Entered: 12/27/2018
Status: Adopted
Age: 1
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 44 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Langhorne, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, benefiting from a medication for anxiety, receiving treatment for wax build-up in ears, has achieved a healthy weight, overall good health
Temperament: Good with adults, reportedly good with children as young as 5, but may knock over youngsters in his enthusiasm, good with other dogs, unknown with cats
Update 03/07/2019: “He’s also scheduled for doggy classes called ‘Finding Focus’ to help him get better socialized with other dogs. Another purpose of this class is to provide him with the skills to fully focus on what his people want him to do.”
Hunter is making progress, albeit, slowly. On the positive side, he now sits and mostly stays on command. He has bonded well with his foster mom and dad.
As for getting along with the resident dogs, there has been quite a bit of improvement with the six year old pup. They can hang out together in the house at night when all is settled down, and outside when playing with toys. Hunter’s foster parents still keep a very close eye on them because there was one nasty altercation several weeks ago. Hunter is a big, clumsy guy that really just wants to be part of the group; but he gets overbearing in his excitement. As for the older resident dog, he doesn’t like Hunter and the feeling is mutual. His foster mom believes that Hunter’s size and clumsiness make the old guy, whose back legs are failing him, very nervous.
It appears that some of the training issues with Hunter are due to his fear of so many inanimate objects such as boxes, snow shovels, things flapping in the wind, etc. He’s been started on an anti-anxiety medication. He’s on a low dose, which may need to be increased to help him become less nervous about things and improve faster with his training. He’s also scheduled for doggy classes called “Finding Focus” to help him get better socialized with other dogs. Another purpose of this class is to provide him with the skills to fully focus on what his people want him to do.
Although he hasn’t been weighed recently, Hunter now looks like he is at a good weight. He is a good eater, which has helped him fill out. He has had some waxy build-up in his ears. It was cultured and he received cleaning and medications which helped them improve for a while. Unfortunately, it has returned so he’s back on his medications and he’s been switched to a different, single protein food to see if that might help.
Hunter King is working hard to become ready to join his forever family.
Original: “This big kid does love being in the fenced in yard and is pretty good about fetching, often dropping his toy in his foster mom’s hand.”
Hunter came to MAESSR when his Delaware family was not able to take him with them when their housing situation changed.
Hunter is a big, exuberant boy that loves to be cuddled and kissed. He is great about having his paws and ears touched and loves to give and receive kisses. He is a bit underweight but has a good appetite so weight should go on naturally.
The King is fully housetrained and pretty much crate trained. He does not know how to politely greet and play with the resident dogs, and his foster family is working on teaching him that skill. But, due to his over-exuberance with the resident dogs, he stays in the crate at night and when his foster family is not home. Crating is also due to the fact that Hunter seems to have not experienced full run of a home before and thinks, when he sees counters and tables, he should put his big paws up and explore (a Springer’s gotta do what a Springer’s gotta do!).
He is very curious about and also nervous with sights and sounds he has not experienced, but is already learning to handle these new experiences. Hunter is very good with not chewing inappropriately and does not jump up on the furniture. He loves both soft and chew toys and will sometimes pull the blanket out of the crate when he is let out. This big kid does love being in the fenced in yard and is pretty good about fetching, often dropping his toy in his foster mom’s hand.
As for commands, Hunter needs quite a bit of education. He is pretty good at “sit,” but is deaf to “come” if he is busy sniffing or playing with a toy. He needs to learn how to properly walk on a leash, and, being as strong as he is, commands and leash training are a big priority. If he sees another dog or person while on the leash he wants to get to them and pulls very hard. And, Hunter will have the opportunity to learn as 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 obedience classes within 60 days of adoption.
MAESSR’s new boy had a good trip to the vets where he charmed everyone he saw. He behaves okay in the car but isn’t thrilled with the travel.
This guy has many other experiences ahead of him as his foster family exposes him to life in a happy home. Watch for future updates as Hunter King becomes the best Springer he can be.