Entered: 03/18/2010
Status: Adopted
Age: 4
Color: Liver/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Bumpass, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, completed treatment for whip worms
Temperament: Good with adults, good with other dogs, good with cats
Original:
Life is often full of unexpected twists. Seven adult Springers were suddenly left homeless when their owner/breeder was killed in a freak accident. They ended up in a Pennsylvania shelter where the staff quickly contacted MAESSR for help in placing them. The dogs were in rough shape when they entered the shelter; they had not been altered, they needed socialization, many had ear infections, all were thin, and they were in need of vaccinations, worming, and thorough grooming. When the call went out for foster homes, MAESSR volunteers quickly came to their aid and opened their homes and hearts to the Pennsylvania Seven.
Ferguson is one of the four males of this group. He was very shy and timid when he arrived in his foster home. Initially, he was reluctant to come out of his crate, but after about a week, he very much became a member of his whole foster family! Ferguson interacts extremely well with the four resident male Springers and he has a nose-touching relationship with the resident cat. His foster parents think there is not an aggressive bone in his body! Their visiting 15 month old grandson just loves large dogs, and when this toddler approaches him, Ferguson just ignores him and goes about his business. Although his foster parents don’t know how he is with older children, they suspect he will do well with children of all ages, if his temperament to date is any indication. As time goes on, Fergie is becoming less shy with people and he does not startle as quickly when he hears an unexpected noise.
Crate trained, Ferguson goes into and out of his kennel at will when his foster family is home. While they are away and at night, he is closed in his crate. After his evening walk around 10 PM, he goes into his crate for the night, and he sleeps without a sound until the family gets up at about 6 AM. He is housetrained, and goes to the door when he wants to go outside. Ferguson is a little weak on his commands, but his foster parents are working on “sit” and “stay” with him. He rides well in cars, just settling in and going to sleep. His foster family walks him on an extension leash, and when he gets to the max length with a tug, he immediately retreats towards the person holding the leash. Inside the house, Ferguson has very good house manners. He does not counter-surf and he has not bothered any trash cans. Although he apparently did not live in a house earlier in his life, he definitely knows how to use a sofa! However, his four canine stepbrothers are not allowed on the furniture, so Ferguson still has a little learning to do when it comes to sofa restrictions!
Outside in the yard, Ferguson loves to play fetch and is pretty good at bringing the ball back to you. He loves his special ring toy, which he runs with when outside. He even takes it into his kennel when he comes back into the house! Ferguson loves the water. His foster parents live on a lake and Ferguson thinks it is his duty to keep the geese away, even if it means swimming after them! In the water, he is a Springer with a mission! He also thinks that birds and squirrels in the yard are there just for him to chase, too.
Ferguson is blossoming in foster care, learning how to be an inside dog with the help of his foster parents and the resident Springers. Ferguson’s forever home should have at least one other dog for him to socialize with and to act as his mentor. If his foster family did not already have four rescued Springers in their household, they would keep Ferguson in a heartbeat! He is a sweetheart and he will give many years of love and appreciation to his forever family!