Cody (NC)

Cody is a 2-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer currently being fostered in Monroe, North Carolina, and he is officially ready to find his forever home.


If you are familiar with the breed, Cody is exactly what you would expect from a young GSP — athletic, intelligent, driven, energetic, stubborn, affectionate, and always looking for the next adventure. This is not a dog that wants to spend his life laying around the house. Cody is happiest when he has a purpose, a job, and an active human willing to include him in daily life.


After spending months completing heartworm treatment and strict kennel rest, Cody is more than ready to get back to being a dog. He loves fetch, frisbee, retrieving, hiking, boating, sniff work, “find it” games, and would likely excel in activities such as barn hunt or other dog sports. He naturally retrieves and brings toys back, and while he has very good recall overall, he does have that typical stubborn GSP personality where occasionally he decides he’s done following your rules.


Cody has prior e-collar training, knows basic commands, and is eager to engage with his people. Because his activity had to be heavily restricted during heartworm treatment, his adopter will need to continue refreshing his training and leash manners as he transitions back into a fully active lifestyle. He currently walks on a gentle leader and does much better off leash than on leash, which is very common for dogs accustomed to freedom and movement.


Cody is not suited for a low-energy household. He requires both physical exercise and mental stimulation every single day. If he is not mentally and physically fulfilled, he will absolutely let you know. This is not a dog that will be happy simply going outside for potty breaks and then lounging on the couch all day. He thrives when he is outside exploring, training, playing, hiking, or actively engaged with his people.


Despite his nonstop energy, Cody is also an incredibly loving and affectionate dog. He bonds deeply with his humans and has brought endless joy, laughter, and entertainment to his foster home, even throughout the difficult months of heartworm treatment and confinement. He is goofy, vocal, entertaining, and full of personality.


Cody is excellent with handling and routine care. He allows nail trims with a dremel without issue, tolerates ear cleaning and general handling very well, and has been excellent at the vet. He takes medications easily and rides well in the car when safely restrained with a harness and seatbelt or kenneled. Otherwise, he would prefer to sit directly in your lap and supervise the drive himself.


He is fully kennel trained and willingly kennels on command, even after months of mandatory crate rest. While he is understandably over the confinement lifestyle after heartworm treatment, he has never attempted to escape or destroy his kennel.


Cody gets along well with dogs of all sizes and currently plays appropriately with everything from Chihuahuas to German Shepherds. He can happily live with other dogs or as an only dog, provided his adopter is committed to meeting his exercise and engagement needs. He is an alpha-type male and will not tolerate bullying from dominant or intact males, so proper introductions and appropriate dog matches are important.


Cody has shown no aggression in normal interactions with people or dogs. We are currently working on “leave it” and “drop it” with very high-value food items. During heartworm treatment, he was prescribed prednisone, which significantly increased his hunger and food possessiveness. He has growled over stolen chew items taken from other kennels but has shown no possessiveness over toys and willingly releases toys appropriately. We expect continued improvement as prednisone fully leaves his system and training continues.


Cody would not be a good fit for a home with young children. Not because he is aggressive, but because he is a young, high-drive sporting dog that views children more as playmates than fragile little humans. His energy level and rough-and-rowdy play style could easily overwhelm smaller children unintentionally. He would do much better in a home with older teenagers who understand how to properly behave around, respect, and interact with an active working-breed dog.


Cody currently eats Purina Pro Plan Beef & Bison and has no known allergies. He does not tolerate high-fat treats or rich chews well, so he does best with simple one-ingredient dehydrated treats, freeze-dried treats, and yak chews.


Cody is a truly wonderful dog for the right home. He is smart, adventurous, affectionate, entertaining, and overflowing with personality. If you are looking for a calm couch companion, Cody is not your match. But if you are looking for a loyal adventure partner that will keep you active, make you laugh daily, and love you with his entire heart, Cody may be exactly the dog you’ve been searching for. 🐾💙
Cody's adoption fee is $375.  If you are Cody's perfect fit, fill out an adoption application and email his foster mom Vicki at [email protected]