Entered: 10/13/2009
Status: Adopted
Age: 2
Color: Black/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Goochland, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, recovering nicely from a bite wound received in the shelter, overall good health
Temperament: Great with adults, unknown with children, good with other dogs, good with cats
Original: Young Knightly came into MAESSR’s care from a Kentucky shelter where he had been found as a stray. Neutered and vaccinated before he arrived at his foster home, Knightly did have a small bite wound which has been treated with antibiotics and is healing nicely. While under vet care, his age was estimated to be a little under a year and the vet thought that there might be a bit of non-Springer blood in this boy. He’s a great boy even though he is not 100% Springer.
In his foster home, Knightly is settling in well with the resident female Springer. On the feline front, after he spent his first few days barking and sniffing curiously at the very ornery resident kitty, who in turn enjoyed teasing the poor little guy, they became great friends. Full of energy and affection, Knightly loves people! He is very interested in snuggling on the couch with his foster mother but accepts a firm “no” as direction and does not attempt to get up on the couch again. He gets lots of loving from her when he keeps four feet on the floor. In his puppy exuberance, Knightly does jump on people, but is also learning that it is inappropriate behavior.
A very petite boy, Knightly would probably be a counter surfer if he were not vertically challenged! He is very agile and often runs around just underfoot in the house. As a very active boy, Knightly enjoys playing and running and going on walks. He loves to be petted, too. He will settle down and lie quietly on the floor when his foster mother is home. As to commands, Knightly knows sit even though it is difficult for him not to waggle his tail while he does it. He also responds to his name by coming happily to his foster mother. Knightly will benefit from taking obedience lessons along with his forever family once he is adopted which is MAESSR’s policy for Springers younger than one.
When it is walk time, Knightly is improving very quickly when walking on the leash with his foster mother and his sister Springer Spaniel at his side. This happy-go-lucky boy shows no signs of separation anxiety, food-aggression, toy aggression, or dog aggression although he occasionally barks at the neighborhood dogs. The only chewing he has done was to rip apart a stuffed toy belonging to the resident Springer.
This young boy has the occasional accident in the house but understands it is appropriate to go outside to eliminate as soon as he is let out of the crate. After a few whines, whimpers, and an occasional bark, Knightly settles into his crate and sleeps quietly for the night until that pesky cat teases him from outside the crate and lets him know it is time to get up and play. In the car, Knightly has always been very calm and quiet, never trembling or whining. He does enjoy having his canine foster sister ride with him in the back of his foster family’s SUV, though.
Knightly’s life has changed greatly in a short time from being as a stray to enjoying life as a beloved MAESSR Springer. Only one quest remains for Knightly: to find a wonderful family that he can join for the rest of his life. Help make this come true.