My name is Gunner!

All Pound Dog Rescue dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, heartworm tested, de-wormed (if required), and micro-chipped prior to adoption. The adoption donation of $400 is applied to assist in the costs of veterinary care and the overall care of the dog.

We at PDR firmly believe in the importance of obedience training, regardless of breed or size of dog, and have a clause in our adoption contract requiring adopters to attend and complete a basic obedience course at a facility of their choosing. Only in certain circumstances will we waive this clause, so please be prepared to attend dog school should you wish to apply for a dog through our program.

For more information and adoption applications please consult our website at www.pounddog.ca.


Let me introduce you to this handsome guy, Gunner, a 8mth old German Wire Haired Pointer pup. Gunner weighs about 60lbs now and will add a few more as he continues to fill out. He is a solid, athletic, energetic boy looking for a family to call his own.

Gunner came to us as a 6mth old pup who was abandoned at a rural pound with an untreated broken leg. We never got a clear story on how the leg was broken so this still remains a mystery to us. We took Gunner in immediately and set about making him all better. He required complicated surgery to set his bones with metal rods which will remain in his leg for life. He just had his 8week recheck and we are thrilled to say that he is all healed up and doing great. The leg is strong and he’s running around like nothing happened. Gunner’s adoptive family will need to be aware of the rod in his leg and ensure he doesn’t jump from high places or do other hard impact activities to stress the rod, but otherwise he can lead a normal, active life.

Gunner is a sporting breed and as such needs daily exercise beyond a simple walk once a day. Running, hiking, biking, playing with other active dogs, and long walks are all things that Gunner should be involved in to be a happy young Pointer. He is a willing participant in all activities and the more you can do with him the better. He will require an active person (people) who don’t mind getting out in all kinds of weather. If you aren’t already a very active person or family then Gunner won’t be a good fit unfortunately. He needs to go to a family of sporty people (or person) who are already out every day participating in energetic pursuits. He will be your very best companion and that push you need to get out the door on cold or rainy days. Gunner is an all-weather, all-terrain dog and his wirey coat protects him from the elements and thickets, brush etc. Gunner’s favourite moments are in the fields and woods across from his foster home where he can run and explore and be a true Pointer. He will run through puddles without a care and the muddier he can get the better; and he loves being towelled off after, it’s just more cuddle time for him.

Gunner is a very smart dog and has picked up on obedience training very quickly so far. He is very food motivated so finding a training facility and program that uses food as an initial reward along with praise is key to success with him. Because he is so smart he will excel in obedience so we are looking for his adopter(s) to take him to classes beyond the basic obedience required with our adoption contract. The more you can do with Gunner the better as he is capable of great things. And with advanced training he will be able to be off lead which opens up a world of freedom for him on bush walks and trails. Gunner is very loyal to his people so we know he will develop a solid recall with advanced training and of course with some maturity. At this young age the draw of a running squirrel is still too much to expect him to ignore.

Gunner is extremely affectionate and ADORES his people. He loves cuddles and attention of any kind. He views himself as a lap dog and will try and get up on your lap at every opportunity. He doles out his love for you with ease and is always checking in for a quick hug or snuggle. He loves to rest his head on your shoulder when you are sitting down, getting right in tight to your neck and just staying like that for a few minutes enjoying the closeness. GWH Pointers are very loyal to their people and very devoted family dogs. They are also a generally friendly dog but can be wary of certain strangers and this describes Gunner perfectly. He has met a lot of people so far and has been happy and overtly friendly with most, but there is the occasional person he just isn’t comfortable with for whatever reason and will give out a bark with his deep voice. Continued socialization will expose him to even more people which is what he needs. This is another reason why continued obedience classes are going to be so beneficial to Gunner; the more he can be exposed to while he is young the better for this breed of dog.

Gunner is great in the car and travels very well. He is being fostered with other dogs and loves to play and interact with them. He would love a home with another rough and tumble young dog who loves to run and wrestle. He is also being fostered with cats and doesn’t bother with them. Our cats though are used to dogs and do not freak out or run from them. We would only send Gunner to a home with a cat that was accustomed to large dogs and knows how to behave around them. A cat that runs or hisses and spits will be too enticing for a young pup to want to chase. Gunner is not being fostered with children. Because he is a large and strong, clumsy pup still we wouldn’t be comfortable sending Gunner to a home with young children. But a family with kids in their teens would be just fine. Gunner will require a single detached home with a large, fenced yard where he can stretch his legs and run. He is very athletic so could easily jump a fence under 5ft tall so a taller fence would be ideal, or else you will have to watch him whenever he is out in the yard. A rural setting with a fenced yard will be the utmost ideal location for our rugged GWH Pointer but he could also do well in a subdivision setting provided he get his exercise.

Gunner’s love and devotion to his people comes at a bit of a price in that he does have separation anxiety when you leave the home. He needs to be crated when you are gone and he needs a sturdy, plastic crate with a secure locking door. Leaving him uncrated is not a possibility as he will get into mischief and cause damage, so crating is mandatory. He needs a family that will continue to work with him on his separation anxiety and who understand that he requires calm comings and goings so as not to amp up his anxiety. He will get better with time and maturity and consistency. He has just been bounced around a lot in his short life so far that we know of and this has led to him not wanting his beloved people to leave him. He will require a home where someone is around more often than not. Someone who works from home would be ideal, or a couple who work different shifts so someone is usually home. This of course doesn’t mean you have to live your life attached to Gunner; he will just need to be in his crate when you leave and shouldn’t be left alone for too long. He would be an excellent candidate for doggie daycare as he is very dog social, so this would be a great option on days when you would need to be away from the home for more than a few hours. He is coping well in his foster home as we are used to dealing with separation anxiety and we don’t get upset or bothered by the fact that gets upset and bothered. We treat our comings and goings very casually with him. In his foster home we work different shifts so one of us is home most times, but we’ve also had to crate him when we go out and now having him 2 months, hardly experience separation anxiety with him at all anymore. We know that upon going to a new home he is going to get anxious again but can assure anyone interested that he will get to the point that we have him at where he is rarely anxious; it just takes time and consistency and the proper setting for him….people home more than not so he’s not crated too long, people capable of tiring out a young Pointer so he’s relaxed and content, and people who will maintain a calmness about his crating. Anyone interested in Gunner will need to be accustomed to dealing with separation anxiety in a dog, or research it and understand what it is about and what techniques work best. We of course will explain fully what works best for Gunner in our home so that you can keep him on a similar routine.

Gunner is a loving, fun, happy and gorgeous dog who really needs some consistency in his life in order to be happy. He needs a family that will be devoted to him and will work with him to bring out his potential. He is the most affectionate dog we have ever fostered and he is so deserving of a loving home. He will be your absolute best friend ever. If you aren’t familiar with the German Wire Haired Pointer please research the breed before considering Gunner. They are more rugged than the more popular German Short Haired Pointer and are a bigger, stockier Pointer. They are loyal companions that are generally a healthy breed and stay active for most of their lives. Gunner is a real gem of a dog. In the right home he is going to flourish and just may be the best dog you ever have. We are looking for that perfect family or person for Gunner as we want his next home to be his forever home so he can truly settle in and feel secure.