Chunk

Profile

---

In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:
Date Available	Children	Other Dogs	Cats	Fence	Energy Level
6/22/17	Good with all ages	Another dog REQUIRED	Cannot live with cats	Required - No invisible fence	Low
Chunk is a super sweet boy who gets along with all dogs and kids. He is a very easy dog to have around and fits in well in most situations. He appears to be hearing challenged so he needs another dog or two to follow and a fence to keep him safe. Chunky loves to play with other dogs, loves to snuggle with his people, loves riding in the car, loves to play fetch - he is a very happy boy! Please fill out an inquiry form and email [email protected] if you are interested in giving this sweet boy a Furever Home!
This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

Please welcome Chunk to RAGOM! Chunk has many affectionate nicknames - Chunky, Chunkers, Chunky Monkey, Chunky Pants. The name Chunk was a little tough to get used to at first but it does grow on you! Although I do think Bear might be a good name for him too - he has a big blockhead like a bear, big bear paws, and he even rubs his back up against the couch like a bear rubs on a tree!Chunk is a 4 year old purebred red male Golden Retriever with a white splotch on his chest. He has been neutered and is up to date on all his vaccinations so he's all good to go. He's a bit itchy but we don't really know the cause of that and may not know before he's adopted since that often involves a lot of trial and error that can take several months, even years, to figure out, if ever. We've switched him to a grain-free, chicken-free diet in the hopes that will help, along with regular baths and Benedryl. It could also be seasonal or environmental and may just take some experimenting and waiting to figure out what works for him. Also, true to his name, Chunk is a bit of a chunk and is now on a diet. He weighed in at 92 lbs but should probably be closer to 75, maybe 80. He was previously being free-fed but we've switched him to measured amounts and healthy treats like fruits and veggies. The reduced intake, along with some regular exercise, will probably help in no time.
Chunky is a sweetheart. He is friendly and well-adjusted, good with other dogs (gets along with all our dogs, big and small, male and female) and enjoys their company and playtime, good with kids (doesn't mind our 16 month old at all), and is just an all around lovable guy. He lets out a little "a-wooo" when he's excited and he takes treats so gently, he barely even touches your hand. He's dying to play with toys and bones but one of my dogs can be a bit of a jerk about sharing his toys so they've all been put away. He walks well on leash as long as he's in the front of the pack (pulls if he's in the back of the pack), but he does get excited if we come upon other dogs and then he pulls like a freight train to say hello. Chunk does not have any anxieties or fears that I've noticed and no guarding. He doesn't seem to know a lot of commands but he has pretty good manners overall, but still I think he would benefit from an obedience class. No major issues really and he has been a very easy guy to have here. He was a bit nervous for the first week or two but he has settled in well. He has not had a single accident in the house and does not mark so he is fully house trained. He is reasonably crate-trained - needs a little nudge to go in and doesn't love it, but doesn't fight it too much either. We crate our dogs while we are gone for safety reasons and to get them used to crates in case the adoptive family prefers that, but I am guessing that Chunky would do well with free roam if you prefer that. We aren't gone a whole lot so he's used to not being left alone for long periods. Chunky loves loves LOVES car rides, loves to snuggle on the couch or bed with you, and loves to run around in the fenced backyard.The one "issue" we have noticed with Chunk is his hearing: we suspect he is either deaf or hard of hearing. Either that or he has a bad case of selective hearing! We initially suspected he was deaf because he does not respond well to his name, he cannot be woken from his sleep even if you say his name 47 times, and he won't come running if you call him from the other end of the house. And the kicker for me was that you can bang his food dish and he won't respond or one day I dropped a blueberry when he didn't see it and he didn't react to go looking for it when it hit the ground - what Golden Retriever doesn't come running when you mention food?! But then occasionally, he will respond so I thought maybe he can hear?! Or maybe it's a coincidence?! It's really hard to say and something I've really struggled trying to figure out because sometimes I'm convinced he can't hear, and other times I think maybe he can. The vet said the only way to truly determine if a dog is deaf is to do a brain wave test with a neurologist at the U of M and it is quite expensive and since it wouldn't really change anything and the only real reason to do the test is to be able to say definitively whether or not a dog is deaf, most people don't do the test and just rely on their own empirical tests. Regardless of whether Chunk is deaf, hard of hearing, or just doesn't give a hoot, he is so well adapted to whatever limitations he may (or may not) have, that it is rarely even an issue and you barely even need to make any modifications for him. He watches me and the other dogs so well and for the most part, just follows suit. So what if I sometimes have to give him a small nudge to wake him up if I'm moving rooms or if I have to move ten feet so I can get his attention and call him with hand signals - not a big deal. Honestly, not much is different and it is just a small adjustment and really not a big deal at all. I would not let this deter you if you are interested in him.Because of his hearing issues, we are requiring that he go to a home with at least one other dog, if not a pack, since he watches them for how to respond and react. He likes to play so it would be great if the other dog(s) like to play, at least occasionally. I am also requiring that his home have a physical fence since he doesn't really seem to hear you calling him. If another dog or person were to walk by, I am 99.9% certain he would just go right to them despite you calling your heart out to him. That could be a danger if that passing dog is not friendly, or the person is afraid of dogs, or if they are across the street. He can go to a home with kids of any ages - I wouldn't go as far as saying he loves kids (he doesn't seek them out) but he doesn't mind them. Supervision is absolutely key though - I've seen a couple times where he didn't seem thrilled if my kid was too close, and as a parent, you have to always be right there to intervene to keep both your kid and dog safe. I do not know how Chunk is around cats so we'd have to test him if you have cats. His adopters will also need to be committed to helping him get to a healthy weight, as well as willing to deal with his hearing limitations of course. I'd also like his adoptive home to allow him on the furniture since he just loves to be next to you, but that isn't a dealbreaker.Chunky was surrendered to us by a family that loved him very much but they were expecting their third child and felt he deserved more attention than they could give him. We've promised to love him up while he's with us and to find a wonderful family who will love him just as much as they did and we do. If you think you can fit that bill, please submit an Application Inquiry Form, or if you have already filled one out, send an email to [email protected] noting your interest in Chunk and why you think you would be a good fit for him.

Relaxing on the couch

Chunk's Happy Place: the car

Puppy Dog Eyes

"No, I did not get my turn to have some whipped cream, what makes you think that?!"

Chunk's best begging face

Smooshy Face!