Gus is just about nine weeks old, but he vaulted onto my list of great-dogs-I-have-loved over the last few days, he came to almost every minute of the Refugee Children’s Retreat at Pompanuck Farm. He acted as if he had been to a thousand retreats, he visited every child while they ate, played tag outside and ran in circles like a mad fool, was picked up and hugged a thousand times and loved every minute of it.

We took a crate to Pompanuck, and left the gate open and when Gus got tired, he just went inside and went to sleep with the gate open. He loves his crates, they are his safe and restful spot in a chaotic world with two big dogs.

He and Fate even started to play a bit, although Fate is obsessed with stealing his toys and when she can his food. I was struck by Gus’s adaptability and his skill at dealing with a crowd of boisterous strangers. This is  very grounded dog, and I credit his first-time breeder Robin Gibbons, this is the kind of dog you can do almost anything with.

He adores people, can handle himself with poise and confidence, he knows when to take some time out and rest. Maria and I have worked hard to train him, but frankly, these are traits the dog either comes with or doesn’t.

I can’t remember every seeing a nine-week-old dog with so much poise and confidence. And he isn’t yet as big as a rabbit, and we’ve only had him for a week. I can only imagine the possibilities.

You can help a dog be grounded – positive training and crates help – but dogs like Red and Gus – Fate also – are very rare.

I am glad we decided to make Gus a part of this, the refugee kids adored him, and he was thrilled to be with them and be held by them and play with them. Dogs can do so much good, given a chance.