Entered: 07/11/2020
Status: Adopted
Age: 4, born 05/15/2017
Color: Black/White
Weight: 30 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Goochland, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, receiving anti-anxiety meds
Temperament: Good with adults, probably too exuberant for small children and the elderly, okay with other dogs but may be best as an only dog, unknown with cats
Update 09/07/2020: “He solved the Tornado puzzle in minutes and then proceeded to march around dragging his trophy!”
Beautiful Ace is making progress in his basic retraining. He knows “sit” on word cue and signal and has a reliable “down” with signal and sometimes word cue. His self-control coming out of the crate is greatly improved with treats on the floor; he will now offer behaviors like “sit” and “down” if there’s a chance of a reward. Currently he is working on “mat” work and is beginning to catch on. Next in the line-up for training are “up and off” and “sit” for the harness.
When it comes to eating, Ace still prefers his foster mom’s food to his kibble. The word “no” is not in his vocabulary! He does not dig or chew or try to leave the yard when his foster mom must open the gate to empty trash, etc.
Ace does not like to be left in the crate during any necessary foster mom absences and has been safe when left free in the house. His uncontrollable joy when she returns is a little problem to be resolved. However, nighttime crating in his foster mom’s bedroom is excellent. After the last potty break, all she has to say is “bedtime” and the dogs run directly into their crates, waiting for that last snack. Ace is quiet all night until mom gets up, around 7 a.m.
After the confusion of his first day, Ace has not had any accidents in the house. He goes in and out through the doggie door at will to do his business and to warn all the lurking evil beasts to stay away!
Ace wants his human’s undivided love and would be happiest as the only dog. He would do very well in home where his human enjoys working with a dog and would probably be a star in the Nosework field. He solved the Tornado puzzle in minutes and then proceeded to march around dragging his trophy!
Would you like a good deal? You’ll be dealt a good hand with Ace!
Original: “To date, he shows no signs of resource guarding and there is no negative reaction when something is removed from him.”
Ace came to be a MAESSR boy after he had a possible negative interaction with a child in his Maryland family. After the incident Ace was seen by a behaviorist and was started on Fluoxetine; however, the family’s confidence was shaken and they relinquished him to MAESSR. He went to an extremely experienced foster family initially for assessment and his first foster home never witnessed the negative interaction reported by his owner.
His current foster mom sees Ace as an energetic, loving, young Springer who probably missed out on some of the early socialization and training that he needed. He has great potential with a forever owner who is committed to patiently train and rehab this boy. His worst habit is counter-surfing! To date, he shows no signs of resource guarding and there is no negative reaction when something is removed from him. He is definitely a Velcro Springer who wants to be loved. In his foster mom’s quiet time before bed, Ace sits next to her on one side of the couch and the resident female Springer sits next to her on the other side. Ace loves a good belly rub, too!
His foster mom has not yet decided whether he likes the other dog in the home. The resident female is admittedly not the usual canine companion–the minute her mom stands up she dashes for the nearest furniture to crawl under. Ace seems unsure what this behavior means. He has play bowed to her when she’s under the bed, but then lunges and looks like he wants to grab her. She has courageously emerged and rolled on her back once, but possibly he missed the cue. Ace was all right with the other dogs in his first foster home but he would probably be happiest as an only dog.
Ace is housetrained but does not give strong signals. He will stand at the front door and look for a response but is also using the always open doggie door to the backyard. When his foster mom leaves the house, Ace is crated much to his dismay. He initially barks and makes a fuss, but when foster mom returns, he is quiet and the crate is in one piece! At night Ace sleeps quietly in his foster mom’s bedroom as long as she stays in bed.
This handsome boy does not know much in the way of commands. Ace responds to “sit” and he is learning “down,” distinguishing the word from “off.” He seems to know “bed” and “go to crate” which get results with a treat. He does not respond to “no” – a word he probably had heard all too often so that he ignores it. Ace’s foster mom has not begun working with him on leash walking yet, but just from his leashed transfer during his transport, Ace is a puller! During the drive to his new foster home, he was quiet and peaceful in a soft sided crate. Upon arrival, he exploded out of the crate but was easily distracted by simultaneously dropped treats.
A good boy in his fenced yard, Ace does not dig or try to get out. Toys do not seem to interest Ace except for a ball. He is not interested in a flying disk at this time, either. What interests him most, though, is human food! With his own food in his dish, he is a grazer. Ace will beg at the table and his foster mom tries to redirect him or distract him so he will stop.
When Ace’s foster mom handles his feet, he will pull them away but has not been groomed or brushed by her yet.
Ace is a diamond in the rough and he will make a wonderful companion for someone who is willing to work with him. An energetic and patient family without young or elderly people would be the ideal home for Ace as they help him reach his full potential.