Charlie 13

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Updated 6/15/07: Charlie continues to be a wonderful pet and has adapted to the routine of his foster home. He knows when his meals are served, knows the doorbell means visitors, the garage door opening means family is returning and weekends everyone sleeps a little later. He likes to wake the kids with kisses, likes the morning cuddle when he’s invited up onto the bed and knows when everyone is leaving and he has to stay home.

To fit into his foster family’s life, Charlie hasn’t needed too much remedial training. His major problem is recall from outdoors when he’s on a scent or sighting a critter. His foster mom has had to go out and bring him in many times at the last bathroom break for the night. He’s so into the sighting or smell that he just can’t seem to hear you calling him. His foster mom is working with a small cow bell and very high value treats and has had some success. Recalls indoors are no problem. Charlie is no longer crated since he doesn’t get into anything. He barks a high-pitched puppy-like cry when he sees critters and often needs redirection in order to get him to leave them be. Otherwise, he’s quiet. In fact, he’s so quiet that he sat behind a closed storage room door while his foster mom called and called for him without making a peep to clue her to his whereabouts. What a rascal!!

This is a playful, fun-loving boy who is enjoying being part of a family and pack. Charlie loves to play with the dogs and is often the one trying to get a game of tug, chase or wrestle going. He likes many toys but is especially fond of squeaky things. He now spends more time following his foster mom around, in typical Springer fashion, and seeks out attention. He’s the kind of guy that will crawl right into your lap if you’re sitting on the floor. It’s absolutely impossible not to let this teddy bear crawl into your heart as well. He’s eagerly awaiting a forever family! Let yourself be had by this sweetheart!!

Original: Charlie came to MAESSR from a kind family that look him in when the landlord of a rental house found his tenant had packed up and left, leaving neglected and starved Charlie behind. The landlord’s family kept him for a while and tried to take care of him. However, they were moving and so this poor neglected pup moved to a family that lived on a farm. Charlie enjoyed farm living, but the family already had two dogs, cats and five kids ranging from ages 1 to 19. They contacted MAESSR and Charlie flew off aboard Springer Air to begin his new life.

Charlie is truly a resilient boy. After only a few days, he adjusted to indoor living without a glitch. He quickly adapted to the routine in his foster home, made friends with the resident Springers, and set out to explore his new environment. Then, he picked up and drove to the Jersey Shore for the holiday weekend, adapting to that environment quickly as well.

Charlie was an exceptional boy on his visit to the vet, even though he wasn’t feeling too great. He had a fever and intestinal worms and he tested positive for Lyme disease. He began treatment and is starting to perk up. Charlie met the vet’s office cat and was really not interested in him. Charlie also had a professional grooming thanks to another wonderful MAESSR volunteer. This 44-pound boy now looks and feels wonderful. In fact, his fur is very soft and shiny.

Charlie is an excellent house guest. After a short amount of time, he seems comfortable in his new environment. He is friendly to everyone he meets and accepts their attention willingly. He is generally quiet, easy going, self-entertaining and is a bit more independent than many springers. In his foster home, Charlie can go in and out into the fenced yard as he likes when the family is home. He spends a lot of his time exploring the outdoors, sitting under shady trees, running around chasing birds and squirrels, and playing with the resident dogs. Every so often he comes back in and checks on his foster mom’s whereabouts. Having access to a fenced in yard in his forever home will be important.

Charlie had a little marking issue for a day but his foster mom’s vigilance nipped that problem. Charlie attempted to mark again at the shore and needed to be watched closely for another day. He hasn’t had any accidents, doesn’t chew anything, and isn’t food aggressive. He has jumped up to check out the counters and might garbage pick if he had the opportunity. Charlie walks alright on a leash, rides well in the car, doesn’t get on the furniture or jump on people. Charlie can “sit,” “shake,” and “beg.” He is more intermittent with “down,” “stay,” and “come.” When told “no,” he stops what he’s doing. He does put his front paws up on his foster mom’s lap while she sits to get hugs and give kisses. He also nibbles her hand a little in a playful, puppyish way. This very sweet boy seeks affection in a tentative way- almost not sure if it’s okay.

Charlie is crated when his family is away but otherwise has free run of the house. At night, he now sleeps on a dog pillow bedside or on the floor. The crate is not Charlie’s favorite place to be and he needs a high value treat to entice him in. He cried a bit the first few nights when he was crated but settles down when crated during the day with a peanut butter stuffed Kong. His foster mom does not think Charlie actually needs to be crated since he doesn’t get into any trouble.

Charlie is getting along very well with the two female springers at his foster home. He lived previously with dogs and cats, getting along well with both. Charlie likes to have fun and often initiates play using a grumbly, growlie woo woo in order to get a game of chase going. He springs magnificently across the yard and runs like the wind. Charlie also likes to have his foster dad toss the Frisbee or a ball. He’ll run and fetch until your arm gives out. He is also learning that the fun can’t continue unless he drops the Frisbee.

When the sun sets, Charlie is ready to come indoors and position himself close by his foster mom, exhausted from his busy day. Charlie is also up with the sun giving his foster mom a kiss on the face to remind her he’s ready for his breakfast.  Charlie is an absolutely wonderful companion and major wiggle butt. He needs a fenced in yard and preferably a doggie door to access that yard frequently. Since he spent his life up to this point as an outside dog, he has a great connection to the outdoors. His greatest passion is stalking squirrels. Do you have any pesky squirrels to stalk?