Marci

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Update 07/08/11:

Little Miss Marci has been making considerable progress in all departments! She was spayed in late June and is now up to date with all of her vaccinations. Her kennel cough has cleared, but her foster mom remains vigilant to ensure that it is gone for good. Crate-training is going well for Marci, although she still has a few accidents.

Roughing it in the great outdoors seems to suit Marci. She has gone camping several times with her foster family and has done very well with the experience.

Marci is loving life as the special pup in her foster family. Meeting new people is exciting, too. She has met young children and loved them. In fact, she’s loved everyone she’s met. Certainly the feeling was mutual!

Her foster family is working diligently on Marci’s walking skills; she is proving to be a good student, having shown improvement by pulling less on the leash. The granddaughters of Marci’s foster parents, ages 12, 14, and 16, have been walking Marci and she is doing well with them. It’s been noted that Marci is quite the dude magnet, but let’s face it – put Springer together with puppy and it spells adorable!

Of course, Marci is all puppy; she loves to jump on people and furniture, and she’s still in the mouthy stage. Her foster parents are working hard to discourage her mouthy tendencies and are grateful that all of her puppy teeth are gone!

Bottom line: Marci is one precious pup that will make a wonderful friend and companion to one lucky family!

Original:

Marci came into MAESSR as a stray who was taken to a Virginia shelter. She has fit into her foster home like she has always been one of the family! Not housetrained totally, she is learning to go outside but hasn’t mastered the barking at the door to signal her need to go out yet. Her foster home does have a doggie door and she has used it, but she still had a couple of accidents. Marci is doing very well in the crate and is crated at night and when her foster parents are out of the house. A curious Springer puppy, Marci has checked out the counters but hasn’t gotten into the trash. Her foster parents are working with her about keeping the paws on the floor rather than on the edge of the counters! On her first day as a MAESSR girl, Marci showed her foster parents one of her talents: she can open doors! This little Houdini made one great escape before they realized her trick. Now doors are dog-proofed! 

This little girl loves riding in the car. She rode in the crate on the ride from the shelter to her foster home, sleeping all the way. Since then, she has been left loose in her family’s motor home and has been an excellent passenger. A smart puppy, Marci has learned to sit and now her foster parents are working on stay and down with her. She will pull on the leash if she is being walked with one of the resident Springers, but when she is the only dog, she is very gentle and doesn’t pull. A MAESSR requirement for families adopting a Springer pup under a year in age is that they must take their pup for obedience training, so more schooling is in store for Marci.

Marci lives with four resident dogs and gets along fine with them, willingly sharing whatever she has with them. She is trying to get them to play with her and has gotten one female to run with her in the backyard. When no canine wants to play, Marci can entertain herself playing ball and chewing on bones. Just like any 5-½ month old Springer puppy, Marci is a ball of energy! 

The word stranger is not in Marci’s vocabulary; everyone is a friend whom she loves! Although she has not met any children while in foster care, Marci probably do well with a child over 8. She still tries to jump on people and she likes to mouth – two behaviors that her foster family is working on so being in a family with children older than 8 would be best. Even though there are no cats in her foster home, Marci met one at the vet’s office. The cat swatted at her and hissed! In response, Marci just looked at her foster mom and walked away. So, cats most likely won’t be an issue. When Marci went for her vet appointment, she received the proper puppy vaccinations and will return in two weeks for her boosters. 

Little love bug Marci will soon be looking for a forever family, perhaps one with kids and maybe a young dog who likes to play!