Hershey (NC)

REVIEWING APPLICATIONS

REVIEWING APPLICATIONS

Hershey is a 2-to-4-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer currently being fostered in Asheville, North Carolina. He came to the rescue after being found abandoned on a farm in South Carolina, but he hasn't let his rough start slow him down. Don't let his distinguished gray face fool you—while he looks like an old-timer, multiple vets have confirmed he is a young adult with plenty of fun puppy energy. He has the most amazing, loving eyes and looks at you like you are his whole world. Even the staff at his veterinary office was charmed by him during his visits.
Since coming into rescue, Hershey has dealt with a couple of health issues including a very rare case of metronidazole toxicity. Through every single vet visit, treatment, and poke, he was an absolute sweetheart and a perfect patient, completely winning over the clinic staff with his gentle demeanor.
If you are looking for a true "shadow dog," Hershey is exactly that. He is a fantastic cuddler who wants nothing more than to be right next to his people. 
He is great at fetch and will gladly play as long as you are willing to throw. In fact, he will even “throw” the ball at you after retrieving. When not playing fetch, you can find Hershey throwing toys up in the air and catching them while running around. It is truly a joy to watch! Despite his high energy during play, he possesses a great "off-switch" and knows how to settle down once play time is over. 
Hershey is fully kennel trained, knows the command "crate up," and goes into his kennel easily. He is used to walking on a prong collar, but has also had some experience with a harness. Compared to other GSPs, his leash pulling is very minor, making walks very enjoyable. He is highly food-motivated, which makes training a lot of fun. He is currently making great progress learning "sit," "down," and "stay." His recall is okay but still a work in progress. He shows great indications that he could eventually be trusted off-leash, as he has shown absolutely no desire to run away or escape, and he has never attempted to jump the fence in the yard.
Adopters should note that Hershey's high food motivation means he will absolutely be a stealthy counter-surfer if snacks are left unattended when you aren't looking. Additionally, because he is an active young sporting dog, he is currently burning through calories faster than he can keep them on. His foster family and vets are working on helping him gain weight, so his future adopter will need to be committed to keeping him on a high-quality diet to build up his frame.
Animal and Home Compatibility: Hershey absolutely loves other dogs and gets along great with medium-to-large companions. However, he has a strong prey drive and is not good with small dogs or cats. He is fine with children-over the age of six, and would make a wonderful family companion for a home that can provide a stable daily routine, a secure yard for fetch, and continued guidance on his basic manners.
Hershey is a happy, healthy boy who is UTD on vaccines, neutered, and microchipped so his adoption fee is $375.