Buster 11

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Update 07/29/09: Buster is a doll baby! He is neutered now but, unfortunately, he had a viral infection and a urinary tract infection. He has been treated for both and is still taking medication for the UTI. He should finish it by the end of the week.

Despite these minor setbacks, Buster is VERY high energy. He has been getting better at listening to commands, but his family still doesn’t trust him off leash. Just too many temptations out there! He is doing well with riding in the car.

Buster is his foster mom’s shadow. He seems to really take to women so it will be very important that his adoptive person/family have a woman in the household. He seems unsure with men; when his foster dad corrects him, Buster does urinate at times due to his submissiveness.

He has started to play fetch, but Buster doesn’t seem to like the water too much. He walks well on the leash. That is about it! Keep an eye on this handsome softie when he’s ready, it won’t take long for a lucky family to make him their own!!

Original: Buster was the innocent victim of a divorce and of the economy. When his owner had to relocate and was unable to take Buster with him, Buster came into MAESSR’s care.

Prior to living in his foster home, Buster had no interaction with other dogs or cats. He passed this test with flying colors when he met the resident Springer and the resident cat. He gets along well with both of his four-footed foster siblings. When a friend’s German shepherd came over to visit, he and Buster also played well. Because of Buster’s previous lack of socialization, he has been receiving much needed discipline from the resident Springer and he is learning quickly.

Since he had not been to the vet since he was a puppy, Buster was frightened during the vet’s examination and had a case of bad manners which required him to be muzzled during his exam. The vet thought this negative reaction was just due to Buster being in an unknown situation. Buster loves the ten-year-old son in his foster family, and he tends to follow him around the house. In his original home, a daughter of similar age was Buster’s primary caregiver so he likes kids! He is a total Velcro dog following his people wherever they go!

When Buster goes for a walk, he pulls a bit on the leash, but this is correctable with some work. This probably has more to do with his high energy and lack of knowing any better! Buster is easily distracted and seems to have selective hearing so he cannot be trusted off leash. The command that he knows best is sit, but he does not respond to it reliably; however, he does get down off of the couch when told to do so. When it is time to go somewhere in the car, Buster is crated so he will be a good passenger.

Not completely housetrained since he had lived outside for much of his life, Buster had some accidents when he first arrived in his foster home. Some of the accidents were marking and some were not. He does not yet signal when he needs to go out to relieve himself, but as his housetraining continues, this will improve.

Some attention needs to be given to improving Buster’s house manners. Given the chance, Buster will raid a trash can or pick something off of a coffee table and chew it. He is also a jumper. A training course with the adoptive family would be highly recommended because Buster is very much a puppy in an adult body. Every time Buster is corrected, he will lie down and roll over for a belly rub. How could anyone not fall in love?

Due to Buster’s high energy level, he needs to live with a family that has an active, outdoor lifestyle. This young Springer would probably make a great agility dog, too. He is truly a gem in the rough that just needs some polishing!