Dakota 3

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Updated 9/6/07: Dakota remains a sweet puppy as well as an endearing clown. Although he has the look of a bench-bred Springer, Dakota displays the hunting techniques of a fieldie. He frequently puts his nose to the ground and follows the interesting smell to some exciting new adventure. He also loves chasing butterflies and while he can be trusted to return if he is off leash, if butterflies are dancing nearby, he will ignore the “come” command until he has danced and played with his winged friends. After he has danced a while he will come, wagging his tail happily.

In August, Dakota vacationed on about 10 acres with his family, enjoying the large, safe space and never once ran off. He did romp with his foster sister in every flower bed that his foster mom was trying to get going but that’s a puppy for you!

He continues to have problems with incontinence and sprays his foster mom’s foot almost daily. He has started a medication for this and takes it willingly when it is spread with peanut butter. While it helped initially, the excited urination issues resumed after a few days. He has completed his 3rd course of antibiotics and the vet is certain that there are no renal issues.  Dakota may grow out of his excited urination as he reaches physical and mental maturity– fingers crossed. To avoid accidents, it is important to take him out frequently and to make sure he does his business when he is outside.

Dakota remains good with people, though he has not met young ones while in foster care, and with other dogs. He is loving and affectionate. Dakota is also a bit of a chicken.  While he will bark bravely at new dogs or people, he will back off and let his foster sister greet any newcomers.

A good supply of rawhide chews needs to be around since Dakota will chew on furniture, books, laundry, and other convenient targets. However, when corrected and given a chew, he immediately becomes involved with chewing the rawhide bone and ignores his initial target. Good boy!!

He knows “come,” “stay,” “sit,” “off,” and “crate.” He has the most trouble with “off” since he thinks nothing is finer than sitting either on your lap or on the sofa next to you. At 30+ pounds he is too big to be a lap dog, but you can convince him! He continues to walk well on leash and will now sit and put his head through the loop when it is time to go for his beloved walks.

Dakota has incredibly expressive eyes. If he disobeys and his foster mom tells him he was a bad dog, he will turn the meltingest eyes on her she has ever seen.  Is it a Springer gene that makes them all such masters at looking at us as if to say, “How could you speak to sweet me in that tone of voice?  Sniff, sniff.”  Dakota will be a wonderful addition for the right family but they are fair-warned to watch out for those Springer eyes!  

Updated 8/8/07: Dakota remains a sweet, cheerful, energetic member of his fostering household. He plays continually with his foster sister. Kissy mouth is a favorite game, although chase and a good tussle are also enjoyed. As he grows and matures, Dakota is losing a little of his gangly puppy look. He is a darling pup and should be a very handsome dog when he is fully mature.

When called, Dakota will come, even when he is off leash.  There may be a delay but he does come! He knows “sit” and “stay” and he now walks well on leash. He continues to counter surf, trash pick and steal food from plates, but he will stop when told to do so. Of course, he’s quick, so you may be down one hotdog and bun!

One problem Dakota continues to have is with frequent urination. He will also spray if he is excited or when he is being petted by his foster mom. He is finishing his second round of antibiotics and, while he is better at holding his bladder, it remains a problem for the little guy. He isn’t housebroken yet and needs continuing guidance from his people. If taken out when he needs to do his business, he usually will do it outside, but if something exciting like a bird or butterfly catches his attention, he may ignore nature’s call until he is back inside where he heeds the call in the house. Some youngsters do take a little more time than others to learn what needs attended to first, so until that clicks for Dakota, his foster parents are providing consistent encouragement and lots of praise when he makes a good choice.

Dakota is a wonderful puppy who should become a wonder dog. With time, training, and patience, he should grow out of many of the foibles of puppyhood and become a heartwarming source of joy for his family. Fingers crossed for the announcement of an important milestone in Dakota’s next update. 

Original: Dakota is a darling Springer puppy who has a cheerful, curious disposition. His former owner relinquished him to MAESSR because her health issues did not allow her to deal with the high energy level of a Springer pup.

Dakota is a love bug who adores to be loved on. His foster mom finds it hard to make him get down when he jumps in her lap to get some loving since he’s so cute. He’s learning that he can get an endless amount of loving even when he keeps all four paws on the ground!

Dakota will push the resident dog and cats out of the way if he sees that love is being given to someone besides him! Although this may be a problem with some dogs, his pushiness hasn’t been a problem in his foster home since the resident female Springer loves him tremendously and will patiently wait for another opportunity when she will be petted. The two dogs play together very well and will do things like snatch rawhide bones from each other’s mouth and take turns at owning the treat-filled Kong toy. Dakota is territorial over his food bowl but that is the only place he seems territorial. Although he is affectionate to the resident cats and licks them, he will chase them in play. He has never hurt either cat, though, and his foster family is discouraging this chase behavior.

Dakota is getting better walking on a leash although he still pulls frequently and hard. He enjoys very long walks and remains alert and happy during the entire walk. He likes water and plays in a creek that runs through the field where he is walked. He loves jumping at butterflies. He will run and leap at them as long as they stay close enough to give him a sporting chance of catching them. He also likes to chase birds and during walks he pulls at the leash any time he sees one close by. Dakota also is interested in chasing cars even on walks he will sometimes turn and pull at the leash straining to run after a car that just passed. His foster family is teaching him that this is a bad behavior. If he hears a door open in the house, he always tries to sneak outside. He is so quick it is hard to prevent him from escaping and if he escapes, he won’t return when given the “come” command. Obedience training is a must for Dakota and his forever home family.

Dakota does know “sit” and he will “sit and stay” until given the command to go into the house. He doesn’t know “down” and ignores the “come” command. He will counter-surf and trash pick although he will stop if very firmly and persistently told “no, off.” He will jump on people and barks at anyone coming in the house. Although Dakota is curious, he also seems to be a bit skittish of new things and patience is required as he is exposed to new people and experiences.

Dakota is not fully housetrained and will have accidents in the house if not taken outside at regular intervals. When he is excited, he will leak urine even if he was recently outside. He is able to control himself when he is the crate at night although he really, really needs to go in the morning. He is crate trained although he will cry when first placed in the crate. His foster mom has learned that a Kong toy filled treats spread with peanut butter is an excellent way to take his mind off being in the crate! He is excited in the car and would like to ride in a human lap. He’s learning that there are safer ways to enjoy a car ride!

This little bundle of energy and joy is looking for an active, loving family who will give him the training and structure to make him a faithful, obedient, life-long companion. Are you up to this challenge? The rewards of raising a Springer puppy are great!