Suggestions on getting a dog from MN to MI

 Some rescues are willing to help arrange a transport train to get the dog from one place to another. I know a few people on this forum have been involved with one.

Yep, contact the rescue. There are many rescue transports available nationwide. If they approve your application, they will likely put the word out in MI for someone to do a home visit. Once your home visit is approved then they can arrange transport. Of course, some rescues are very small and won't adopt out of state but most do. It doesn't hurt to ask.

 What kind of dog is it?
 

do we get a picture?! =]

I would contact the rescue. Find out everything you can about this dog - and make sure it will make your lifestyle. Talk to the staff that clean her kennel, and walk her. I would be so leary of making a lifelong commitment to a dog I never met.... but - to each his own!

call them, ask for as much information as they can tell you.

I would ask for a video of the dog interacting with other dogs and people.

I agree - it's a big leap of faith to adopt a dog that you haven't met.

I agree that it is indeed a big leap of faith, but isn't adopting any dog in many ways?

The dog is a young female german wirehaired pointer who was a breeder surrender. According to the foster she is friendly, affectionate, but slow to warm up around men (which if I had to guess would be why the breeder surrendered her). She is also reportedly very energetic which is what we are looking for considering our current dog is a vizsla who only has two modes: fast and sleep. I've researched the breed extensively and know very well what we would be getting into.

I do need to find out more specifics about the dog, but at least as a start I've filed the application. And yes they will adopt out of state.

I can't seem to figure out how to get a picture in here so here's her petfinder page: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=10543442

I would find out why the breeder surrendered her.....

good luck!

and... =[ your picture isn't showing up

 Well, according to the page, the breeder apparently couldn't find homes for all the pups from a very productive female . . . I'm not sure if I buy that though.

I wouldn't. We had a breeder surrender a cane corso to us that the owners 'didn't want any more' and he 'couldn't find a home for her'.

This dog had the WORST HD that I have ever seen - her spine is so twisted from it. She can't have surgery until she is over a year old, she's only about 6 months now.

I'm not trying to scare you - but please, find out all the details about this dog and her 'breeder'.

she's a cutie though!

Update from the foster (See below). I don't know what to do . . . is there anyone on here that lives near here that would be willing to go and meet Gracie and report back to me?

Gracie was born on July 3rd, 2007.  The head of Last Hope told me that she has lived in an outbuilding.  The man that had her was trying to make money selling puppies.  Well, they didn't sell and now Gracie and her siblings are considered adult dogs that can reproduce.  He doesn't want to spend the money to spade and neuter them and they are no longer saleable as puppies.  I was told that she was very dirty when she was picked up and that her feet were sensitive because she had been walking in poop.  I have not noticed anything unusual about her feet.  They must have healed quickly once removed from the situation.  She has been completely updated on her vaccinations and has been spayed. (Last week)  She is not dominant at all.  She is very submissive to my weimerainers.  She crouches and lays over on her side which is submissive behavior. (and wags her tail)  She does that with all of us.  She is learning to be secure as we shower her with love and attention.  She is feeling more and more comfortable with each day.  She is frightened sometimes when my husband enters the room.  Then she will sometimes growl.   It's fear.   It makes me wonder if she was abused by the man that owned her.  I don't know.  We reassure her with kind words and she settles down.  I honestly believe that this is a behavior that will pass once she is totally comfortable.  Other than that, she is not aggressive at all.  She has a fun loving, energetic personality.  She listens so well.  I do not even have her on a leash outside.  The minute I call her, she comes running to me.  I wish my dogs were so well behaved.  She rides really well in the car.  As with many  foster dogs,  she seems so happy and grateful to be with us.  They really appreciate a loving home.  I have experienced this with Gracie and other dogs I have fostered.  I have not noticed any odd or unusual behaviors.  I am working on potty training her.  She is doing very well.  She does wake me up in the night to go outside once between 4-6AM.  This should end as she gets a little older.  She plays very well with my dogs.

Hi,

I live about 1/2 hour away from Farmington and I'm familiar with the GSP breed.  I would be willing to go visit her for you and take some video and pictures.  There is a WI GSP rescue that does transport, contact Lisa at www.wgspr.com .  I have recently added my name as a volunteer with their transport so...

Gracie looks like a really sweet girl and her foster mother seems to think she is coming a long way from a bad situation.  Please, let me know how I can help.

Oh that's awesome! Keep us up to date! 

More updates:

 I just spoke directly with the foster and feel very comfortable trusting this individual. She has assured me that there are no major health issues with Gracie and that her most significant difficulty at this point is her insecurity which the foster even indicated is decreasing as she becomes more comfortable in the home.

I am very excited about this. I hope that this is going to work out. We are trying to work out whether or not they would be able to meet us in Chicago which is a doable drive for us.

I will keep you all posted.

I'll be going out to visit with Gracie this evening, as a bunch of us are working out logistics of getting her to Detroit.  She is really sweet looking and her foster mom reports great things about her as well.  Here she is: