Entered: 12/04/2021
Status: Adopted
Age: 7; born 10/22/2014
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 54 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Madison, VA
Health: UTD; HW-; skin allergy abating due to a change in diet
Temperament: Good with all people but may accidentally knock over children younger than 10, good with other dogs unless food is around so would be best as an only dog due to food aggression, may be fine with dog-savvy cats
Update 12/27/2021: “Although he thoroughly enjoys playing and being in the company of other dogs, this activity should be kept to visits and playdates.”
As Charlie has become more comfortable in his foster home, he’s begun exhibiting signs of food aggression with his resident dog siblings. Due to this unwelcome behavior, Charlie should be the only dog in his adoptive home. He continues to be a big hunk of love. Although he thoroughly enjoys playing and being in the company of other dogs, this activity should be kept to visits and playdates.
Original: “Given his endearingly loud snore, very deep bark, lumbering-like walk, and his grunts while dog wrestling, his foster mom often calls him Charlie Bear.”
Charlie’s North Carolina owners, who had never previously owned an English Springer Spaniel, felt he was too much for them to handle and made the difficult decision to relinquish him to MAESSR. He had lived with these owners for two years; prior to this, he lived with another couple where he apparently spent most of his time outside.
Charlie is one big hunk of LOVE!! Like most Springers, he is a very happy-go-lucky guy who just wants to have fun and be Velcro’d to humans, especially those willing to give non-stop belly rubs. He is fine being touched all over. He can be iffy with his mouth if one is checking teeth; this may be due to some extensive dental work done in August when six teeth were removed. When he first came to MAESSR, he was somewhat overweight with skin allergies; however, a change in diet has helped alleviate the allergies and reduce his weight to a healthier range. His increased activity has helped as well.
Charlie’s foster home is a multi-Springer household with a very large fenced-in yard. Whether in- or outdoors, there’s endless play and games of chase to be had. Charlie will bark while playing outside, though not inappropriately. Charlie and his two youngest resident siblings (a 5 month old and a 2 year old) are the 3 Amigos, often playing chase throughout the house. The puppy has recently initiated hide-‘n-seek games with her buddies, which provide great fun for them and lots of laughter for Charlie’s foster mom.
Charlie appears much heftier than his weight belies. Although he isn’t a large Springer per se, he is very strong and powerful – something he definitely doesn’t realize. He also has the largest paws his foster mom has ever seen on a Springer. Given his endearingly loud snore, very deep bark, lumbering-like walk, and his grunts while dog wrestling, his foster mom often calls him Charlie Bear. Despite his size and strength, he’s very gentle in his play often taking the submissive role. He idolizes his resident puppy sibling, letting her climb all over him and chew and nip wherever. Outside, he loves to chase the resident 2 year old Springer, easily keeping up with him on his wild runs. Charlie shows no interest in toys but loves to chase the resident dogs as they run after their balls and toys. Due to his relatively short time in foster care, he continues to be fed in a separate room with the puppy, away from the 4 adult dogs. His foster mom is working with him on “sit/wait” at feeding time; so far he’s up to 20 seconds, which is huge progress for Charlie. Good Boy! All dogs are given treats in the same area without any issues.
Fully housebroken, Charlie signals his need to go out by standing at the door. Until very recently, he was drinking water excessively, something his prior owners had noticed as well. In-depth testing at the vet confirmed no underlying medical issues. His foster mom has been diligently monitoring his water intake for the past several days and noticed that his consumption is slowly diminishing. This signals that his excessive drinking could be a behavioral issue, subsiding as he adjusts more to his new environment.
Charlie doesn’t appear to have had any formal or reinforced training. He would greatly benefit from it, especially given his strength. When Charlie first came into foster care, he would try to bolt whenever a door to the outside was opened. He did manage to get out the front door twice; very thankfully and owing to his love of food, he was lured back in with treats. His foster mom has been working on “sit/wait” when opening a door as well as using something to block any potential exit attempt. While ‘sit/wait’ is a work in progress, his attempts at bolting have substantially subsided. Charlie clearly knows “sit” but only when food is involved. “Off” is another selective phrase; “stay” is completely foreign to him. Leash walking with Charlie is akin to walking a charging bull; i.e., hold on for dear life! His foster home is in the country with lots of room for him to run and exercise so he’s had little leash walking..
MAESSR was advised that Charlie does not like to be grabbed and pulled by his collar, and would negatively react if so done. While these are not appropriate methods for any dog, he has not exhibited any reactivity to his foster mom touching on or around his collar/neck area. As a test of his response, she has slightly pulled on his collar with no reaction from him. Charlie gets very stressed in the car so he is always crated. Slower and stop-n-go speeds increase his stress; once on a highway, he’ll settle down. A calming medication helps as well.
This teddy bear has clearly ruled the furniture in his prior home(s). Given the number of resident dogs who rule his foster home’s furniture, there is unfortunately no room for Charlie. This is a very difficult concept for him to understand yet one he surely makes up for whenever his foster mom is out of the house. He is crated at night but allowed free run in the home during the day; there has been no chewing, trash diving or inappropriate barking. The only time Charlie nears the counters is when the dogs’ meals are being prepared — he’s up there quickly, supervising his foster mom’s every move. Comical as this is with his huge paws and adorable face, “off” with sprays from a water bottle have been implemented for training. Another work in progress.
Like most young to middle-aged Springers, Charlie would do best in an active home where he’ll get plenty of exercise. Professional training would be a huge plus for Charlie and his adoptive family. While a friendly canine playmate would be an added bonus, Charlie would be happy as the sole dog, thus ensuring he receives all his humans’ love and cuddles. MAESSR was advised that Charlie has a high prey drive and does not do well with cats. His foster home has 8-13+ deer regularly visiting the yard at least twice each day. While he’ll bark at them (and not as much as his resident buddy) he’s never attempted to chase them. A MAESSR member that owns cats, knows Charlie well and has had him in her house several times, said that Charlie was interested in her cats but seemingly more for play vs. prey. Given Charlie’s endearing and gentle personality, he may be okay in a cat-savvy home.
With the cold winter months approaching, do you have room on your couch – er, bed! – to snuggle with Charlie Bear?