Entered: 02/03/2013
Status: Adopted
Age: 7
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 63 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Airville, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, overall good health
Temperament: Good with adults, unknown with children, will live best as an only dog, chases cats
Update 03/04/2013: “Who thinks Louie is a “people” dog!?”
Louie has adjusted to life in a foster home with other dogs but will be happiest if he lands an adopting home in which he can be an only dog. Shaping space with other canines is a sensitive matter for him. Although he tolerates the resident dogs, he doesn’t like them “in his space.” He grumbles at them as a warning to back up when he’s uncomfortable and, for their part, the residents give Louie a wider berth than when he arrived.
Recently Louie visited at the home of his family’s friends who have a poodle. Knowing that Louie will guard food and toys, his hosts made sure none were around. Louie’s reaction to meeting the poodle was to give a little grumble; then he ignored him for the rest of the visit. The people he enjoyed.
Other new people for Louie of late include his family’s son who came home from college. Louie greeted him at the door with great excitement and made friends quickly. Louie even sat on the sofa with him and gave kisses! Who thinks Louie is a “people” dog!?
It’s clear Louie has attached himself to his foster mom too. She’s noticed he eats more food if she remains in the room after putting his meal down. She’s taken this opportunity to reinforce some basic commands using his food as treats, which he takes very nicely. This works great because Louie is a slow eater and gets done faster with the added interest. He’s learned a new trick………giving the high five………with treats for rewards.
Louie will be a wonderful companion to his new humans. He can spot good people and is drawn to them. He’ll enjoy having people of his own once again to live closely with. A handsome, healthy, well-mannered fellow…………this fieldie is ready to move. Put out the welcome mat for Louie and he’ll be sharing kisses from Day 1.
Original: “This beautifully flecked Springer is as sweet as he is handsome!”
When his job required him to work longer and longer hours, Louie’s owner just did not have enough time to devote to his Springer boy. He sent Louie to live with a friend, but unfortunately, the friend passed away. So, the owner contacted MAESSR to find Louie a permanent loving home that could give him the time and attention that this sweet Springer deserves.
This beautifully flecked Springer is as sweet as he is handsome! A true Velcro boy, he likes to be with his foster mom and dad wherever they are. If invited onto the couch, he loves to snuggle with his humans and he gives them wonderful Springer kisses. Louie plays well with the resident dogs, too, verbalizing or play growling when he does so.
Louie has wonderful house manners. Housetrained, he signals his need to go out by sitting at the door. When meeting and greeting people, he does not jump on anyone. Louie always asks before getting on furniture and is not fussy about where he sleeps. He rests comfortably on his dog bed, but if invited, he loves to sleep with his foster mom beside her pillow. Louie is a quiet boy but will warn you if someone is pulling in the driveway. In the kitchen, he does not counter-surf or get into the trash. When his foster parents are at work, Louie is given free run of the house along with the resident dogs. His foster mom just makes sure all toys and food items are put away because Louie does not share.
Toys don’t interest Louie much, but when he does pick up a toy, he doesn’t want to share it with the resident dogs. If his people want the toy, he gladly lets them take it. Louie prefers eating alone without the resident dogs pestering him. In his former home, he was the only resident dog and his owner let him free feed. In foster care, this is not possible because of the resident dogs, so his foster mom feeds Louie his breakfast and dinner in a separate room. Louie is learning to eat at these times, but he is still a slow eater who takes his time. Again, his foster parents can handle his food or take it away from him without any problems. Oh, Louie likes his treats, too!
Louie knows the basic commands “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and “wait” and he walks well with an easy walker harness. He responds well to the recall command and is trustworthy off leash. When it comes to going for a ride in the car, Louie gets VERY excited! So, to keep everyone safe, he needs to be in a car harness or crated when riding.
Although not crazy about having his ears cleaned or his teeth brushed, Louie does tolerate it. He does not fuss when being groomed, though. However, Louie did not like his vet appointment and he had to be muzzled for safety reasons when he was being examined and when his nails were clipped. Louie has some fatty tumors that the vet checked out saying they are nothing to worry about.
Sweet Louie has a lot of love to share with some lucky family who will love him right back!