Entered: 08/30/2012
Status: Adopted
Age: 9
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 50 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Annapolis, MD
Health: UTD, HW-, receiving joint supplements for arthritis, receiving a supplement and a medication for separation anxiety, very hard of hearing
Temperament: Good with people as young as six, good with other dogs, good with cats
Update 10/05/2012: “Bono, or Buddy, has made so much progress in the short time he’s been a foster in MAESSR’s care.”
Bono, or Buddy, has made so much progress in the short time he’s been a foster in MAESSR’s care. His anxiety has lessened and he has gotten so much better about barking when left alone in the house. While it hasn’t stopped completely, within 10 minutes he’s done voicing his opinion about being left behind. Additionally, Bono is totally trustworthy when left alone and has had no accidents. He’s very good about telling his foster family when he needs to go out to do his business. Good boy!
At the park, Bono loves to run and play; he never seems to tire! Pretty spry for an 8 year old guy! His supplement must be doing the trick because he displays no evidence of arthritis.
His foster family describes Bono as one fun-loving pup. Are you looking for a playmate? This sweet, playful guy is ready to join a new forever family.
Original: “Generally, Bono’s house manners are very good with just a few exceptions.”
Found as a stray in Pennsylvania, Bono spent some time at a vet’s office waiting for someone to claim him. When no one did, he was taken to a shelter. A MAESSR volunteer sprung him from there and although he was excited to leave, Bono tried to follow the shelter’s director back to her office since she had befriended him. Lucky Bono has not just had one foster family; he has had two! The volunteer who got him from the shelter cared for Bono for a week before he was transported to his appointed foster home.
Quick to make friends in his temporary foster home, Bono (or Buddy as he is now affectionately called) enjoyed the two resident children, ages six and ten. A very laid-back boy, Bono loved hugs from the six year old and loved to hang out on the couch with the ten year old. When the boys would throw the tennis ball for him, Bono would run after it, but not pick it up or bring it back. He was just happy to be getting attention from the kids! Now in his current foster home, his foster mom cares for her infant grandchild several days a week and Bono is getting used to sharing her with the baby. Her three other grandchildren came to meet Bono and he embraced them as they loved on him in return. He loves to be with his people and he is a definite Velcro boy following them around so as not to be left alone. If he finds himself alone, he barks to show his unhappiness.
Bono interacted well with the four-legged members in his temporary foster home. There, he was good with the resident male ESS but did not go out of his way to interact with him. When Bono first arrived, though, the resident Springer took Bono’s leash in his mouth and walked him around the yard several times. Talk about a personalized tour! His foster mom wished she had her video camera out to record this welcome-to-our-yard tour! In his current foster home, Bono is an only dog and he likes to play tug-of-war with his foster mom. He does not really entertain himself with toys, but rather relaxes until his foster mom is able to play with him. A relative’s dog came to visit and he and Bono really clicked. They loved chasing each other around the yard! This was the first time that his foster mom had seen him with so much play energy! Just as Bono is good with other dogs, he was good with the resident cat in his temporary foster home. When the cat saw him the first time, kitty did a Halloween cat impersonation, Bono just walked away. Good boy!
Although he is basically housetrained, Bono has several accidents early on. His foster families have tried to get him outside regularly so that won’t be a problem. When he has to go out, he will now go to the door and give a little whine.
Bono does not do well in a crate; he chewed right through a metal crate the first time he was confined! His temporary foster family had to put him in their garage when they had to go out and Bono was fine with that. At night, Bono is very happy sleeping in bed with his foster parents! Knowing how he is when crated, his current foster mom has given him free run of the house and has found him to be well behaved; he does not chew or destroy anything. Unfortunately, he barks constantly until his foster parents return. To help him with this separation anxiety, his vet has given him melatonin and another drug to calm him. His foster parents are eager to see how these meds help their foster boy.
Generally, Bono’s house manners are very good with just a few exceptions. He loves to get up on the furniture, but does no inappropriate chewing. He does not get into the trash, but he is pretty amazing at counter-surfing! If there is food around, Bono is right there. When he puts his paws up on the counter, he gets down and stays down when shown. He is a gentle dog although very food driven. He does not resource guard his food, though, nor his rawhide chews.
Because he is so hard of hearing, to get Bono to respond to commands, you have to be in front of him with a treat to tell him to “sit,” “shake” and “lie down.” When he first starts out on a walk, Bono pulls a little at first and then settles down walking nicely. Even the six year old in his temporary foster home would walk him around the yard with no issues. On car rides, Bono is a little anxious at first, but then settles down.
Bono’s ideal forever home would include another dog or children old enough to play with him, or better yet, both! This sweetheart likes a lot of love and hugs; he’s a real people dog! However, he is content by himself as long as someone is nearby. Until the separation anxiety is resolved, he needs to be with someone at all times or he will lose his voice from continuous barking!
Watch for more on Bono [aka Buddy] as he becomes even more comfortable in his foster home and as his separation anxiety dissipates.