Gus

Your Search for the Ultimate Cuddle Buddy Ends Here: Meet Gus!

This handsome, exceptional sweetheart is all about love. Gus is a champion cuddler, who lives for a good grass roll and a long walk (watch out for the squirrels, he’s strong!). He’s recently recovered from his knee surgery and is back to running and playing with joyful abandon.

Gus is a social butterfly with other dogs, adapting his play style for any friend he meets! He has never met a dog he didn’t adore, making him a fantastic choice for a home with dogs. Not only is Gus a canine charmer, but he’s also a proven cat friendly dog, happily sharing the couch and cuddling with cats in his previous home.

You can trust Gus when you need to run errands or go to work! He is reliably housebroken and completely comfortable being left alone for several hours, resting comfortably in his crate until you return.

Gus's main challenge is his "stranger danger." He is hesitant and uncomfortable with new people, especially when entering his home. This means he will thrive in a home with few visitors or an adopter dedicated to a clear management plan (like using a crate or a separate room when guests are over). He can be won over with a slow introduction and high-value treats, but patience and consistency are key. We are looking for an experienced, patient home willing to manage this behavior to keep Gus feeling safe and confident.

KNOWN WITH DOGS: Gus is a champion canine socializer, never having met a dog he didn’t love to run around with or

KNOWN WITH CATS: Gus is a perfect addition to a home with cats! He has lived with feline friends in a previous home and loved to cuddle with them on the couch.

KNOWN WITH KIDS: Gus has a proven history living successfully with children and is known to be affectionate and playful with the kids he knows. Because of his caution with new adult strangers, any introductions to new children should follow the same slow, managed process (using treats and distance) to help him feel comfortable. As he is a large, enthusiastic dog, he is best suited for a home with older, stable children who won't be easily knocked over during a zoomie session!

KNOWN CUES: Gus is an incredibly smart boy who absolutely loves to learn and thrives on mental enrichment! His current known cues include “touch,” “sit,” “down,” “paw,” and “wait.” Gus is enthusiastically working to master “spin,” “rollover,” and “place.” This intelligent pup is highly motivated by treats and attention, making him a joy to train and a perfect partner for anyone interested in continued obedience or trick training!

KNOWN HOUSEBREAKING AND/OR CRATING: Gus is fully potty trained, crate trained, and happy to relax on his own when you're away, demonstrating he can be safely left for up to 12 hours at a time.

KNOWN LIKES: When Gus isn’t snuggled up on the couch, you can find him happily engaged in his passions:

* Treats: High-value snacks are the quickest way to his heart (and a great way to help him make new friends!).

* Walks: He loves sniffing out the interesting scents on his neighborhood excursions.

* Toys: His favorites are squeaky toys that he can toss around and destroy and, of course, a good, durable chew toy or a challenge like a frozen Kong.

* Animal Friends: He adores playing with other dogs and is a proven cozy cuddler with both his canine and feline companions.

KNOWN DISLIKES: Gus's main challenge is new people approaching too quickly. He needs slow, managed introductions (ideally with treats!) to feel safe and comfortable. He tends to be more cautious around men initially, but once he warms up, he is just as loving and devoted to the men in his life as he is to women. Patience is key to earning this sweet boy’s devotion!

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If you are interested in adopting this dog, please fill out our dog adoption questionnaire and e-mail trailshomefarm@homewardtrails.org

PLEASE VISIT THIS WEBSITE TO FIND THE ADOPTION QUESTIONNAIRE: http://www.homewardtrails.org/adopt-a-pet/adoption-forms/

ADOPTION COORDINATOR: Trails Home Farm

LOCATION: Foster in Marshall, VA near the Trails Home Farm

HOW TO MEET THIS ANIMAL: Any dog at the Trails Home Farm or in foster require an appointment for any approved adopter to have a meet and greet.

Adoption Fee: $475

We are proud to partner with the following veterinarians who offer a free first exam for your animal, exclusively for HT adopters: Caring Hands Animal Hospital, Palisades Veterinary Clinic, Jermantown Animal Hospital, and Clarendon Animal Care and all VCA Animal Hospitals. Additionally, any VCA hospital will cover illnesses up to $250 at no cost to any Homeward Trails adopter. Just ask us how this works!

We also provide free online workshop with a professional dog trainer at Fur-Get Me Not within the first 30 days of adopting - just for HT adopters in the Arlington/Alexandria/Falls Church/DC area. Start your new dog out on the right foot with this valuable, expert guidance FREE!

You can save animals like this one by becoming a foster! Fosters are like way stations between high kill shelters and forever homes. We need fosters so that we can save dogs before they are euthanized at the shelters. If you are interested in becoming a foster, please check out our information about fostering by visiting http://www.homewardtrails.org/foster-a-pet/dog-and-cat-foster-program