Liberty 3

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Update 08/25/11:

Liberty continues to thrive and is one handsome and growing boy. He has gained five pounds since the end of July! Worming has been successful and Liberty just had his rabies vaccination. He is scheduled for neutering after he turns four months old, near the end of September.

Work is still being done on the housebreaking front. Some days go very well and other days are not as successful. When you’re busy playing, it’s hard to think about going to the bathroom outside! His foster mom’s attempts to be diligent about regularly scheduled toilet breaks can’t always anticipate those sudden potty breaks in the house. 

Liberty has spent limited time with leash training as he is resisting it at this point. His foster mom has been most successful carrying him down the block and letting him walk back. Even so, he still tries to run under parked cars and hedges to avoid the activity. Treats don’t seem to motivate Liberty to improve his attitude toward walking either. His foster mom will keep trying as Liberty will eventually discover that the leash leads to great things!

At this time, Liberty’s interests seem to center around yard work and playing. He loves being in the backyard and has an affinity for trimming bushes and the perennials. He is learning to leave the lilac bush alone but thought it was extremely amusing to have his foster mom chasing him around the lilacs. Liberty knows the command sit and is often the first one sitting (and often without prompts!) when it’s time for dog treats. He understands the command to “get a toy” and usually what constitutes a toy. He enjoys teething on his foster mom’s body parts and furniture, but he’s often able to be redirected to get a toy instead. Liberty will chase a ball and bring it back, chew on bones, and play tug of war with his foster mom or foster sibling.

Liberty continues to do very well with crate-training and still keeps a very neat crate. He drinks out of a water bottle on the side but is usually thirsty when he gets out at lunchtime and after his foster mom gets home from work. He may cry for a short while after being crated but soon settles down. Liberty is not taking as many naps (it was nice while it lasted!) but still likes to nap under the couch. He won’t be able to do that a whole lot longer!

This sweet but bold little guy isn’t fazed by much of anything except the leash and the vacuum! He finds a flushing toilet is fascinating visual fare and tries to jump in the bathtub when the water is running. He plays with his foster sibling and likes to chase the resident beardie mix in order to pull her very long hair. Unfortunately, she doesn’t appreciate his enthusiasm and is very happy he can’t jump onto his foster mom’s bed yet!

Soon, this active little guy will be looking for a home and family of his own. Wouldn’t you like to pursue happiness with this Liberty?

Original:

A litter of Springer puppies usually means a celebration, but when finances are difficult, it can bring worry for a responsible owner. Liberty and his littermates’ owner contacted MAESSR for help in getting these Springer pups off to a healthy, good start. So, in the dog days of summer, there is puppy breath in MAESSR-Land! 

Using this Dog Days of Summer theme, each of the seven puppies from this litter received a fitting summertime name. The greatest celebration of our freedom happens each July 4th and so one lucky male puppy was named Liberty. 

Liberty is a totally adorable and intelligent little guy who knows his name and often comes when called. He is doing well with both crating and housetraining. Liberty will sometimes cry for several minutes when crated but will decide to take a snooze when his whimpering is ignored. His foster mother leaves him out at lunch so he is in the crate for three to four hours at a time during the day and in a pop-up kennel at night for about seven hours. He might be a little boy, but this keeper maintains an immaculate crate. Things are never out of place, and he has had only one accident while his foster mom was at work. The back end of the crate is blanketed as Liberty likes to chill in a dark place. When out of the crate he will crawl under the couch or foster mom’s bed to grab a few zzz’s when he’s tired himself out. Liberty will normally wake up once during the night to go to the bathroom. He will whimper to let foster mom know that he needs out. Liberty will usually take care of personal matters quickly once he is outside. There have been four or five accidents in the house during waking hours in the first week, not bad for such a little guy! Normally he will start to cry or head for the back door if he needs to be left out. Liberty has mastered the flight of steps on the deck, readily goes up and down but has yet to tackle the inside wood stairs. 

Call the electric company – there’s a live wire in the house! Liberty has gotten bolder and more energetic since he started his deworming. He tries to play with his MAESSR foster sister and the two resident dogs, a male MAESSR adoptee and female beardie mix, all eight years old. The two Springers allow some jumping on their bodies and faces with the beardie taking off in another direction, but all three have been tolerant of this little whippersnapper’s antics. Liberty seems to respect their soft growls telling him he better back off. At times Liberty will steal his siblings’ dog treats or supper right from under their noses. Liberty has discovered his voice and sometimes has a barking match with his fellow foster, an eight-year old female.

Naturally, this little guy is exploring his universe through his mouth. Liberty has those puppy sharp teeth which he likes to plant in his foster mom’s clothing and body parts. Sometimes, he is easily redirected to play with the ropes, bones, Nylabones or other appropriate puppy items; other times, he requires more persuasion. He prefers the adult-size items to the puppy size. Outside, Liberty likes to romp in the yard and prune plants for his foster mom. At mealtime he is a neat eater and drinker. When crated, he is using the drinking bottle on the side of his crate since he had a tendency to dump his water bowl. Liberty was very cooperative for his two baths and now tries to jump in the bathtub when the water is running! Not much makes this bold little guy nervous, but he seems to dislike vacuums, umbrellas, and rain. He will hide under the couch when foster mom runs the vacuum and refuses to go out in the rain. 

Liberty has been a big hit with the neighbors and staff at the vet’s office. No one seems to be able to resist that sweet little black face. If you’re looking for puppy-perfect kisses and a real sweetheart, Liberty’s a sure bet!