Entered: 02/11/2006
Status: Adopted
Age: 1
Color: Liver/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Rising Sun, MD
Health: UTD, HW-, good in all areas
Temperament: Good with people, good with dogs, unknown with cats
Original: When Goofy proved too active for his original family, they surrendered him to a shelter in New Jersey. The family said he was very loving and craved attention, which is so true for most young Springers. In his shelter picture, Goofy looked like the saddest dog in the world. Fortunately, a MAESSR foster family was ready to help bring back his happy, “goofy” grin.
The resident dog, a female Lab, took to Goofy the minute he arrived. He also took to her with amorous overtures. Over the next few days, she rejected his advances, and the foster parents consistently corrected his behavior. The combination has led to the dogs getting along very well.
With this start on training, Goofy’s foster parents found that he is very intelligent and extremely willing to work on command. He will “sit” and “give paw.” In puppy fashion, his attention span is short, in the millisecond range they joke, and they will continue to work with him to tune his focus and shape his manners.
Goofy is housebroken and has become accustomed to some time in a crate when his family is away. He is eating well. After some hesitation at meal time when he first arrived, he now attacks food with gusto. He is a hoarder of treats but shows no aggression with them or his food. He will steal treats from the resident dog and she does the same with him. Even when they both get the same treats, they must think the other is getting the tastier one!
This sad puppy is wearing a Springer smile again and showing that he is indeed very loving. He enjoys equal lap time with the 80-pound Lab. Together they outweigh their foster mom, but she wears a big smile too when both are at hand. Goofy is a typical ESS at a year of age. He’ll grow into quite a gentlemanly adult with continuing socialization and more on basic obedience. And of course, the love and lap time with a forever family will keep that grin on Goofy’s face.