Entered: 06/11/2016
Status: Adopted
Age: 1
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 37 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Bethlehem, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, benefiting from probiotics
Temperament: Good with adults, good with older children (toddlers could be knocked over due to activity level), good with dogs, unknown with cats
Update 07/05/2016: “For this reason, MAESSR will require him to take two sessions of obedience classes. This will serve him well and increase the bond between dog and human.”
After spending his second day at doggie day care, Max is definitely in his element! He had a ball playing with many different dogs and was eager to enter the facility and get right down to playing. When he arrived home, he was exhausted!
Max is doing very well with housetraining. He was started on a probiotic and this seems to have gotten things “firmed” up. He has not had any accidents for several days.
The Fourth of July fireworks were challenging for this little guy. He was much more comfortable hanging out in an inside room with a loud TV playing. He must be glad that Independence Day comes ‘round just once a year!
Max is a young boy who needs strong reinforcement of commands, in particular, responding appropriately to come when called. For this reason, MAESSR will require him to take two sessions of obedience classes. This will serve him well and increase the bond between dog and human. Afterwards, Max should be the best boy he can possibly be for his new family.
Original: “It was suggested that if one Googles ‘image of sweetheart,’ Max’s photo would be the first to appear since he’s that loveable.”
Max came to MAESSR when his Keystone family experienced health issues which prevented them from caring for a young, active pup. Max spent some time at two temporary foster homes before settling in at his current one. When Max arrived at his current home he was a bit stressed and overly excited, but that behavior has stopped and he is getting more and more comfortable very day. It likely will take him a few days to feel settled into his final forever home.
A few things that Max might see or hear tend to spook him; for example, the garage door opening and a trash bag in the backyard at night. Max wanted to run away from the garage door and he barked at the trash bag. He seems to get more spooked when it’s dark. After a week of the garage door experience, he is no longer afraid. New experiences likely will cause him some concern until he gets used to them.
Max’s original family and all of his foster homes have had other dogs. Pre-neutering, Max was a little too interested in the females, but this behavior has stopped and he gets along well with all of the dogs. On walks he might bark at some dogs as he passes. Reportedly Max was around an older unfriendly dog as a young pup. This might explain why he seems conflicted between wanting to greet dogs on walks and barking at them. His foster mom will work to explore this further and to desensitize him.
Max has started attending doggie day care with his foster brother. He did very well on his first day. He was a little nervous in the morning but became more comfortable as the day went on. He played with several dogs and it was observed that his play was very appropriate and that he uses good appeasement gestures when another dog gets too worked up. Max does play in a spirited way which can work up some dogs. He would love his forever home to have a young playful dog that enjoys spirited play and running around.
With all of the people that Max has met, he has been a good boy. He isn’t necessarily the type of dog that wants to cross the street to meet new people but he has been meeting people appropriately. Twenty older teens were over to his home one evening and he was fine around all, but did seem spooked by one young man. Max barked a little and then was fine after being called to his foster mom for a treat. It was reported that he was good with children in his previous neighborhood. He likely would be fine around children big enough to avoid being knocked over; but he does get a bit underfoot so his family should exercise caution around those very young or old that may not be steady on their feet.
When Max is not at day care he enjoys several walks a day and playing or running in his yard. He often breaks out into a fast, hard run up and down the yard as though he is running out his crazies. Max notices all of the birds and critters that pass, and will chase the birds. He noticed a deer in the yard across the street on a walk and stood perfectly still watching, with his nose going a mile a minute. The deer remained on its side of the street doing the same.
Max is partially housetrained. He needs to be let out after eating and needs to be watched to be sure he takes care of business; he tends to pee fairly quickly but takes longer to move his bowels. Max did experience GI distress and his foster mom is working to get him “firmed up” so he has better control. Occasionally he will bark when he needs to go out, but not always. For the most part Max is crate trained and can be crated up to six or seven hours. He must be treated as a puppy and be kept on a strict puppy schedule, being let out every two hours. While Max can hold his urine well, he has not fully internalized that he “goes” outdoors.
Good in the car and good at the vet, this boy does not dig, submissively urinate, or guard toys or food. Max knows “sit” and “paw.” He still pulls some when walking on the leash and can’t be trusted off leash – he’ll clearly hear his name being called but ignores it. Occasionally Max begs for food and does check out the counters. He has taken things from the waste basket. Since he is still very much a puppy, he will take things, might chew things, and often is looking for something to grab. He will put anything he finds into his mouth and run with it. His foster mom trades the contraband for a bone or treat.
Please note that MAESSR only places puppies, even those a year old, in homes that are committed to training and bonding with the pup in obedience classes. Puppies require a lot of care, attention, and patience, and they do chew on things! The decision to get a puppy and raise it to be a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted dog is a serious commitment. To reinforce this commitment, MAESSR requires all adopters of dogs one year old and under to enroll their puppy in obedience classes within 60 days of adoption. Max very much needs to begin school to learn loose leash walking, to pay attention to his person, to come, to listen, etc. He has a lovely, sweet temperament but does need to start training and will be the star student.
Max would thrive in an active family where he could run, swim, and be with people. A fenced in yard or frequent walks would be ideal for him. He is a good-hearted pup who needs obedience training, housetraining reminders, and to burn off his Springer pup energy EVERY SINGLE DAY. It was suggested that if one Googles “image of sweetheart,” Max’s photo would be the first to appear since he’s that loveable. Get ready to fall in love with Max!