Caine

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Update 08/05/11:

Caine came back into MAESSR’s care through no fault of his own. Since returning to his original foster home, he has impressed his foster parents with his incredibly sweet temperament and great house manners. Caine is still a shy boy, but he loves getting human attention. Just looking over at him and saying his name gets his docked tail wagging like crazy!

Unfortunately for Caine, a routine trip to the vet for an examination turned up a few health issues. He has a double ear infection that requires regular cleaning and antibiotic ear drops. He has to be treated for a hookworm infection as well. Finally, Caine tested positive for the tick-borne illness, Lyme disease, and is being treated with a course of antibiotics for this. Caine has been a trooper through everything, putting up nicely with the ear care and taking his pills twice a day like a champ – good boy, Caine! The good news is that none of these issues should have long-term effects on him. As with most springers, vigilant ear cleaning will prevent recurrence of infection. The prognosis for dogs with Lyme disease is also good. Although he will likely always test positive when screened for the disease, the treatment Caine is currently on is very effective, especially when the infection is caught early. 

Caine went to the groomer and got a glowing report for his good behavior. His handsome Springer cut garnered many compliments from other customers at the pet supply store! Caine’s one true love is definitely water. Bathtubs, puddles, pools……..it’s all good in Caine’s world! His favorite summertime activity is splashing around in the baby pool in his foster family’s backyard. He will get in, lay down, roll around, and dig at the bottom of the pool until he is completely soaked. The whole time, he has the biggest Springer grin on his face. 

This guy’s one negative trait is his lack of leash manners. Caine can pull like a steam engine! A harness gives his foster mom a little more control, but she has begun training him on a Gentle Leader to see if it helps to make walks a little more enjoyable. Fortunately, Caine is trustworthy off leash when he is in a safe area, so taking him to a field to run proves to be an excellent way to get him some good exercise. 

This sweet guy will soon be ready for a new beginning. He is a calm and submissive boy with an amazing Springer heart and an adorable personality. What more could you ask for in your new best friend?

Update 02/12/11:

One of the most fascinating aspects of fostering (or adopting) is to watch a dog become part of a new family. Some prance in, take one look around, and know they are home. Others take some time, particularly those like Caine who are new to a house and the seemingly random comings and goings of people. Oddly enough, a snowfall helped Caine make great springs forward in learning the joys that await him as a family pet. 

Several inches of new snow proved far too exciting for Caine to enjoy alone. He finally took the resident Springer up on her invitations to play, and, the two now spend hours romping outside every day. The older resident Springer has since taken a maternal interest in this young guy, even letting him snatch toys from her mouth and roll her over in the snow without repercussions. With his new-found friend and guide, Caine has started to come into the house when called by his foster mom, even without a treat as a lure. When the resident jumps up on the couch to snuggle with the foster mom, Caine follows. This behavior is being allowed because the foster family is rewarding any effort by Caine to leave the security of his coffee table cave. 

Caine continues to be timid around men. To build good associations, his foster dad is the one placing the food bowl on the floor. Any willing adult male who stops by is instructed to sit down and toss treats in Caine’s direction. Caine has progressed to where he will eat directly over his bowl, even if his foster dad is standing nearby. However, he still will retreat under his table if his foster dad walks close by or calls to him. The foster family’s current strategy is to place the resident Springer between their chairs and make a great show of petting her. When Caine tries to wiggle in for equal attention from the foster mom, he finds himself being petted by the foster dad and he’s a really nice guy! The hope is that Caine will start approaching the foster dad for attention now that he knows he also gives good chin scratches. 

Caine has happily taken to the dog toys that litter the house and yard. Soft toys, squeaky toys, balls that roll with a nudge of a nose – they’re all good. But, being new to household objects, Caine also has been exploring the play possibilities of a few things that aren’t for dogs. Shredding newspapers and magazines obviously provided Caine with a fun-filled afternoon, as did chewing the corners off of – you guessed it – the coffee table book. His new family can easily help Caine avoid this behavior with more careful placement of paper products. Caine has not bothered shoes, TV remotes, video game cables, couch pillows, and other objects that have sometimes been a dog’s unfortunate chew toy choice.

Because Caine is only 13 months old, he is still a puppy in Springer years. His youth means that, with time and patience, he will grow into a loving, affectionate companion. Even now, signs of a Springer personality shine through: his evident intelligence, his playful nature, his pleasure in walking through rather than around deep puddles. It shouldn’t be long before he’s ready for another family to help him be the dog he was born to be.

Original:

Caine came into MAESSR’s care along with his two brothers, Cyclone and Lane, when their Maryland owner encountered financial difficulties and was no longer able to care for them.

Until recently, this beautiful, silky coated, field-bred Springer had never been apart from his brothers, so he is most comfortable in the company of other dogs. He currently is living with an older, resident Springer, who has shown him how to scratch at the back door when he wants to go out. Caine has not had much socialization, so he takes time to warm up to strangers, especially men. Caine also hasn’t been fully exposed to family life. During the first few days in his new foster home, he hid in the back of an open crate. He has since moved to a safe spot under a coffee table, where he has a better view of everyone’s movements, as well as on food preparation. Caine is currently underweight, so eating is high up on his list of favorite activities! He also likes to run around the backyard, where he checks in frequently with his foster mom for a quick pat before shooting off again. He seems unfamiliar with toys and treats. 

A real highlight of Caine’s days is going for a walk. When he sees a leash, he heads for the front door where he goes into what his foster family calls his “spin cycle.” Caine whirls rapidly in place and then quivers eagerly while the leash is snapped on. He is delighted to greet other dogs he meets, and very shyly accepts the attention of their owners. He does pull strongly, so leash training is needed. 

Caine was well-behaved during his vet visit and during a bath. During car rides, he curls up in the back seat and quickly goes to sleep. He is also housebroken and crate-trained. He has full run of the house when his foster family is home. When they are at work or at night, he is gated in the kitchen/family room area, where he can choose to sleep in his crate or under his favorite table. Due to his extreme shyness, his foster family hasn’t been able to determine if Caine knows any commands. While he will sometimes approach a family member for attention, he does not respond to “come” and a request to “sit” sends him back under the table. 

It may take a little while for Caine to learn all the joys of belonging to a new home and family. When this little beauty is ready, will your family be ready for him?