Entered: 10/25/2014
Status: Adopted
Age: 6
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 55.9 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Fayetteville, WV
Health: UTD, HW-, good in all areas
Temperament: Good with adults, unknown with children, good with other dogs, not overly interested in cats
Original:“He’s a simple, sensitive and extremely handsome boy and will be a 5-star companion for anyone who is as kind to him as he will be to them.“
Dozer’s a Mountaineer from northern West Virginia. He was surrendered to a shelter by his owner, along with a bichon frise mix, after a death in the family. The bichon was quickly adopted. The shelter staff listed Dozer on Petfinder; he had favorably impressed them with his sweet temperament upon intake. Within a day, MAESSR volunteers spotted him and offered help. Two days later, he was in his foster home. He’s a big, healthy boy with a huge heart. He must have been well-cared for and given lots of love by his original family.
Dozer is a “people” dog and can soak up as much petting, belly rubs, ear scratching, muscle massages, and butt pats as folks lavish on him. He quickly trusted his foster mom and is content with following her from room to room. When a dog-friendly house guest visited, he divined that she was a soft touch too and eagerly shadowed her, seeking affection. If Dozer doesn’t get the attention he’s wanting, he will nuzzle one’s arm, a hand, or a leg. If there’s no time to drop all for Dozer, he accepts “no” for an answer. He’s met a few men since in foster care and seemed equally interested in them.
Three other Springers share Dozer’s foster home. The only time there’s a grumble is when a jealous resident notices Dozer is getting attention. Dozer doesn’t grumble back but isn’t easily intimidated or scared away. He just looks at the resident as if he is being unreasonable. When out in the fenced yard, Dozer will run and play with all the dogs, lope around on his own, or just relax while watching the afternoon pass. He doesn’t require a lot of exercise but is always ready to be outdoors, either on leash or off. If rain sets in and he only gets out for pit stops, he isn’t pacing the floor.
A kitty stopped over for a week in Dozer’s foster home. A kid gate partitioned the space each roamed in. Though Dozer certainly knew the kitty was in-house, he never tried to top the gate or even hang out by it, allowing a peaceful visit. Thank you, Dozer!!
When it comes to house manners, Dozer has ones in place that matter most. He’s housetrained and has been accident-free since arrival. He signals by pacing when he needs to go out and woofs when he’s done. He’s very comfortable in a crate. He finds his meals there, rides in one when in the car, and snoozes there when his family is out of the house and at night. His mischiefs include counter-surfing, couch warming, and sandal theft. All, of course, catch the attention of his people which may be this sweetie’s intent. Toward shaping these behaviors, his foster family is teaching Dozer “off” and “uh-uh.” Dozer was a little reluctant to give up the sandal for simple words; instead, he held out and traded it up for a treat. Who’s training who?!
Health-wise, Dozer checked out perfectly during his vet visit. He did make the vet, the vet tech and his foster mom work fairly hard to get him through the exam. Whether it was his first such experience, or, was just unsettling along with his move, he was uncomfortable and pulled away from the best efforts to assure him all was well. A mild sedation allowed his microchip to go in safely and he walked out of the office on 4 feet, if a little drowsier than when he went in. Fortunately, he shouldn’t need to visit a vet for another year.
Dozer’s not rambunctious most of the time but, when he gets moving, he can topple the unsuspecting. This, along with no known history with children, leads one to think of him as doing best in a situation that primarily includes adults. He’s a dog who trusts everyone he meets. He will thrive with people who love to dote on their dog. He’s not a quick study and doesn’t know many commands. Rather, one learns to live with Dozer through gentle and consistent demonstration. He’s a simple, sensitive and extremely handsome boy and will be a 5-star companion for anyone who is as kind to him as he will be to them. If “kind” is you, you deserve a Springer like Dozer. He won’t disappoint………….