Hawk

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Update: 5/21/06 Hawk has made important progress on his health issues in this last month. He is still walking regularly, watching what he eats, and slimming down at a safe pace. His demodex has responded well to medication which will end in a few days. His skin is now a healthy pink, his hair is filling the once bare spots, and his coat is softer and beginning to show a nice sheen.

About a month ago Hawk was tested for hypothyroidism and, as a result, began taking a minimal dose of thyroid hormone. He was retested this week to confirm the results and will be kept on this twice daily med. Upon re-exam, the vet was quite impressed with his overall change and feels this is a part of maintaining his improvement. The medication is inexpensive, and Hawk takes it with delight when it’s stuffed in a soft, little treat.

Hawk continues to shine when he is out in public. He is not a pushy boy, but he hates to let anyone pass by him without saying “Hi.” At home he is largely quiet, only grumbling occasionally when one of the other dogs wants him to share the “big” dog bed. The only time he barks is after mealtime in his crate, as soon as the last bite is eaten, he wants to be wherever his people happen to be.

Hawk’s perfect family would be social in the way that he is and enjoy moderate outdoor activity with him. They would enjoy leisurely walks in the neighborhood or town park. Visits to a dog park would be great. His family would enjoy his gentle little kisses that come by surprise and welcome a very steady companion to their home.

Update: 4/20/06 With the wonderful spring weather, getting out almost daily to walk is easy and visits to the town park are Hawk’s favorite part of the day. He enjoys seeing and being petted by the many people around him and he doesn’t even mind being coupled to the resident Springer so that both get to go! He walks nicely on leash when by himself and is good for about 30 minutes a day. The benefit of walking, and carefully limiting his meals, has lightened Hawk by about 5 pounds. A hint of where his waist should be is beginning to appear!

The hair loss that Hawk has experienced was diagnosed as demodex, a non-contagious type of mange. His medication was adjusted to a daily dose for a month and some soft fur is beginning to fill in. He will be retested at the end of the month to see if further medication is necessary. He visited the groomer shortly after arriving at his foster home and was given a slightly longer than usual “Springer” cut so that his bare spots weren’t quite so bare. With the new growth, he is looking much more handsome!

Kong toys are Hawk’s favorite things to chew on and he can give the red ones quite a workout. They are scattered around the house, and he doesn’t touch anything else. He has become used to eating in his crate which is beside that of the resident Springer. He no longer guards his food as he did when he first arrived, but he may always prefer having his own bowl. He likes any kind of dog bed and has recently taken a fancy to the basket that the resident Beagle sleeps in. The sight of a 65-pound Springer trying to fit himself into space for a 25 -pounder brings quite a chuckle to anyone watching his efforts. More on Hawk as he continues to make progress.

Original When Hawk was dropped at a shelter in western Pennsylvania, his luck surely took a turn for the better. In short time he was named the shelter mascot and gained free run of the place. He befriended one of the care givers in particular. Hawk would follow the man around as he did his work and, occasionally, got to go home with him at night. Hawk was a good ambassador to all who visited the shelter including the children. He was fine with other dogs and the cats too, almost shying away from the cats.

The reason Hawk came to his foster home is that he needed medical care that neither the shelter nor his friend could provide. He was having a problem with large patches of hair coming out and needed potentially costly vetting to diagnose as well as treat the condition. Fortunately, MAESSR was able to commit to his need and his treatment is underway. His only other health issue is his weight. At 70 pounds, Hawk is a well-rounded boy who would still be well rounded at the 50 pounds that he and his foster mom are working on. Slow, but steady, weight loss for him.

Hawk is completely house trained and doesn’t counter surf or bother the trash can. He passes up doggie toys and balls when offered. He doesn’t seem to be a chewer but occasionally will nibble at something that is not for dogs. His foster mom thinks this will end once he settles in. She just keeps a close eye on him for now.

Though he is not playful with them, Hawk gets along with the 3 dogs in his foster home and will take his turn alongside them for bedtime treats. The only time Hawk grumbles at the dogs is at mealtime, or when one presses him too hard for play. He is protective of his food bowl and will warn the others to steer clear. By contrast, he will let his foster mom take the bowl from him midmeal without a word.

Hawk is learning to spend some time in a crate while his family is away. He sleeps in the bedroom with the rest of the crew at night and does a soft little snore most of the time. He rides well, either in a crate or in the back seat. He knows to “sit” and “stay” when asked and walks nicely on a leash. He seems to be a mellow fellow most of the time, accepting the attention of strangers but not demanding it. Once his health issues are behind him, Hawk will be ready for the love of a family that could include dogs, cats, and/or children. More will be added as he makes his progress.