Brandon

---

Update 12/01/10:

Young Brandon is doing well. Like most youngsters, he loves to play and enjoys hours of play with the resident dog. Indoors they have learned not to be too rough but when outside, they put their whole hearts into running and wrestling.

Initially Brandon was afraid to take food from his foster dad’s hand which made clicker training hard, but he now knows it’s safe and training has gotten easier. His family has added an Easy Walker harness which Brandon has adapted to well. He’s walking well with it — not perfectly but well! He gets along with other dogs and, while on the leash, shows interest but no aggression. He has settled noticeably since neutering as well, making doggie encounters more mannerly.

Brandon still has a lot of puppy in him and has not put all longings to chew behind him. His savvy family has found that as long as he has an appropriate chew toy available, he is not tempted with other things in the house. He is crate trained and settles down to sleep there during the night. He knows the crate is “his home” and goes in very willingly.

As happens from time to time, hands-on by his family has proven more valuable than intake pictures from Brandon’s shelter days and has led to the conclusion that he is a mixed Springer. Regardless of his heritage, he is a sweetie, through and through. His foster brother (and just maybe his foster parents too) is getting pretty fond of him and hope his forever family is soon to make him their very own!

Original:

Look at that face! Brandon and his sister were found as strays and taken to a rural West Virginia shelter. Since the shelter was very full, staff contacted other area shelters to see if they had room for them. After this transfer, Brandon’s sister was adopted, but the staff contacted MAESSR for help in placing Brandon.

Brandon was a great passenger in his trip from West Virginia to Richmond, traveling well both loose in the car and in a crate. He arrived in his foster home a bit smelly with his coat a little matted, but after a bath and a round with a pair of scissors, a handsome Springer with a beautiful coat emerged. After his spa treatment, this very friendly young boy was eager to play with the resident five year old Springer and a neighbor’s hound. Playing tug with them was a big hit! He is not really interested in playing with toys but does enjoy chewing on a bone. This friendly, low-key boy is not a resource guarder.

Since nothing was known about his medical history, Brandon was given a first round of all of the normal puppy shots when he went to the vet. In a few weeks, he will get the boosters and then he will be up-to-date on his vaccinations at which time he will be neutered. The vet estimated that his age is ten months to one year old and is still quite the puppy. (Don’t leave any shoes laying around, because he has already chewed one up in foster care!) His foster parents have noticed that rapid hand motions cause Brandon to cower, so he may have been mistreated in the past; however, he is a most agreeable Springer that enjoys the love and affection he receives in his foster home.

Brandon arrived in foster care with no training, but is learning “sit,” “come,” and “down” reasonably well for a young dog. He had no knowledge of leash walking, initially, but is learning pretty quickly. When he sees a squirrel, he will pull on the leash, but he is not bad when he sees other dogs. Brandon will have to attend obedience training with his forever family– something that MAESSR requires for adopted Springers a year and younger. For Brandon, housetraining is a work in progress. After an accident in the house, Brandon is spending more time in the crate when he is not in direct eyesight. He is not thrilled about the crate but goes in with a few treats.

Although he has not tried to get up on the furniture, he would like to be invited onto the bed. This is not a doggy privilege in his foster family’s home, though. Brandon is content to sleep on his own dog bed on the floor in the bedroom next to the resident Springer. His foster parents have not witnessed counter-surfing or trash diving, but Brandon has not had much opportunity to get into this type of mischief.

Brandon is a fairly laid back Springer that enjoys playing and exercise but is not demanding at all. Even though he has not been exposed to any children, his foster parents think he would be good with them because of his low key nature. This adaptable boy could fit into almost any forever home; he will make someone a wonderful companion.