Cournot

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Update 07/24/12:

Cody was moved to a new foster home to evaluate his ability to adapt to new situations. His new foster mother describes him as adorable and he has won the hearts of everyone in the neighborhood!

Cody is one handsome boy, who loves, Loves, LOVES his tennis ball! Actually, any ball will do……soft squeaky balls, rubber balls, soccer balls……but tennis balls are his favorite. Cody’s foster mother takes him to a large field, and throws the tennis ball using a tennis ball chucker until it feels like her arm is going to fall off. She’s ready to go home, but Cody just drops the ball at her feet with an expression that clearly says, “What? You have another arm!”

Walks are Cody’s second favorite activity. He will literally let anyone walk him……his foster mother, the teenager next door, the 4 year-old from across the way. When his foster mother touches the leash, he starts spinning in circles and whimpering. He sits very prettily while she puts on his no-pull harness and then they are off! Cody will pull a bit if he thinks he can get away with it, though interestingly, he didn’t pull the 4 year-old! Smart boy………he knew to be gentle!

Cody is very affectionate. He is absolutely positive that it would be easier and more efficient to get all the affection and attention he craves if he was allowed to snuggle with his foster mother on the furniture. He is, however, a good boy who understands that he is not allowed on the sofa or bed, so he snuggles close to her legs every time she sits down, and frequently uses her feet as a pillow.

This boy has a very accurate tummy clock and gets his foster mother up on time, seven days a week. Cody rattles his food bowl looking for more after every meal, so it’s important to monitor his calories. He has a lovely waistline so his meals are supplemented with frozen green beans. Cody eats these plain; no need to mix them with anything. They fill his rumbly tummy and help to keep his lovely, svelte figure!

Cody’s foster mother is convinced that he was allowed to have people food at some point in his life. He is very interested in her dinner plate, and his nose has gotten very close to the countertop. He does not counter-surf, nor has he tried to steal any food (even from easy targets like toddlers), but he has made it very clear that he wants some of the good stuff! 

When meeting adults Cody is a little anxious but, if offered a good treat, he is more than willing to make their acquaintance. He has no problem with meeting children and has greeted groups of 5-8 on his walks with confidence. Cody prefers to stick to a routine; new people and places make him anxious at first. The resident dog has really been helping Cody with this. She is a very confident dog and Cody looks to her to see how to handle new situations.

He is one smart boy, which was very clear on a recent vet visit. The receptionist greeted Cody with a bacon-flavored treat. This met with his approval, and he favored her with his attention for a good 15 minutes. The vet, however, thought she could get away with offering a healthy treat. Cody wasn’t falling for that! He knew the good stuff was in the house and he wasn’t going to settle! Once the vet fetched the bacon-flavored treats, Cody was completely cooperative throughout his exam. He didn’t even protest when they drew blood.

“Sit, down, come, stay, and wait”……………Cody knows all of his basic commands. He is not car-smart so his foster mother is teaching him to “wait” at each curb. Once he is told “OK”, he is allowed to step off the curb and continue his walk. Cody knows that good dogs sit to be petted and jumping dogs get ignored, so he plunks his tush down quickly when his foster mother comes home. His off-leash recall is good and he stays within his fence.

This sweet, well-behaved boy wants a home where he will get a lot of affection and plenty of walks. He would love to have someone willing to throw a tennis ball over, and over, and OVER again. He is adorable and simply wants to be loved!

Update 07/06/12:

Cody is very close to being weaned off of his prescription medicine. In order to continue to allow his body to relax without the medication, an all natural supplement has been introduced. 

With this spell of extremely hot weather, it is a good thing that his boy loves the water! Cody frequently can be found chilling out in the kiddy pool at his foster home. 

Now ready for his forever home, Cody’s foster mom feels that he would do best in a family where he was the only dog or lived with a submissive dog. Although he settles down fairly quickly, Cody still is a bit anxious when meeting new people, so a home without a lot of coming and going probably would be best for him. Lots of love, a calm environment, and some cool water in a little pool will make Cody one happy pup!

Update 06/21/12:

Cody (formally known as Cournot) was returned to MAESSR after he had a couple of run-ins with some of the extended family of his owners. Cody was very anxious whenever these people would come into the home. The extended family members were also not used to being around dogs and were anxious. This did not make for a good home situation. He had been on a medication to help ease his anxiety, but it did not help. The family made the extremely difficult decision to return Cody to MAESSR. Cody was very good with the young children in the home and was very much loved. 

In his foster home Cody has done well with everyone, with visitors to the home and with the resident and other foster dogs. The process of weaning him off of the medication he is on has been started. He will not be available for adoption until that process is complete and he has been fully evaluated.

Cody’s a very handsome boy. More to come as he begins anew……………

Original:

Cournot, pronounced Kor-No, is the name of an economic behavior model. The name choice may also be a certain foster dad’s last chance at naming one of his family’s foster dogs…….:)). Informally, Cournot is also known as “Cory” or “The Corn Nut.” He is a young, handsome springer who was given up to a Maryland shelter by a breeder. Based upon his timid demeanor, it is likely that Cournot was kept in a kennel most of his short life. He is very shy when meeting new people, but is very curious as well, and greets them and new situations politely and gently when not rushed.

As part of his housetraining, Cournot is crated during the day. He is making good progress and has had only one accident in a week. Since he is crate-trained, he sleeps in a crate in the bedroom at night very nicely. If crated alone in a room, he will howl for awhile but then settles down. Cournot is very good when riding in the car. For safety, his foster family crates him, but he will rest nicely in the car without restraint.

Basic obedience training has started for Cournot. He comes when he is called. He has learned that dogs who “sit” get petted, while dogs that jump get ignored and dogs that check out the kitchen counter get scolded. Cournot would do best in a household without young children because he is still easily frightened and he also jumps up when playing. His foster family is teaching him that this is not the correct way to greet people or other dogs. A basic obedience class with his adopting family will help Cournot continue to learn good manners. In the meantime, his foster parents see this part of his behavior as just too much puppy enthusiasm! 

Cournot is not aggressive with food or toys and has been cooperative and gentle when handled in all situations. He gets along with dogs and he is currently living with a cat. Cournot thinks the cat is a very interesting playmate and has discovered it is loads of fun to chase. The 17-year-old resident cat is not quite as enthusiastic about playing with a puppy.

Once Cournot feels comfortable, get ready to be entertained! He still has the leggy, clumsy, silly puppy in him and is so cute to watch run and play. He even lies down like a puppy. He doesn’t just lie down………he collapses in a heap at his people’s feet. He would sincerely love to collapse in a heap on the couch or the bed, but his foster family explained that this is not allowed.

Cournot loves toys…………squeaky toys, bones, and most of all, BALLS. If you are looking for a ball dog, Cournot is your boy. He loves to play fetch and, unlike the resident dogs, he actually brings the ball back for another throw. And if his humans don’t have time to throw the ball for him, no worries. Cournot will throw the ball to himself and bat it around the room.

Cournot is learning all about the world on the other side of a kennel door. Although he had never been on a leash until a week ago, he now loves to go for a walk even if some new things are a little scary, like horses and tractors! He is learning that the proper place for a dog to walk is at the side of his person and not actually underneath their feet. He has also learned some other useful things that he can do well because he is a puppy. For instance, he likes to help sort laundry. He watched very closely as his foster mom took things out of the basket to put away and Cournot decided he could do this job as well. He gently takes the clothes out of the basket and lays them around the room to help. He can also help shred paper for the wood stove and likes to supervise the showers and baths that his people take by actually joining them in the tub.

Cournot would love to find a home with someone who has time to help him become confident in the new world he is experiencing and someone who can throw the ball farther than his foster mom!