Moose – Adopted
Most important things to know about me:
I’m Moose, an energetic and strong 4-1/2-year-old GSP. My family thinks I could have some Lab in my genetic make-up but I sure do exhibit all the most characteristic GSP traits. My mom and dad got me when I was about a year-old and they have spent a lot of time training me as well as having a professional trainer work with me. I know lots of commands including all the common ones as well as heel, drop it, all the way down, and more. I am crate trained and stay in my crate when no one is home as well as at night for bedtime. I am allowed on one couch at home and I’m very respectful about staying off of other furniture. I’m also house trained unless I’m awfully excited or if someone ignores my signals to go outside. I tend to guard my food so I would probably be best as an only dog. I am friendly with adults once I know who they are but can be anxious with guests in the house, finding it hard to sit still. I patrol them and sometimes bark at them. I should not be with younger children because I’m just too strong and somewhat reactive. My dad says I’m a bull in a China shop with kids! The main reason my family wants to find me a new home is that I nipped their toddler on her arm. But they don’t really blame me because she provoked me by pulling on me and they were not supervising us at the time. In addition, they will be having another baby very soon and they realize that they will just not have time to give me the attention and exercise that I need.
I am a super vigilant dog especially as I’m looking out the window and hear sounds and see things that stimulate me and I often bark at what I see or hear. Of course . . . I’m very tuned in! Most of the time I am good with other dogs but sometimes I can be reactive especially when meeting another dog on leash. When I go to Rocky Hill Ranch for boarding, I’m in heaven with the other dogs but that’s because all of us are off leash. We play and play and chase each other all day. The people there think I’m pretty great!
My mom and dad haven’t seen me with cats but they think I would be far too interested in one and would most likely chase it. Yup. I am, after all, a really vigilant dog.
I love being with my mom and dad and am very affectionate. Let’s face it . . . I am a true Velcro dog. What I like most about my life now is being outside with them, running and, as my dad says about me, he is “most well behaved when he’s able to hike off leash in the mountains in an area that is not super crowded. Most of the time I will start him on a leash and once we get a couple miles out from the trailhead, I’ll let him off. He loves staying within about 30 yards of us while we are hiking and is very aware of our location (doesn’t let us out of his sight). “ I am trained on an e-collar and only need the tone signal. I know that the vibration is only used as a warning. I’m a good heeler, especially when meeting other people on a trail or sidewalk. My dad and I just calmly walk by. Here’s kind of a strange thing about me: I’m anxious when hearing some normal sounds like sizzling, or steam from a pressure cooker, or when the smoker is running. I’m not aggressive but I do cower and tuck my tail. I don’t think I would be up for hunting because my dad took out his hunting rifle to clean it shortly after they brought me home and it scared me. I went to the corner and tucked my tail. He knew I was frightened so my dad has never taken me hunting.
I would not be good in a family with small children but older children might be fine. Because I’m very playful and affectionate, I would like a lot of time with my new family, especially outdoors on hikes and running with the wind. Wearing my training collar during those times is really good for me because it keeps me safe and I know that it’s important to quickly return to my dad. And I always do. I have bonded very closely with my family, especially with my dad.
I think the best home for me would be with a very active family that spends a lot of time outdoors. They would have no small children, would have lots of time to spend with me and would be very loving. A strong bond with at least one member of the family is very important to me. Another dog might be OK, probably a female, but that would not be necessary.
