Welcome to RAGOM, Gunner! Gunner is a neutered Golden Retriever weighing in at 83 pounds. His age is estimated to be between 3-5 years old. Gunner was found wandering in a swampy area in Northern Minnesota. He was thought to be a black dog until he was rinsed off by an animal control officer and a Golden Retriever emerged. The officers named him Gunner. Gunner spent 30 days in an animal control facility waiting for his family to find him, but no one came. Thank you, Grand Rapids Animal Control, for taking such good care of him and for contacting RAGOM.

Gunner is a big lovable cuddle bug who insists on being petted by using the classic Golden Retriever nose nudge. He loves to meet new people and dogs. Gunner knows many commands: sit, down, shake a paw, heel, release, stop, and come. He trots and prances along at an even pace on our walks and does not pull on the leash. During our walks, Gunner likes when I rest my hand on his head.

The Big Guy is totally housebroken, has never marked in the house, and has had free roam from the moment he walked into our house. He is not crate trained, which is no problem, because he can be trusted with free roam.

He is now up-to-date on his vaccinations and has been microchipped. During his wellness exam, Dr. Kalinowski found that Gunner has a bacterial ear infection which is being treated with ear drops. When Gunner was rescued, he was covered with ticks. It is no surprise that he tested positive for the Lyme bacteria. Because he is showing no symptoms of Lyme disease, no treatment is needed.

Gunner is an easy-going, mellow guy most of the time (unless he’s on squirrel watch). He is skittish when he hears a sudden noise and is unsettled during thunderstorms. (It is important to stay by him during a storm.) Gunner is a Velcro dog. If I am sitting on the couch or lying in bed, he prefers to be right by my side. He never jumps up without asking our permission. If I tell him to come up, he slowly lumbers up and lays his big head on my lap and falls asleep with a contented sigh.

Gunner does not answer to the name, Gunner. (As a matter of fact, he is terrified of guns and bolts when he hears gunshots.) We have tried many names on the Big Guy to see if he responds. No luck yet.

Because we do not know how Gunner became lost, he will need a home with a physically fenced-in yard. Gunner has been with us for only one week. He is still settling in. We will need more to time to figure out what his needs and wants are. As we get to know him better, more updates will follow...