Jamie

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Update 10/18/10:

Pictures are an essential part of information gathering as MAESSR works with shelters, vets, owners and other rescues to assist springers. Yet, even in the digital age, pictures don’t always enable intake coordinators to correctly differentiate springers from similar breeds in the sporting group. 

This is how, from time to time, commitment is made to a non-springer. The needs of the dog remain the same when it arrives at its foster home and a hands-on determines it to be another breed. For this reason, the decision was made long ago that, once a MAESSR dog, always a MAESSR dog. MAESSR’s commitment to assessment, care and placement is the same for non-springers as for Springers.

Though Jamie has the heart of a Springer, his foster family has determined that he is a setter. Aside from this point of breeding, all else for Jamie remains the same.

Update 10/06/10:

Jamie was returned to MAESSR because the family felt that he was just not a good fit for their lives. Jamie returned to his original foster home who cannot believe what a fantastic boy he has blossomed into. He is no longer on medication for anxiety and is doing great without it. Jamie has become such a Velcro boy that he is constantly stepping on the back of his foster mom’s flip flops. He settles under her feet while she works on the computer and will lay in an open crate to watch the world go by. Jamie loves to stick his head through the shower curtain when his foster mom is taking a shower just so he can see what is going on and keep close to her.

This boy loves to play with his tennis balls and collects them at times. Jamie will occasionally growl at another dog if one walks too close when he is laying with a pile amidst his paws. A credit to his good temperament is that this has never escalated beyond the grumbling stage.

Jamie also loves to run through the woods to “hunt” birds, squirrels and butterflies. He is much calmer about it now than when he first came into MAESSR’s care. He really does not want to be outside when his foster family is inside, so that limits his hunting time these days. One certainly can’t fault a Springer for such priorities! 

Jamie is a gem. He’s ready to hunt when opportunity arises, but more important are the people at the center of his life. His adopting family won’t need to share their showers with him but they’ll need to smile when he’s right on the other side of the shower curtain, keeping track of them!

Update 08/20/09:

With more time to settle in, Jamie has continued to thrive in his foster home. His drive to hunt has emerged and isn’t limited to birds. Jamie absolutely LOVES to chase butterflies. Though this may seem innocuous, he was recently started on an inexpensive medication to help calm his urge to hunt things. He has been on the meds for about 2 weeks. Jamie can now relax enough when outside to enjoy being with his people. Before the meds were begun, he would hunt obsessively. It’s not known how long Jamie will continue this medication. The hope right now is that he will be able to come off of it once he has learned that being with his family is more fun than constant hunting – fingers crossed! 

Other outdoor activity that Jamie loves is being in water. He can frequently be found flopped in the kiddie pool that his foster family keeps filled for him. More on this sweetie as he enjoys the best of summer.

Original:

Jamie came to MAESSR from a shelter in Virginia where he had been found as a stray. He is extremely sweet and cannot get close enough to members of his foster family. This young Springer loves to cuddle and snuggle! From his appearance and actions, Jamie had always been an outside boy, but has now decided that the indoor life is for him. He will need a family that will take him to an obedience class and have the patience to show him the joys of being a family member. Jamie is very eager to please and learns quickly, so this will be a fun and rewarding process. 

Jamie is crate-trained and has had a couple of accidents in his foster home. Once he was corrected for his accidents twice, he decided that he did not want his foster mom angry with him so he would be good. Jamie will jump up on furniture, but is learning that is not acceptable. He walks well on a leash and rides fairly well in a car.

This lover boy is looking for a family with the love and patience to continue to work on his training and the time to enjoy having fun with him.