Louie 2

---

Original:

A tall and energetic boy, weighing in at 62 pounds, Louie was just too much Springer for his Virginia family. Between having two children under five years old and living in a tiny townhouse, his owners just weren’t able to give Louie what he needed. They made the difficult decision to surrender him to MAESSR, where he could find a family able to give him the activity and attention he deserves. 

Since arriving in foster care, Louie has gotten along with everyone he’s met. Although he is still learning not to jump up when excited, he is very friendly and endeared himself to his foster parents and all the volunteers who helped to transport him to foster care. He has made fast friends with the resident male Springer who is close to his age and the two of them can usually be found chasing each other through the yard or on opposite sides of a tug toy. He’s beginning to win over the younger resident female as well. The only one who hasn’t been taken with Louie’s charms is the older female Springer. Although he does back down when she grumbles, he doesn’t seem to understand why she doesn’t want to play with him.

This playful guy is a TOY BOY. Stuffed toys, ropes, balls, bones….Louie loves them all. He will play fetch, chase a frisbee, or toss a stuffed animal around the room to amuse himself. He loves to dig through the toy box at his foster home, but usually finds that the best toy is whatever is in his canine foster sister’s mouth!

Louie is crate-trained and is kept crated at night and when his foster parents are away. He barks for a few minutes at night before settling down but then sleeps through the night. Louie is also fed in his crate, since his foster siblings are pathological kibble thieves. He hasn’t made any attempts to get onto furniture and settles easily on a dog bed near the human couch. Louie rides well in the car, but gets very excited about trips. For this reason, he travels best when he’s harnessed or crated for safety. Louie is also housetrained, although he doesn’t signal when he needs to go out.

Since he’s a tall Springer, counter-surfing is an easy feat for Louie. His foster parents have kept the counters clean to reduce temptation, but he still looks occasionally. Recently, one of the resident kitties was hiding out in the kitchen sink with Louie’s dinner bowl on a counter nearby. When Louie put his paws up to check the bowl, he was greeted with 12 pounds of hissing cat. Louie’s foster mom wished that she had a camera for the shocked look on his face as he jumped off and sprinted toward the living room as fast as possible. Other than that interaction, Louie’s contact with the cats has been pretty minimal. He shows occasional interest if a feline is sprinting by, but for the most part he seems to ignore them. 

On a trip to the vet for a check-up, Louie got a clean bill of health. Although he is on the big side for a Springer, his weight is right where it should be for his frame. Louie tolerated the exam from the vet but was a little nervous about the whole thing. In spite of his nerves, he never once grumbled or snapped at the vet or his assistants. Louie hasn’t needed to be groomed since arriving in foster care, but reports from his previous owners indicate that he is a good boy for professional grooming with the exception of not liking to have his nails trimmed. Right now he is sporting a short summer trim and looks very handsome!

While he is not destructive, Louie has shown that he has a penchant for moving human items (shoes, towels, the occasional throw rug) out of their usual spots. If he is caught with contraband, Louie usually responds to the command, “drop it.” If that doesn’t work, he’s more than happy to trade for something dog-safe like a toy or treat. Good boy, Louie! Other commands that Louie responds to are “sit” and “down.” He knows “heel,” although sometimes the squirrels on his walks are a little more interesting than staying right at his foster mom’s side. He was reported to know “shake” as well, but every time his foster mom holds out her hand, Louie drops into a perfect “down.” 

Louie is everything a young Springer should be….adorable, energetic, curious, and sweet. If you’re looking for a new best friend with personality plus, Louie is your boy!