Entered: 04/04/2011
Status: Adopted
Age: 3
Color: Liver/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Trafford, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, thyroid assessment complete, losing to healthy weight
Temperament: Good with people as young as 6, good with other dogs, good with cats
Update 06/23/11:
Buddy has returned to foster care after settling briefly with an adopting family. The family felt he was a great dog but found he and their toddler were not a good match. Buddy had done very well with 4- and 6-year-olds in the past, but the inquisitive, little hands of their younger child brought attention that made Buddy uncomfortable.
Since back in foster care, Buddy has been greeted by neighboring children, ages 6 and 8. They are always so excited when a new foster arrives and wanted to welcome Buddy with a little pat on the head. The children stood still for a moment and let Buddy check them out; then they got a little “wiggle of the butt” from him. Buddy was fine with these children and let them pet him for a few minutes. He continues to do well with older children, just not the very little ones.
Buddy is currently residing with five dogs and three cats with no issues. Buddy is just another one in the pack! Well, actually, he was scared to death of a 5 or 6 week kitten that arrived the same day he did – what a fright that little thing was to him!
On Buddy’s first day, his foster mom put him in a crate for safety’s sake while she was at work. When she got home, dogs came running to the door – like every day. As she was trying to get everyone settled so she could get Buddy out of the crate, his little head appeared around the corner! At first it appeared as if Buddy was a little Houdini and had busted out himself, but later it was discovered that the resident female had helped Buddy. She must have figured that Buddy should have free run of the house with the rest of them! With nothing destroyed and no accidents, his foster mom agreed and Buddy now has free reign while his foster mom is at work. Oh, and for extra exercise, Buddy loves to run up and down the two story steps and is a real champ at it!
Buddy has learned that all of the dogs share their food at feeding time, with the exception of one. Buddy has shown no food aggression with any of this and seems to enjoy getting a bite out of each dish. He sits patiently and waits his turn for treats and loves blueberries and cantaloupe – yummy!
This boy is very much of a cuddle bug also. Although shy at first, he quickly warmed up to his foster mom and decided that he really is a lap dog; good thing he is small! Buddy is a little unsure of hugs but loves to have his ears rubbed and will give you a nudge for more if he thinks you have stopped too soon. He walks nicely on a leash and is trusted off leash; he just wants to be close to his humans. In the car Buddy is also a very good boy. He just sits and looks out the window. He does, however, get car sick so it is best not to feed him before a ride. Other than wanting to see what might be up on the counter, Buddy has excellent house manners. He has not had any accidents in the house and he has not taken anything that does not belong to him.
Buddy will be a great addition a lucky family! He just needs one more chance for a perfect match.
Update 04/18/11:
When the results of Buddy’s further thyroid testing came in, they were normal. With no thyroid problems, the conclusion was that this well-rounded boy – just fat. Not so bad really and easily remedied! Buddy loves to retrieve a tennis ball and gets to do this a lot these days. With increased exercise, he’s lost 2 pounds already and is on his way a healthy weight.
Buddy has come into his own and is so sweet. Outside, he runs around the house and you can see spring in his gait. Indoors, he continues to be mannerly and can be left alone without being in a crate. With further settling, he is still not a big barker. He is somewhat self-entertaining and will play with his toys in the house now.
A smart boy, Buddy will sit and give paw and will come when called. He walks well on a leash with no pulling. The one thing he’s working on with his foster mom right now is how to get attention without jumping on people. Hmmmm, maybe his pretty sit is just the thing for that!?!
Buddy loves kids and will make anyone a great companion. He’s an active, healthy, and easy-to-live-with kind of guy – just the kind of buddy that everyone loves!!
Original:
When his Pennsylvania family down-sized to a smaller home, they found that Buddy was no longer getting the attention or exercise that he needed. They made the decision to surrender him to MAESSR so a more suitable home could be found.
Buddy is a handsome liver and white boy. He tips the scales at about 50 pounds, but could stand to lose a little weight. His thyroid levels were borderline low when they were first tested, so the vet is going to re-evaluate Buddy to make sure everything is functioning normally.
His foster mom describes Buddy as a perfect dog with an easygoing temperament. He hasn’t shown any biting or aggressive behavior with other dogs and does not resource guard. Buddy is a love who is settling in and beginning to feel more at home in foster care. His previous family included a few children, and it is obvious that he loves kids. When his foster mom’s four year old granddaughter came to visit, Buddy was very happy and behaved like a gentleman when she walked him on leash. He also likes to run around outside with the neighborhood boys who live across the street.
Since he is settling in, Buddy has shown his foster mom that he can retrieve a tennis ball as well as sit and give a paw. Buddy likes to lie in the water, but hasn’t shown any signs of liking to swim. When he is put outside to do his business, Buddy stays close to the house even though the yard is not fenced. He also comes right back when he is called – good boy, Buddy!
Buddy is crate-trained, and used to sleep in his crate at night. Now, he sleeps in the bedroom with the other dogs in his foster home. Buddy still prefers to sleep on the floor rather than on a dog bed. When his foster mom is out, Buddy is fine in the house whether he is crated or not. This pup is also housetrained and has no submissive urination or anxiety issues. There is no abnormal barking or chewing. He does jump up and will try to counter-surf. His foster mom is teaching him to keep off. Buddy is also not used to being groomed or having his feet touched, so his foster mom is working on desensitizing him to being handled that way. He had a little car sickness when he first entered foster care, but now he seems to do well with riding in the car and enjoys running around his foster family’s farm.
Buddy is a sweet Velcro dog that would make anyone a great pet. He loves to be petted and loved by adults and children alike. If you are ready to add a sweet, playful, and handsome Springer to your family, then this Bud’s for you!