Dutchess 3

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Original: “Although Dutchess is almost eleven, one would never guess her age due to her great energy level and personality.”  

Dutchess has quite the sad story. This Virginia gal was adopted and returned several times before two years of age. Her most recent owner volunteered at the shelter where she was returned, and she is the person who realized that Dutchess was hearing impaired. She adopted Dutchess nine years ago and Dutchess has happily been a part of their family ever since. She was especially bonded with the elderly male owner, but he sadly passed away several months ago. Dutchess was then the companion to the elderly female owner. A dog walker would come twice a day to walk Dutchess, but the owner decided to walk her on her own one day. Tragically, she fell and broke her back, thus prompting her relocation to a rehab facility. Dutchess was taken to the vet to be euthanized, but because she is in fantastic health other than her hearing, mild arthritis and anxiety, the vet was able to recommend placement into MAESSR instead. 

Although Dutchess is almost eleven, one would never guess her age due to her great energy level and personality.  She is in great physical shape. This agile girl handles stairs well and walks well on a leash.  She loves being outside and going for walks, the longer the better!  In her previous home, she was accustomed to being walked twice a day and has hiked up to ten miles at a time with her foster family, leaving the resident eight year old dog in the dust!  Dutchess also likes prancing around the fenced yard and sniffing all the good scents. When she’s not hunting for critters, she may engage her foster parents in a short game of fetch, retrieving a ball a few times before getting distracted.  She isn’t overly interested in other toys. 

The thing Dutchess loves most is being with her people – she is the quintessential Velcro Springer and will follow her person around the house.  Even when she lies down to nap, she will keep her person in her sightline.  Although she has not been around children in her foster home, in her previous home the owner’s five grandchildren would visit and she did very well with them, reportedly. Her foster parents believe Dutchess would do great with children– especially older children that wouldn’t be afraid of her or she couldn’t accidentally knock down. 

Dutchess previously lived with cats and apparently did very well with them. Although she had been an only dog, she has adjusted well to living with another dog in her foster home. Dutchess was a little growly and snappy towards the resident female Springer for the first few days, but only inside the house and only when her foster parents were giving her affection and attention and the resident dog would come over to join. They quickly intervened whenever it happened and the resident dog simply gave Dutchess her space; after a few days it subsided and has not been an issue since. They now ride well in the backseat of the car together and will lie next to each other in the living room or on their parents’ bed. The resident dog even tries to steal her food occasionally while Dutchess is eating and she doesn’t care or try to stop her. 

Dutchess is very well-mannered – she takes treats nicely, will sit on her bed until told she can eat her dinner, does not counter-surf, is housetrained pacing or barking when she needs to go out, and reportedly she was very cognizant of not walking across the path of her elderly former owner.  She loves her bed and blanket and sleeps either there or in her humans’ bed at night. She jumps easily onto the couch and makes herself comfortable, but she will get down when instructed. 

Dutchess has been regularly groomed throughout her life, though her foster parents have not yet taken her to the groomer themselves so they are unsure how she tolerates the grooming process. 

Although mostly deaf, Dutchess will occasionally startle at loud noises.  She knows the hand signals for “come,” “sit,” “stay,” and “lie down/go to your bed” so her deafness does not stop communication with her foster family.  Although in overall good health, Dutchess does take several medications and supplements, mostly for some mild osteoarthritis and one for anxiety. These pills get mixed into her food bowl and she gobbles them down. She loves treats of all kinds, too. 

Not a fan of being left alone at home, Dutchess is crated but barks almost the entire time  her foster parents are out.  Her chest and feet are usually covered in slobber when they return. Of late, she has found a way to break out of two different crates when her foster parents are gone. They have also tried leaving her loose in the house when they leave. She does not destroy anything per se, but she runs around the house barking and frantically searching for them. During this process she usually jumps on the windowsills to look out leaving scratches and gouges.  She has managed to lock herself in the master bedroom once, scratching the wood floors, and also once in a windowless bathroom. The previous owner’s daughter reported that Dutchess was fine when crated; however, that said, Dutchess had lived in her home for nine years.  Perhaps, her extreme reaction to being left now is due to her being in an unfamiliar home with strangers.  The vet has put her on Prozac for about three weeks, but her dose or medication may need to be adjusted. Her foster parents are experimenting with calming treats, a thundershirt, and other medications to see what helps when they have to leave.  

Dutchess would love to find her new forever home with someone who is home most of the time and is relatively active. Since she has lots of energy, she needs someone who will be able to exercise her regularly. She would make an excellent running, hiking or walking partner. Dutchess would do best in a fenced yard because of her hearing impairment. 

Dutchess is an incredibly sweet, special soul and will make an excellent, affectionate, tail-wagging, butt-wiggling companion to a very special friend that doesn’t mind giving extra pets, hugs and time to her!