Entered: 05/06/2012
Status: Adopted
Age: 7
Color: Black/White
Weight: 67 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Manahawkin, NJ
Health: UTD, HW-, benefiting from medication to assist with anxiety, several fatty lipomas which require no treatment, overall good health
Temperament: Good with people of all ages but will live best with adults only, will do best as an “only” dog, unknown with cats
Update 04/23/2014: “Launching his entire 67 pound frame, Max will jump up to try and catch a bug in mid-air.”
Springers are surely as glad to see lengthening daylight hours and warm temps as their people, Max being no exception. With spring upon us, it means his outdoor time is increasing. His foster dad reports that Max’s playful side really sparks when he sees his “Chuck It” come out these days. He gets very excited and will chase a ball as long as you keep throwing it for him……….what fun and great exercise!!
Summer is almost here, too, and that brings out Max’s instinct to protect his people from all manner of insects! Launching his entire 67 pound frame, Max will jump up to try and catch a bug in mid-air. If a moth should enter the house, Max will not rest until he has caught the offender or chased it back outdoors. His family has wryly observed that Max’s perception of size may be a bit “off”; he has jumped up to try and catch a low flying helicopter on occasion, thinking that it was an especially noisy bug!
Between playtimes and pest patrol, Max continues to be a very sweet and loving guy. He is good with people of all ages but will be most comfortable and successful if he lives in a home of adults only. Loud noises tend to startle him, and, his very deep bark (which he rarely uses) might startle little people.
He would be happy with a retired couple or with someone who works part time. He is completely trusted with full run of his home and would also adjust to the schedule of someone who worked full time.
Max’s only special need is that he become part of a family in which he is an “only” dog. He is truly a Velcro boy and very devoted to his owners. While he has lived with other dogs of both genders, sharing his living space and attention with another dog is stressful to him. For his own happiness and well-being, a family without other dogs is a must for Max. If you’ve a love of Springers, love to play ball, and can be as devoted to Max as he will be to you, please ask about meeting him. He’s an incredibly special dog………….
Update 04/09/2014: “He loves to have his backside scratched up high above his tail. When you do this for him, he shows his delight by doing a little cha cha dance.”
For approximately 2 years Max has been in his present home and has been a very loved member of the family. Sadly, the female ESS that he has lived with almost the entire time developed epilepsy and has occasional “break through” seizures. With this development, it has become obvious that Max has a very instinctive drive to go after sick or injured animals, and, he has become a risk to his housemate. When seizures happen, Max goes after the female, trying to attack and bite her. So far their family has avoided injury, but Max must be crated if they leave home since the female would be unable to escape or defend herself during a seizure. In addition, Max and the other resident male have gotten into fights when the female has seizures, resulting in a very difficult living situation for everyone. To assist with anxiety, Max has been started on a medication which his family anticipates won’t be necessary once he is settled in a new home.
Max’s adopting family fosters for MAESSR. To date Max has not been fond of any male “fosters” that have stayed in his home. He wants to be the alpha dog and has gotten into a few altercations with other males. By contrast, he has been very good with female fosters. Max follows them around and wants to get to know them. He has been excellent with the female resident and feels she can do no wrong. He enjoys chasing her and playing with her in the fenced yard. They share sleeping spaces and curl up together on the sofa. Max’s family feels he would do really well in a home where he is the only dog or in a home with a female companion who has no health issues.
During his first 4 years, Max lived with a woman who was not very kind to him. He was rescued by another lady who loved him for 2 years and treated him like royalty. Max was hand-fed by both ladies; he can eat from his bowl, especially if there is table food involved, but he loves the attention he gets from being hand-fed. His current dad is the first “guy” Max has lived with and Max has decided he is a man’s dog though he loves his newest mom as well. This big guy is great when meeting new people; he may bark if he hears the doorbell or someone knock but settles down and lets people approach him. If it is a friend, he has been known to push his sister aside to get his fair share of petting.
Max is a very sweet and loving boy who is good with people of all ages. He is gentle with children and seniors, does not jump up in greeting and will patiently sit and wait for people to pet him. He has been very good with little people and his quiet nature seems to draw even children who are hesitant around dogs to him. Although Max is very good with children, he would probably live best in an adults-only home since that is all he has ever known; loud noises and activity do tend to startle him. A retired couple or a home where someone works part time would be ideal for him.
Max loves to go for daily walks to the park and enjoys the attention he gets from people along the way. He is used to being walked on a Gentle Leader head harness and does not pull at all. Occasionally he is allowed to run off-leash and really enjoys following the scent of squirrels and other creatures. When he is on these romps, he does not have good recall but always returns when he tires. He is leash aggressive when he sees another dog being walked; he barks but does not act out. Max does have a “fetish” about wheels. When a bicycle, stroller, skateboard, scooter or anything else that rolls goes by, he becomes very agitated and barks and will try to go after the offending item. Distraction or changing direction has been effective at times like that. Max is not crazy about water but he really enjoyed playing in the snow this past winter.
Stormy weather does terrify Max. Thunderstorms or even a very heavy rain rattle him. He has done very well with a thunder shirt and an OTC supplement at these times and around the 4th of July. He does not get ear infections and cleaning his ears is not a problem. He is sensitive about his feet, though, so trimming his foot feathers and clipping toenails is a task. He enjoys riding in the car; if he can sit in the passenger seat that is the best. He is content to be in the back seat, though, and on a long ride he will lie down for a nap.
There’s definitely a playful nature in this boy. He enjoys his toys and gets a bit lively in the evenings after dinner. He will dig around in his toy basket until he finds the item of the night, usually a stuffed toy that squeaks. He will proudly bring it for a little game of toss; if you are distracted, he will keep pushing the toy into your lap until you respond and toss it for him to chase. Rolling a ball across the floor entertains him too.
Mr. Personable amuses in other ways. He loves to have his backside scratched up high above his tail. When you do this for him, he shows his delight by doing a little cha cha dance. He will take a few steps forward and one back and then move from side to side, those back feet prancing the entire time! When he really gets into it, he will toss his head back and his tongue darts in and out. What a hoot!!! For the remainder of the evening, this big affectionate dog is very content to curl up by your side and watch TV.
Max is a “Velcro dog” in every sense of the word and wants nothing more than to be with his people. Having to let him go is a little easier because his family knows MAESSR will find him an excellent home. If Max sounds like the perfect match for your family, please ask about meeting him……….and be ready to dance with this star!
Update 06/02/2012: “Despite having access to the swimming pool, Max prefers to stay on dry land, but he enjoys sitting on the edge of the pool to watch all of the action.”
The warm weather is here and Max just loves it. His two favorite outdoor activities are sunning on the deck and chasing his ball in the yard. Despite having access to the swimming pool, Max prefers to stay on dry land, but he enjoys sitting on the edge of the pool to watch all of the action. Max recently experienced a springtime tradition, a yard sale. Appointing himself as official greeter of all customers, he was the hit of the day. What a sociable guy!
Due to previous feeding habits, Max remains very reluctant to eat from a bowl. With coaxing, he is doing much better but will eat only from a flat, non-plastic, non-paper plate. Only fine dining for Max! Who knew that he was such a cultured Springer? He also prefers having company while dining, as well as encouragement.
Max gets along well with his foster sister, although he still guards his treats. He is very gentle with children, including a very active five-year old. He can be trusted off leash as long as there are no squirrels in the area!
Living up to the Velcro Springer tradition, Max likes to follow his foster family everywhere they go. He possesses a smile that warms one’s heart. Max is now ready for the next chapter in his life. He would make a wonderful addition to any family……and if you happen to have a swimming pool, he’ll volunteer as life guard!
Original: “When his foster family is eating, Max does like to watch them eat, but never attempts to approach the food. Good boy!”
Max was reluctantly surrendered by his Virginia owner when she had to relocate due to her job and was unable to take him with her. She and Max shared a special bond as she had rescued him from an abusive situation and worked with him to rebuild his self-esteem.
This sweet, big boy has settled in nicely to his foster home. Max is great with kids. His former owner stated that her three year old used him as a pillow. At his foster home, he has done well with the resident children, a five year old and eight year old. While attending a K-9 Carnival, Max was Mr. Social Butterfly, having a great time sniffing at the other dogs and interacting with the people there. He has not been tested with cats, but did bark at them according to his former owner.
Max likes to catch tennis balls in his mouth and run laps around the back yard. At 84 pounds, Max is quite spry for his size but the vet would like to see him lose about twenty pounds. Proper feeding and lots of exercise should help him achieve this goal. He plays well with other dogs until they pick up his ball, toy, or treat; he guards these items pretty fiercely. Max will chase squirrels, bark at big birds, and follow butterflies. He has been sniffing at the pool, but hasn’t attempted to walk down the stairs yet. His former owner did say that he liked to walk in the shallow water of a lake.
Completely housetrained, Max will sit at the back door when he needs to go out. He is well-mannered, knows “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “down,” and walks well on the leash. He has the run of the house when his foster mom is away and has behaved very well. He does not chew, dig or counter-surf. When his foster family is eating, Max does like to watch them eat, but never attempts to approach the food. Good boy! After walking in wet grass or mud, Max allows his paws to be wiped without a fuss and stands quietly while being brushed. He loves attention and follows his foster mom and dad wherever they go. If a car ride is in order, Max sits in the passenger seat and is very good. He loves to ride in the car!
With his gentle demeanor and love of affection, Max will make a great companion and family dog.