About Gunner

We truly hate to be at this point but we are looking to rehome our 3 almost 4 year old purebred blue heeler, Gunner. (Our Christmas baby born 12/25/2021 �%9D%A4��%8F). We are located in Southwest Minnesota. Gunner is neutered, house broken and does walk on a leash (does well with harness). He is not up to date on his shots as we have trouble at the vet as he gets scared and reactive. Last shots were 2023. We are going to try getting him in with a muzzle and up to date on shots before rehoming him. Rehoming fee of $100 and we would include all his food, toys and his favorite blanket. We have tried training, meds, etc and have decided this is the best decision to keep others safe and to get our boy a less stressful environment. I will admit we got him as a puppy and didn't research the breed beforehand and the person selling the puppies really pushed him on us. We love him dearly and he really is a great dog, but sometimes he just flips a switch. Gunner is good with kids, cats and other dogs once he knows them. He would benefit by himself or with a girl dog around I believe as well as working outside with his people. I think he would benefit from seeing family members kids but living in a house with no young kids or just older kids. He doesn't like being away from us and always wants to join. He comes everywhere in the car with me and I work from home so that has been helpful for him. Like most heelers, he does get very nervous as well and antsy with little exercise. Gunner can be the sweetest guy, he has slept in our bed since he was a puppy and loves to cuddle with my husband and I during the cold months and thunderstorms. We have a 2.5 year old and a 2 month old, who he adores. He also loves our niece and nephew who are 5 and 3. He will give them kisses and would never hurt them on purpose. Just the occasional knock over when they are running around. He takes treats and foods gently, always drops his toys for our daughter, never touches our kids food on the ground (even if we leave it out and leave him home alone) and he never chews/takes anything that isn't his. He does have his own blanket that he carries around and sucks on and whips around when he is anxious or excited. He loves pheasant hunting with my husband and gets thrilled to put on his orange vest, he won't retrieve the birds but he can flush them out and then find them for you. He also loves belly scratches. He is very smart with all of that. He only occasionally scratches at the furniture/blankets on bed. However, he doesn't let our 2.5 year old daughter ever touch him and nervously licks her face or hides under the table when she tries to touch him. But will defend/protect her in a heartbeat as well as protect me. The issue we are facing and can't solve is that he thinks he is protecting the kids from my husband and I. He loves my husband but will sometimes flip a switch. He will lunge and keep jumping/biting at us when triggered. This happens a few times a month about. He never latches down on skin with his teeth, just clothes and will rip them as well as making loud noises. He has caught me with his claws when jumping, but never bitten with his teeth. He jumps and nips the air if strangers are in our house or he is on a leash around someone new. He does well greeting new people outside unleashed or if they have a dog with them. We can bring him to the dog park and he plays well with other dogs and will allow being pet from other people as well. He doesn't always get along with other 'alpha' males dogs but does tolerate most other male dogs. He loves female dogs. He does go to the kennel every so often and does fine there, he has his moments and needs consistency when we drop him off. We live in the country so don't get a lot of visitors other than family, who he greets with excited barks, tail wags and kisses/jumps. He can jump straight up without touching you to lick your face. He just wants to kiss faces all the time. However with strangers or delivery drivers he barks and gets super nervous. Some situations this has occurred during his triggers are when my husband leans over my daughter's bed, when he has been brushing her hair, when I have had a hand broom sweeping and with a baby toy over our newborn. Some occurrences are random but it usually comes down to an object. Our last straw was when my husband was brushing our daughter's hair on the couch and he was relaxing on the ground, he jumped up the couch and started going at my husband with our daughter right there. He keeps going until you stop moving/stand calmly. But it is scary in the moment as our kids are right there and the noises can be scary. Then you are on edge after the fact as he will stare you down until he relaxes again. I know he would never do this to our kids but we keep thinking in our heads is it only takes one time, an accident and there will be something we can't take back. Or will he do this once they reach a certain age? There are too many unknowns that m

Yellow Medicine County
Echo, Minnesota