Gabriel

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Meet Gabriel!

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He is an alert, engaging, on-the-go fellow.

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He is about 7 years old and has almost as much spring in his step now as when he first came to foster care at age 2. He was recently returned to New Rattitude after a long-term adoption due to the daughter's allergies.

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Gabriel stands 15" tall (at shoulders), is 15" long, and weighs 22 lbs.

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He is an active, social guy who loves people and wants to be right in the middle of whatever is going on.

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Gabe LOVES to go for walks and he walks well on leash, especially if you walk briskly or jog. He can get a bit manic, though, if he encounters another dog while on leash.

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Gabriel is reliably housetrained. He does know how to use a dog door but will tell you that he needs to go out by standing at the door and whining if a dog door is not available.

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"I'm ready to go out."

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"All done! Now I wanna come back in."

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He has a very athletic build.

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He likes to survey and patrol the yard, king of his domain. The deck landing is one of his favorite vantage points.

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So regal!

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Gabriel gets along great with other small dogs and likes playing with them.

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Although he is very reactive to strange dogs he meets while on leash, he does really well with ones who come into his house/yard, and after a few quick back-end sniffs, he is totally acclimated to them.

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He particularly likes Rat Terriers or other dogs who look like Rat Terriers. (He is a breed elitist.)
:->

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He was initially VERY vocal about these two fellows we met on a hike, because they're clearly not Rat Terriers, but within a few minutes he was okay (but wary) with them. The bigger and hairier the dog, the more uncomfortable he is and the longer it takes him to get acclimated.

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Checking out a new foster sister

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Play time! Click for a video.

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Gabriel LOVES to play tug-of-war.

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And he loves to get butt scratches!

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Gabriel LOVES tennis balls! He will play catch and fetch all day long if someone is willing to play with him. This video (Click the "Download WMV" link) shows him soon after he learned to chase the tennis ball -- but before he learned to bring it back.

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Gabe has now learned to catch a tennis ball in the air. (Before, he used to let them bonk him on the head.) And he has learned to give it back so you can throw it again! Click for a video.

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Gabriel has excellent house manners indoors. He doesn't mess with things that are not his. He does get very barky when he is excited, like when Gary comes home from work or when he spies a squirrel in the back yard.

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Gabriel communicates a lot with his eyes.

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Aw, come on, isn't it dinner time yet?

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Hey, I think I need a bigger bed!

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Gabriel does have a strong personality and would do best with an experienced dog owner who will continue his training.

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He is SOOO social and SOOO confident that he could be a little overwhelming for a household wanting a low-key, always-predictable dog.

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Gabriel NEVER chews on furniture or other non-dog things. But when he is given something to chew on, he is a very STRONG chewer and needs big, very durable chew toys that he can't just swallow. Here he is with a brand new X-Large antler, which kept him busy for two weeks!

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Waiting for Gary to throw the ball.

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Bringing his ball in hopes you'll grab it and throw it for him.

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"Come on, throw it! Throw it!"

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Click for a video of Gabe playing ball. This was taken before he became a pro at catching balls in the air.

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Gabriel's show off session. He learned "spin," "other way," and "shake" within one week. This was taken at the end of that week, so in the video he was still not a pro, but definitely making progress!

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Click for a video of Gabe playing and "talking." He has a wide range of vocalization. Besides barking, he yodels, grumbles, gurgles, and sings. While his vocalization often resembles growling, it is just part of his normal language and he does not mean it as threatening.