Andy 4

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Update 12/30/08: Andy has settled into his foster home well and his foster mom has some more information to share about him. He is a stout fellow of about 50 pounds. He is over his upper respiratory infection and is in tip top health for the holiday season.

Andy has responded well to training and no longer counter surfs, but he still has problems with jumping on people when he gets excited. Work continues on that, and he is learning how to sit also.

Recently Andy was babysat for 5 days by a dogless friend and Andy found he did not like being alone. If he is left alone in an adopting home, he will need to be crated. He still doesn’t bark, nor does he claw at a door, but he does get nervous and will find inappropriate things to chew while you are away. He will also have accidents if left alone with too much space to feel lonely in. Andy does much better when he has a playmate, and it would be best if he had an older dog to give him cues. Andy’s a follower, not a leader! He loves to play with his foster sister and gets along very well with her. He sleeps calmly in any room, with or without people in it, and does not need to be crated at night. He rides perfectly in the backseat of a car, behind the driver, and sits calmly the entire drive.

Andy needs companionship in his life, that of a fellow canine, as well as people, he can call his own and spend lots of time with. If you have a middle age to senior dog who would like an engaging and playful buddy, please ask Andy to come home with you!!

Original: Andy was rescued from a shelter in western Virginia just in time to spend Thanksgiving with his MAESSR foster family who was dishing out all the love he could handle on this day of thanks.

Andy is a handsome boy that sports a stout body and a shiny coat. Oddly, he doesn’t bark! The usual Springer vocal cords do not seem to be present in this boy. He doesn’t even snore! He is a snuggle bear, though, and he doesn’t care what his people are doing as long as he gets a pat on the head or some one-on-one cuddle time. He’ll gingerly find a way to “make” you pet him by nudging your hand until his head is under it.

Andy’s foster family includes a resident eight-year-old, female Springer that Andy plays well with. He has even gotten her to stay outside and play with him. When he is on a leash walk with her, he walks nicely; however, when he is by himself, he does not do as well. This laid-back boy doesn’t know any commands but is learning down and sit. It’s important that Andy has something to chew on or play with, so he doesn’t get himself into any mischief. He likes to play fetch and entertain himself with his toys. He does not whine if you shut the door; he’ll just go in a different room and lie down, play by himself or coax the resident dog to play with him.

Although Andy doesn’t mind being crated, he prefers being with people. Housetrained, Andy has not had any accidents while in foster care and he obviously has been trained to go outside. No boy is perfect, though, and Andy needs a refresher course in household manners. He is a counter surfer, he jumps on people, and he is a garbage seeker. He will not dig through trash if he has a rawhide handy or he is getting some attention. On the positive side, he rides well in the car and stays in the backseat until it is time to get out.

The vet says Andy is healthy and that the upper respiratory infection, like the one he has, are common when a dog has spent some time in a shelter. Andy will need his teeth cleaned soon but shouldn’t need anything else done as he is solid as a rock! He is a good eater, consuming all of his food in the morning. He has not been to the groomer, but he doesn’t mind having his ears cleaned or having his silky hair brushed.

If you aren’t looking for a watchdog, if you enjoy a dog that gets along well with both two-legged and four- legged creatures and can have fun by himself then Andy is your perfect companion.