John

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Update 08/17/12:

More good news on John this week………he was neutered last week and did wonderfully! During his follow-up visit, he received a clean bill of health from his vet. At 32 pounds this youngster might look as if he needs to fatten up a lot…..:)). Actually, John still has considerable growing to do. He may not get taller but, over coming months, he will add muscle and mature into a very handsome adult.

The best news for John is that he actually walked into and out of the vet’s office, on a leash, and alongside his foster brother. This is huge progress for a pup that would freeze on the end of a leash when he came to MAESSR in late June. He very rarely has any accidents in the house anymore……….another excellent measure of progress! 

John’s new beginning has barely begun, but he is ready for new guidance and love. An adopting family will need to nurture this pup’s physical and mental development as his foster family has. John just needs time now……..with a family of his very own!!

Update 07/31/12:

John’s progress has been slow but steady. Over the past few weeks, he has started to approach people on a regular basis. He barks with delight when his foster dad comes home and loves to run the yard with glee. As with most pups, John loves to play with his foster brothers. He loves his crate and will go into it, in advance of his foster dad leaving the house, so he can get his treats………:))!

There are still accidents in the house on occasion; it will just take some additional training before John becomes completely trustworthy. He sleeps in the bedroom now but is usually let out once in the middle of the night to do his business. He is still terrified of the leash and refuses to walk once it is attached to him……….all in due season.

John is one precious work-in-progress. Patience, play and a commitment to consistent training have him headed in the right direction. Check back on his progress if you’d like to pick up where his foster family leaves off…………he’s a great pup and deserves a great family!

Original:

With all their adolescent exuberance, young Springers can be quite a handful. Even for the best-intentioned owner, this can end up being too much. When John’s Maryland family had trouble handling his journey into adulthood, they looked to MAESSR for help with finding him a home where he’d be able to get the love, attention, training, and exercise he needs. 

ALL puppy, John spends his time exploring his environment and learning what is acceptable Springer behavior and what is not. Learning how to get along with other dogs in his foster home, he loves to play with the resident one year-old male Springer and is just learning now to curl up at night with the other resident dogs. He is mostly housebroken and is trying to learn to signal when he needs to go out. John is crated during the day for three to four hours at a time and does well when his foster parents are away. Having John around encourages his foster family to keep things put away as he loves to pick up clothes and towels and drag them along with him.

When he is out in the yard, John is learning to play fetch with his people but his favorite game is chase with the other dogs in the yard. He does not resource guard his food or toys; however, he is fed alone since he tries to eat all the other dogs’ food.

Not used to being around strangers, John runs away when he sees new people and will not go up to greet them. Since John is quite timid with new faces, it took close to five days for his foster family members to be able to touch him all over. His foster parents are really trying to socialize him with people and new situations since that was lacking with his first owners.

John had not been taken on walks or on rides in the car in the past and even these common events have had to be taught to him. His foster parents have to carry him to the car, but once inside, he rides fine. When they attempt to walk him on a leash, he just freezes and won’t move. At the vet John had to be carried in and out of the building, but he did great when the vet did her check up. At 28 pounds now at six months, John will be a big boy when his is all done growing.

At this point, John knows no commands, but that will change through his experience in foster care and through the mandatory obedience training that MAESSR requires for dogs one year and younger. 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 under 1 year old to enroll their puppy in an obedience class within 60 days of adoption. With love and encouragement, John will be a good pupil.

Because of his shyness, It is going to take some time before John will be ready for his new family. His foster dad thinks he’d do best in a home with older children. He is a sweet boy and will need a forever home that can commit to helping him get past his shyness with new people and places. For the investment of time and love, his adopting family will have a devoted companion for life!