Entered: 03/18/2020
Status: Adopted
Age: 5
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 51 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Manassas Park, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, UTD, HW-, treatment for an ear infection and surgery to correct cherry eye completed
Temperament: Good with adults and older children, could inadvertently knock over younger ones, good with other dogs, chases cats
Update 04/02/2021: “This is one all-around good boy who is so deserving of his happily ever after family.”
Caesar returned to MAESSR when his adoptive owner decided to get married. That is one of the great things about being a MAESSR dog…you will always be welcomed home!
Just the sweetest boy, Caesar returned to MAESSR extremely matted and had to be completely shaved down. He was fantastic for all of it (even trimming the hair between the pads of his feet.) He just wanted all the loving that came along with getting groomed.
Caesar tried to hump a couple of the dogs in his new foster home; they told him “NO,” so he quickly lost interest. Now he runs and plays with them all and shares the toys. Good boy!
Caesar possesses excellent house manners, and he rides well in the car. The only negative behavior his foster mom has noticed is leash-pulling on walks, so he will need guidance for proper leash behavior.
This is one all-around good boy who is so deserving of his happily ever after family.
Update 04/12/2020: “MAESSR will require Paddy’s adoptive parents to take him to two series of positive reinforcement obedience classes to be completed within six months of adoption.”
Paddy has been through neutering surgery, cherry eye surgery, an emergency visit to the vet for hematoma in his scrotum, and a second eye surgery when his first stitches failed. Poor guy was on sedatives and pain killers and restricted to tiled areas of the house (due to the bleeding) until recently, as well as having to wear a cone.
Health wise, Paddy has turned a corner. The neutering is complete and the eye is better and does not appear to bother him; his vision appears to be fine.
His foster parents have had time to observe Paddy without any sedatives and without the cone. Paddy will be happiest in a home where he can burn off some energy and get lots of brain toys and brain games. He is really peppy and still quite a puppy. He is also mouthy and can accidentally get you when he is going after his ball and he loves to play! His foster parents are working on the playful nipping but Paddy still has some learning to do.. He also thinks it is fun to go after shoe laces and hands when he is looking for action so he would do best in a home with older children who understand a young exuberant dog who is still learning about manners.
Paddy likes to pick up slippers, shoes, pillows, and anything else but is getting better at trading for a more suitable toy. He has not yet learned “drop it.” but that should be an easy one since he does love treats! It is a real plus that he has no resource guarding tendencies. He also likes to pick up trash, counter-surf, and jump on furniture but also is getting more responsive to “no.”
This sweet boy loves a good petting, enjoys being combed and having his feet dried, and tolerates a bath very well. He sleeps well in the crate — all night — and patiently awaits his release from the crate in the morning for his first walk. He enjoys the crate in the car, too. He is completely house trained and can wait for hours before going outside.
Paddy loves training games and has learned “sit,” “lie down,” and “come.” Recently, he started learning “paw” and picked it up quickly. All of these commands work fine inside the house, with treats and no distractions. He does need a little work and practice when distractions are involved and that should come along for him with time, repetitiveness and patience.
Outside Paddy is very excited.. He really just wants to chase everything out there. He loves leaves blowing in the wind, which makes walking on leash sometimes a challenge. He is quite strong and will pull to get to the smells, the sounds, and the action outside. His ears perk up and he is determined to get to them.
His foster parents feel bad because their yard is not fenced and the dog parks are closed because of the pandemic, so he is stuck on a leash with them. Sometimes they use a long leash so he can run a bit; however, he mostly is on a normal leash. He would love to play fetch with a ball outside as he loves the game inside the house. Because of the corona virus scare, his foster parents have not had the opportunity to introduce him to other dogs for play, but he definitely enthusiastically wags his little stumpy tail at other dogs on walks. He barks at dogs who bark at him.
Paddy is mostly delightful in the house. Playful and funny, he is happy as long as he is with his foster mom. He loves to nap at her feet enabling her to get computer work done or to play piano.
Paddy is not a fan of being left when anybody goes outside or someone leaves without him. He’ll bark and bark and try to get over the indoor fencing. If he sees something outside like a squirrel, he frantically scratches at the door. They are sure he would bolt through the sliding door screens if the glass doors were opened. Interestingly, he does not get anxious when left in the crate in the car. Sometimes play triggers his excitement and his foster parents are getting better at managing the environment to help him stay more calm.
Training will be very important for Paddy along with exercise and keeping him mentally challenged. . MAESSR will require Paddy’s adoptive parents to take him to two series of positive reinforcement obedience classes to be completed within six months of adoption.
Paddy’s ideal permanent home will have a person who can be home with him a lot, give him loads of attention. A fenced-in yard is ideal so he can RUN! Other dogs would be fine but no cats!.
If you are up for an energizer bunny and you want to open your heart to him and help him learn, you will be rewarded by a devoted, loving Springer to keep you on your toes.
Update 04/02/2020: “They all look forward to the day his e-collar can come off, he is no longer so heavily medicated, and Paddy can begin to stretch his legs.”
Paddy had a rough second week in his foster home. After his neutering surgery he was kept sedated, wore the “e-collar,” and was on a very restricted walking regime. Within a few days his stitches to correct his cherry eye burst, and another few days later a blood vessel burst in his scrotum. So, he had an emergency visit to the vet for his swollen, inflamed scrotum, after which he had to be (and continues to be) iced every few hours. Because there is quite a bit of discharge, he is now restricted to the tiled kitchen and foyer. Paddy was used to following his foster mom around the house, so he was upset when he could not anymore. He is so sweet, though, and has caught on about the new rules. Then he had a second, scheduled surgery to correct his cherry eye. It looks much better now, but boy, does he hate getting those eye drops! Fortunately, he loves the treats that follow eye drops.
Even though he is perpetually sedated these days, Paddy is still getting much better at “sit.” He has learned “lie down,” “up,” and “come,” but these commands need much more practice. Despite the sedatives, walks are still exciting events for Paddy. He loves all the smells and action of animals everywhere in the neighborhood. He knows “heel,” too, but does not understand that he is not supposed to pull on the leash between heeling.
His foster parents are getting trained in how to help him walk better and control his anxiety. They all look forward to the day his e-collar can come off, he is no longer so heavily medicated, and Paddy can begin to stretch his legs. More news to come for this sweet fellow!
Update 03/30/2020: “Paddy’s age is estimated to be three; however, he still is very puppy-like in his behaviors and he needs to learn a great deal about living with a family inside of a house.”
Frequently the age of a foster dog is not known. Although his rescuer thought Paddy was one, his foster mom thought he was older as did her vet. So, Paddy’s age is estimated to be three; however, he still is very puppy-like in his behaviors and he needs to learn a great deal about living with a family inside of a house. It is essential that Paddy’s new family be committed to training and bonding with him in obedience classes. Young dogs require a lot of care, attention, and patience, and they do chew on things! The decision to get a young dog and raise it to be a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted adult is a serious commitment. To reinforce this commitment, MAESSR will require Paddy’s adopters to enroll him in obedience classes within 60 days of adoption. Paddy will be a great student!
Original: “He is a Velcro Springer for sure – LOVES affection, belly rubs, and friendly pats.”
Caesar was rescued by a Good Samaritan who found him tied up and abandoned behind a Maryland Walmart. As sweet as he was, Caesar was not a good fit in his rescuer’s home as he liked to chase the resident cats a bit too much. So, MAESSR was contacted. Since Caesar arrived at his foster home on St. Patrick’s Day, his foster parents decided to call him Paddy because his luck changed for the better by entering MAESSR!
Paddy is as sweet as can be. There is not a mean bone in his body. While initially a little wary of strangers by cowering a bit, he warmed up very quickly to his foster parents and follows them everywhere around the house. He is a Velcro Springer for sure – LOVES affection, belly rubs, and friendly pats.
Although he was very anxious initially, panting incessantly, Paddy was interested in everything around him. He ran around his new foster home like a banshee. He was a bit wild on the leash, too, with all the new smells, but apparently he was not used to walking on a leash. His house manners need work, too. He jumps up to see what is on kitchen counters and on any piece of furniture available. But, he is quickly learning that these behaviors are not acceptable and he gets down with a firm “no.” The trash is covered, as this boy would undoubtedly find smelly stuff very interesting to chew. Fortunately, he is housetrained and gets his business done promptly when taken outside.
Everything is a toy to Paddy. He is very playful and can occupy himself for quite a while with a ball or bone. He likes the squeaky toys, too, but not as much. This smart boy enjoyed figuring out an “advanced” doggie puzzle; he solved it in no time! Unfortunately, he also thinks human shoes, his bed, and even the old sleeping bag that lines his crate are toys. He runs after the ball when thrown and brings it back, but he has not yet learned to “drop it.” He can get very worked up in a ball throwing game, to the point where he starts puppy nipping everyone and everything. His foster parents are getting better at quickly and kindly ending that behavior and calming him down. He is not resource-guarding, but he just does not know what the heck humans mean by “drop it.”
Paddy is a smart boy. He already has learned “sit” and he can “stay” for about 20 seconds, too. He is learning “heel” but only if treats are available, but then again he has only been with his new foster parents for a few days. Now that he knows his foster parents, he undoubtedly will be very responsive to training. “Come” is a high priority to teach him soon.
Please note that MAESSR only places puppies – even older puppies like Paddy — in homes that are committed to training and bonding with the pup in obedience classes. Puppies require a lot of care, attention, and patience, and they do chew on things! The decision to get a puppy and raise it to be a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted dog is a serious commitment. To reinforce this commitment, MAESSR requires all adopters of dogs one year old and younger to enroll their puppy in obedience classes within 60 days of adoption. Paddy will be a great student!
This handsome guy enjoys his walks. He is very interested in other dogs that are out and about, but he does not bark at them unless they really threaten him. He loves being toweled off after a wet walk. His foster parents have found no problem touching his feet or combing him. He is fine in the bath, too. Funny boy almost jumped in with his foster mom when she was bathing!
Paddy is very good in the car. He travels in a crate, where, just like at home, he completely chills when in it. He sleeps in his crate through the night and patiently waits while his foster parents get dressed before his first walk of the day.
Initially, Paddy did not have much of an appetite but that improved after a couple of days. His water and food are in the kitchen, but if he does not eat, the food goes away after a while.
Paddy got neutered within a few days of his arrival to his foster home and also had his “cherry eye” fixed. So, poor guy is wearing a cone and kept under some sedation so as to prevent any post-operation problems. His foster parents look forward to seeing Paddy hopefully calm down a bit once his hormones adjust. His humping behaviors should dissipate, too. Once his prescription for sedation runs out, he likely will get some melatonin to reduce his anxiety, depending on how he does at that point.
Paddy’s such a smart, sweet, and loving boy who just needs some love, training, and attention. His foster parents look forward to sharing his progress in transitioning from a wild, abandoned puppy to a beloved, obedient housedog.