Cricket 2

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Update 11/08/07: Cricket is looking for a new home, through no fault of her own. She lives with an Alpha female Springer who has it in for her. Their fights have escalated to the point that her owner has decided that to protect both dogs, they must live separately. Cricket is a larger field breed girl. She is beautifully marked and has the softest coat that curls as it grows. She is in good health other than healing from the girls most recent fight. She is UTD on her shots and had a dental cleaning in the last year. She loves to drink water but her mom has learned to limit this older gal’s intake as the evening goes on. She is not a big barker until someone comes to the door. She will woo for her meals and has a healthy appetite. Her favorite food is….anything!

Cricket loves her stuffed toys. She does not tear them apart but would rather run around the house talking with her toy trying to entice you into a game of catch me if you can. She has a toy chest in her home and when her owner tells her to go get a toy, she will run and grab a toy from the chest. She has also learned to collect the toys left in the yard. When Mom points outside she will run out collect a toy, bring it in and sit waiting for her cookie.

She loves to walk and is a strong puller. She has stopped pulling with the use of an easy walker, that is until she sees a duck, squirrel, chipmunk or any other interesting creature. She has caught a few of the neighbors’ guinea hens For this reason she cannot be trusted off leash. She does get the chance to go to a fenced in field and she loves to run. Cricket loves to go for rides in the car and is an excellent passenger.

Cricket does not counter-surf but she will poke her nose in the trash to investigate in case there are any good leftovers. Cricket has been around children as young as 8 and is very gentle and protective of her people. She does need her people to exert their leadership role from the beginning. When she understands that she will roll on her back when corrected and will easily release most toys and bones from her mouth. She is a bit more possessive over high value items and food and may lunge to grab it back once released. Cricket loves to have her back and shoulders rubbed and if you sit on the floor she will come over and sit in your lap with her back to you almost asking for a rub. When you stop she will wrap her paw around your arm and pull it toward her as if to say please don’t stop.

Her Mom took her to camp once to learn tracking and has done this several times on home made courses. Cricket loves this game and would do really well with more training. She knows basic commands such as “sit,” “down,” “off,” and “come.” She is wonderful at the groomers and will tolerate home brushing, however will get mouthy when her ears are matted. Her Mom can easily flop her ear over her leg and quickly brush the matts out before she gets to agitated. However, once the ear wash and pads come out, she is gone in a flash.

Cricket is most happy curled up next to her human. She will sleep in her crate and is very good about going in and being quiet. She easily warms to new people and has become the house guest pet, wanting to sleep with whoever comes to stay for the weekend. It is this ease of adjustment, that has put her in the position to find a safe home to live the remainder of her years, free from dog fights. Cricket is one great dog that will quickly endear herself to your heart.

Original: Cricket was surrendered to a shelter in Virginia. Her owner no longer had the time to care for her and stated she had grown too big for their home. Cricket is a field-bred springer who currently weighs 50 lbs. She has the softest coat with great speckles throughout and curly ears.

Cricket is now UTD on all her shots and is being treated for kennel cough. Once the antibiotics are completed, she will undergo treatment for heartworm. She has a great deal of energy and loves to play ball and toss her toys around. Her foster mom is working on getting her to give up the ball.

When Cricket arrived at her foster home, she was ready to meet the two resident female springers and the one foster male. She has been hesitant to join right in with the play, instead standing back to watch before rushing to join in. She is fully house trained and does not counter surf. She has shown a desire to get up on the sofa but will wait to be invited. She sleeps in her dog bed with the resident springers side by side in the bedroom. She does not bark, but will woo woo when encouraged!

Cricket is a sweet dog to have around the house. She is eager to follow the pack whenever her foster mom makes a move. She rides well in the car and loves to snuggle and roll over to have her belly rubbed. She has been around a seven-year-old child and immediately curled up on his lap. It will be many weeks before Cricket is available for adoption because of her heartworm treatment, but when that’s complete, she will be a great companion for her forever family.