Alright MUTTs fam, it’s time to introduce our latest adoptable superstar: Gus! Gus is a two-year-old mutt mix (a bit of Shepherd, a bit of Rottie, a lot of mutt!) who came to us as an owner surrender (please see his introduction post for more). This dapper gentleman has been described as “the perfect dog” by several of the humans who’ve been lucky enough to be in his company! Being that he is an adaptive and easy-going dog, we know that Gus will have no trouble finding his family!

Thanks to the dedication and care of his previous owner, Gus will be arriving to his adoptive home fully-loaded: he is potty trained, crate trained, a master of many commands, a friend to all (though not yet cat-tested), and a fantastic sidekick for any adventure! Before Gus landed with his foster, he spent two weeks with a boarder, who gave Gus a five-star review: “This angel loves other dogs and plays very nicely with all breeds and sizes. He’s not dominant or submissive…he is PERFECT!” Gus’ current foster home has two dogs and he’s had no issues fitting right in (even with the resident reactive dog – Gus would rather avoid the reactivity than join in). Though having another dog is not a requirement for his adoptive family, we know Gus would appreciate regular trips to the off-leash dog park! He loves socializing with other dogs and is described as a “middle of the pack” guy: non-reactive, social, friendly and responsive!

Gus is a medium-energy pup who prefers to get his activity in during daylight hours. He loves his walks (a bit of a puller, which his foster is working on) and is lucky enough to spend time at his fosters’ cottage, where he zoomies to his heart’s content! Gus really likes birds and will chase, but he’s easily corrected and will leave them alone when told. Once the evening hits, Gus plops down on the floor and snoozes away, preferring to curl up right in the middle of the action (kitchen floor during meal time, etc.). His desire to be close to his humans is more so a protective instinct, as he doesn’t show any separation anxiety. He loves to lie at his humans’ feet and will happily join you on the couch or bed if allowed (hoping for the chance to cover you with face licks!). Around 9 or 10pm, Gus puts himself to bed in his crate. He really loves his crate, so this will be on the list of Gus-essentials for his adoptive family!

As far as family dogs go, Gus is a top pick! He has the classic Rottweiler instinct to protect his family, so he is standoffish and vocal towards any newcomers. He has a big bark, which could be scary to some, but once his presence is acknowledged by the new human(s), he quiets down and accepts pets. His foster have two little kids who he adores (though, like with adults, he just needs a second to decipher threat-level upon first meeting). Gus is a bigger guy, coming in at 70lbs, and he loves to run up to the kids and give them kisses. He could absolutely be in a home with respectful kids of any age as long as his family understands his size!

Gus is microchipped, up to date with his vaccines and neutered. His previous owner believed that Gus suffered from seizures and insisted that he be treated accordingly. After meeting with our vet, it is believed that he does not, in fact, have seizures and is being weaned off of the medications. That said, his previous owner had a great pet insurance policy for Gus and his family has kept up with the payments, which covers a neurologist visit and MRI. The family is willing to transfer the policy to his adoptive family, meaning there will be no gap in coverage. Should Gus ever actually suffer from a seizure or any other general medical issue, he will be covered – an absolute blessing for his new family!

An angel, a gentleman, the perfect companion, the bestest buddy … just a few of the ways we can describe our boy Gus! If you think this dapper fellow would make a great addition to your family, get that application in before the MUTTS team decides to make him our new mascot!

SOCIABILITY: Humans (adults and kids) and dogs; not cat tested
ENERGY: Medium
QUIRKS: He lays on the floor wherever his human is – he’s a very cute tripping hazard! He also barks when given the “speak” command!
TRAINING NEEDS: Leash skills (learning not to pull)
WEIGHT: 70lbs
MEDICAL NEEDS: Waiting on results of 4dx bloodwork; currently being weaned off of seizure medication (so far, so good!)
FOSTER LOCATION: Toronto