Relatives...

Gizmo met up with Lisa Spakowski's ThelmaLou. Both are from the same breeder and bloodline...just a few litters apart.
Gizmo and Thelmalou cooling off. It's incredible to see how similarly they are marked.

The Pool Party!

Gizmo was the life of the Pool Party he threw for all his furry friends.
Afterwards he dried off nicely---soaking in the sun.

Gone Hunting!

Gizmo and Joe Elliott love to go exploring together...
...nothing better than to sniff out those birds...
...not that Gizmo needs any help---really...
he can do the job on his own just fine...

Fun Wrestle Games

Gizmo loves to wrestle...

...Joe Elliott is a willing "partner in crime"...
...and puppy Pooh is always willing to join in as well!

Do I LOVE the kiddie pool?

Gizmo is starting to blossom and come to life.
"Senior" is not the term we want to describe him as...
Gizmo is a puppy at heart.
Here he's enjoying the pool to cool off.
Isn't he just the handsomest of boys???

Gizmo is finally starting to feel at home and relaxing.

This morning he actually ate some dog food! Ok it did have grated cheese mixed in with it, but he acted like he is pretty hungry after not eating since Sunday. Last night he had peas and butterfly pork chops cooked over an open fire by candle light with Katie and I.

While I was taking a bath this morning, Gizmo came up and tried to get in the tube with me. He has been glued to me now and follows me every where I go. As soon as I stop he lays down by my feet. If I go outside he howls, which gets everybody else howling and is quite entertaining.

We sat on the couch with Katie this morning and he layed up-side-down with his head on my lap and went back to sleep. I almost did too we were all so comfortable.

He is walking a little better on the leash now. He found the wiffle ball this morning and picked it up and we played ball in the house for a bit. He is so happy and a great fetch player. He would be such a great companion for kids. When my step dad came by last night, Gizmo went running up to greet him and get some petting, didn't even bark at him. What a cool guy he is.

Gizmo's First Report Card!

Walking on the Leash C - it is possible that he has never been on a leash before

Sit A+ - he sits very well on command

Stay - B+ Stays unless you go in the kitchen

Recall - F - last night in the totally safe area I let him run with the long lead on and I dropped it to see how he might do of leash. He ran and ran and ran and didn't even glance in my direction no matter what name I used (and I used plenty)

Whoa - F This is not in his vocabulary

Birdiness - A+ He loves to point and stalk the birds

Stamina - D- Lucky for me, I had to keep up with him last night. He can walk at a pretty good pace for about 1/8 of a mile, then he slows down and gets thirsty

Cuddling - A+ He lays on your feet and is such a very sweet boy. He loves to get up on the couch and in the bed.

Bathing - A+ He tried to take a bath in the water dish in the kitchen last night and loves to lay in the pool

Mooching - A+ So far he has eaten no dog food, but is very interested in everything I eat and was glued to the kitchen last night while I cooked dinner. I gave him some chicken breast in his food this morning and he at all the chicken without even touching a piece of dog food - good boy!!

Gizmo is now in pre-school at the Palace and will get his next report card on July 1.

Oh, yes, he plays!!

Foster brother Jake plays with all the dogs and he and Gizmo act like big puppies.

I've reached my foster home!

Hi, Gizmo here! First I got to ride with some very nice ladies (one let me ride in the front seat) and a chap named John who was super. He let me point birds while we waited for my next ride. The nice lady who wants me to call her Foster Mum even said he was nice, had a good handshake she said.

Foster Mum stopped at the rest area and let me point some more birds with a little lass named Katie. She is a little snobbish, but I think we will be friends.

Then we went to a big palace with lovely corn and bean fields all around it. Foster Mum gave me a large tub of water and I sat in it, then rolled and rolled in the dirt. It was such fun.



I got wet and dirty for about an hour. I laid on my belly and stretched my legs out behind me and scooted across the grass and then rolled some more.

Foster Mum gave me some food and a couple of cookies. She says I'm a little portly, but that around here nobody sits still for long and I will loose some weight. Buck and Eightball are interesting chaps. For right now we are all being a little stand offish, but Foster Mum says we must learn to be friends so I will try.

Buck and Eightball run around and chase birds and I think that we will learn to play together because I REALLY like birds.

Foster Mum cut some of the matted hair off of me. I only yelped twice and she said she was sorry, she's never had a dog with hair before (lucky me). Then to her amaizement, when she told me let's take a bath, I got in the tub and laid down - she didn't even have to use the glass to put the water on my back. She gave me a great bath and it felt so goood. I was so greatful I pointed lots of birds for her and looked just handsome on our walk.

Then she brought me in the house!! I am so happy to be in a real house again. I sit when I'm told, go straight in the crate and I found the best thing of all - THE BED!! Foster Mum said ok and I got up on the bed and rolled around and she rubbed my belly. I am sooo very happy to be an IBR lucky dog!!

Gizmo...

Hi! I'm a 10 year old setter boy and I'm very confused right now. I lived with a family for years and suddenly they dropped me off at an Indiana shelter. I've always been a good boy and don't know why they didn't want me anymore. They called me Gizmo.

If you would consider adopting me, I would be sooooo happy---please hurry and ask Illinois Birddog Rescue about me!!