Duke 5

---

Update: 3/29/04
When we last updated Duke’s page he was experiencing separation anxiety in his foster home. His foster family, working in conjunction with their vet, has been working with him and also started him on Clomicalm. He has made a wonderful improvement. He can now be left 9-10 hours without incident when crated. If left uncrated in the house, he will find something to get into and has chewed a few magazines and such, so he should only go to a home that will continue to crate him to ensure he is safe. He no longer gets upset in his crate and he runs right in on his own when his foster family puts their coats on. This clever foster home has been putting things on top of his crate to see if they get bounced off to ensure that he is not getting overly upset or excited in his crate when left and they now stay in place and do not end up bounced off.

Since Duke ahs arrived in foster home, he has been having troubles riding in the car. His foster family thinks he must associate car rides with being taken away from them and he gets very nervous. This will likely improve and his foster family is working with him on this. We believe that after time in his new home, he will have confidence in his new family and that this will improve, just as separation anxiety has improved in his foster home.

We do expect there to be a transition period where he will be upset when his new family leaves, but as he did work it out in his foster home we expect he will do just fine in his adoptive home. His foster family will be able to provide a description of exactly how they worked with him to get him over his fears of being left behind and we believe that after the initial transition period is over, he will be able to be weaned off of the Clomicalm.

Duke initiates play some with the youngest resident dog, and readily plays if approached. He was getting close to catching frisbees yesterday. He LOVES chasing squirrels, and still has to be on point the whole time we have our house rabbits out. He loves to run. He is doing wonderfully off leash, runs beautifully and responds to “come” and “sit”.

What he seems to love most though is to be brushed. If ever a dog had a look of sheer pleasure it was when he was being brushed.

Duke will be protective of his home and will growl at strangers that enter if none of his humans are home or if they walk in uninvited, but is fine when his humans are there to them in.

Duke V is loved very much by his foster family and will be dearly missed. Are you the family to assure them that you are worthy of adopting their special boy?

Update 3/16/04:
Duke has been in foster care for nearly a month and has now been neutered.  He is struggling with separation anxiety in his foster home.  His foster family reports that he is such a sweet boy and loves affection and attention and now that he is getting some he can’t seem to bear with them leaving him behind when they go out.  They have started him on medicine and are working with him and their vet to help him through it.  He crates very nicely which is a big help in this process. If possible, Duke will be weaned off of medication before placement.

Duke’s foster family loves him very much and really wants him to succeed.  So do we!  Duke will remain on hold until his anxiety is under control.

Original:

Duke V is an owner relinquishment, although why anyone would not want this sweet, beautiful boy is a mystery.  Duke is 14 months old, and the most laid-back teenage Springer we’ve met, also one of the tallest.  He is great with our 5 yr son, gets along with his foster brothers (ranging from 18 months to 13 1/2 yrs old), and is reported by the shelter to be good with cats (although he wants to chase our house rabbits).   He is a major love-bug.  He craves affection and loves belly-rubs.  So far, he has not shown any tendency to countersurf, raid the garbage, or get up on furniture.  He is not food, toy, or attention-possessive.  He has been very much the omega dog.   Being an inside dog is obviously a new experience for him, so we’re working on housebreaking.

Other than his name and “sit”, Duke doesn’t appear to know anything – walking on the leash, a vacuum cleaner, stairs, dog toys, etc.  He is figuring out playing and dog toys courtesy of his 18 month old foster brother, and you can see the joy in his face to have someone to play with, toys, and some affection.

Duke is a sponge just waiting to be filled.