Finnegan

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Update 12/19/07:

Finnegan has settled with another foster family for the holidays. As with his original family, he is sharing his very loving and affectionate puppy-side with all. He loves to get in the middle of the new mix of people and get rubbed!!! He spends hours wrestling around with the resident dog, a young ESS male who joined the family last year. The two love to chase each other around in the yard. 

When you call Finnegan, he comes. He listens well. Because he is a pup, though, his attention span is short. When the two dogs go out to do their business, Finnegan stops when he sees his housemate finish. His family has learned to take him out separately and still finds that he wants to run around and play. There have been occasional accidents, and always within 2 hours of Finnegan’s having been out, but with consistent guidance and a little more time, Finnegan will learn that business comes before play.

Hand in hand with his youth is Finnegan’s emerging passion for chewing. He no longer gets to have stuffed toys because he shreds them and swallows parts before they can be collected. He has chewed through bones that the resident dog milked for months. To his credit, Finnegan has only chosen to sample woodwork once – phew!! His family has gotten some advice on how to curb this need to chew and they are working on this with him too. And yes, he is crated when his family is away from home. More to come as Finnegan shares his progress………

Original:

Finnegan is all puppy without the hassle of housebreaking! He is a wonderful dog who wants to play and has tons of energy to fill your day. He is gentle when playing and has quickly learned the various dog signals while assimilating into the pack of resident Springers. Finnegan loves to play fetch or any other kind of outdoor play involving running! The family that relinquished him reported that Finnegan has been great with children, including toddlers. He will need a household that has time to train him. Discipline and obedience will help him mature into a happy, well-mannered dog. 

Finnegan saw a cat through his foster mom’s fence and he ran the fence line chasing it. However, it is probable he will quickly learn the back off signals since he has learned that from the Alpha female dog in the house and now gives her a wide berth. 

Finnegan is not much of a barker except when he wants to go out. He is not a digger, chewer, or fence jumper, but he does submissive urinate occasionally. Finnegan does not beg for food, but he does enjoy counter surfing. His foster mom is teaching him that checking out what is on the counters is not something that a well-behaved Springer boy should do! This young Springer rides well in the car and does not have any temperament or grooming issues. Finnegan doesn’t mind having his feet handled or his ears cleaned either. 

He has had some formal training at Pet Smart and does know “sit” and “down.” Finnegan walks well on the leash, also. When greeting people, he will jump up on them but will immediately get down when told. 

He is re-learning to sleep and settle in his crate after enjoying sleeping on the bed in his former home. When not confined to his crate, he is allowed free run on the first level of his foster home but not the second level where the bedrooms are located. 

Finnegan is a fun, loving puppy that will grow into a great family dog. Are you the one to help him mature under your love and discipline?