Entered: 12/30/2008
Status: Adopted
Age: 7
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 72 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Richmond, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, benefiting from a supplement for low thyroid levels
Temperament: Good with people of all ages, good with other dogs, not good with cats
Update 01/16/2014: “Jack – what a sweetheart! And SMART too!”
Jack – what a sweetheart! And SMART too! He knows “sit,” “sit pretty,” “lie down,” “out” (out of the kitchen), “come,” “toy,” “treat,” and “leave it” (stop whatever you’re doing……….teasing your foster sister or licking a sore spot!). He loves to snuggle but doesn’t like to be cuddled around his head. There he likes his space. Don’t we all?
He has lost a bit more weight, probably 2 pounds or so, which is great for his petite, but stocky frame. Jack’s foster granddaddy called him, “good stock!”
Handsome loves his Sunday morning eggs and lies quietly by the table waiting for them. He loves to play fetch with his people and also has fun playing with other dogs. He is enjoying his weekly play date with the dog walker and the dogs she brings with her. Jack rides great in the car, especially when he knows he is going to the park with the others.
This sweet boy would be great in almost any home! Jack is happy and adjusting well to his foster home and different routines, but he is definitely used to a place to call his own. Wouldn’t you like to share yours with him?
Update 12/12/2013: “When he was at the vet and groomer recently, all of the employees called Jack a LOVELY, SWEET boy.”
Poor Jack. His beloved owner, who had adopted him from MAESSR, passed away unexpectedly. Because her family was unable to keep Jack, they made arrangements for him to come back to MAESSR. Jack had spent four years being very much loved, and he was sad and confused when he came into foster care. He is doing much better now, but Jack still longs for a family of his own.
Jack was diagnosed earlier this year with low thyroid. His weight had reached 87 pounds but, after starting an inexpensive supplement, he has shed 13 pounds in the past six months!!! He is a healthy boy and is expected to continue to lose weight now that the thyroid condition is being controlled.
Jack is a wonderful sweetheart and would fit right into most families. He has terrific house manners and is just a joy to have around. When he was at the vet and groomer recently, all of the employees called Jack a LOVELY, SWEET boy.
This deserving boy is looking for a very special present this holiday season. Can you give Jack a forever home?
Update 02/19/09: “He loves to take the kids to school or hop in the van for a weekend away.”
Things are finally coming together for Jack and he is now ready for his furever home. Jack’s leg sores are healed and growing new fur, his ears are great and he has lost five pounds. He could probably lose a few more pounds but does sport a waist, his muscles are firm and he IS a big framed boy. He is doing very well with the submissive urination, only having a few incidents when scared to death by a bunch of Mylar balloons brought into the house and being overwhelmed by the arrival of some house guests. Guest greetings are generally handled to avoid the dogs getting too excited but things do happen.
Jack will need some ongoing care to keep him healthy and in tip top shape. He should eat a good quality kibble, free of irritants like corn and preservatives. He should always be maintained on flea/tick preventative since he is one of those individuals who are a bit more itchy than others. He will need to take cranberry capsules daily in his food to eliminate the red staining he got from licking his leg. He will also need his leg washed with a cleanser for a few months to be sure any undesirable bugs are kept at bay. And, he needs to wear his custom made jacket until he has broken the habit of licking his leg. When he wears his jacket, he doesn’t usually bother his leg, but when it comes off, he’s right there. Jack will try and do some licking at bed time, but his foster mom sits beside him and pets him until he is sleepy. Jack has taken to chewing a nylabone before bed which has cleaned most of the tartar from his teeth.
Jack is a pretty easy boy to have around the house. His number one priority is to be close to his people. He just loves attention and will sit nicely right in front of anyone who comes in, hoping to get some petting. Jack does have an amazing nose and has been caught countersurfing. He surfs in a stealth manner…….quick in and out when no one is looking. His furever family must keep counters clear of food and the trash can covered. Jack likes to play with toys but will make quick work of any squeaky stuffed animals. He will fetch a ball but also likes to chew nylabones and carry around balls. Jack can be possessive about certain toys at times and the resident dogs tease him by acting interested in them. Occasionally a toy might need to be put away because two dogs are both interested in the same item.
Jack is really a super dog. He loves to take the kids to school or hop in the van for a weekend away. He’s cautious of unfamiliar things but does well when he realizes the other dogs are not concerned. He’d do best with a family that isn’t away 8 to 10 hours every day. He needs exercise and stimulation but what two year old Springer boy doesn’t! Jack is going to make one family very happy. What about you?
Update 01/26/09: “He hasn’t been “seen” countersurfing or trash picking, but his foster mom believes Jack certainly would attempt to make off with unattended goodies if given the chance.”
With about a month in his foster home, Jack is really thriving. He isn’t getting into any trouble at all when home alone. His foster mom really thinks it’s the hard running and play in the morning and his canine companionship that relaxes and enables Jack to be a good boy while his family is gone.
Jack is displaying very nice house manners and is a joy to have around. He hasn’t been “seen” countersurfing or trash picking, but his foster mom believes Jack certainly would attempt to make off with unattended goodies if given the chance. His foster family is very careful to keep counters clear and trash in an enclosed metal waste can.
For a month now Jack has been watching his weight and has lost a few pounds. This weight loss is really allowing him to run fast and be very agile out in the yard. His stamina increases daily and his muscles are starting to feel toned. He’ll continue with reduced rations until he starts to show a waistline. Carrots are now Jack’s treat of choice.
Jack’s foster family has been working very hard to clear up Jack’s leg sores. He recently switched antibiotics after finding the first one not effective. He also visited a dermatology specialist. Jack now gets his leg washed daily, has a cream to apply, and has an anti-itching medicine and an antibiotic. His foster family also keeps Jack from getting at the leg by using an E-collar and wrapping. At times, Jack must be very itchy because he gets his E-collar off and bites at his leg. He has a custom-made coat that he wears to bed to keep his legs covered. Jack is also attempting a low allergy kibble diet to see if any of this itching is due to a food allergy. He was diagnosed with yeast infections in both ears and is getting treatment for that as well.
Occasionally Jack does have submissive urination. Interestingly enough, the other two dogs he lives with also deal with this issue. His foster mom finds that allowing the dogs to come out into the garage when she gets home, keeping a washable rubber-backed mat by the door, keeping greetings low-key until outdoors, always speaking calmly when correcting the dogs (no yelling) and managing “new people” greetings pretty much handle the issue.
Jack is really a very lovely dog, inside and out. Keep checking back for progress on this sparkling gem.
Original: “It took him a few days to walk downstairs to the basement, but after he got it, he’s up and down all the time.”
Jack is a handsome field bred Springer with a lovely disposition. He lived with his breeder/owner and lots of dogs and kids for a little over two years. He was re-homed when his owner fell on hard times. His second home purchased him after losing a thirteen year old Springer. As so often happens, people forget that a two year old’s attention, exercise and play needs hardly resemble thirteen year olds. Jack’s second owners chose to surrender him to MAESSR knowing that they would find him a wonderful home.
At his vet appointment, Jack was a true gentleman. He sat quietly while being prodded and poked. He currently weighs sixty-five pounds which is not a healthy weight for this boy. The vet also examined the unhealed sores on his front leg. Jack evidently had been licking the area for some time causing the skin to break down. Jack will be taking antibiotics for one to two months to knock any bugs out of his system. Also, he will get his leg treated with a triple antibiotic ointment and wrapped daily. Jack is a perfect patient tolerating the cleaning and wrapping without a peep.
Jack is an easy boy to have around the house. He is a willing participant in the resident male Springer’s favorite games of chase, keep away, and tug, but he is also happy to settle with a nylabone or other toy. He’s an appropriate barker, is completely housebroken, sleeps quietly on his blanket beside his foster mom’s bed all night, rides like a champ in the car, walks fine on leash, and knows a few commands. He has not attempted to trash pick or counter surf, which his previous home reported; however, trash cans are dog proof and tempting items are not left on counters in his foster home. He will get up on the sofa when invited and loves to sit by a human and cuddle. Jack was tried in the crate for a few days and was extremely upset about being confined. He is now left free in the house with the other dogs and is much happier. He sometimes goes to the door and cries for a few minutes when the humans leave but quickly settles down beside the resident male Springer and is fine.
Jack is more of a laid back, submissive dog. He has this funny habit of sticking his neck way out, with body in place to meet new people. After he realizes they mean him no harm, he’s at their feet for petting. It took him a few days to walk downstairs to the basement, but after he got it, he’s up and down all the time. Jack had a few episodes of submissive urination in his first few days, so he is now ignored completely when the humans return until all of the dogs are taken outside. For this short time there is no talking, no touching or looking at Jack. This seems to be doing the trick.
Jack is a typical Velcro Springer boy. He likes to follow his foster mom around or settle close by a human. There’s nothing he loves more than cuddling up and getting a belly rub. He was the hit of a little girl sleepover as he curled up beside the kids as they were getting ready for bed. He’s very patient with the kid’s hugs and kisses.
Jack’s New Year resolution is to lose some weight and get healthy. Check back for updates on his progress.