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Coco 19 4
Entered: 01/28/2023
Status: Adopted
Age: 6
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 48 lbs.
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Chesapeake, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, receiving anti-anxiety supplement daily, overall good health
Temperament: Good with people as young as 16 (younger unknown), good with resident elderly dog but nervous meeting new dogs, unknown with cats but chases squirrels
Update 03/09/2023: “Her foster parents have been working on leash training with Coco and they report it has been going well.”
Now spayed and down to a trim 48 lbs. with additional exercise, Coco is ready for her forever home! She is living proof that lots of exercise does help weight loss. Her diet consists almost completely of dry food now, too, and she receives some anxiety remedy which seems to help. Coco is still very clingy though.
Her foster parents have been working on leash training with Coco and they report it has been going well. Since she does not respond to treats at all yet, the “stop and don’t speak” training method is one she seems to understand well. Basically, if she pulls, her person stops and never pulls her back. Her person just waits for a loose leash and then continues. When she walks nicely, her person encourages her with praise so she knows that is the behavior that gets her to her destination best. Coco is easily distracted so this works best on familiar walking spots; however, she does catch on fairly quickly if she is taken somewhere new, though. Her new family will have to be patient and willing to work with her on her walking skills so she eventually will be a pleasure to take on a walk. Her foster mom has been trying to teach her “sit” and “stay,” but it is difficult when she is not really driven by a high value treat. Having a professional trainer work with the new owners and Coco may be the best way to find the training techniques that click with this sweet girl.
Coco is a love who will be a loyal companion to some lucky family!
Original: “Coco is quick to learn and responds better to praise than treats. She is eager to please her people.”
Coco made her way to MAESSR from a Virginia breeding kennel along with her Golden Retriever buddy, Chrissy. The dogs went to separate foster homes and Coco has adapted well to her new foster environment which also includes a senior Springer Spaniel for companionship.
Only used to kennel life, Coco was nervous of everything when she first came to her foster home: car travel, the TV, people, anything that made a noise. She is coming out of her shell and getting bolder by the day. She is still nervous of people and they have to let her come to them; otherwise, she runs to her crate.
Overall, Coco has adapted to family life quite well. She likes routine and knows when it is feeding time twice a day and when it’s time for bed. Essentially housetrained, Coco signals her need to go out by standing by the door or crying there. She has not had many accidents in the house. She had been urinating in one spot in the kitchen despite being let out. Her foster family resolved that issue with some pet odor spray and Coco has been fine since. Coco is also crate trained and sleeps there at night and when her foster family is out. She has full run of the main floor of the house when her foster family is at home. Coco does not go upstairs, though; the resident dog never goes upstairs and Coco has followed suit. She has been very well-behaved.
Coco obviously had studied the Good Dog Manual before she came into foster care since she has good house manners. She does not get up on furniture nor get into the trash. She would not dream of chewing anything inappropriate. Her only shortcoming has been some attempts at counter-surfing; however, she knows it’s wrong and has received a squirt of water to remind her of that.
Coco knows her name and will come when called. She is not trusted off-leash outside, though, except in her secure fenced yard where she runs freely and keeps the squirrels at bay. Besides the “come” command, Coco does understand “no.” Her foster mom intends to train her in some basic commands before she goes to her forever home. Coco is quick to learn and responds better to praise than treats. She is eager to please her people. Wearing a harness when she is walked, Coco pulls but when told not to, she understands. Her foster mom walks her on a short leash and she does better with that. Coco does get nervous when meeting others when she is on a walk. Right now, she is not a great passenger in the car but her foster family is working with her on this.
Coco is full of energy, sweet and happy with a nice temperament. She ignores toys and although the resident Springer is too old to be interested in playing with her, Coco and he are friendly toward each other. They rest together on the same dog bed even though they each have one. Coco is fed separately from him since he would like to eat her food as well as his own. Although she is an active girl, she is not excessively so. She settles quickly when her people are sitting down and watching television or reading. Coco will often go into her open crate by herself. This pretty girl has not been to the groomer yet as she was in heat. At the vet she was nervous but submissive.
Coco would love an active forever family with another dog for companionship. She likes to run around in the yard, so a large fenced one is a must. Coco has a lot of energy, so someone committed to taking her on daily walks whatever the weather is vital! She has not had any interaction with young children, but since she is very sweet natured, her foster mom thinks she would get along fine with those 8 or older as long as they are respectful of dogs. No climbers, shouters or chasers, please! Having her forever family take obedience lessons with her would be a wonderful bonding experience. Coco is very trainable, but her family would have to be patient as she is distracted easily. She definitely responds to praise and attention over treats.
Coco will soon be ready to join her forever home and her new family will be rewarded with a wonderful companion.