Entered: 01/14/2008
Status: Adopted
Age: 1
Color: Liver/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Bethlehem, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, Lyme-, good in all areas
Temperament: Good with people as young as eight, good with other dogs, ignored cats at his temporary foster home
Update 02/01/08:
Having settled nicely into his foster home, Buddy is comfortable with the routine. He has learned when he needs to stay home and when he can come along. He isn’t happy about crates or gates but now will walk into the crate to retrieve a toy. When his foster mom goes out, the resident dogs are crated and Buddy chooses to stay close by them enjoying his Kong. He’s gotten to the point where he just pokes his head out of the room when she leaves but doesn’t follow her to the door. At first Buddy’s foster mom thought he didn’t like Kongs, but he just doesn’t like peanut butter!
Buddy is a very active boy and needs to get some fast running in the morning and again later in the afternoon or he could be an annoying pup. The resident dogs are usually happy to assist but he’ll also take himself for a long, fast run or play some ball. Sometimes his foster mom hides and he runs looking for her. He is without a doubt the fastest Springer his foster mom has ever seen. He leaves the resident dogs in the dust running around his large fenced yard. He doesn’t seem interested in critters but is happy to join in a sprint to chase any that happens to come into the yard. He does love to play very physically with the more submissive resident dog. He is constantly initiating play. He tends to leave the more dominant resident dog to her own devices – although happy to play if she wishes to do so. While in foster care Buddy has met dozens of new people.
He’s interested to meet all people but always looks to his foster mom for confirmation that he’s OK. If his foster mom bends down, Buddy will melt into her arms for reassurance. Buddy is a timid dog that rolls over on his back at the slightest thing. His foster mom took out the tennis racquet to hit some balls for him and he backed off and withdrew. Another time, she had a paper tube from wrapping paper and he ran off and rolled over on his back. It broke his foster mom’s heart to think that someone was less than kind to this beautiful sweet boy. Buddy did have some submissive urination on a couple of occasions when he was frightened, not as a response to daily occurrences or meeting people.
Having gained three pounds, Buddy probably has another five to go and is starting to look superb. His fur has deepened to a lovely liver and is nice and soft. His tummy troubles are also behind him with the help of some plain yogurt added to each meal.
Buddy remains a big time Velcro Springer boy. He stays close by his foster mom, often touching, and will not go outdoors without her going also – even if the other dogs go out. He sits and waits patiently for her to get her coat and join him. Fortunately in this cold weather, Buddy takes care of his potty business in record time.
This fantastic young boy is ready for his very own family. He wants one that can appreciate that a young Springer boy is full of life but needs a benevolent leader to guide him through the tough spots. Is that you?
Original:
Buddy was found wandering in the woods by a gentleman who kept by him for a couple of months and then turned into a shelter he couldn’t provide for his care any longer. MAESSR pulled Buddy from the shelter and his new life began.
Buddy is behaving himself very nicely in his foster home. He hasn’t had any marking or house breaking accidents. He is taken out regularly and his foster mom has noticed he’ll pace if nature is calling. He hasn’t chewed any non-dog items. He has checked out the countertops, but gets right down when asked; he hasn’t touched the trash. A simple “Buddy, no” seems to be the only correction he needs. He doesn’t jump on people, but does nibble his foster mom’s hands when she returns from absences. Buddy does pull on leash so his foster mom has started working with a Gentle Leader on him. Buddy knows sit and is being taught to sit before his meal is served, before treats, and before being let outdoors. He rides very well in the car with a harness or loose. Buddy generally just barks when he wants another dog to play or if the resident dogs start barking at deer, squirrel or rabbits.
His foster mom tried Buddy with the crate and he was extremely anxious and got himself out. Then, baby gates were tried to confine him to a particular area of the house, but he knocked them down. His foster mom settled on closing the doors of rooms where he shouldn’t go, crating the resident dogs, and leaving Buddy loose. Buddy ended up sitting close by the resident dogs’ crates which his foster mom guessed he would do.
Although Buddy is in generally good health at 36 pounds, he needs to gain weight and certainly is more than willing to work on it. He’s currently eating for about two to three normal Springers! He was treated for intestinal parasites and has some tummy troubles adjusting to a new food and new life. Buddy also has an underbite which causes his lower lip to stick out. When his mouth is closed, he has an adorable pouty look on his face.
Buddy will need some time in his new home to get relaxed and settled. He follows his foster mom everywhere and seldom lets her out of his sight. At this point, he won’t go outside without her going also. It certainly had to be frightening to a sensitive boy to be lost in the woods. His foster family found it took Buddy a little time to get used to noises, stairs, basements, and shadows that he possibly hadn’t experienced before. After a few exposures though, he was a pro.
Buddy is a typical active Springer Velcro boy who just loves his people. As long as he’s gotten his active play taken care of, he’ll amuse himself with a ball, toy or nap. He just loves to cuddle up for hugs and petting. His temporary foster home noticed that he resource-guarded rawhide with the resident dogs, but his current foster home doesn’t give the dogs rawhide or other long-lasting treats outside their crates. All the dogs are also fed either crated or in separate places, so this hasn’t been an issue. His foster mom can take anything from his mouth, touch him all over, poke and prod without any reaction.
Buddy is living with two resident female Springers, ages two and four and with two kids, ages eight and ten. He is a very active boy that just loves to play. He will need a home where he can get at least sixty minutes of ACTIVE exercise every day. His foster family is getting him out into the yard about four times a day for about fifteen minutes each time. He likes to run and chase the dogs and fetch a ball. He actually wears out one dog then the other. He plays very physically with the resident dogs with lots of hip checking, wrestling, boxing, rolling around, and running. Fortunately, one of the resident Springers also enjoys this very spirited play but the other one just likes to run. Buddy has picked up on this information and leaves her alone. Sometimes his foster mom needs to redirect him with the tennis ball to give the other dogs a break.
Because Buddy can get enough active play time, his foster family finds him a pleasure. Buddy will need a family that can provide him that active exercise, either through play with another dog that enjoys physical play or daily trips to a doggie park. He loves to get out for a walk to smell the world, but that isn’t exercise for him. At least in the beginning, Buddy will also want someone to be around to help him learn the ropes.
This beautiful boy is just waiting for the right family. Is it you?