Guiness

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Update 05/04/10:

What a rascal!! Can you see it in his face?!?

Guiness rendezvoused with his adopting family at the Langhorne SpringerFest and went home with them. He did well with his new brother in the home, but he was not so successful at getting along with his feline sister. Guiness eyed the cat all night but made no attempt to get to her, so all was thought to be going fine. However, the next morning, Guiness decided to strike and had the poor cat in his mouth in one pounce! Luckily, he was taught well by his former owner and he did not bite down, but the potential was there for future trouble. So, Guiness was promptly sent back to his foster home and he is once again happily ensconced as pre-picnic.

Given this added layer of experience with Guiness, it seems he has a powerful hunt instinct and, so, cannot be placed in a home with any other species of animal except dog. He gets along great with all the dogs he has met, even some pretty small guys. However, he does not seem to like other species and feels that it is his duty to bring them to his owner as a gift!

While awaiting another adopting family, Guiness is really enjoying his new toys, thanks to the donations at the Langhorne picnic. His special favorite of the day is his squeaky squirrel which has not left his mouth! And, he pretty much is ignoring a new foster addition to the brood in his home, an ESS, of course.

Guiness will be an absolute delight to a family without non-canine pets! What a rascal!!

Original:

Guiness found his pot of gold at the end of the rainbow when he came into MAESSR foster care! He was one of the seven Pennsylvania Springers that 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.

Unlike his siblings, Guiness obviously had some training in the past. When walking outside in the yard, he stays with his foster mom or dad and always has his eye on them for signals as to what to do next. He stops when they stop and sits next to them waiting for further instructions! He had a few incidents of marking in the beginning, but once he found out how to use the doggy door, he has been perfect in the house. He does not need to be crated at all since he doesn’t have a destructive bone in his body!

Guiness is thriving in foster care! He loves to play fetch with either a ball or Frisbee and loves to climb up in the chair with his people for some private snuggle time. He does get a little jealous when his canine foster brothers appear to be getting more attention than he is, but his response is to try to push his way in to the group to get his fair share of love! At mealtime, Guiness shows no food aggression at all. Often, he joins his foster brothers in eating from their bowls first but will then share his bowl with them in return. He prefers to eat his kibble with some gravy on it! He has not shown any tendency to counter-surf and does not bark or beg for food at the table. Generally, he has wonderful house manners but he will climb up on the furniture when left alone. So, if dog-hair free furniture is required in your house, he is not the dog for you!

On the grooming table, Guiness is excellent. He was patient when he was initially groomed and seemed to know that a Springer should not look so wild and woolly! He does seem to have very dry skin with some scabbing in some areas but he will be given fish oil to see if that helps. At night, this good boy sleeps downstairs with his foster brothers and is quiet all night. He was with his foster family for almost a week before they heard him bark at all.

Watch for more to come on this good boy!