Entered: 01/27/2014
Status: Adopted
Age: 10
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 35 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Dumfries, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, chronic ear infections being managed by an OTC treatment, receiving a supplement for joint health, recovery from the removal of a neck mass and treatment for whipworms complete, continuing deafness, missing a few teeth
Temperament: Good with adults, good with children, good with most other dogs, chases cats
Update 06/04/2014: “Formerly a very early-riser in the morning, King is now content to sleep until everyone gets out of bed…much more relaxing for everyone!”
King George is the perfect senior! This lightweight boy loves his walks and enjoys his daily naps. His foster mom has only positive things to say about King’s behavior……..what a love! He is a Velcro boy who loves to be at his human’s side. Just like a king, he stands regally next to his human subjects waiting for them to bestow their love upon him.
King is taking a daily supplement to keep his joints healthy. For an older gentleman, his vision is pretty good. His deafness is from prolonged ear infections and they prevent him from hearing someone calling to him. He is smart, however, and understands what you want him to do. His ears are currently being managed by an over-the-counter medication; it will require vigilance to keep his ears healthy.
It is important for King to have a fenced yard because of his deafness. If he manages to get loose, he will walk away from the house and then must be rounded up since he cannot hear his name being called. Walking is a joy to him and he walks at least a mile a day with his foster mom. He strolls like a gentleman and does not pull on the leash. He rides well in a car and has no problems with grooming or vet visits.
King is good with school-aged children; while he gets along with other dogs, he’s been known to chase a house cat. A quiet soul, he will only bark when he needs to go outside to do his business. He does not jump on people but he can manage a little jump onto a favorite chair to sleep. Formerly a very early-riser in the morning, King is now content to sleep until everyone gets out of bed…much more relaxing for everyone! He does not play with toys but loves his raw hide bones to chew, even though he’s missing a few teeth.
This is a perfect boy for a working person who needs a quiet friend. Consider adding this sweetheart to your family.
Update 04/22/2014: “His foster mom proclaims that King George ‘is a gem. He has become a really great dog.'”
Found in a winter snow storm and riddled with parasites and severe ear infections, King George had a rough start in his foster home. But given the “royal” treatment a king deserves, he is finally on the way to excellent health. His whip worms are gone and his ears are now in good shape. His foster mom is just finishing up the last of his medication, although she’s vigilant about cleaning them to keep that nasty infection at bay. It will be important for his new family to keep a close eye on King’s ears and to clean them regularly.
His foster mom proclaims that King George “is a gem. He has become a really great dog.” This handsome fella sports great Springer markings and has a little curl to his coat. He’s a tall, lightweight guy that’s decidedly regal-looking. King has a low activity lifestyle and is good all day in the house. In fact, he has no bad habits! Friendly with other dogs and humans, this boy also would do wonderfully in a house with children old enough to respect the needs of a hard-of-hearing senior Springer. He has a gentle mouth (albeit missing a couple of teeth) and is a quiet gentleman who’s very loving. Totally Velcro, if his people move after he falls asleep, he wakes up to look for them.
King has decided that a more easy-going lifestyle suits him. He now enjoys sleeping a little later with his foster parents! Gone are the 5:30 a.m. wake-up calls; sleeping in until 7:00 a.m. or when his parents get up is his new routine. Good boy! King still enjoys a morning constitutional. It needn’t be long, but a little walk is one of his pleasures in life. Of course, there’s no pulling on the leash for this well-behaved guy.
King George would fit into most families with his laid-back nature and love of humans. Please consider including this sweetheart in your family.
Update 03/16/2014: “He’s still quite deaf yet this doesn’t isolate him. He understands what people want of him by looking at them and is a fast learner.”
King George seems comfortable with his role as benevolent dictator in his foster home. He’s an early riser……..think 5:30 or 6 AM……and barks when he needs to go outside. His family thinks this must stem from some earlier conditioning and, of course, accommodating for this is all it takes to quiet the King!
Otherwise, soft-spoken, this gentle ruler is a sweetheart with no bad habits. He enjoys a typical Velcro relationship with his people and is always sleeping next to them. With a gentle soul, he continues to get along with the little people in his kingdom as well as all other dogs.
Advice from his veterinarian continues. Treatment for his whipworms is almost complete but the two are still working toward healthier ears for this gent. It was hoped that with ear treatment, King George might regain some of his hearing but, so far, nothing has brought it back. He’s still quite deaf yet this doesn’t isolate him. He understands what people want of him by looking at them and is a fast learner. His weight is steady, now that his subjects offer nutritious meals fit for a king every day………..such a turn from his earlier life as an underfed peasant.
One thing King George will require in his next kingdom is a fenced yard. He maintains a healthy interest in what’s out there to explore. When something catches his nose, he may run or just walk away from his people; with his compromised hearing, he won’t hear they call him.
Watch for this royalty to become available soon for another kingdom to reign in. Consider sharing yours………..you couldn’t serve a better “king.”
Update 02/12/2014: “He loves his foster dad’s chair with all the wonderful smells, and, at night, in true Velcro Springer fashion, he wants to be on the bed with his folks.”
King George is settling into a new foster home and getting along with other dogs and cats. Nothing fazes him; he is one laid back dude. He likes children and enjoys the attention and being loved.
His neutering stitches were recently removed as well as those from the surgical site on his neck; he is healing well and next week will have another trip to the vet to check on his ear bacteria.
Although he does not seem to know any commands like “sit’ or “come,” this tolerant guy lets his people touch him all over, including his feet; he even lets them open his mouth for pills!
King is housetrained and will whine or go to the door if he needs to go outside. He is fine all day with the run of the house. No crate needed for this sweet senior. He has really made himself at home in his new house. He sleeps on the doggie beds on the floor and on the furniture. He loves his foster dad’s chair with all the wonderful smells, and, at night, in true Velcro Springer fashion, he wants to be on the bed with his folks.
But, also as a true Springer, this handsome fellow does like to stand and check what is on the kitchen counter and will counter-surf if something is left near the edge of the table or counter to reward his search. He does not chew inappropriately or get into trash.
King is fed in the kitchen, away from the resident dog. He is a slow eater who likes to walk away from his food, but does not guard his food or bones. At this time, he has not engaged the resident dog in play, but follows him and checks out his routine.
King George loves to be inside or outside and likes to run at the family farm. He rides well in the car and also walks nicely on his leash, not pulling as he enjoys his daily mile walk. He does not bother with other dogs, people, buses, or whatever else may pass by him.
This is a calm, sweet, older gentleman who’s been through a rough time and now needs to be part of a home of his own. A fenced in yard would probably make him happiest, and he might be better with at least elementary-aged children. Watch for the updates declaring King George to be ready to move on to his furever home.
Original: “King George really looks forward to his daily walks and also enjoys jogging with his foster dad.”
Found as a stray in Pennsylvania, King George definitely had been on his own for a long time – he was very skinny, had huge mats, was very dirty, and had a bad ear infection. How very sad for him, since he was likely someone’s pet at some point and then was put into a position where he had to fend for himself. Luckily, a very nice woman saw him and took him in during a spell of bitter cold and then turned him over to a shelter. From a stray to a pampered MAESSR senior, from being discarded to being loved, King George has begun a new life.
A trip to the vet meant getting King George up to date on vaccinations and finding out he is heartworm negative. At the time he was neutered, a small fatty mass on his neck was also removed and he had a few teeth pulled as well. Currently, he is taking antibiotics for his ear infection. Once he gains a few pounds and his ear infection is cleared up, he should be in good shape! Also, he was good at the vet and basically ignored the dogs he met there.
Shortly after King George arrived at his foster home, the resident Springer decided that this MAESSR foster boy wanted too much attention from his dad, which set up a tense situation that has not been resolved. Although some growling was involved, there was no overt aggression on the part of either dog; however, there was too much friction to keep them together in the same room for long periods of time. So, some juggling of space has had to be done.
King George otherwise settled in quickly to life in his new home. Housetrained and reliable, he sleeps in his crate if he is really tired, but otherwise protests vocally when he is separated from the rest of the family. He also does not like to be put into a separate room for the same reason. Keeping the resident dog separated from King George, his foster parents eventually allowed him free run of the house which he thoroughly enjoys. He barks when his foster parents leave the house but finally settles down and ends up sleeping on the couch or recliner, according to the doggie cam! This may be an indication that he once had a good home. He also barks if he wants to go outside or if he wants to be fed.
King George really looks forward to his daily walks and also enjoys jogging with his foster dad. Although he does not do well on the “heel” command, he otherwise does fine on a leash. On his walks, he mostly ignores other dogs, but becomes very excited when he sees birds up close. He also has periods where he wants to play fetch with toys in the house. This sweet senior loves being in physical contact with his people and is very laid back, gentle and loving.
Because of the canine tension in the house and in fairness to King George, his foster parents and the MAESSR folks in charge of foster homes decided that he should move to another foster home. With this move George can adjust to a new home without these potential canine conflicts, especially as he is uncomfortable due to his recent surgery and ear infection.
This is a guy who will do well with a family which would like a laid back, gentle dog who wants a lot of attention and human contact. They must give him his daily walks and not leave him alone for extended periods of time. King George is a wonderful senior who will give great pleasure to a loving family.