Freckles 16

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When his Virginia owners fell onto hard economic times, they no longer could afford to care for their Springer puppy Freckles. Because of their living situation, Freckles had to be an outside dog, tied and barking because he could not be inside with his people. So, to provide their pup with a better life that he deserved, they relinquished him to MAESSR. 

Freckles is a happy boy now that he can be an inside dog again, only going outside to take care of business and to play. His excessive barking is dissipating with this life situation change and with corrections from his foster parents. 

All puppy, Freckles keeps his foster parents on their toes! Whatever he can find to chew on, he will chew as do most puppies. His foster parents are helping him learn what appropriate chew toys are and what items are not. Crate-trained and housetrained, Freckles is crated when his family is out so he will not get into mischief – something he is prone to do when left unattended. 

Outside in the yard, Freckles loves the freedom of running loose inside the fence and rough housing with the big resident dogs. He finds it more challenging to try to get the little resident dogs involved in play, since the little ones look at him as a giant pest! Poor Freckles just doesn’t understand why they don’t want to play! A “monkey see, Monkey do” kind of puppy, Freckles has paid close attention to what his resident dogs do and he mimics them. When time to go to bed, he noticed that each one of the five dogs has a specific place to sleep in his foster parents’ bed and now he has chosen his favorite corner of the bed to snuggle up in, sleeping there all night long. Yep, that is why his foster parents have a King size bed! No floor to sleep on for this huggable boy! He also saw that the other dogs get lots of hugs, belly rubs, and ears scratching just by pouncing on top of their people, so he does this too. Boy, what a life these resident dogs have! Freckles also discovered that on the weekends when the foster parents are home, a breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes, and bacon is served as a special treat. This is the life!

Freckles is learning some really good manners for which he gets rewarded. He knows the commands sit and his foster family is working on paw with him. He doesn’t need to learn the word come because all one has to do is look at him and he is right there in a flash. He does counter-surf, a behavior that is being discouraged. So, needless to say, he is learning to respond to the command down quite a bit.

Outside on the leash, Freckles does pull because he enjoys exploring so many scents; with each walk, he is pulling less and learning the correct way to walk leashed. As for riding in the car, Freckles would prefer just to stay at home. He does not like to ride in the car. If he must go for a ride, it is best for him to go with an empty stomach. For instance, he was not keen on riding to the vet’s office, but once there, he was fine. He did not mind having his paws, ears, or body parts checked. Because of this reaction, his foster parents don’t really see any potential issues at the groomers. 

Please note that MAESSR only places puppies in homes that are committed to training and bonding with the pup in obedience classes. Puppies require a lot of care, attention, and patience, and they do chew on things! The decision to get a puppy and raise it to be a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted dog is a serious commitment. To reinforce this commitment, MAESSR requires all adopters of dogs one year old and younger to enroll their puppy in an obedience class within sixty days of adoption. Freckles’ forever family must commit to continue his puppy training. He is a fast learner who will do well in obedience classes. 

Freckles would enjoy a fun-loving family who would give him lots of love and hugs as well as the rough housing and exercise that he needs daily. He wouldn’t mind a canine companion in his forever home, either. Want to have some fun? Freckles does!