Nihilus Needs a Great Home - German Shorthaired Pointers in Putnam, Connecticut - Cady Falls Kennel German Shorthaired Pointers

Hello! My name is Nihilus, and I am the most loving, goofy and playful dog around! Breed: German Shorthaired Pointer Gender: Male, neutered Age: 1 year 4 months Size: 56-60 pounds Good with dogs?: Yes Good with cats?: No Good with kids?: Yes, but needs more exposure History and Reason for Rehoming Nihilus was born on September 22, 2023 at Cady Falls GSP in Putnam, CT. I have had Nihilus since November 2023, and throughout this time, Nihilus has proven to be one of the most playful and loyal dogs you can ask for! We have spent countless hours of both personal training and trainer-accompanied sessions (off-leash, recall, basic commands, house manners, scent detection) and loves to be outdoors until the sun goes down! The reason Nihilus is looking for a new home is due to my personal financial situation. Since May 2024, Nihilus started to have a very sensitive stomach to the point where any “normal” dog food, human food, treats, etc would upset his stomach. From then until now, I have spent thousands of dollars on testing with no concrete results. The multiple vets I have gone to have stated that his condition might just be a sensitive stomach, as all blood panels, disease/condition tests, ultrasounds, etc have showed no results of any illnesses/conditions. Due to this, I am no longer in a financial situation to have Nihilus remain in my care. Nihilus deserves everything in the world, and I am looking for someone who is willing to keep up with training and shower him with the same love and attention I have. In addition, his natural ability to want to work/hunt/smell has led me to seek someone who can utilize him for his talents. Personality and Favorite Activities Nihilus is by far one of the most loyal, loving, and overall good boys I have ever met/owned. All he wants to do is be by your side throughout the day and interact with you as much as possible! When shown love and care, Nihilus will lean on you not only as a companion, but as the only star in his universe! He can sleep in a crate at night, but he prefers to cuddle with you under the blankets in bed! Nihilus has enough energy to power a small community and is too smart for his own good, so mental stimulation accompanied with physical exercise is needed in order to prevent any bad behaviors. We love to play games utilizing his sense of smell, especially on days where weather interrupts his/your normal routine. His favorite toy is a frisbee, and that alone can occupy him for hours inside and outside of the house! If there is any body of water he sees, he becomes a seal and can swim for hours on end without a break! As most GSP’s are, he will test your patience here and there, and is stubborn when it comes to training and being attentive. In order to keep him interested in training, make it as fun and interactive as possible, as this keeps him attentive and in the right mindset! He is not the best leash walker, but knows that when you stop he stops, and will not react if vehicles of any kind pass by. Nihilus is also very food driven, so counter surfing has been a bit of a challenge to mitigate. Lastly, Nihilus is a bit nippy when we wrestle/play together, so if this is not something you plan on doing with him, proper training and positive reinforcement should be used to curb this behavior. Nihilus gets along with everyone he meets, dogs or humans! He is not reactive when dogs cross his path, and shows little to no interest in them besides playing. He is not the biggest cat enthusiast, so try to keep him away from cats as best as you can. In addition, Nihilus has had a few bad experiences with children when he was a young puppy (throwing rocks at him when he was swimming, screaming in his face), however he is not aggressive to children. More positive exposure to children will lead him to be very friendly and playful with them! Cohabitation When Nihilus meets a new person, they immediately become his friend! However, in the beginning stages of being in a new home, he might act out, so being gentle and understanding will ensure that he gets comfortable as quick as possible! Nihilus is currently an only child, but has had sleepovers with other dogs present several times! He gets along great with dogs in the same house, wanting to play with them all day! However, only-child syndrome does set in occasionally when chews/toys are present. He is not aggressive when another dog plays with toys/chews, but he definitely expresses his aggravation by barking or creeping up to investigate! Medical As stated previously, Nihilus has a very sensitive gastrointestinal system. He is currently on 5 cups (2.5 cups morning and evening) of Royal Canin HP (vet prescribed) and collagen chews as rewards. I also use freeze-dried treats (salmon, duck, and beef liver) as his high reward training treats, as they seem to not upset his stomach. We have done almost every test and scan in the book to find a root cause for his sensitive stomach, all leading to no concrete results. Given his medical history and extensive documentation, I am confident that as long as his diet is managed properly, he should not have any issues (unless agitated by eating foods outside of his limit). Favorite Activities - Swimming, retrieving water float toys! - Playing with / throwing frisbee! - Hiking in woods! - Using his sense of smell to find hidden items in yard/house/etc! - Sleeping under the bed covers! - Playdates with other friendly dogs! - Chasing the shadows of geese/crows! Summary Nihilus is such a sweet and loving dog! He requires a lot of attention, and in turn, will become your best friend (especially if put to work!). His medical “condition” does not stop him from being a normal dog, he just requires special precautions in order to be himself! I want to place Nihilus with someone who is willing to put in the dedicated training requirements, as well as utilize him in some sort of work (i.e. hunting, farm life, pest/bird control on large property, scent detection). I wish my situation was different, however, I believe that since this testing has been done and changes have been made to his diet, he can now finally be the dog he’s meant to be with the right person! If you are interested in Nihilus, I am located in the Ridgefield, CT area and can be contacted at (845) 392-7579.