Meet Gus! Location: Rohnert Park, CASome dogs wear their hearts on their sleeves. Gus wears his on his giant paws.At approximately 145 pounds, Gus is every bit the gentle giant he's meant to be. Beneath his impressive size is an incredibly sensitive, affectionate soul who simply wants to feel safe, loved, and close to his person. Once you earn his trust, he becomes the definition of a Velcro dog—always checking to make sure you're nearby before happily settling down to relax.Gus hasn't always known kindness. After spending much of his life living with fear and harsh corrections, including wearing a shock collar around the clock, he's learning something wonderful: people can be gentle.And he's proving every single day that he's ready to believe it.In just one week with his foster family, Gus has made incredible progress. He's learned to trust, regularly checks in with his handler, makes wonderful eye contact, and eagerly looks to his people for guidance instead of trying to handle scary situations himself. Behaviors like guarding the stairs have completely disappeared, and what was once prolonged barking at the window has become a single alert bark before calmly redirecting with reassurance.Gus doesn't need force—he needs someone who will quietly tell him, "You're okay. We've got this."When he hears those words, you can almost see the weight lift off his shoulders.He absolutely adores his people and is happiest simply being close. He loves toys, enjoys chewing on a good bone, rides beautifully in the car, is fully housetrained, and already knows commands like heel, sit, and down. He's incredibly eager to please and responds beautifully to praise, gentle redirection, and relationship-based training.Because of his past, Gus can be fearful of strangers, particularly during introductions, and he can be reactive on walks, especially around unfamiliar people, people in uniforms, other dogs, and cats. Once properly introduced inside the home, however, he settles in remarkably well and shows his sweet, social personality. His foster has also discovered that Gus seems to feel responsible for protecting the people he loves, so he does best with a confident handler who can calmly take over that job for him.Gus has shown interest in chasing cats and would not be safe in a home with them.While he currently lives with other dogs, his foster believes Gus would truly flourish as the only dog in the home. Although he wants to interact with other dogs, he isn't quite sure how to feel safe around them and seems happiest when he can simply focus on his people.Because of his size and ongoing confidence-building, Gus is looking for an experienced adopter familiar with giant breeds or positive, reward-based training methods. He would do best in a calm home without young children, where introductions to visitors can happen slowly and thoughtfully.Gus also has a history of bloat and has had his stomach tacked (gastropexy). He eats a specialized diet and takes daily digestive supplements and an acid reducer to keep him feeling his best.What Gus needs most isn't perfection.He needs patience.He needs kindness.He needs someone who understands that behind every fearful moment is a dog desperately trying to do the right thing.His foster describes him as "the biggest love on the planet" and says he is simply amazing—a dog who wants nothing more than to be loved and to make his person proud.If you're willing to lead with compassion instead of correction, to celebrate the small victories, and to show this incredible boy that the world can be a safe place, Gus will repay you with a loyalty and love that's truly unforgettable.He's already shown just how quickly he can blossom when someone believes in him.Now he's waiting for the person who will continue helping him write the happiest chapter of his life.===================================To apply to adopt me, please fill out the application form! Note: SRGDRR adopts nationwide and offers transport options to help you find your perfect match! For more information, please email us at rescueme@srgdrr.org. Thank you so much, we look forward to helping you. org. Thank you so much, we look forward to helping you.
