Luther

Luther, aka Big Luther, is a handsome, affectionate sighthound mix, estimated to be four years old. A DNA test revealed that he’s 76% greyhound, 10% Polish greyhound, 6% borzoi, 3% Scottish deerhound, 2% whippet, 2% Magyar Agár, and 1% Irish wolfhound. The borzoi peeks out playfully in his white face, round, widely spaced dark eyes, and Romanesque nose. The heavy hunting breeds are also well represented – he is a big boy weighing in around 75 lbs. He has a short, dense, creamy coat in a bright shade of caramel and white.

Luther came to GALT with an untreated, healed fracture of his right hock. It’s one of the many scars he carries from his days of coyote hunting and living on his own with his injury. He doesn’t let it stop him, though. He chases squirrels with his foster brother and leaps through the dog door when he hears something outside. You will notice it when he stands still, such as for grooming. He will tire from balancing on three legs and lie down after a few minutes. I brush him in installments instead of asking him to stand for a long time. He loves to go for short walks. He enjoys meeting the neighbors and investigating new things. He has fun at a park where he walks through a simple agility course. We use a martingale harness to aid in gentle walk training.

His favorite thing to do is collapse into your arms on the couch and sleep through a movie. He is loving and affectionate and thinks all humans are wonderful. Your bad day is officially over when he climbs into your lap or lays his big ol’ head on your shoulder.

Big Luther is playful and goofy. He loves squeaky toys and other small things he can pick up and carry. He’s unafraid of thunder, fireworks, and holiday gunfire. My fosters usually crate for meals, and he prefers to have his meals in a social setting with other dogs. He respects their space with little correction. He sleeps through the night on a dog bed in my bedroom.

Luther’s stress comes from being left alone. I work at home, so he has plenty of attention most days. When I leave the house for a few hours, he has the company of other large dogs and my 14 lb. chihuahua mix. He needs to have people at home to be his happiest. Luther likes to bark, so he would not be a good fit for apartments. He is gentle with my little dog, who is one of his favorite friends. He has not been tested with cats. He likes children, though because of his size, weight, and playfulness, 14 years old and up would be the best fit for him.