Gizmo!!
Age: 10 months
Coat: Smooth, easy to care for coat
Sex: Male
Location: Foster home in Williamsburg, VA
Meet Gizmo!
At 10 months of age and 45 pounds, Gizmo is a dynamic –and often rambunctious – adolescent. He’s extremely bright, inquisitive, vocal, and athletic. These traits make him an excellent candidate for an energetic partner but not as a laid back family companion. He excels at active, outside activities like hiking through the woods off leash, retrieving games, etc. He loves hanging out with his people and “assisting” (more like supervising!) with daily chores. Once bonded, he has proven to be an excellent companion - leaving wildlife alone and keeping an eye on his walking partner and checking in frequently on rambles through the woods.
Unfortunately, Gizmo has urinary incontinence issues that – while reasonably well controlled on medication – will continue to have an impact throughout his life. Despite his twice daily medication,
it appears as though he will always need to urinate more frequently than is typical.
He’s an early riser and needs to go out PDQ to avoid housetraining accidents… and is not shy about letting you know when he is up and needs to go out… RIGHT THEN!
Gizmo missed out on important maternal lessons in socialization, communication, and impulse control
due to having been removed from his mother at too early an age. While he is very affectionate and loves interacting with people, the medication treating the incontinence, unfortunately, acts as an additional stimulant for a naturally rambunctious dog, so he does best with adults or older children. He is very attuned to his environment and quick to bark at any changes. A home in a more rural setting providing much less visual and audio stimulation than he would encounter in an urban / suburban type of setting - as well as providing lots of space and opportunities to exercise his boundless energy - would be most appropriate. Gizmo is quite food oriented and responds well to positive, reward based training methods.
He respects the cats and some of the older dogs in his foster home, but tends to act rudely around his peers, so he would do best in a home as an only dog. He is too restless and energetic to be a good candidate for a “latch key” dog home. Instead, people who are home “working” the farm and are looking for a companion dog to accompany them would be ideal. (No free range chickens need apply… too much temptation while unsupervised over time, I suspect)
He is extremely intelligent and demonstrates an aptitude for problem solving when presented with challenges like hard to reach toys and treats. He rides well in the car, walks well on a leash, and is consistent at checking in while going for runs off leash. Sitting and waiting at gates, doors, etc are coming more easily to him. He is learning to confine his attention to appropriate dog toys rather than objects that do not belong to him. He has a quirky habit of piling his toys (kongs, treat balls, etc) up at the gate for me to ??admire?? and then sitting expectantly waiting for me to open the gate (sometimes barking encouragement if I take longer than he feels is necessary). Maybe he thinks HE’s rewarding ME for opening the gate?! Too funny!
Gizmo likes chasing balls, playing games of tug with his fuzzy toy duck, and extracting the food from treat balls and frozen, stuffed kongs, among other games.
He is quite affectionate and loves belly rubs and lots of personal attention / interaction – especially in the evenings while lounging in the den. His ability to remain still and focused is improving but continues to be a work in progress. It is comical to watch him pick up a toy, stick, piece of paper, etc and entertain himself until something else catches his eye and he moves on to the next thing.
Gizmo is up to date on vaccinations, heartworm and flea / tick preventatives. He will be neutered before going to a new home.
Gizmo is being fostered in the Williamsburg, VA area. For more information regarding this engaging dynamo, please contact his foster mom, Cathy, during the week at her office by email paw@widomaker.com or by phone 757-253-1462. Evenings and weekends she can be reached at 757-565-0269.
*** Click Here to Apply to Adopt Gizmo * special needs*! ***
