Gunnar is our 5-year-old Australian Labradoodle who proves that some dogs are born with an extra sense – the ability to read hearts and minds.
The Basics:
When Gunnar arrived as a puppy in August 2020, I was recovering from a back injury and walking with a limp. What I didn’t expect was to gain not just a dog, but a four-legged emotional barometer who would become so attuned to my every feeling that he’d literally mirror my physical state.
Gunnar isn’t just smart – he’s scary smart. He learns things in an instant, like he’s downloading information directly into his brain. But his real superpower isn’t his intelligence; it’s his ability to read me like an open book, often reacting to my emotions before I even realize what I’m feeling.
The Protector: Gunnar has appointed himself as my personal guardian. He’s not aggressive, but he’s always watching, always assessing, always positioning himself between me and anything he perceives as a potential threat. He takes this job very seriously.
The Empath: This dog feels energy like some people feel temperature changes. He’s noise-sensitive, but only when I am. He can sense tension, excitement, sadness, or joy and adjusts his entire demeanor accordingly.
The Boss: While he’s my gentle protector, Gunnar definitely thinks he’s in charge of our younger dogs. He’s appointed himself as pack leader and takes his supervisory duties seriously.
The Student: Mention the word “training” and watch Gunnar transform. He switches into what I call his “work mode” – focused, eager, and ready to tackle any challenge. Nose work especially gets his tail wagging with excitement.
Here’s the thing that perfectly captures Gunnar’s empathetic nature: he limps when I limp. During my recovery, I noticed that when I walked slowly, he walked slowly. When I limped, he developed a mysterious limp too. I’ve called my husband multiple times during walks, worried that Gunnar had injured his leg, only to have him bound around the yard perfectly fine the moment we got home and I took off his leash.
It took me months to realize he wasn’t hurt – he was matching my pace out of solidarity. This muscular, majestic dog was deliberately mimicking my movements to stay in sync with me. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.
“The most important thing you can do for your Australian Labradoodle is to show them you’re the responsible one. We’re smart enough to take charge if you don’t, but we’re much happier when you lead with confidence and kindness. Keep us close, keep us safe, and most importantly – have fun together. We feel everything you feel, so if you’re happy and relaxed, we’ll be our best selves too. Oh, and don’t worry if we seem to know what you’re thinking – we probably do.”
Gunnar joined our family in August 2020 and has been my loyal companion, protector, and emotional support ever since. His intelligence and empathy continue to amaze me every single day.
