My name is Gilligan!

GILLIGAN is a 2-year-old neutered male black lab. Gilligan weighs 50 pounds and is up to date on shots. This dog is approved for homes with children ages 8 and up.

DESCRIPTION: Poor Gilligan lived the majority of his life in a crate. He had sores on his belly and he sometimes walks in circles. He is having fun at his foster and learning how to be a real dog. He is like an awkward puppy just learning about the world!! His foster siblings are showing him the ropes and we hope he will make a full turnaround from his previous life. Gilligan is a very nervous rider and we will work on that. He does not really know how to walk on leash so that is being worked on also. He is crate trained and house trained. Good with dogs. No cat history but had no reaction to the vet kitties.

Update: Gilligan’s Gospel: I LOVE TO SWIM!!! Unfortunately, FM left her phone somewhere (she does that a lot) and didn’t capture my Olympic-qualifying strokes, but I was awesome. The FPs say I am just like a big puppy, although I am almost 3, because I can’t quite control my speed or stride, but they love to take me for walks off leash because I am such a good boy. I have spent a bunch of time with Ramsey, just hanging out and sometimes trash-talking and air wrestling- he’s a pretty cool dude. I absolutely adore my toys, except FM complains that I take the inside ones out and she always has to go get them before it rains. Then there are my phenomenal potty habits: I go in one small area of the yard all the time, which makes cleanup a breeze; I also squat so nobody has to worry about my lifting my leg at the wrong time and embarrassing them.
They say I am “special needs” because part of my thinker is mush, but I am totally adorable. I do best with a dog door because I don’t know when I will have to go, but some really cool folks said they would pay for a dog door (and kennel if the yard isn’t fenced) so my new family doesn’t have to worry about any accidents. Don’t worry about the mushy brain stuff: I may not win any obedience trials, nor live as long as the average Lab and I may get a little goofier through time, but I am so doggone perfect now, you will forget all of that stuff.

Update: Sweet, goofy Gilligan is doing well in his foster. He is learning how to be a real dog by hanging out with all the dogs in his foster home. We are still working on leash walking as he does still tend to go in circles at times. He has a few little quirks from spending way too much time in a crate in his formative years. He has almost OCD behaviors learned from the crate being his only environment but is slowly but surely, with lots of patience, love and affection, figuring out that there is life beyond a crate. He was starved for affection and gives lots of love. He is looking for a patient person to continue teaching him that the world outside a crate is really a very OK place! He loves other dogs and really follows their example. He is a wonderfully sweet dude in search of some understanding and guidance!

Update: If you want to make a difference in a dog's life and be a part of a true transformation, then Gilligan would be honored and thrilled to meet you. This wonderfully sweet and loving 18 month old boy had a heartbreaking start to life - he was kept in a crate for the vast majority of his days with no love or interaction from his owner. Since coming to Lab Rescue, his foster family has been working hard to show him the good life and help him break the habits that his past situation forced him to develop. For starters, he used to think that he had to go to the bathroom in his crate because it was all he ever knew to do. But now he is doing great in the house and we are working to remove any memory relapses by using a plastic crate for him (because it's tough to aim outside) - so far, so good! He is also doing much better with his leash skills. He used to walk mostly in circles, likely due to being tethered when he wasn't in the crate. But now he loves to run around and play, and is learning that zigzags and straight sprints are more fun than dumb ol' circles. He might have some mild spatial awareness issues - he has great peripheral and forward-facing vision, but he doesn't always notice things above and below his line of sight. So he may not ever be a tennis ball fanatic, but he loves to play with other dog, any kinds of toys and especially loves people and the love they give. Gilligan is looking for a patient human family who is excited to devote their time and energy into helping him forget all about his start to life. He wants to please and is so happy to receive love and attention. He adores every person and dog he meets, and he would do well with another doggie friend who can show him how awesome it is to be a young, carefree Lab!

Applicants must meet the following requirements:
Setting: Rural, Suburban
Dwelling: Single Family
Fence: Physical fence required

This dog is available for adoption from Lab Rescue LRCP. Lab Rescue LRCP rescues and places dogs in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware and northeast North Carolina (30 miles east of I-95 and north of the Pamlico Sound.) Adopters must travel to Maryland, or Virginia with their family - human and canine - to meet the dog they want to adopt.

Lab Rescue LRCP has between 40 - 80 dogs available for adoption from foster homes across Maryland and Virginia, and at monthly adoption events. The adoption event dates and locations are listed at www.lab-rescue.org.

If you are interested in adopting, please visit www.lab-rescue.org and complete an adoption application. After you submit an application, you will hear from an Adoption Coordinator who will guide you through the adoption process.

An adoption fee is charged to cover the cost of veterinary care and a home visit is required.