Free Dog to Good Home

GutshotApe · 12-20-2003, 01:52 PM

After a lot of thinking about it, I have decided to give my dog Waldo away if a good home can be found for him. I got him as a pup back in July and posted several photos of him then on Ifish.

He's about 7.5 months old now, weighs probably 65 lbs., has been neutered, has all shots, sleeps indoors and is housebroken...he likes people, especially kids, doesn't fight with other dogs and likes riding in cars, pickups and boats. He's good to go. He is also 100% gunshy.

I want a hunting dog and unfortunately, Waldo ain't it. I've tried to get him used to shooting...but nothing seems to work. I've taken him duck hunting several times this fall but he is afraid of the noise...runs off and hides. The place I hunt has several ponds and Waldo remembers where shooting happened before and won't follow me when sneaking up on those places. At my duck blind he hangs back and stays at the edge of the field until "the coast is clear"...then might come out to the blind...maybe. But if he does, the first time ducks come in and the shooting starts, he bolts.

Otherwise he is a good dog and would make someone a nice pet...or watchdog...as long as they didn't want to shoot around him.

He was sold to me as a 8-week-old pup and the woman claimed he was 100% Labrador...it is apparent that he is "mostly lab" - probably 95% - but I think there may be some non-lab genes in his makeup.

Anyhow, if anyone wants a dog...or knows someone who does...and can assure me Waldo won't end up at the vivisection labratory, I will give him to you free of charge.

The picture shows Waldo on the shore of the flooding Calapooia River last saturday.

EDIT: Looks like Waldo has a new home. GSA 12-23-03 9:08pm

[ 12-23-2003, 09:08 PM: Message edited by: GutshotApe ]

Fish Hawk Adventures · 12-20-2003, 05:47 PM

You may have exhausted all of you efforts on waldo, however I want to tell you about one of our dogs Drake. This was a dog that came to us via the pound. The dog catcher was a good friend to our family and new that the dog had good blood. Drake was about a year and a half old when we got him. He is a lab and golden mix. The owners beat him and left him in the kennel all the time cuz he was gun shy. Drake was also afraid of fireworks and thunder. The 4th of july fireworks made drake run and that is how we got him.

So now we had a dog with good blood, loves to hunt and retreive and he is deadly afraid of loud noises. We tried and tried and just about when we were going to give up we took him to a field trail. He was on a leash and was trying to run each time the guns went off. One of the trainers suggested that we steak Drake out in the field so he can see the birds release and the gun go off killing the bird, then he would see the dogs go after the birds and bring them back. This he watched for most of the day. At the end of the trials the trainer asked if we wanted to let Drake have a turn and we said no thanks I am sure he is going to run. Well all day of seeing the other dogs get excited and retrieve the birds and get priase did the trick. They let the drake go and flush the bird and it was shot and Drake ran to the bird and retrieved the bird just like a pro. From that day forward if you step twords the gun cabinet Drake will rip the door down if he does not get to go hunt with you. He is gun shy no longer, he is still afraid of fireworks and thunder and we deal with that by taking him away from that kind of activity. To this day drake is getting old but I would put him up against any other lab out there home trained and I bet he will outperform them in the upland field. (pheasent). I have not ever seen a dog with the drive and heart that he has, My family has had Brittanys, Short hairs, labs, Leullen Setters and the dog that we were about to give up on turn out to be the best we have ever had the pleasure of hunting behind.

So GSA, you may want to try something like this before you give up. We talked to many trainers on Sauvies Island and this is what the suggested to do.

Good luck
Joe

[ 12-20-2003, 06:50 PM: Message edited by: TALONS ]

Chromaflage · 12-20-2003, 07:36 PM

GSA - you have a PM.

ORS

Tilla · 12-20-2003, 09:43 PM

Man it breaks my heart.....I will ask around.
I do know some really good looking ready for x-mas pups in Warren right now only if you are interested...

GutshotApe · 12-20-2003, 09:56 PM

Thanks...

I do plan to "re-dog"...but not right away. I'll be moving as soon as I sell my current house and want to wait until I'm settled in the new place before getting a new pup.