Entered: 11/30/2013
Status: Adopted
Age: 4
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 55 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Aston, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, treatment for asymptomatic ehrlichia complete
Temperament: Good with people, reportedly good with children, good with other dogs, chases cats
Original: “Ingram is the standard Velcro Springer, following his foster folks from room to room but glad to flop and hang out when not much is going on.”
After his elderly owner from Tennessee died, Ingram was taken by the owner’s daughter and kept as an outside dog, tied up during the day and in a doghouse at night. He was turned over to another rescue, vetted, neutered and welcomed into MAESSR’s care. One of his ears was badly matted and he was sorely in need of a bath, but instantly warmed to getting human attention again. On his trip north to his foster home, he decided that the hotel bed looked much more comfortable than the vet kennel where he’d spent the prior week. He jumped right on up before being told to get down and obeying.
Once in his foster home, Ingram turned out to be completely housetrained. He doesn’t love the crate but will go in with treats and sleep there at night. However, since he just flops at the base of the stairs where he last saw his new humans, he’s now left uncrated at night. He doesn’t seem to understand “stairs,” but, with his agility level, will probably learn quickly.
His inside manners are a work in progress! He’s learning that just because he can reach up on the counter, or can do a standing high jump to a window ledge, the humans don’t really like it. He will become grounded again when he hears “OFF.” What a smart boy! No trash diving for this good boy and although he’d like to be on furniture, he isn’t allowed to do so in his foster home. He knows “sit” and “down” and is sure to pick up more commands as his new life continues.
Ingram is the standard Velcro Springer, following his foster folks from room to room but glad to flop and hang out when not much is going on. Since he spent so much time tied outdoors, he seems to prefer being inside. After pulling apart an old stuffed animal and fussing about a more precious new one when the resident gal wanted it, he’s decided he prefers small squeaky toys. In the evenings while the family watches TV and his foster sister flops in her crate with her long legs sticking out, Ingram flops on a nearby small rug with his hind feet overlapping hers.
The first couple of days in his foster home, Ingram grumbled at the resident female who’d approached his favorite toy, but he’s learning that there are other toys and that she means him no harm. They play rambling bump and rub games, especially when she comes out of her crate in the morning, or when one or the other of them is being brushed. Ingram mostly ignores the resident grumpy small terrier and is ignored in return. He and the resident dogs are fed separately since he has an appetite and they tend to eat more slowly. His foster mom can stick her hand in his food dish and stir it around with no reaction.
Ingram loves being groomed and is teaching the resident hound that when the dog brush comes out, it’s time to crowd around for special treatment. The tedious process of transforming his big mat of hair back into a beautiful Springer ear was met with a good natured drop and roll and an occasional big paw to push at the brush or scissors.
This young man’s initial leash manners are coming along slowly but surely. He’ll look back at his foster folks to get permission to go on and seems to be learning the concept that “loose leash” is what’s desired. On walks, Ingram greets people and other dogs with no problem or aggression. His main interest in what seems to be the new experience of being out and about on leash is the number of squirrels and other small critters seen on a suburban walk. On a 40 degree day hiking, he was taken to a creek to get a drink and he waded right in, dropping down to his belly to get the full creek experience—this boy is probably a swimmer!!
In the car, Ingram is quiet but needs to be tethered so he does not jump around. When the humans get out of the car at gas stations or to have lunch, he’s not sure they’re coming back and will not quite bark/whimper in hopes that he’s not being deserted. This will probably pass with experience.
This liver and white bear of a Springer would love to have a home where the people are openly affectionate to him and perhaps a Springer pal for a playmate. A pool or stream where he could get wet would be nice too, but the main cause of tail wags for this boy is being with people. Despite a new place and folks he’d never met, just a warm tone of voice will cause his stub of a brown tail to wag away and a Springer bow and smile to appear.