Freckles 11

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Updated 7/7/07: Freckles is a lively companion. She has settled into her foster home and is thrilled with her frequent opportunities to chase her sister, Frannie, from end to end in a large yard. She also runs after birds and squirrels and butterflies but was totally disinterested in an uncrated cat at the vet’s office! Flower buds have fallen prey to her fearless hunting skills.

Her foster mom has taken her on a few field trips to the local dog park to expand her socialization. Freckles gets along with dogs of all sizes but is very submissive. This is a girl that rolls on her back before Pomeranians! As an alternative, she will run and stand between the largest male legs she can find.

Now that Freckles knows not all car rides end at the vet’s office, she jumps in and out on command and rides well in the back seat. She also sits to have her leash put on and off, although she first leaps on the leash-holder with excitement, her foster mom is still working on this puppy-like behavior. If she is walked alone and doesn’t have her sister to compete with for lead dog, Freckles stays easily by her foster mom’s side.

Because Freckles just turned a year this month, she has some other puppy habits that should pass with age and training. Shoe-chewing is an example so having lots of appropriate doggie toys in her new home will be important. She also wants to lie on the couch (but then, who doesn’t?), but gets down on command. She is calm in the house!

Freckles is reserved around new people who visit but will take treats out of their hands and may roll on her back for a tummy rub. People on the street can pet her immediately. People in the dog park are supposed to pet her instead of their own dogs. Freckles will wiggle her way in between a dog and his owner for attention. All she needs now is a family who will welcome her wiggling into their hearts and who will lavish her with the attention, love, and training she deserves!  

Original: Freckles and her sister Frannie have had a few surprises during their first year of life. When they were five months old, they were shipped from a breeder in Montana all the way to a loving home in Virginia. This good surprise changed when their owner’s daughter came home from college and turned out to be severely allergic to them. As a result, their owner has regretfully turned them over to MAESSR to find them new homes. Will your home be the next good surprise for this little girl?

Freckles is a small tri-colored field-bred English Springer Spaniel, weighing only 32 pounds. She has a lovely soft, silky, and low-maintenance coat. She’s a shy girl, and takes a while to warm up to new people. However, once she accepts a person, she turns into a wiggling, tail-wagging, jump-upping pup! She happily approaches new dogs that she meets on the street, often leaping on the other dog with delight as soon as she is sure the other dog is also friendly. She does not urinate submissively and is not bothered by thunder. Her foster mom has not taken her for a car ride yet, but she is reported to be a reluctant, but well-behaved rider. Her favorite activity is chewing the squeaker out of chew toys.

Freckles does not jump on the furniture or trash-dive. She has put her feet on the counter a time or two, but doesn’t seem to be a serious counter-surfer. She entertains herself in the yard very well and has not tried to jump a three-foot fence. She is not completely housebroken, nor is she good at leash walking. She has a taste for all things plastic. Any of these problems can be fixed by having a new owner spend some time training her. Freckles is food motivated. In just a few days, she has learned “sit.” Her foster mom is working on “go potty” and teaching her to not jump up on people.

Freckles is devoted to her sister, Frannie. The two of the share a crate and often cuddle together outside of it as well. A simple command of  “time for night-night” and both girls will go right into the crate at any time of day. They are used to being in a crate during the workday and at night. Freckles could use another dog and you to keep her company as she starts her new life.