Alvin

At 4 years old and 61 pounds of pure muscle, Alvin is a GSP in his prime: smart, athletic and ready for adventure. He also has an excellent "off switch" and a soft spot for a good snuggle.

Inside the house, Alvin is calm and very affectionate. His foster mom says he "melts in your hands" when you scratch his ears. He loves to cuddle, nap, and be close to his people. Once he's outside, his (typical GSP) energetic side comes out. He loves long walks and would be a great partner for a runner, hiker, or anyone who wants a four-legged companion on outdoor adventures.

Alvin LOVES people. Kids, teens, grandparents, even a party of 20+: he's happy to meet everyone. Our trainer has been impressed by his manners: he greeted her politely without jumping, sat when asked, and was curious about her treats without being pushy. She called him "extremely biddable," so he should be a joy to train with food and affection as rewards.

He also adores his foster family's Sphynx cat. He's curious about cats outside and has a strong GSP prey drive for birds and squirrels, so a feline sibling could work depending on the cat.

Alvin's road to rescue was a hard one. He was found injured on the side of a road, then moved between several short-term foster homes. With all that stress, he had a rough start with other (resident) dogs. Our trainer describes him as "a mature and skilled dog communicator": he's clear about when he needs space, and he does best with people who read and respect his signals.

Alvin's ideal home:

Active people who want an athletic dog for walks, runs, outdoor fun, and are able to keep up with his energy
Adopters who understand dog body language, or want to learn, and will keep up with training (leash skills, recall, impulse control)
Only dog at this time. A second dog in the home may be considered in the future
A tall, secure fence (he has cleared 6′ fences!) or a jump-deterrent like a coyote roller

Alvin has been through a lot. What he needs now is a stable home where he can settle in and be the loving, cuddly companion he already is.

Other notes: Alvin is likely able to live successfully with cats. Dog-savvy kids are preferred. He is able to be around other dogs if supervised but not yet ready to live with another dog.

Adoption fee: $425 (includes a post-adoption training allowance). Training will be required.

Our adoption process begins with our adoption questionnaire: https://norcalgsprescue.org/adoption-questionnaire/

(Please note that we adopt primarily within Northern California and our minimum age for kids is 6)

If you'd like to see what Alvin's been up to, check out his posting in the Available Foster Dogs section: https://norcalgsprescue.org/available-dogs/. That's where you'll find all the latest info about all of our available dogs.