Gunther, Rhiana + Jordan

After some postponements caused by back luck and worse weather, Rhiana, Jordan, Gunther and I all finally met up for our session at the lush Blackwood Forest Park - my first ever visit, and certainly not my last! I’m so glad we made it work because I had such a great time wandering with this gorgeous family through tall grass and thick forest, across creeks and over open plains. Seriously - this park is packed with microcosms.

Gunther really gave me a run for my money, he didn’t stop moving the entire time! He kept me on my toes and I loved it. I asked his folks Rhiana and Jordan to share in their story about their beautiful rocket of a boy, and the life they share.

How did Gunther come into your world?

We put a lot of planning into getting Gunther. We moved to a dog appropriate house, went to dog shows to meet people, travelled to Sydney to visit breeders and puppies and loaded up on dog toys. The easy part was picking the breed because Rhiana had a Weimaraner growing up, and once you have had a Weim, you can’t imagine having anything else. Gunther came into our world as an 8 week old grey ball of fur with big feet and big blue eyes. From the moment we had him, he has been our velco Weim following our every step and going everywhere we go.

How would you describe his personality?

We would say Gunther is a complex mix of; happy-go-lucky, curious, confident, intelligent and silly all at once. He is like a wind up spring toy, with endless amounts of energy and is always ready for an adventure. He’s a happy boy and a favourite of the other dogs and humans at the local parks and cafes. He will do almost anything if it means he will get recognition including his latest stunt of sitting politely at the dining table just to join the conversation with the humans.

What does he love to do the most?

Gunther’s favourite thing is running, usually between where he wants to go and us. Finding smells with his nose, he loves to sniff so much that our walks are usually him sniffing and us making him aware of a things he may walk into. He has recently started learning scent detection and nothing holds his attention more than finding that scent, not even other dogs trying to play. He loves to silently stalk birds and then make them fly away, and grabbing items of value to engage us in a game of keep away.

If he could tell us all something about you, what would he say?

We’re sure Gunther would say, “The humans go on lots of adventures, I just wish they would use all 4 legs, they slow me down when I’m running. They teach me lots of things and I get lots of praise when I'm being a good boy. I don’t understand why the humans won’t let me destroy household items, I even take the item to them to ask permission for destruction, but the answer is always no... I’ll keep asking. The humans also sit in my spot on the lounge a lot, lucky I am quick to claim it once they move. All together, we understand each other.”

What's everyday life like with your boy by your side?

Morning walks followed by breakfast time, lots of napping on Gunther’s part. More walks and a run in the park with some training and scent games in the afternoon. Occasional terror caused by Gunther between 8:00 and 8:15 at night while he tries to argue that he's not sleepy. A wet nose booping your face in the morning from the side of the bed. Trading Gunther food for the item of value he has in his mouth. Big outdoor adventures on weekends with stops at cafes. Gunther truly goes everywhere with us. Having Gunther is knowing you have a second shadow wherever you may go (even to the shower).

How has having your dog changed your life?

It has instilled a passion in both of us for raising a great dog. We basically spend our spare time doing things that we think Gunther might like to do and looking for opportunities to get him engaged in the activities that he was born to do (like tracking, scenting and exploring). We explore more new places with Gunther than we did before and we get woken up more during the night by loud-flapping Weimaraner ears than we did before as well. 

Thank you, Rhiana and Jordan, for taking the time to share such a personal, charming and heartwarming story, although no doubt it would be easy to talk about Gunther forever!

It’s been a true pleasure getting to know you and your boy, even for just a little bit of time.

x D.