off that energy!  He’s got a fantastic personality, gets along with humans and dogs, and just needs a very active family and the ability to run!
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BACKSTORY
Gunnar has survived a LOT of human cruelty in his first months of life.  And now he deserves a fabulous life of freedom, play, love and comfort with a fantastic family! 

At just 10 months old Gunnar was shot by a neighbor, who illegally used a shotgun in a city neighborhood (thank heavens no kids were around!).  He was taken to a shelter, where they called us and we immediately arranged to get him to a specialist at Blue Pearl.  Sadly, his leg was so shattered by the buckshot that the bone could not be repaired – the surgeon found there was not enough bone left to anchor surgical pins.. So Gunnar lost his left front leg and became a tripod.

But if you think that’s slowed him down, think again!  He’s one of the fastest dogs we’ve ever had and doesn’t seem to even miss that leg (often true with tripod dogs).  In addition we think he may have been hit by someone fairly often, because at first he also cowered and cringed in a corner if a hand even came near his head.

PERSONALITY
Despite the cruelties he suffered at the hands of awful humans in the first months of his life, this boy is a lover and one happy dude!!!  Once he started feeling better after surgery, he was ready to get on with life and started rockin’ ‘n rollin’.  He couldn’t wait to play with the other dogs in his foster home – even before he was medically cleared it was tough confining him to finish his healing because he wanted to play sooooo badly..  He’s now able to play with the other dogs and would do so endlessly if allowed. 

HOUSE MANNERS
We think Gunnar was thrown out in a backyard and ignored all or most of the time, because he has no understanding of manners.  He’s a bull in a china shop and needs space, room, and lots of continued training.  He’s easily bored and when not supervised and/or tired, will “entertain” himself by getting into all kinds of things.  He’s knocked over a whole rack of plants waiting to be planted and pulled a computer off a desk at his foster home..  He’s actually learning a fair amount – he’s smart as a whip, just bull-headed – but he was starting from a deficit position and still has a long path in front of him.  His new family will need to love him enough to spend the time with him that will both blow his energy and further his education. 

PEOPLE
He likes all people and has been great with everyone he’s met so far.  We do not recommend small children just due to his size, strength and young-lunkheaded-bull-in-a-china-shop nature right now.  At the Rescue Madness Tournament (where he took the silver!), he was the standout star of the show – going around to greet e.v.e.r.y.o.n.e., say hi, ask for pets from the humans and play from the dogs.  He was literally a social butterfly and was great with all of them,  including the little dogs.

OTHER ANIMALS
Gunnar  MUST have a dog buddy to help blow his energy.  He’s in a foster home with several other dogs, including a puppy, and does well with all of them.  But he’s also big, strong, fast, energetic and plays rough (mouths, body slams and more) so his ideal dog buddy would be a medium or larger dog who (a) plays a lot, and (b) plays rough-and-tumble.   Ideally, his new family will also continue teaching him to gentle down his play and respect it when the other dog says ‘enough.’  CATS:  unknown at this time.   FARM ANIMALS:  unknown at this time.

ENERGY LEVEL
High, high, high.  Must have an active family AND a lot of room to run, play and wear himself out.  It takes a LOT to wear him out completely!  He’s also be a great candidate for treadmill training to help blow his energy.  We think his energy comes from a combination of factors --busting out of his old life, sheer joy in his new life, having had zero training, being a naturally energetic young lunkhead. .

TRAINING
On May 1 he went into professional training with one of our long-time trainers, to help him with his general manners and gentling down his rough doggie play style.  He's a bull in a china shop and has been learning in his foster home to dial down his enthusiasm, but we wanted to help him speed that process up a little.  So his new family will not only have the benefit of his training, they'll also have some ongoing support from  his trainers for questions, etc. 

Gunnar's original owner didn't teach him anything and allowed him to run wild, doing whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.  We're now correcting that so that he understands boundaries and rules, and he's a smart guy who's learning.  He’s a smart boy and can learn quickly, it's simply that right now he's like most young, strong, untrained GSDs -- a bull in a china shop and sometimes bull-headed.  He's not quite ready yet for tea with the queen, but he will be.  His new family will just need to continue his training while he finishes maturing.

MEDICAL
Completely healed and in excellent health.  Neutered, up to date on shots, heartworm negative.  Is on a joint supplement and needs to be on it permanently.

REQUIREMENTS TO ADOPT
Must be VERY active and have lots of room for him to run and blow off steam.  Must have a good-sized fenced yard for lots of exercise.  Must be willing to continue his training on boundaries, rules and manners.  Must have lots of patience to get him through this phase of his life (young lunkhead), energy (bull in china shop), and transition (untrained youngster to mannered adult).   Recommend older kids only, simply due to Gunnar’s size (XL), strength (XL), and very high energy.   Gunnar also MUST have a resident doggie buddy of similar size and play style (rough and tumble) who can tolerate/enjoy nonstop play.

SUMMARY
Gunnar is one of the best personalities you’ll find – friendly, happy, loving, fun, goofy.  He’s basically a big lug who’s got tons of energy and needs manners!  He gets along with everyone he’s met, both humans and dogs.  He’s even great with little dogs.  His only ‘issue’ is his high energy (getting enough exercise) and training (learning good manners). 

He’s looking for that one very special family who will help turn complete his transformation from  diamond-in-the-rough into the brilliant sparkler he really is – and have loads of fun and laughs doing it.

Are you highly active?  Got a fenced yard?  Got a resident dog with high energy who plays hard/rough?  Want a loving, friendly, goofy buddy?  Need a buddy who greets every day with joy and will make you smile no matter how bad things get?  Willing to help him grow up and learn manners?    Got time to exercise, play, teach?  Gunnar will be the light of your life and family!


If you're active and want an energetic, goofy, gorgeous, young, super happy and
trainable German Shepherd to have adventures with,
GUNNAR is your guy!


GUNNAR'S ADOPTION FEE:   $350

This fee covers only part of what we spend to vet, board and rehab the dogs we save.  On average we spend over $450 on each dog.  We made a decision to keep our adoption fee at the 2005 level even though vet prices have doubled and tripled since then.  We are constantly fundraising to cover the deficit.  At minimum, your adoption fee includes the dog's spay/neuter, heartworm test, heartworm treatment if needed, rabies shot, distemper/parvo shot, bordatella shot, deworming, monthly heartworm and flea preventives, and microchip.  In many cases it also includes surgery and various types of vet treatment for standard issues such as hot spots, ear infections and so on.


INTERESTED IN ADOPTING GUNNAR?
Complete an Adoption Application Now!

STOP!! READ THIS BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER!

  1. We're picky about our adopters. 
  2. Are you sure you're up to having a GSD?  They're not for everyone.  They take a lot of time, effort, training.  They shed year round.  They're big.  They scare lots of people.  They "mouth" and herd.  They're usually strong-willed and stubborn.  You have to have references and a home visit.  If you're not willing or able to deal with any of this, please don't waste your time or ours applying.  
  3. Will the dog be an inside family pet? We do not adopt to outdoor-only homes. All dogs must be indoor dogs.
  4. Do you leave your dog outdoors when you're not home?   We do not adopt to homes that leave their animals outside when they're gone.  You must put your dogs indoors when you're gone.  A 3 yr old adopted MOGS dog died when the owners went to run errands, left her outdoors, the gate was somehow opened, and she was hit by a car.  Tragic and 100% preventable. Even privacy fences get broken into.  Gates are opened.  Thieves steal dogs. Never leave your dog outdoors when you're not home!!
  5. What's your plan for unexpected events and major changes?  New baby? Divorce?  Moving?   How you will provide for your dog if your family breaks up? 
  6. Will you make a lifetime commitment?  It's your responsibility to keep your dog safe, loved and cared for FOR LIFE.
  7.  Do you understand we expect you to keep that lifetime commitment?  It's YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to stick by your family member -- no matter what.
  8. Are you unable or unwilling to make a lifetime commitment? Do not apply.



 

Have Questions? Email us at mogsrescue@gmail.com

Thank you for considering a homeless dog or cat.

Other Pictures of Gunnar (click to see larger version):

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