Sorry to hear he didn't make it! But I guess it wasn't meant to be for some reason.

So, do you think he'll end up staying with you on a 'long term' (aka-forever) basis?

Ms. Berry,

No... I think there is a family who lost their GSD of many years, and are a likely match with Gunther. I wouldn't mind if he was here for a week or so but the objective is to get him into a forever home. So...

The family has children who are almost and teens. And they will have the summer to get acquainted.

Unfortunate that he didn't pass the physical, but this family does sound like a good match for him.

That's awesome, they sound like a great fit!

Mike, as much as I love to see a dog get a consistent job to do, a family with kids and one who has had a GSD in the past is a wonderful new home. My GSD as a child was a big factor in shaping my life, not an exaggeration. So a good GSD is priceless in a family with children.

Great job, Mike, I admire you.

That's great news Mike! it sounds like Gunther has multiple wise and caring people looking out for him now, and I hope they find him the very best family as soon as possible. How heartbreaking to learn about that hip, after Gunther showed SO much promise for a working job... hopefully he'll still be able to live a long and healthy life, despite such a poor upbringing. And I wholeheartedly share your last remark... I just don't GET some people...

~Natalya

Wow. This really scared me.

My 9 month old puppy spends a lot of time in his crate, while I am at work, overnight, and dividing my time among my other 3 dogs. He MUST be crated (when not supervised) because he eats/swallows everything he can. Also he shreds and consumes almost all bedding, with the exception of one fleece blanket which is all he has to lay on.

I wish I didn't have to crate him so much but I never knew it could hurt his hips!!!! Here I have been so careful with walking on concrete, jumping and excessive running and here his crate could be doing it (harming his joints).

Did Gunther have any type of bedding in his crate and if not, would that have helped?

I am soooo sorry about what happened with Gunther, it is such a shame because he could have done the work if not for this. And now his hip is bad. All I wish for him is to find a wonderful home that understands his drive and medical needs.

yeah.... thanks.... it just jumped out at me probably because of how guilty I feel about my poor boy. (I think I have separation anxiety, too!) I do take him out as often as I can, hopefully it will be even more often when my 2 fosters find homes (the pup cannot be out with them). He gets along marginally well with my female or I should say, SHE gets along marginally with HIM. Also I bought a very large crate so my pup can stretch out and shift position as well as stand up. I feel bad about his (lack of) bedding though, just that one blanket, but he eats everything.

Poor Gunther, he probably had a teeny crate and no exercise, and that's not good for any dog let alone a working-bred dog. Did he have callouses on his elbows? If so he probably didn't have good bedding.

The good that did come out of it, is that the people realized they weren't doing him any good and gave him up. They could have kept him like that 5 more years before surrendering the poor boy. I hope they do NOT get another dog. And Gunther is in much better hands now and sounds like he is blossoming.