Entered: 01/28/2014
Status: Adopted
Age: 8
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 40 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: State College, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, ears responding well with regular cleaning, a lipoma on his chest requiring no treatment, gaining to a healthy weight
Temperament: Good with adults and teens, not recommended to live with children, good with other dogs, unknown with cats
Update 03/09/2014: “‘Til spring breaks, his ball gets rolled or LIGHTLY tossed down the hall. It’s just not the same, but what’s a boy to do?“
With a little over a month in foster care, there’s additional news on this handsome guy, beginning with health matters. At a recent recheck, Jake’s ears were great. Regular cleaning should keep them that way. His weight is now about 40 pounds. He still seems a little bony to his foster mom, and could gain a bit yet but otherwise looks good.
With settling Jake’s greatly improved in the housetraining area………..no accidents in the last week!! He seems to be getting the whole “go outside” picture. He has the run of the house when his family is home and generally goes out every couple hours. Not surprisingly, he does bear watching if he’s had a big drink at the water bowl. He’s crated when everyone is away and has never soiled there. Jake sleeps through the night on a dog bed in his foster parents’ bedroom.
With the enticement of a Kong stuffed with kibble and peanut butter, Jake is crating easily. He has been sweet-tempered with the exception of being near the resident Springer’s treat when he was about to receive it, post ear cleaning. Then, there was grumbling and a snarly lip. One other rough moment was when his back foot was accidently stumbled over. Jake’s sensitive about his back legs to start with and reacted with grumbling and an aggressive stance. All ended well, but for this reason, he will do best in a home without youngsters.
Jake continues to be a calm leash walker………except for the time when a little skunk dashed from a closeby bush to sprint for a hole in the roadside. His foster mother declined to investigate that spot but Jake would have! He’s met neighbors while out, and has been friendly and affectionate with them all. He hasn’t been interested in playing or being friendly with passing dogs on leash, but tends to ignore them, and generally doesn’t bark. He continues to be a sweet, mellow boy in the house and rarely barks there either, even when the two resident springers are being deafening door-greeters.
Jake would love to be doing some serious tennis ball chasing, but the weather just hasn’t cooperated for that yet. ‘Til spring breaks, his ball gets rolled or LIGHTLY tossed down the hall. It’s just not the same, but what’s a boy to do?
Spring is just around the corner as is Jake’s readiness for a new family. He’s a sweetie. One look at this little guy and your heart melts as quickly as snow in March. Fill your ball basket and be ready for an active season if Jake comes to your home!
Original: “Jake LOVES attention, loves to be where the people and other dogs are, and is willing to do things he doesn’t love for affection and treats.”
Jake and his littermate Bailey 23 came to MAESSR when their Pennsylvania owner needed to relocate and was unable to take them along.
Since arriving at his foster home, Jake has been a congenial and affectionate member of the household, getting along well with the two senior resident Springers. He has met new people – family, friends, and groomers – with friendliness and enthusiasm. He likes to put his front paws up on people to receive attention, but doesn’t jump at them; he responds nicely to “off”. Jake quickly settles down and calmly keeps company with family and guests.
Jake is not food aggressive. He and the resident dogs are fed in separate areas of the room. Politely, Jake does not rush their dishes, is able to share a held yogurt cup for licking, and allows his foster parents to reach into and/or move his food dish with no problem while he eats. While noticeably thin on arrival in foster care, no overt health problems were noted at his vet appointment and he has gained a pound and half with routine feeding on the kibble that the resident dogs consume. Jake is an enthusiastic eater and can be encouraged with treats.
This sweet boy loves tennis balls and sometimes will give up the ball spontaneously but will definitely give it up for a treat! When one of his humans is attached to the other end of a toy, Jake is willing to play!
Jake knows the commands “sit” and “come.” His previous owner related he was trusted off leash, but since his foster family does not have a fenced yard, they have not tested this. Jake walks reasonably well on leash in Springer fashion moving side to side without excessive pulling, although a sudden sighting of a bunny or squirrel could derail that. He hasn’t shown any real interest in other dogs out on leash, but very few have been encountered in the cold weather.
When invited up on the furniture, this sweet cuddler will jump up to snuggle with his people. He has not attempted to get onto his foster parents’ bed, though. During his first several nights, he was unsure of being in the bedroom on the dog bed provided and, instead, chose the throw rug in kitchen; however, now Jake spends the night on “his” bed in the bedroom. Jake has not been interested in trash can in the kitchen, nor has he counter-surfed although the potential to do so is there if left alone.
During the first few days in his foster home, it was observed that Jake wasn’t “solidly” housetrained and had some accidents. He doesn’t seem to have any signal for going out. With the menu change to the resident kibble, crating when the foster family is not home, and containment in the bedroom with the rest of the family at night, his accidents have decreased. With continued attention to consistent housetraining (frequent opportunity to go out, praise, and close observation), his foster family thinks he’ll continue to progress nicely. Jake doesn’t particularly love being crated but will enter it for a treat-filled Kong. He settles down in it while the family is out, with the resident dogs gated in the same room.
Jake LOVES attention, loves to be where the people and other dogs are, and is willing to do things he doesn’t love for affection and treats. His foster family has bathed him in the tub, which he was none to sure about, but he was coaxed in with attention, treats, and lots of cooing. He’s touchy about having his feet handled and tries to get away, making to gnaw on the human hand. To desensitize him, his foster family works with Jake daily by handling his paws gently, doing it slowly without grabbing, and by praising him. The groomer said Jake did very well, except for having his nails trimmed, which required LOTS of petting, encouraging, and two of them!
This adorable, sweet-tempered Springer is ready to give lots of love to his new family!