Entered: 01/28/2017
Status: Available
Age: 2
Color: Black/White/Tan
Weight: 47 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Goochland, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, benefiting from an inexpensive anxiety medication, overall good health
Temperament: Good with adults, adopting family should have no children, good with other dogs, unknown with cats
Update 04/26/2017:“Putting more structure in his world has also had some major benefits.”
Copper was briefly adopted by an experienced Springer family. There was an incident involving dropped cheese that caused the family to decide to return him. They were not up to the challenges of changing some of this young boy’s bad habits.
Copper was returned to a different foster home for a full evaluation and some further training. To help with his anxiety, he was put on an inexpensive anxiety medication that has helped a lot. Putting more structure in his world has also had some major benefits. He is handling himself much better around food now. His forever family will need to be willing to continue working on this. Copper is very food motivated, so it is fairly easy training. For this reason, Copper will not be adopted to a home where there are children. His foster mom does not feel that he would intentionally hurt a child but, where there are children, there is food; the temptation would be too much for him.
Copper has been spending some time learning to sleep in a crate. This is part of his structured routine. He is doing well with it and he has gone into the crate on his own several times recently.
MAESSR will be requiring two complete series of obedience classes for this boy. He needs the structure of training that these classes will provide him.
While it sounds like this boy is nothing but trouble…he’s actually a love bug most of the time. The initial work his family puts into him will be repaid many times! If you think you are up to the challenge of working with this sweetie through his “teenage” years, you could have a friend for life.
Original: “He’s openly friendly, energetic and playful. His eyes smile and tail wags almost all the time he’s awake.”When Copper’s Delaware owner had a major health issue, MAESSR was contacted to find this tri-colored fellow an appropriate home. From his first day in foster care, Copper was ready to take everything in stride as a new adventure. He’s openly friendly, energetic and playful. His eyes smile and tail wags almost all the time he’s awake. Because he’s a youngster, he does have a bit of energy, but he’s learning to be well mannered, and his foster folks are trying to teach him that “sit”’ instead of “jump up” when greeting humans is a better policy.
Reportedly he doesn’t like crates at all but crate use has not really been necessary since he’s completely housetrained and doesn’t mind being tethered during meals so that he doesn’t start in on the other slower eaters’ bowls after gobbling his own. The resident hound is enjoying the game where the humans throw treats into the open crate to try to get Copper to trust going in on his own. As soon as Copper gives up, the hound jumps right in to clean up the rewards!
This handsome youngster knows “sit,” “give paw,” and is decent on leash. Reportedly a barker, he fortunately doesn’t seem to be one in his suburban foster neighborhood. His only noise making so far was when he joined the resident dog in warning his foster mom that the neighbors were getting an oil delivery. In the car, Copper whimpers a bit initially, but settles down if he can see out the front window. Reportedly he’s afraid of loud noises, especially thunder, gunshots and fireworks and reacts by shaking.
At his foster home, Copper naps during the day unless something is going on, loves playing chase with the resident youngster and is decent at jogging the neighborhoods. He stands by the door when he wants to go out to do his business and sleeps uncrated at the base of the stairs at night. He has been quiet every night since his arrival in foster–always a pleasant surprise. When the humans are away, he’s gated in three rooms with the other dogs. While he’ll put his feet up on the door to watch folks leave, he’s seems perfectly aware that they’ll come safely back and doesn’t bark or become anxious.
Despite his young age, Copper doesn’t get into much trouble–no trash diving, counter-surfing or chewing things he shouldn’t. The jumping up habit is the only hurdle to get past. He has not lived with children, but likes everyone he meets including people and other dogs on walks and is a bit of a goof head with his funny grin. He’s compact but well built and can usually be found with a toy in his mouth in case someone wants to throw it for him or play chase. Stuffed animals are his favorite.
MAESSR’s new boy came wonderfully groomed though a week of playing chase in winter weather has dulled his whiter-whites. No issues have been observed grooming or handling any part of him from his ears to his toes. Foster mom isn’t sure but thinks that the name “’Copper”’ may have come from the rich brown shade of his third color on his cheeks, dots over his eyes and a brief flash of color below his tail.
Ideally Copper would like a home where he would have outlets for his energy, either other dogs to chase, long walks or running, games of fetch or perhaps obedience. But since he flops quietly nearby while his foster mom writes, perhaps what he needs most is someone to give him attention and love and appreciate his Springer smile. What a joy and ray of sunshine this love will be in the middle of winter doldrums.