Entered: 06/09/2013
Status: Adopted
Age: 2
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 34 lbs.
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Hayes, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, benefiting from a supplement to assist with anxiety, good in all areas
Temperament: Good with people 12 years and older, good with other dogs, unknown with cats
Update 07/31/2013: “Bella is a very lovable girl that gives kisses willingly.”
Bella is doing wonderfully in her new foster home where she’s been residing for the past two weeks. She gets along very well with the resident 9 year-old canine male; they play together constantly.
This girl is a quick study and has already learned how to give a paw. She also sits and waits until she’s told that it’s okay to begin eating. Because Bella is a major counter-surfer and trash picker, her foster parents are teaching her the error of her ways and proper Springer behavior.
Her foster parents also are working on her social skills, gradually easing her into meeting new people. Since Bella appears to have some leash aggression, she will need a bit more work on her socialization. So far she has met an adult family member and some neighborhood teenagers and she was fine with them all.
Some of Bella’s dislikes are loud noises like thunder, which she finds scary. She’s not a fan of the vacuum cleaner, either. Her likes (or obsessions) include birds, bugs, and squirrels. For this reason it would not be wise to trust this girl off leash!
Bella is a very lovable girl that gives kisses willingly. She will be ready for a new family soon so consider expanding your family to include beautiful Bella.
Original: “In her foster home Bella has been an absolute angel.”
Bella grew up in a home with 3 young boys, ages 5, 3 and 1. She played gently with them. The one-year old was her best friend; the 3- and 5-year olds could put her in her crate. She was much loved by her family. Unfortunately, Bella would become very nervous around new people. Even younger children who were new to her made her a little anxious. One day there was an incident that prompted a difficult decision. Her dad and one of the children were out for a walk with Bella and a man came up to them. Bella snapped at him and scratched the top of his hand.
The man suggested that the family might want to rehome Bella. Her family felt, with this threat, that it was in everyone’s best interest to find a new home for Bella and turned to MAESSR for help.
In her foster home Bella has been an absolute angel. Her foster mom started her on an all natural supplement to help reduce her anxiety and it has made a HUGE difference. She has freedom throughout the common areas on the main floor of the house when her family is home and free-roam of the house when no one is home. Lucky lady! Even better is that Bella likes to sleep in the bed with her foster parents and gets to do that because she’s such a good girl.
Some noises still bother Bella. She is not fond of the vacuum cleaner and leaves the room when it’s running. She’ll also become very nervous if she’s caught outside during a thunderstorm.
Bella enjoys being outdoors when the weather is more agreeable. She doesn’t dig or jump the fence but will chew on any child’s toys that are left out. She loves to play fetch, tug-of-war and also loves to go swimming. She’ll bark at squirrels and when people come in the house. She doesn’t have any grooming issues, so maintaining her beautiful appearance is not a worry. And, oh, like most Springers, she loves to ride anywhere in the car.
Bella had some training as a puppy to put basics in place but would benefit from continuing education. Commands she knows include: sit, come, down and shake. She pulls on her leash and can’t be trusted off of it unless safely limited by a fence. At this point, curiosity trumps recall. She’ll also gently jump on people when greeting them. To further the development of good habits and bonding with the family that adopts her, MAESSR will require that Bella and her family attend at least one series of obedience classes together. Classes can help a Springer understand quickly what its family is asking of it. They can also help a family learn how to ask for behaviors that will make their dog a good citizen. Good classes can be just plain fun too!
Bella will be ready shortly to meet an active, hands-on family and to take a shot at being “best in the class.” If you’d like to stand alongside her on “graduation” day, ask about meeting her now.