Entered: 01/24/2014
Status: Adopted
Age: 8 months
Color: Black/White
Weight: 21 lbs.
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Goochland, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, treatment for Lyme disease complete
Temperament: Good with people as young as five, good with other dogs, wants to play with cats
Original: “This little Springer has stolen the heart of everyone she meets.”
Abby was found as a stray in Virginia and taken to a shelter before she became a MAESSR dog. This little Springer has stolen the heart of everyone she meets. Abby knows no stranger; everybody is her best friend. No shyness here. She greets people very nicely with a wagging tail and without jumping up. Abby has no problem with anybody touching her ears or paws. As long as somebody is touching Abby, she is happy.
During the first night in her new foster home, Abby slept in a crate very quietly, but since then has slept in bed right between foster mom and dad along with one of the resident dogs. Abby has not needed to spend any more time in the crate at night without any accidents. During the day her foster parents are working on housetraining with Abby. She does signal her need to go out by doing a little circle dance with her nose down. This smart little girl quickly learned to use the pet door in her foster home, so she just scoots outside when she needs to. Great job, Abby!
Abby has a lot to learn about living in a house. She thinks she should be allowed to put her front paws on the kitchen table to see if there is anything for her to eat. Luckily, she is too short to counter-surf and the trash is not available to raid. She does get on the furniture, but because she is not much larger than the cat, she is so darn cute and it seems alright for her to be a lap dog! Abby will do the regular inappropriate puppy chewing― socks, shoes, electrical cords. So, her foster family is always taking something away from her or telling her “no.” However, she has not destroyed anything.
When her foster parents are at work, Abby does not stay home with the resident pets yet because of her lack of house manners; instead, she goes to work with her foster mom! Abby has a few toys to play with and bones to chew on along with a blanket and pillow to sleep on while gated in foster mom’s office. Of course she is a big attraction because she is so sweet and everybody loves her.
When it is time to go for a ride, Abby will go from the house to the car without a leash. When she first gets in the car, Abby will check out everybody in the front seat, then will go to the back and lie down. Abby walks very well on a leash when needed. It took some getting used to, but she will now go to the bathroom while on a leash. Her foster mom is working on the “sit” command to put her leash on calmly. Abby has been hiking off leash and was very good staying with her foster family and resident dogs.
Please note that MAESSR only places puppies in homes that are committed to training and bonding with the pup in obedience classes. Puppies require a lot of care, attention, and patience, and they do chew on things! The decision to get a puppy and raise it to be a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted dog is a serious commitment. To reinforce this commitment, MAESSR requires all adopters of dogs under 1 year old to enroll their puppy in obedience classes within 60 days of adoption.
While at her foster home, Abby plays well with the resident dogs, cats, and the kids, ages 5 and 10. Abby loves to run and play, like most Springer pups, but she can be very calm much of the time. On a puppy energy level scale, Abby would be about average or a little below. She just wants to be with her people, as long as they are not running the vacuum.
A couple of times, Abby seems to be guarding her foster mom by grumbling at one of the resident dogs and at the over-active 5 year child in the house. Her foster family is working with her on this issue. Abby has not displayed any other guarding issues. Abby eats in the kitchen with the other dogs with no problems. She also shares the toys very well.
It is not known how Abby was with her vet visit or at the groomer since all of her visits were done before she came into her foster home. But just knowing how she is with people in general and that she loves any attention she gets, her foster mom is sure she was a good girl. She will be spayed after she completes her course of antibiotics for Lyme disease.
Abby would be a great addition to any home that has a lot of love. Since she is not a super high energy puppy, she would do well any place as long as she got her walks and regular exercise. She is gentle and doesn’t jump. Her size is a bonus as an apartment pet. Abby would be a great only dog, or could fit in well with a whole pack.