Koko

---

Update 3/29/05: Koko’s outlook on life is continuing to improve as his comfort level and confidence increase. He is a happy boy who loves his humans. He is quite the snuggler, and will likely want to be a lap-and-bed dog when continued weight loss makes the scramble onto the furniture possible. He will probably always be a little shy with strangers, but there is not an aggressive bone in his body. As the weight comes off, he is more playful, and even chased a squirrel the other day! He has proven to be a quick learner while reviewing basic obedience and working on a few “houserules.” Knowing some commands and the appropriate behavior in certain situations has really helped build his confidence. The submissive urination is well under control. He has remembered the rules of housebreaking and can now be left alone with the run of the house. Koko is a lovely dog who just needs a family with patience, consistency and understanding to bring out his best.

Update 3/7/05: Koko is adjusting very well in his foster home. His submissive urination has nearly disappeared as he becomes more comfortable and confident. His foster mom started feeding him in a crate, and after one meal, he would enter the crate willingly. Crating became necessary because Koko was having some housebreaking issues, apparently related to agitation immediately following being left alone in the house. Judicious use of the crate and Koko’s increased comfort level have resolved those issues.

He has become more playful, and will even sometimes bring a toy back to his foster mom to continue a game of fetch. His current project is an attempt to chew the antennae off of his stuffed ladybug toy. He loves to chew on his sterile bone, too. Koko spent the weekend with another MAESSR foster family while his foster mom traveled. He socialized nicely with the two resident dogs and was quite well-behaved. His hostess described him as “a perfect houseguest.” Soon he will be ready to be “a perfect addition” to his forever family. Is that family yours?

Original: Koko was surrendered to MAESSR by his doting mom whose life situation had changed so that she could no longer keep him. He is a sweet, mellow, happy boy who follows his foster mom everywhere. Although Koko has a lovely face, his most obvious physical feature is that he is severely overweight. His new home will have to be committed to helping him get back in shape. Luckily, he loves to go for walks, and his foster mom suspects that his personality will really begin to shine when he is able to move more easily.

Koko’s new family will need lots of patience and understanding because he has a problem with submissive urination when he enters new living situations. He had the same problem when he arrived at his previous home, but his gentle owner handled him in a quiet manner and got him through it. With the proper handling, he will get it under control again, but it will take some time and lots of paper towels.

Other than his weight, Koko is in good health. He has good house manners and can be left alone with the run of the house. He is quiet and doesn’t dig or chew. He does not like to go in a crate but can be put in one and settles down once inside. He doesn’t beg, counter-surf, or jump up on people. He eagerly greets visitors to his foster home. His previous owner reports that Koko lived with another springer until he passed away and did very well with him. He has no experience with cats and little experience with children, but his owner said he was a very good boy when children would come up to pet him.

Koko will be ready for his new beginning soon. A loving adopter will need to continue what his foster mom has started and can expect Koko to progress into a more confident companion with each gentle word to him.